In the past, traditional park rangers, wardens and conservation officers could be relied upon to provide both education and assistance to visitors, as well as enforcement of an extensive range of provincial, park and wildlife regulations. Over the past few years .. MNR staff reductions, re-organizations, cutbacks and privatization have coincided with a lowered quality of park management.

The outdoor duties of wardens and conservation officers are now absent or have been greatly reduced. This has resulted in those users, who are neglectful, routinely breaking the park's boating, fishing and camping regulations. Also, park users often do not know how to properly conduct themselves in a natural environment, especially with far fewer staff to advise them on safety and sustainable-use practices.

This is a deteriorating situation .. at odds with the MNR's stated goal of maintaining the sustainability of natural park values. If allowed to continue, this will result in greater numbers of poorly-informed users degrading campgrounds, campsites, portages and trails .. as well as compromising their own safety by neglecting to take necessary precautions in the park's natural environment.

Algonquin Park needs improved management. The present level of management is simply insufficient. If we leave Algonquin to under-resourced administration and under-staffed management, the park's neglect and degradation will accelerate.

We, the undersigned, urge every politician and bureaucrat in a responsible position to increase the number of wardens, conservation officers and their patrols to a level that will successfully preserve and protect Algonquin Park.