‘See how it goes:’ Ross discusses lifting alcohol ban for May long weekend

More than 17 years after it was first put in place in Saskatchewan, the ban on alcohol consumption in provincial parks for the May long weekend has been lifted.

Laura Ross — the province’s minister of parks, culture and sport — said Thursday the decision was made in part because of the other recent legislation change that will allow municipalities to make drinking in their public parks legal.

“There was some pressure on us to say, ‘What about the long weekend?’ ” said Ross.

The ban originally came into effect in March 2006.

“There was a lot of vandalism that took place, you know, like the picnic tables and different camping sites … A lot of people kind of went a little overboard,” explained Ross.

Now, Alberta and Manitoba have also lifted their bans, and Ross said the camping clientele has changed as well.

“We felt that this year we would consider this. We’ll take a look (and) see how it goes. If there are issues, then we’ll reconsider,” she said.

Alcohol and cannabis will be able to be legally consumed in campsites and cabins at provincial parks but still won’t be allowed in public areas like beaches.