Have your say: BC’s 2027 Budget Consultation open
Image: Image: Kootenay Rockies Tourism/With Endless Adventures/Mitch Winton
The Province of BC’s 2027 Budget Consultation is now open, providing an important opportunity for outdoor recreation organizations, volunteers, communities, and partners to help ensure that trails, parks, recreation sites, access routes, stewardship, and volunteer-led recreation are reflected in provincial budget decisions.
The consultation is open until 2:00 pm PT on June 19, and organizations can provide written input through the Parliamentary Committees Consultation Portal. Some organizations will also be presenting directly to the Finance Committee.
As the provincial voice for outdoor recreation, the Outdoor Recreation Council of BC is preparing a submission focused on practical, high-impact investments that support communities, strengthen the outdoor recreation sector, and help ensure people across BC can continue to access and enjoy the outdoors.
We encourage outdoor recreation organizations and partners to consider making their own submissions and sharing examples from their communities, regions, or activity areas.
ORCBC’s recommendations build on priorities identified by members and sector partners. They are intended to align with the Province’s current focus on economic growth, affordability, health and wellbeing, rural development, and careful use of public dollars.
ORCBC’s Budget 2027 Priorities
Our proposed recommendations are:
Stable, multi-year funding for BC Parks and Recreation Sites and Trails BC
BC’s parks, trails, recreation sites, and public outdoor spaces are essential infrastructure. Long-term, predictable funding is needed to support planning, maintenance, visitor management, partnerships, and safe public access.
Additional investment in the Outdoor Recreation Fund of BC
Community-based outdoor recreation organizations play a vital role in maintaining trails, delivering stewardship projects, supporting volunteers, improving access, and creating inclusive opportunities for people to get outside. Increased investment in the Outdoor Recreation Fund would help more of these projects move forward.
Proactive planning and maintenance for key outdoor recreation access routes
Many outdoor recreation opportunities depend on safe and reliable access through resource roads, trailheads, bridges, drainage infrastructure, and access points. Proactive planning and maintenance can help reduce long-term costs, support rural communities, and prevent the loss of important public recreation opportunities.
Why Your Input Matters
Budget consultations are a chance to show MLAs and the Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services how outdoor recreation contributes to life in British Columbia.
In your submission, you may wish to highlight how outdoor recreation supports:
Local communities and rural economies
Tourism and small businesses
Public health and wellbeing
Volunteerism and community stewardship
Access to Crown land and public recreation opportunities
Climate resilience and responsible land use
Affordable, low-barrier opportunities for people to be active outdoors
Specific examples from your organization, region, or activity area can be especially helpful. Stories from the ground help decision-makers understand how provincial investments, or lack of investment, affect volunteers, communities, recreation users, and land managers
Helpful resources
As you prepare your input, you may wish to review:
You are welcome to draw from ORCBC’s key messages or reference the same three priorities where they align with the needs and experiences of your organization and members.
We also encourage members to consider making their own submission and to reinforce shared outdoor recreation priorities where they align with their organization’s work.
Thank you for helping ensure outdoor recreation is well represented in the Budget 2027 consultation, and good luck to those presenting to the Finance Committee.