Mike W. Bryant
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Mar 24/04) - The territorial government is thinking about relaxing rules that prohibit campground users from staying longer than 14 days.

The government brought in the rule three years ago, after it noticed several campgrounds, particularly those outside Yellowknife and Hay River, were filled to capacity by area residents at the peak of the summer tourism season.

Yellowknife resident Rob Marios enjoyed camping with his girlfriend at Fred Henne Park last summer but felt the 14-day maximum was a little unreasonable. - NNSL file photo

However, complaints from NWT residents that parks were often empty during the off-season while the 14-day rule remained has the government considering scrapping the rule for the earlier and later parts of the summer camping season.

OK to relax the rules

"The crux of it is, on the shoulder seasons, we think we don't have to be as stringent," said Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development Minister Brendan Bell.

"We're going to have some discussion about the dates. I'm still waiting to see some data on the traffic and demand on the parks."

NWT parks usually open by May 15 and close on the same date in September.

Bell said nothing has been decided yet, including how long the relaxed off-season periods would last.

Nowhere else to go

Yellowknife Centre MLA Robert Hawkins brought the matter up in the legislative assembly, Friday.

He said he has fielded numerous complaints from residents wanting to do some camping at the end of summer at Fred Henne Park but can't because they've already used up the 14-days allotted them.

"They don't have anywhere to go," said Hawkins.

"In the summer, my constituents recognize that when the park is full they'll come back home, but they want to enjoy empty park space when the park is empty."