Alberta's NDP says the UCP provincial government is spending millions of dollars of taxpayers money to hire a private security firm to enforce the payment of their $90 Kananaskis Country pass..“Remember when you’re forced to pay for your fee, while the UCP enjoys a $13-billion surplus, they are charging you $90 to pay someone to make sure you paid your $90,” NDP Critic for Environment and Parks Marlin Schmidt said..“It’s absurd.”.In an invoice released through a Freedom of Information Act request to the NDP, Alberta Environment and Parks paid Global Traffic Group $166,666.67 for one month of “enforcement and monitoring of compliance with the Kananaskis Conservation Pass.”. FOIP documentFOIP document .“Like many Albertans, I oppose the UCP charging people to use Kananaskis Country,” Schmidt said..“Albertans own that beautiful and distinctly Albertan space and we should all be able to use it freely. It’s even more galling that the money the UCP is taking from Alberta families is not being used to conserve this area. I’ve heard from many Albertans that they don’t see this money being put to good use in protecting the park land.”.Alberta’s NDP says it is committed to abolishing the fee if they form the next government..“This is a good moment for Minister Issik to admit that this has all been a terrible mistake and abolish the fee altogether,” Schmidt said..“But like most Albertans, I don’t have much confidence in the UCP’s ability to recognize and correct their own mistakes.".“An Alberta NDP government will abolish this absurd fee, leave those $90 in your pocket, and turn Pay-Country back into K-Country.".Alberta’s government says it is committed to conserving the future of Kananaskis Country.."The Kananaskis Conservation Pass is intended to be a more sustainable way of supporting the region," Environment and Parks Senior Press Secretary Rob Williams told the Western Standard..According to Williams, before the introduction of the pass, Albertans subsidized 75% of operational costs in the region, leaving less money for other parks across the province. With the pass now in place, Albertans fund 25% of K-Country’s operational expenses, which frees up more money to support all of Alberta's provincial parks.."In its first fiscal year (June 1, 2022 to March 31, 2022), the Kananaskis Conservation Pass generated $12 million. We are anticipating up to $15 million in revenues this year. So far this year more than 146,000 passes have been sold, generating more than $7.1 million," Williams said.."We have partnered with St. Albert’s Global Traffic Group for enforcement services. Our three-year contract is worth $2 million per year, representing just 13% of anticipated pass revenues. The remaining 87% directly supports conservation, outdoor recreation and public safety in the region.".He said 74% of license plates scanned so far this year have been compliant.."Our approach is cost-effective, fair and efficient. Alternatives like establishing monitored gates or toll roads would require millions in capital investment at multiple sites throughout the region, plus staffing costs," Williams said..This is what the Western Standard is up againstThe Trudeau government is funding lies and propaganda by directly subsidizing the mainstream media. They do this to entrench the powerful Eastern, woke and corrupt interests that dominate the political, social and economic institutions in Canada. Federal authorities are constantly trying to censor us and stop us from publishing the stories that they don’t want you to read. Ottawa may weaponize our taxes and police against us, but we’ve got a powerful ally on our side.You. Free men, and free women. We need you to stand with us and become a member of the Western Standard. Here’s what you will get for your membership:Unlimited access to all articles from the Western Standard, Alberta Report, West Coast Standard, and Saskatchewan Standard, with no paywall. Our daily newsletter delivered to your inbox. .Access to exclusive Member-only WS events.Keep the West’s leading independent media voice strong and free.If you can, please support us with a monthly or annual membership. It takes just a moment to set up, and you will be making a big impact on keeping one the last independent media outlets in Canada free from Ottawa’s corrupting influence.
Alberta's NDP says the UCP provincial government is spending millions of dollars of taxpayers money to hire a private security firm to enforce the payment of their $90 Kananaskis Country pass..“Remember when you’re forced to pay for your fee, while the UCP enjoys a $13-billion surplus, they are charging you $90 to pay someone to make sure you paid your $90,” NDP Critic for Environment and Parks Marlin Schmidt said..“It’s absurd.”.In an invoice released through a Freedom of Information Act request to the NDP, Alberta Environment and Parks paid Global Traffic Group $166,666.67 for one month of “enforcement and monitoring of compliance with the Kananaskis Conservation Pass.”. FOIP documentFOIP document .“Like many Albertans, I oppose the UCP charging people to use Kananaskis Country,” Schmidt said..“Albertans own that beautiful and distinctly Albertan space and we should all be able to use it freely. It’s even more galling that the money the UCP is taking from Alberta families is not being used to conserve this area. I’ve heard from many Albertans that they don’t see this money being put to good use in protecting the park land.”.Alberta’s NDP says it is committed to abolishing the fee if they form the next government..“This is a good moment for Minister Issik to admit that this has all been a terrible mistake and abolish the fee altogether,” Schmidt said..“But like most Albertans, I don’t have much confidence in the UCP’s ability to recognize and correct their own mistakes.".“An Alberta NDP government will abolish this absurd fee, leave those $90 in your pocket, and turn Pay-Country back into K-Country.".Alberta’s government says it is committed to conserving the future of Kananaskis Country.."The Kananaskis Conservation Pass is intended to be a more sustainable way of supporting the region," Environment and Parks Senior Press Secretary Rob Williams told the Western Standard..According to Williams, before the introduction of the pass, Albertans subsidized 75% of operational costs in the region, leaving less money for other parks across the province. With the pass now in place, Albertans fund 25% of K-Country’s operational expenses, which frees up more money to support all of Alberta's provincial parks.."In its first fiscal year (June 1, 2022 to March 31, 2022), the Kananaskis Conservation Pass generated $12 million. We are anticipating up to $15 million in revenues this year. So far this year more than 146,000 passes have been sold, generating more than $7.1 million," Williams said.."We have partnered with St. Albert’s Global Traffic Group for enforcement services. Our three-year contract is worth $2 million per year, representing just 13% of anticipated pass revenues. The remaining 87% directly supports conservation, outdoor recreation and public safety in the region.".He said 74% of license plates scanned so far this year have been compliant.."Our approach is cost-effective, fair and efficient. Alternatives like establishing monitored gates or toll roads would require millions in capital investment at multiple sites throughout the region, plus staffing costs," Williams said..This is what the Western Standard is up againstThe Trudeau government is funding lies and propaganda by directly subsidizing the mainstream media. They do this to entrench the powerful Eastern, woke and corrupt interests that dominate the political, social and economic institutions in Canada. Federal authorities are constantly trying to censor us and stop us from publishing the stories that they don’t want you to read. Ottawa may weaponize our taxes and police against us, but we’ve got a powerful ally on our side.You. Free men, and free women. We need you to stand with us and become a member of the Western Standard. Here’s what you will get for your membership:Unlimited access to all articles from the Western Standard, Alberta Report, West Coast Standard, and Saskatchewan Standard, with no paywall. Our daily newsletter delivered to your inbox. .Access to exclusive Member-only WS events.Keep the West’s leading independent media voice strong and free.If you can, please support us with a monthly or annual membership. It takes just a moment to set up, and you will be making a big impact on keeping one the last independent media outlets in Canada free from Ottawa’s corrupting influence.
