The Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) and the Union of National Employees (UNE) have launched a campaign to fight back against the proposed privatization of the Canadian Rockies Hot Springs, including Radium Hot Springs, Miette Hot Springs and Banff Upper Hot Springs.
“As a celebrated part of our Canadian heritage and history, we have major concerns with Parks Canada’s plan to sell off these national treasures to private investors,” says Marianne Hladun, Regional Executive Vice-President for the PSAC Prairie Region. “Under privatization we will either see an increase in rates or decrease in the standards of service, because that’s the only way a private company can turn a profit.”
Concerned local residents have teamed up to promote the campaign on the ground in the affected communities and will be visiting local businesses to distribute postcards and discuss the impact privatization will have on their business and the entire community.
For Stephan Titcomb, Banff Upper Hot Springs employee, volunteering to help spread the word about this campaign was a no brainer. “I’ve been there for 14 years and I love working there. I’ve always had a passion for it and I don’t want to see it get privatized.”
Dawn Price, an employee at Miette Hot Springs, shares the same sentiment. “I’ve lived in Jasper National Park for a long time. The locals and the tourists want to see a strong Parks Canada presence across the board and that’s what we’re losing.”
More than popular tourist attractions, the hot springs are cornerstones of these communities and response to the fight back campaign has so far been overwhelmingly supportive.
“Customers are mortified and offended and scared. They don’t understand,” explains Price. “They’re worried how this will change the hot springs. There’s more to it for those people. Parks Canada is breaking the trust of these customers and the integrity of the pool.”
Plans are already underway for special community events in the new year to help bring concerned residents together to strategize and speak out.
“A big Parks Canada mandate is ‘real, inspiring and authentic,’” says Jaison Van Tine, Local President for UNE Local 30117. “But what they don’t seem to understand is that the hot springs are most authentic when they’re run by Parks Canada.”
Take Action: E-mail your MP to tell them to keep the springs in the public domain
Learn more about the Don't Sell Our Hot Springs campaign.