Parks Canada to open June 1st

[roddy]

Environment Minister Jonathan Wilkinson has announced national parks will resume some operations in June.
Wilkinson said some trails, day use areas, green spaces and recreational boating will be available starting June 1 at national parks, historic sites and waterways and national marine conservation areas.
Camping in parks will remain off limits at least until June 21, when the federal government will reassess whether it should be allowed

:https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/parks-canada-reopening-1.5569203

 

[defibril8me]

Canada Parks update

Thanks for the update.
We are so missing the Gulf Islands and South Vancouver Island area. We're hoping the two countries will allow movement between them soon as well.

Stay safe

 

[roddy]

Dont think it will be soon.
Canadian Federal Govt and Provinces do not want boarder open period.
Fall maybe???

 

[firehoser75]

For example, I just received the following from Canadian Power and Sail Squadrons:
To all Nanaimo Power and Sail Squadron members

Please stay off the Water this May Long Weekend
​

We have just received an urgent request, jointly issued by Canadian Coast Guard, Destination BC, Emergency Management BC, and the US Coast Guard. The full wording of the request is given below. We ask all CPS members to observe this request.

Recreational boaters and operators of non-motorized watercraft in British Columbia are being asked to avoid unnecessary travel, continue to observe public health guidelines, and proceed with common sense and good judgment if they choose to go on the water over the May long weekend and this boating season.

The Canadian Armed Forces, Canada Border Services Agency, Canadian Coast Guard, Indigenous Services Canada, Parks Canada Agency, RCMP, and other federal partners, Destination BC, Emergency Management BC, and the United States Coast Guard are working together this spring to ensure all mariners on the water stay safe and are observing COVID-19 protocols laid out by the BC Provincial Health Officer and Government of Canada.

A temporary restriction on all non-essential travel at the Canada-U.S. border is in place until May 21, 2020. Boaters travelling across international borders for non-essential purposes, including recreation and tourism, will be turned around. Mariners entering Canada for essential purposes must isolate for 14 days if they have symptoms of COVID-19 or, if not exempted, quarantine themselves for 14 days if they do not have symptoms.

Recreational boaters are also reminded that now is not the time to visit small communities on the British Columbia coast. Many communities, particularly First Nations communities, remain closed to visitors to protect themselves from the spread of COVID-19. If boaters must travel, they should be prepared to be self-sufficient as they may not have access to fuel, supplies and other services on their trip.

If boaters have been in close contact with someone with COVID-19 or are feeling sick, please don’t get on a boat. In a marine emergency, boaters should let emergency responders know if they have any flu- like symptoms when they call for assistance.

We are all in this together: for boaters this means observing federal and provincial health guidelines around cleaning, social distancing and practicing good hygiene; as well as being prepared by carrying all mandatory safety equipment, wearing a personal flotation device, leaving a trip plan with someone on shore, and avoid taking unnecessary risks on the water.

 

[rsn48]

None of the above is particularly new, in fact it was just announced Newcastle Island is open to boaters, but not to the small ferries that serviced it. So folks are good to go to Newcastle. More people in my area are concerned about folks from the mainland coming onto Vancouver Island. The Island hasn't flattened the curve, the curve doesn't exist anymore. Check out Covid 19 BC and look at the dates near the bottom and open those dates up and you will see the number of new cases on the Island has been at zero for about two weeks, then before that roughly average slightly more than 1 a day for a few weeks.

I still suggest gunkholing is the way to go from now through the summer. Lots to see and do, just not around the smaller communities. Its time to brush up on your anchoring technique.