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Horgan visits Okanagan with campground message

The leader of the provincial New Democrats would like to see more campsites at provincial parks throughout British Columbia.
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Provincial NDP leader John Horgan was speaking at Okanagan Lake Park last week stating he wants more campsites at provincial parks.

The leader of the provincial New Democrats would like to see more campsites at provincial parks throughout British Columbia.

Speaking at Okanagan Lake Provincial Park last week, John Horgan said increasing campground fees, a shortage of campsites and problems with the campsite reservation system are making it difficult for families to go camping.

“People lucky enough to find a campsite here at Okanagan Lake are being forced to pay even more money to experience one of the jewels in our provincial campground system this year,” he said. “The Christy Clark government is making it harder and harder to enjoy the beautiful campgrounds British Columbians have already paid for with their taxes, and I say it’s time to let B.C. camp.”

Horgan said camping fees have increased by 16.5 per cent over last year’s fees.

He added that the provincial Liberals have closed more than 3,000 drive-in campsites since 2001 and have reduced camping seasons at 45 provincial campgrounds.

Two provincial campgrounds, Skutz Falls and koksilah River, have been shut down completely.

Horgan said the campground reservation system must be restructured so spaces cannot be booked by resellers.

He said a New Democratic Party government would add 3,000 campsites over four years.

The party has not yet calculated the cost of adding the campsites, but Horgan said a benefit would be additional employment opportunities.

He said money for the project could come from addressing government waste.