£4

Opinion

Nitinat program threatened by national status us.

In 1990, Bob Lee, vice-principal
and co-ordinator of the Grade 12
traditional Nitinat hiking and can-
oeing trip, was warned that the
Pacific Rim “national” park was
in the process of becoming an
official national park.

This process, called “gazet-
ting,” requires extensive consulta-
tion including double publication
in the Canada Gazette, a federal
government publication. The first
time is for public comment, the
second to establish official rule.

Last week, when Lee tried to
book his PE. class onto the trail,
he was informed by the reception-
ist and Howie Hambleton, chief of
visitor services, that a new set of
Testrictions is in effect as a result
of the proposed change.

The park is enforcing a daily
maximum of 52 hikers a day and
taking reservations for departure
times. Camping around the park
waiting for a tur to hike may be
acceptable for tourists, but not for
school groups missing class.

Organizations entering the park
have been restricted to 10 people
per group on odd days. In a letter
to Hooper, Lee explained that this

makes it impossible to accommo-
date classes of 25 to 30 even with
half the group leaving by canoe on
Nitinat Lake and the other hiking
from Pachena’ Bay.

Another regulation requires a
group member to drive approxi-
mately 77 kilometres northwest to
Pachena Bay to register the group

-while the others wait at Knob

Point.

At the point of registration, the
group is issued a set of hiking
regulations and camping rules.

Lee has seen this set of rules and
says that his students learn far
more in the school’s six-week
training program.

“Basically, what they've done
by their new regulations is cancel
our program,” Lee said.

Stelly’s has been taking students
into the area for well over a
decade.

Doug Yurich of Parks Canada in
Ottawa explained that offenses to
regulations couldn’t be punished
before the process of gazetting is
complete. But, after the park is
declared national, groups will be
“liable to a fine not exceeding
$2,000 or a lesser amount pre-
scribed by the particular regula-
tion,” under the National Parks
Act.

Ron Hooper, superintendent of
the Pacific Rim Park, explained

that the intent behind the new
restrictions was to “protect natural
and cultural resources.”

He expressed concem for the
environmental impact of groups
and the enjoyment of other tra-
velers when large groups are in the
area.

Lee said 10,-12,000 hikers enter
the area every year. There are 25
school groups, of approximately
20 to 30 each, that hike in the area

OPEN EVERYDAY
18:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
TO SERVE
YOU BETTER

7154 W. SAANICH RD. BRENTWOOD BAY -

QUALITY FRESH MEAT

every year.
Sharon Budd, acting chief of the
legislation and regulations divi-

sion for National Parks directorate cially closed.

of the Canadian Parks Service,
said that the Pacific Rim is not a
national park and “as a result,
there are no regulations in place
yet.”

Budd added that “the Pacific
Rim is not a high priority in terms
of the proclamation.”

Hooper argued that the federal
Minister of Environment, “indi-
cated that it is a priority.”

Students feel that the new regu-
lations discriminate against school
groups.

Damage in the area is blamed
“Mostly on (student groups),”
said student Jennifer Johnson.
“But we're trained and we always
pick up our garbage as we go.”

When Lee asked Hambleton
what he could do to avoid cancel-
ing the program at Stelly’s, Ham-
bleton suggested they could travel
during the off-season from Octo-
ber to May:

Glen Meadows
Country Club

Newly Renovated
Banquet Hall
and
Dining room.
Perfect for Weddings,
Luncheons. Open daily for
Lunch. Beautiful View,
Reasonable Prices

WE RESERVE
QUALITY FRESH MEAT

1050 McTavish Rd. 656-3136 |

TheReview Wednesday, March 11, 1992, — AQ

Sidney
PA c :
Coming from the chief of visitor Bf Of is service
services, it seems odd to suggest <3 Res Above
travelling when the trail is offi- Hees Self

_

ws Wilts Ax.

»* “The MEN’S Shop”
Just North of the

Landmark Building on 2nd St.
656-4443

MARCH 9th - 14th, 1992
Join Us As We Celebrate the
Opening of Our Yeu Pub
«Yew Look*

«Yew Atmosphere*

* Yor Attitude*

*Daily Lunch & Dinner Specials*
ENTER TO WIN A TRIP FOR TWO TO RENO

Includes Air Fare and Accommodation.
(NO PURCHASE NEGESSARY)

THE WADDLING
DOG INN

2476 Mt. Newton X Road
SAANICHTON 652-1146

100% LOCALLY|
OWNED AND
OPERATED

Prices Effective
March 10 - 16, 1992

THE RIGHT TO LIMIT QUANTITIES
QUALITY FRESH MEAT _

GARDEN FRESH PRODUCE _