CHILLIWACK - Environment Minister Barry Penner is describing massive layoffs of park rangers as a "temporary situation" required in tough times.
His brief comments, as Liberal Leader Gordon Campbell toured a compressed natural gas plant, came amid reports this week that Mr. Penner's ministry is laying off up to half the rangers in some parks and that others may have to share rangers.
The NDP has picked up on the news and attacked the Liberals over the plan.
"We have to tighten our belts across government," said Mr. Penner, himself a former park ranger, suggesting the cuts would not affect year-round staff.
Mr. Penner, who is seeking re-election in Chilliwack-Hope, spoke to reporters on the sidelines as Mr. Campbell sought to rally Liberal support in this area of the Fraser Valley.
"It does mean we'll probably be in a position where we can't have as many seasonal rangers as we had last year," he said..
"I am hoping this is a temporary situation; that once the economy recovers and our budget numbers come back and we have more revenue, we'll be in a situation where we can have more rangers."
