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August 28, 1997
(Tourism, Culture and Recreation)


Government Working to Conclude its Parks Privatization Initiative

Sandra Kelly, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Recreation, today announced that the four parks which operated under temporary arrangements for the 1997 season will undergo a new proposal process to secure long-term operators. The parks are Flatwater Pond Park, David Smallwood Memorial Park, Windmill Bight Park, and Duley Lake Park.

"These four parks are not new parks being added to the list of those which were privatized earlier this year. These parks have always been a part of government's privatization initiative," Ms. Kelly said. "Government is reinstating the process to secure the best possible arrangement for each and every park. In each of the four parks identified, the arrangements were put in place for the summer of 1997. Government is now seeking the same sort of positive arrangement for each of these four parks as it has in place for the other newly privatized parks."

The Department of Government Services and Lands is currently accepting proposals from persons, businesses, municipalities, and non-governmental organizations on the use of the areas (or portions thereof) of the four park properties. Proposals will include bids on: (1) a licence to occupy the land, and (2) the purchase of the relevant assets. The closing date for proposals is Friday, October 10, 1997 at 4:30 p.m.. Government intends to accept the best all-around proposals for park operation, not just the ones with the highest financial bids.

"Government has also been reviewing the 17 parks which were privatized in the spring of this year," Ms. Kelly said. "Government is working to secure the best parks system for resident and non-resident users, and will be assessing the results of the privatization process to ensure these parks are delivering a good tourism experience."

"Government is very pleased with the parks privatization process to date. The new operators have made tremendous progress in a relatively short period of time. Government is confident that this dedication will result in a better parks system for this province and that equally successful arrangements will be found for each of the four parks currently undergoing the proposal process," Ms. Kelly said. "The 1997 privatization process generated incredible interest from the public, resulting in more than 600 enquiries. I am also pleased to report that all of the employees affected by this initiative accepted re-employment, severance or early retirement options offered by government."

"Within just weeks of start-up, some operators made considerable improvements to existing facilities and services as well as created new ones," Ms. Kelly said.

Government continues to own and operate a streamlined set of parks. The new system will maintain the three keystone parks, 10 camping parks, and seven natural and scenic attractions which are representative of all regions of the province and which offer wilderness and nature interpretation in direct support of the province's tourism strategy.

Government will announce the new park operators in the fall of this year following the conclusion of the proposal process.

Contact: Laura Cochrane, Director of Communications, Department of Tourism, Culture and Recreation. (709) 729-0928.

1997 08 28 1:00 p.m.

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