Minister of the Environment and Minister responsible for Parks Canada Jim Prentice, announced a two year fee freeze at national parks and national historic sites managed by Parks Canada on May 9.

“It’s certainly responding to things we’ve heard from people for quite some time related to fees and is also in support of Canada’s commitment and the government of Canada’s commitment to try and reduce the burden of the hard economic times,” said Jasper National Park Superintendent Greg Fenton.

According to a Parks Canada news release, Prentice stated “we are helping to support time-honoured traditions such as the summer family camping trip and the student backpacking adventure.” Minister Prentice goes on to stay that “this important economic decision will help make Canada’s best vacation destinations more affordable to Canadians, and will help make our parks more attractive worldwide.”

The fee freeze announcement coincided with the rollout of Parks Canada’s new advertising campaign on television and the internet. The Jasper National Park online ad features park treasures such as Maligne Lake, scores of wildlife and activities such as mountain biking and horseback riding. 

For Jasper, this announcement follows a $17.6 million funding pledge for Jasper and Banff National Parks from Minister of State for Transport Rob Merrifield on April 17. These funds are part of the $150 million Economic Action Plan announced in the 2009 federal budget, which allocates money for improving national parks’ visitors facilities and protecting national historic sites.

According to Fenton, park fees have increased 10 per cent annually over the past five years, so visitors this year are essentially getting a 10 per cent savings on trips to JNP and other national parks. Whether this savings will translate into an increase in visitation, Fenton said that “it’s too soon tell.” 

Over the past year or so, there have been many upgrades to park facilities. The Athabasca Falls day use area, which hosts more than 350,000 visitors annually, has received upgrades including washrooms, picnic areas, railings and fences. There have also been similar upgrades at Maligne Canyon as well as an installation of new interpretive media. Additionally, there have been visitor trail and trailhead upgrades and revitalization and Wapiti and Whistlers campgrounds have improved facilities for the upcoming summer season. 

Fees were originally established as a cost recovery mechanism, said Fenton. When asked if he is concerned that a fee freeze will hamper park plans, Fenton stated that, “the fee freeze shouldn’t impact negatively over the next two years the kinds of additional things we have already planned,” while adding that “we’re pretty confident that we have a quality service, a premiere service and lots of neat experiences... and that people will continue to come.”