The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador Environment and Conservation Department, Parks and Natural Areas Division maintains a number of full-use, day use and natural scenic attraction parks, as well as a set of Provincial Park Reserves in both the island and mainland portions of the province.
The provincial park reserves protect significant natural features or landscapes, and provide no day use or camping facilities. Many of these parks are the remaining landmass of former provincial parks privatized in 1995 or 1997, excluding campground space leased or sold to private operators or closed.[1]
These provincial reserves are intended to protect wilderness areas and wildlife habitat. They were created under the terms of the Wilderness and Ecological Reserves Act (WER Act) of 1980. With the exception of Burnt Cape, Cape St. Mary's, Mistaken Point, and Witless Bay, these areas contain few facilities and provide limited access to the public.[2]
Between 1995 and 1997, due to rising debt, the provincial government embarked on a program to reduce expenses in the Parks and Recreation system by privatizing a number of Provincial Parks and Natural and Scenic Attractions. This policy was controversial and was still being referenced negatively in debates in the Provincial House of Assembly as late as 2004.[3]
The privatization initiative was intended to retain the level of parks and recreational areas available to residents of and tourists in the province, while reducing the expense to the provincial government. It is unclear how successful this was, as at least of some of the privatized properties were no longer operating as of 2001.[4][5]
Parks Privatized or Closed (1997)
These parks and natural scenic attractions were privatized or closed in a second privatization initiative in 1997.[6]
^"Provincial Park Reserves". Government of Newfoundland and Labrador Department of Environment and Conservation (Parks and Natural Areas Division). Archived from the original on 31 October 2007. Retrieved 5 June 2007.
^"Wilderness and Ecological Reserves". Government of Newfoundland and Labrador Department of Environment and Conservation (Parks and Natural Areas Division). Retrieved 10 August 2007.
