B.C. is home to a dozen B次元官网网址減remierB次元官网网址� provincial family campgrounds.

A quarter of them are within a three-hour drive from each other, right here on Vancouver Island.

The new B.C. Parks fee schedule for 2016 was released last week. It shows three Island campgrounds on an exclusive list of the most expensive camping stays in the province.

Rathtrevor Beach in Parksville, Gordon Bay on Cowichan Lake and Goldstream just north of Victoria each charge a B.C. provincial park high of $35 per party per night. Miracle Beach, partway between Comox and Campbell River, just missed the cut at $33.

B次元官网网址淭he three parks mentioned are amongst the most developed and popular in the system,B次元官网网址� Ministry of Environment officials said in an emailed statement. B次元官网网址淭heir fees are in line with other top-tier flagship parks.B次元官网网址�

The ministry states 21 million B.C. park visits B次元官网网址� including day trips B次元官网网址� per year create an increased demand for services and the fees help sustain the expected visitor experience. A $60 million investment in improvements during the past five years was also pointed to as a factor.

B次元官网网址淭he appeal of British ColumbiaB次元官网网址檚 treasured parks is reflected in the growing number of visitors who come from around the province, and the world, to enjoy them,B次元官网网址� Minister Mary Polak said. B次元官网网址淲e are ensuring B.C .Parks continue to offer a high level of service, as well as enhanced facilities, for the public to enjoy now and for many generations to come.B次元官网网址�

Longtime central Island NDP MLA Leonard Krog (Nanaimo) said demand is no excuse for high fees.

B次元官网网址�(Camping) fees were never designed for that, just like MSP was never designed to cover the cost of health care,B次元官网网址� Krog said.

B次元官网网址淚t should be available to the public at reasonable or no cost,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚 just think itB次元官网网址檚 outrageous that B.C. families canB次元官网网址檛 afford to camp at B.C. parks. That was always the cheap holiday for low-income families.B次元官网网址�

Krog said a succession of NDP and Social Credit governments always understood the parks system was about providing a public amenity, something he thinks has been forgotten under the B.C. Liberals.

B次元官网网址淚nstead, they have just become another commodity,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淐learly, they just arenB次元官网网址檛 the priority they once were.B次元官网网址�

The arrives with several hikes affecting many B.C. parks B次元官网网址� a majority of them $1 or $2. The most significant Island increases involve group camping fees.

The basic family rates at some of the IslandB次元官网网址檚 most popular parks, including Goldstream, Rathtrevor and Gordon Bay are not affected by the 2016 wave of increases, but each had rates jacked up by $5 in 2015.

The government says the hikes are expected to generate an additional $410, 000, which will be used to subsidize operating and maintenance costs.

In the 2014/15 fiscal year, West Coast campsites attracted 541,431 users, and generated $3,662,823 in revenue. Each figure was significantly higher than the previous six-year highs of 525,551 users and $3,286,979.

The 2015 individual breakdown was not yet available, but in 2014 Rathtrevor was the second busiest campground in the province with 80,737 overnight visitors. Goldstream was eighth (51,097) and Miracle Beach tenth (47,105). Golden Ears, outside Maple Ridge, topped the charts with 107,098 campers.

According to Krog, heB次元官网网址檚 getting feedback that the B.C. Parks system is no longer providing value for the money compared to other camping opportunities, a position the ministry rejects.

B次元官网网址淯ser fees at BC Parks are generally lower than those of most private campgrounds in the province, and competitive with public sector campgrounds in other jurisdictions,B次元官网网址� the emailed statement reads.

2016 overnight fees for other popular provincial family campsites on the Island include Morton Lake, Newcastle Island ($18 per night), Bamberton, Cowichan River, Elk Falls, China Beach, Loveland Bay, Buttle Lake ($20 per night), Englishman River Falls, Little Qualicum Falls ($23 per night), Sproat Lake ($25 per night) and French Beach ($26 per night)

According the government, more than 158, 000 reservations were made through Discover Camping last year B次元官网网址� an increase of nearly 19% from 2014. The reservation systems opens again March 15, the same time the fee hikes take effect.