Our provincial parks, the "jewels of the province", celebrate their 80th anniversary this year.  The first parks were established when The Provincial Parks and Protected Areas Act was passed in 1931, designating six provincial parks in Saskatchewan.  Today, 34 parks and 130 recreation sites provide recreation, education and relaxation to millions of visitors each year - visitors from within Saskatchewan and visitors to Saskatchewan.

A recent SGEU ad says: “With Provincial Parks like ours, you don’t need to go anywhere else.”

Fact: This is true.  With 34 provincial parks, more than 100,000 lakes, and thousands of hours of sun, Saskatchewan offers a wide range of camping and recreational experiences for everyone.

SGEU ad says: “But I worry what’s going to be left in 10 years if the Wall government keeps privatizing our parks?”

Fact: Not a single Saskatchewan provincial park has been privatized.

The private sector has a long history of operating within Saskatchewan’s provincial parks beginning with the inception of parks in the 1930s. The private sector plays an important role by providing high-quality services and facilities to park visitors – commercial lessees operate approximately 170 business services in provincial parks and recreation sites.

The Saskatchewan Government will continue to own and manage all park land and operate basic park services.

SGEU ad says: “Already we’re seeing new user fees, service cuts, and cabins sold off.”

Fact: The only new user fee in Saskatchewan provincial parks since fall of 2007 was an out-of-province camping fee implemented for the summer of 2010. That additional fee was removed in 2011.  There have not been any other new user fees in the past four years.

Fact: Services in provincial parks continue to improve.  With the 2011-12 provincial budget, the Saskatchewan Government will have spent nearly $33-million since 2008 in improvements to provincial parks.  The government has upgraded or replaced service centres, boat launches, potable water systems, picnic tables and barbeques.

The Saskatchewan Government promised in 2008 to add electrical service to 1,000 campsites. In the fall of 2011 the government will meet, and slightly exceed, that target.

Fact: Saskatchewan’s provincial parks system has been moving away from owning and operating commercial enterprises for many years. 

• In 2010, 23 rental cabins at Greenwater Lake Provincial Park, which were the only fixed roof accommodations in the park system directly operated by Government, were sold through a proposal call.  
• Previously, in 2005, the café in Greenwater Lake Provincial Park was sold to the private sector through a proposal call.
• In 2002, the rental accommodation at Duck Mountain Provincial Park was sold to the private sector lessee who was operating the facility.