The unprecedented shutdown of BC Parks announced today could have a silver lining, according to a mayor of a town that borders the popular Wells Gray Park.

Clearwater mayor Merlin Blackwell says with no tourists around, there’s plenty of space to do projects like wildfire fuel mitigation and restoring trails and campgrounds.

“All of which the BC Parks system has standard manuels on. They know what needs to be done, all they have to do is ask their operators. But we’ve never had this opportunity because it’s never presented itself before. Whether you be a forestry worker, a road builder, a logging contractor or a parks worker, you know what needs to be done, it’s just a matter of funding it at this point because the plans are already there.”

Blackwell says he’s reached out to Environment Minister George Heyman with his recommendations.

On the flip side, he also says the closures will have a negative impact on businesses that rely on tourists.

“I think it’s a bit of an extra shock, I don’t think people quite realized a delay like this may be coming. Fortunately, May is not a hugely busy month for tourism here locally. It’s an important month, it’s maybe 10 per cent of the business, but the message it sends closing provincial parks could have a longer-term ripple effect through the provincial economy.”

(Photo credit: BC Parks)