One Area Director with the Thompson-Nicola Regional District has requested a meeting with B.C.’s Minister of Natural Resources at the Union of B.C. Municipalities conference next month over crown land access.

Thompson-Headwaters area director Stephen Quinn is concerned that a large chunk of crown land has gradually been reduced for public access and says there are a number of user groups that need that access that are important to the local economy. “The wide crown land base is shrinking. There are two reports that have been done recently, one by the snowmobile association that indicates snowmobiling all by itself contributes almost $300 million a year.”

He says a value of tourism study indicates the value for the small parcel of land he represents is upwards of 25 million dollars. “All of it is dependent on crown land and we have concerns that, that access may decrease for any number of reasons. And if that should happen, then those economies would really take a hit.” He also fears the uncertainty over closures for the caribou recovery program.

Quinn says the request for the meeting is in and he’s hopeful it will be approved for the UBCM conference which runs from September 23rd to the 27th in Vancouver.