Don’t sell our hot springs, say Jasper residents

They belong to all Canadians.

from Public Servie Alliance of Canada Prairie Region

Members of the PSAC prairie region organized a town hall meeting recently with concerned residents in Jasper, BC to discover there was widespread agreement about the privatization of three Parks Canada hot springs: it should not occur.

Parks Canada announced its plans to privatize the operations of the hot springs in Banff, Jasper and Radium late last year.

Affected PSAC members expect an increase in fees or a decrease in the standards of service, and Jasper residents agreed.

For Doris Setcher, the hot springs have been a place for celebrations for half a century.

"Fifty years ago, we celebrated our honeymoon at the hot springs," she said. "We celebrated there because it was the most reasonable place we could afford after university. It turned out to be a wonderful place for us, and we've been back many, many times. Our daughter was even engaged there. Under privatization, it will no longer be a suitable place for young people to get engaged, spend their honeymoon and enjoy the scenery."

"I think what the government is trying to do is undermine our workforce by bringing in cheap labour," she added. "I think our resources are valuable, and our people should be paid well for what they do."

The hot springs are a cost-neutral Parks Canada program, earning about one million dollars in profits each year.

"I think everyone in this room would be here even if we knew that the hot springs were operating at a loss," said resident Brian Lackie. "But to know they're operating at a profit, and still being sold off, it seems like such an insult."

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