Texas firm gets online fees for Manitoba park passes By: Kevin Rollason Posted: 6:56 PM CDT Thursday, May. 7, 2020 Last Modified: 8:53 AM CDT Friday, May. 8, 2020 Updates

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This article was published 06/05/2020 (1708 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

While the U.S. border remains closed owing to the COVID-19 pandemic, extra fees to buy provincial park passes or fishing and hunting licences online will be heading stateside.

Doug Petersen says he always buys an annual provincial park pass and fishing licence at a store, but this year he decided to take advantage of the province’s new online system to get them.

That’s when Peterson discovered he would have to pay an administration fee of $4.50 apiece — a total of $9 — and then when he got the receipt, he found the fees went to a Dallas, Texas-based reservation company.

“I sign up on a Manitoba government website and I get a receipt from an American company? Where is my information going? I can’t believe the government would do this.”

The province announced the additional online service and fees earlier this year but, as the temperatures rise, fishing season starts this weekend, and the May long weekend on the horizon, many Manitobans are just learning about charges now.

Conservation and Climate Minister Sarah Guillemard said in a press release in March that while Manitobans can still buy the passes and licenses in person at certain retail outlets, including Cabela’s and gas stations and convenience stores near or in provincial parks, the website option allows a 24/7 purchase option.

“Moving to an online system from a paper-based one will enable our government to improve the services we deliver, while decreasing our carbon footprint,” Guillemard said in a statement at the time.

The additional charge also means that if you go online a $5 provincial park day pass will cost you a total of $9.50, almost double the cost.

But Petersen said not only does the online option cost more, it also takes away sales from the small businesses who have been selling the passes and licenses for years.

“Last year I went into a store in Betula Lake and I bought a park pass and a fishing license,” he said. “I also bought some snacks. I probably spent between $50 to $100 there, which probably made their day.”

Phil Spring is co-owner of one of those stores, the Fas Gas on Highway 8 near Riverton on the way to Hecla-Grindstone Provincial Park.

“What they’re doing is totally out of whack,” Spring said.

“A person just left mad because he doesn’t have a computer. I told them they could go see a CO (Conservation Officer) who could do it if they have time, but they don’t always have time. And with COVID-19, you don’t want people in their offices,” he said.

Spring said what irked him personally was while the American company is able to charge a $4.50 administrative fee, the province pays retailers like him only $1 per sale. As well, he said the online option wasn’t brought in because of COVID-19 — retailers were told it was coming last November.

“And seniors are supposed to get free fishing licences — I guess it won’t be free anymore (if they go online) — they’ll have to pay $4.50.”

Eric Reder, of the Wilderness Committee, said other changes made by the province include having people register two licence plates for each park pass purchased.

“Gone are the days of remembering to switch the park pass to your other vehicle,” Reder said. “It means borrowing, renting or using a car-share to access a provincial park will also be more difficult with this new system producing yet another barrier for Manitobans.”

Car-sharing company Peg City Car Co-op is addressing the issue by purchasing passes for its vehicles, so that members using the service can access parks.

A provincial government spokesman said Manitoba was one of the last provinces to implement an online option to buy fishing and hunting licenses.

“Park entry permits were included in this first phase of online licenses and permits, as park visitors sometimes have difficulty finding an outlet from whom to purchase a permit, especially if they are visiting a park with limited services or nearby vendors,” the spokesman said. “Now they can purchase a permit and print it at home before they leave for the park.”

The spokesman said RA Outdoors Ltd., operating as Aspira, based in Dallas, Texas, was the service provider chosen through a tendering process. He said the $4.50 fee pays for services provided by Aspira including hosting and maintaining the site 24/7 and operating a toll-free information number.

kevin.rollason@freepress.mb.ca

Kevin Rollason
Reporter

Kevin Rollason is one of the more versatile reporters at the Winnipeg Free Press. Whether it is covering city hall, the law courts, or general reporting, Rollason can be counted on to not only answer the 5 Ws — Who, What, When, Where and Why — but to do it in an interesting and accessible way for readers.

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