British Columbia – British Columbia – In response to the latest closures of provincial parks to non-Indigenous people, Public Land Use Society (PLUS) is calling for a more balanced and inclusive approach to public land decisions in British Columbia that better reflects the public interest.
“We respect Indigenous rights and title, but reconciliation does not mean abandoning transparency or abdicating control over lands that belong to all British Columbians,” said Warren Mirko, Executive Director of PLUS. “We’re pushing for solutions that uphold reconciliation without sacrificing access, accountability, or public oversight.”
Formed last month, PLUS is a provincial non-profit society representing outdoor recreationists, landowners, industry participants, and community groups who are increasingly alarmed by the government’s closed-door approach to Crown land decisions. With more than 95 per cent of B.C. designated as Crown land, decisions about its use carry far-reaching impacts.
Recent closures reflect a broader trend toward secretive policymaking that alienates the public, denies access and erodes trust. The decision to close Joffre Lakes Park, among several closures in the past few weeks, has become a flashpoint in a growing shift away from transparency and public inclusion in land-use decisions.
“There will always be competing demands when it comes to public land, and finding the right balance that reflects the broad public interest is crucial. The provincial government is the only level of government that’s responsible for looking out for the interests of all British Columbians, and they’re increasingly failing to do so,” said Dr. Caroline Elliott, a director at PLUS who regularly speaks on public land issues. “It’s time to get back to the basic principle that B.C.’s beautiful provincial parks and public lands belong to all British Columbians.”
The government is now rolling out opaque consent-based commitments, such as the recent land use planning process in northwestern B.C., covering nearly a third of the province’s land base. It includes a one-year pause on new mineral tenures and closely mirrors last year’s shelved Land Act amendments, reintroduced under a different banner. These co-land use decision-making arrangements risk undermining provincial authority and accountability, affecting not just resource development, but all decisions on Crown land.
Crown land decisions affect everyone. When the public is excluded and the rules are unclear, the result is confusion, mistrust, and long-term harm to communities across British Columbia. Fairness, transparency, and equal access must be the foundation of any path forward.
About PLUS
Public Land Use Society (PLUS) is a provincial non-profit organization dedicated to ensuring decisions about both public and private land in British Columbia are transparent, lawful, and made in the public interest. These decisions shape homes, businesses, and communities across the province. PLUS supports a balanced approach to managing Crown land that safeguards public access, ensures British Columbians have a meaningful say in decisions affecting these lands, and requires that any authority beyond that of the B.C. government has a clear and transparent legal basis under Canadian law.
Media Contact:
Warren Mirko
Executive Director, Public Land Use Society (PLUS)
[email protected]