GOVERNMENT ONE STEP CLOSER TO CREATING A NEW PROVINCIAL PARK

Parks, Culture and Sport Minister Kevin Doherty introduced first reading of Bill 62, The Parks Amendment Act 2012 (No. 2) which includes establishing a new provincial park in the area of Anglin and Emma Lakes.

"With our growing province, and our provincial parks setting another new attendance record in 2012, we want to create opportunities for as many visitors as possible to enjoy one of our beautiful provincial parks," Doherty said. "This new park will result in an additional 12,821 hectares of Crown lands being protected in a park that will also include the existing Anglin Lake and Emma Lake Recreation Sites, resulting in a total park area of 16,010 hectares."

The new park is identified in this Bill as Anglin-Emma Lakes Provincial Park. This is an interim name and it will be amended prior to third reading after local jurisdictions, including local communities, Aboriginal communities and school groups are given a chance to comment and recommend a new name.

Designating this new park will result in improved protection to an area of the mid-boreal upland eco-region of Saskatchewan, local watersheds and natural resources, of which, several plant and animal species are endangered or considered species of concern.

Two years of consultation has shown overall support for the proposed park at Anglin and Emma Lakes and has resulted in a decision to proceed with designation of this new provincial park. The Bill will go for third reading in the spring of 2013 and then, if passed, will become an official provincial park. Public engagement will continue for the detailed management and development plan for the park.

The second proposed park in the Porcupine Hills (Hudson Bay) area has shown further consultations are required to better understand the nature of people's views on a provincial park in that area. The consultation process for this proposed park area will be extended.

Saskatchewan's provincial parks have seen an estimate of 3.56 million visits in 2012 and our province continues to grow.

Government has invested $33 million to improve Saskatchewan's provincial parks from 2008 to 2012. Government is continuing to improve Saskatchewan's provincial parks by investing, over and above base capital funding, an additional $10 million in park upgrades from 2012 to 2016.

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For more information, contact:

Crystal Froese
Parks, Culture and Sport
Regina
Phone: 306-787-7828
Email: crystal.froese@gov.sk.ca
Cell: 306-529-4087