Budget 2023: What we know so far

Steve Shannon Photography

Finance Minister Katrine Conroy finished her budget speech earlier today. While we're reviewing the budget in more detail, here are excepts of the funding commitments in the three-year fiscal plan with particular interest to the organized recreation sector:

BC Parks and Recreation Sites & Trails

The government is investing $70 million in operating funding and $31 million in capital funding over three years at provincial parks and other outdoor recreation sites and trails. There is an increase of $40 million dollars (over three years) than what was projected in last year’s budget.

The new funding will primarily support both routine and critical repair and maintenance work, including trails, and ensure more provincial parks meet basic accessibility requirements.

This builds off recent Budget 2021 investments of $36 million in operating funding and $47 million in capital funding for BC Parks and campsite expansions in recognition of the higher demand in B.C.’s public outdoor spaces since the pandemic.

Enhancing Forest Service Roads

There are over 60,000 kilometres of forest service roads across the province. Forest service roads act as critical connection points, providing the sole access to some rural, remote and Indigenous communities and to many of B.C.’s parks and recreation sites. The road network allows rural residents to access essential services and provides outdoor recreation opportunities to all British Columbians. Budget 2023 provides an additional $35 million in operating funding and $14 million in capital funding to maintain and upgrade forest service roads. Funding will support better road conditions to communities and recreation areas to ensure safe and reliable access.

Active Transportation

$100 million over the next three years for building active transportation networks – the single largest investment in active transportation in B.C. history - to local governments improve active transportation infrastructure, such as installing bike lanes and building multi-use paths in parks.

Forest Landscape Planning

Budget 2023 provides $21 million over three years to initiate eight more regional Forest Landscape Planning tables, expanding on the existing four. This will support the implementation of the recommendations from the Old Growth Strategic Review and help the Province achieve its target to temporarily defer 2.6 million hectares of old growth forests.

Watershed Security Fund

Healthy watersheds are vital to ensuring British Columbia has good quality water for healthy ecosystems, recreation and communities. Government has allocated $100 million to the Watershed Security Fund to enable projects that benefit a range of provincial priorities, including wild salmon health, clean drinking water, biodiversity, flood resilience, economic opportunities, and reconciliation with First Nations.