News that admission to Canada’s national parks will be free in 2017 was warmly welcomed by Tourism Jasper and the wider business community, but questions remain about who will compensate Parks Canada for the lost revenue.
Last week, Parks announced that entrance to more than 200 national parks, historic sites and marine conservation areas, including Jasper National Park, would be free to all visitors in 2017 as part of the government’s plan to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Confederation.
In addition to the announcement, the agency said annual park passes purchased this year would be valid for 24 months, or until 2018.
While the announcement fills Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s election promise, Parks was scant on details about how it would recoup the lost revenue from unpaid gate fees.
“Exact details are still being determined and will be announced in due course,” wrote Natalie Fay, a spokesperson for Parks, in an email.
According to Jasper National Park’s 2014 annual report, in 2013/14, JNP had an operating budget of just over $23 million and it collected about $4.25 million from entrance fees, representing about 18 per cent of the park’s total operating budget.
The report forecasted that revenue from entrance fees was expected to increase to nearly $5 million in 2014/15 and recent visitation numbers support that projection, with 2.1 million people visiting Jasper through the first nine months of 2015—a six per cent increase over the same period a year earlier.
According to the agency’s financial statements, it collected approximately $59 million in entrance fees across Canada in 2014.
Those park fees remain in the national park or national historic site where they are collected and are used to help pay for infrastructure, trails, public safety, education and information services.
“We would assume and hope that the government would be absorbing this cost for Canada’s 150th birthday, rather than passing the cost onto Parks Canada,” wrote Alison Ronson, executive director for the northern chapter of Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS), in an email.
“Following this, we would assume that this gift would not negatively impact Parks Canada’s conservation programs and their ability to protect and manage national parks. We do expect to see budget details and will be very interested to see them when they are finalized.”
Pattie Pavlov, the general manger of the Jasper Park Chamber of Commerce, echoed Ronson’s comments.
“We applaud Parks Canada’s initiative to be a part of the celebrations for Canada’s 150th anniversary,” said Pavlov.
“There’s a cost for everything, so we’re hoping that’s going to be covered by the federal government because it was their idea. Having said that, I’m hoping the minister will take responsibility for making sure everybody enjoys the park to the fullest and everyone has an opportunity to visit the park while being mindful of [the financial] impact.”
If the federal government doesn’t reimburse Parks, the initiative could leave a multi-million dollar hole in the agency’s national operating budget.
Despite the lack of details about who will pick up the tab, Tourism Jasper warmly welcomed the new initiative.
“We are thrilled at the recent announcement that, in conjunction with Canada’s 150th anniversary of Canada’s Confederation, Parks passes will be free in 2017 and that any passes purchased in 2016 will automatically be valid until 2018,” wrote Kyle Harms, director of marketing and communications for Tourism Jasper, in an email.
“This means that we are able to invite and welcome visitors to Jasper who may not have previously visited due to barriers such as cost.”
Paul Clarke
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