26 February 2021

Discover Camping Reservation System and new High Speed internet in over 100 rural & Indigenous Communities

While parts of our province are still seeing snow, summer is not really all that far away! This year more than ever, we are all looking forward to spending time in the great outdoors. In B.C. we are lucky to having some truly beautiful places to camp, hike and explore. I know many of you are eager to start planning your summer adventures, and on that front, I have some excellent news to share.

The Discover Camping reservation system for BC Parks will open on March 8. People will be able to reserve a campsite for up to two months in advance, with a rolling two-month window. That means that on March 8, you’ll be able to book for dates up to May 8. And if you are planning a trip for the May long weekend (May 21-24), you can start booking on March 21.

To prepare for this exciting day, the reservation system has been scaled up with increased capacity to handle all the enthusiasm of B.C. campers. The call centre will also have increased staff for those who would like to make bookings over the phone.

Of course, we all still need to follow the public health guidance, and everyone is asked to pick camping destinations close to home for this summer. For that reason, British Columbia residents will have priority access to camping reservations for the first two months. People from outside of B.C. will be able to book campsites starting July 8, for the remainder of the season.

This week, we also announced that people in over 100 rural and Indigenous communities will soon have access to high-speed internet and better cellular service. As part of our economic recovery plan, we are helping ensure more people can use video conferencing, participate in online learning, and work remotely. This will make a real difference for people and businesses, at a time when virtual connections are more important than ever.

Since New Democrats formed government in 2017, we have begun or completed projects to improve high-speed internet access in over 500 communities, including 87 Indigenous communities – and we have more work to do. We know that the internet can open up opportunities for learning, growth, and connection, and everyone should have an equal chance to enjoy those benefits.