Goals, Objectives, Strategies and Results — Continued

Goal 3: Provide and enhance park, fish and wildlife recreational services and opportunities for British Columbians and others.

The objectives set for this goal relate to the quality of recreational opportunities provided to users and the optimization of the contribution of park, fish and wildlife recreation to the province's economy. Performance measures for this goal focus on assessing the quality of the ministry's client service and the amount of economic contribution being generated by outdoor recreation.

Objective 1:

High-quality park facilities, services and recreation opportunities.

This objective focuses on the outdoor recreation opportunities provided by the ministry in the provincial park system. The strategies below identify key areas in which the ministry is working to provide high-quality client service in provincial parks.

Strategies:

1. Implement a new management model for B.C. parks to increase visitation through day use, camping and lodge usage.

2. Initiate further opportunities for delivery of appropriate park recreation services, through partnerships with commercial operators.

3. Monitor park operations to ensure service standards are achieved, facilities are maintained and conservation and habitat-restoration priorities are met.

Performance Measure:

The ministry's effectiveness in achieving the objective is being assessed using an outcome measure of park visitor satisfaction with campground facilities and services. The provincial government has conducted an annual satisfaction survey of visitors to campgrounds in the provincial parks system since 1985. This enables BC Parks to capture campers' views about the quality of services being provided in campgrounds, and therefore to identify priorities for service and facility improvements. The performance target is to maintain or improve visitor satisfaction, based on a five-year rolling average.

Benchmark Information: The performance result of 82% is slightly higher than it has been in the past five years. (Source: BC Ministry of Water, Land and Air Protection.)

Objective 2:

High-quality hunting, angling and wildlife viewing opportunities.

This objective focuses on the outdoor recreation opportunities the ministry provides related to fish and wildlife. The ministry is working simultaneously in a few key areas to achieve this objective as identified in the strategies below.

Strategies:

1. Work with the Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC to cooperatively manage the stocking of fish in lakes and streams, undertake conservation activities and promote freshwater angling.

2. Implement new projects or partnerships to expand, enhance and diversify fish and wildlife recreation.

3. Increase the involvement of First Nations and users in allocating natural resources for hunting, angling and wildlife viewing opportunities.

4. Provide hunting and angling authorizations, based on allowable harvest levels informed by science, to ensure the long-term sustainability of wildlife and fish resources.

Performance Measure:

As indicated in the 2003/04 – 2005/06 Service Plan, the ministry intends to use a survey to acquire data for an outcome measure of client satisfaction with fish and wildlife opportunities. The survey may be developed and administered electronically to hunters and anglers who purchase licences.

Objective 3:

Optimize the economic contribution of park, fish and wildlife recreation.

This objective is an important factor that the ministry considers when determining the level and types of park, fish and wildlife recreational services and opportunities to provide under Goal 3. The strategies below indicate initiatives the ministry is undertaking in several areas to achieve this objective.

Strategies:

1. Promote participation in recreational opportunities in conjunction with the provincial resort strategy initiatives.

2. Work with communities on the development of key parks and special tourism destinations.

3. Provide unique hunting and fishing opportunities to enhance regional tourism.

4. Provide appropriate cost recovery and financial return to the province for fish, wildlife and recreation services.

5. Explore electronic service delivery to improve the timeliness of licensing, authorization and permitting processes for fish, wildlife and park recreation.

6. Work with the Treaty Negotiations Office and First Nations to explore options for tourism partnerships related to park, fish and wildlife recreation.

7. Develop agreements/partnerships with other governments, the private sector and other stakeholders to improve park and wildlife recreation opportunities.

8. Provide communication and education about recreational opportunities and services to clients, using Web-based information sources.

Performance Measures:

Economic contribution can be estimated and reported in various ways. For now, the ministry is reporting the number of users of outdoor recreational opportunities to indicate economic contribution. The ministry can use this information to develop monetary estimates of the economic contribution associated with these recreational opportunities (e.g., expenditure data) and when it becomes available, monetary data may also be reported.

Hunting and angling licences sold: Currently, the ministry is reporting the number of basic hunting and angling licences sold in a particular year. This measure reflects the actual number of hunters and anglers benefiting from these recreational opportunities in British Columbia and provides a reasonable indication of the economic contribution resulting from fish and wildlife opportunities. The target is to maintain or increase the number of basic licences sold.

Park visitors: A measure of the economic contribution of parks is being provided through an estimate of the number of park visitors (measured as the number of recorded visits to provincial parks). For this performance measure, the target is to increase the number of recorded visits by 20% by 2010.

Benchmark Information: In 2002, there were approximately 19 million recorded visits to B.C. parks. In 2002/03, Saskatchewan had 2,318,700 provincial park visitors. (Source: Saskatchewan Environment. Annual Report 2002 – 03. 2003.) In 2001/02, Alberta had approximately 8,586,000 visitors to provincial parks and provincial recreation areas. (Source: Alberta Ministry of Community Development. Community Development Annual Report for the Fiscal Year Ended March 31, 2003.)