Alberta’s new parks minister to focus on tourism and open new campgrounds

Alberta’s new Minister of Forests, Parks and Tourism says his goal will be to make sure the province’s parks are more accessible to people.

Todd Loewen just received his mandate letter from Premier Danielle Smith.

The letter places a strong emphasis on tourism development in the provincial park system.

In it, Smith asks Loewen to develop campgrounds and recreational and tourism opportunities on provincial lands.

Loewen should speed up the approval of permits and licenses, establish a flow of tourist and hotel immigration, and improve tourist infrastructure in high-traffic areas.

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Excitement, caution over Danielle Smith’s accessibility measures

She also tells the minister to develop ways to manage provincial forests and grasslands to store carbon.

The two-page letter contains a mention of the need to be environmentally friendly.