Parks Canada Agency: Appearance before the Standing Committee – March 19, 2024
Clear Lake – aquatic invasive species
Q1. Will Parks Canada close access to Clear Lake in 2024?
- Parks Canada is working closely with its partners and other jurisdictions to ensure that the most appropriate and evidence-based decisions are made in the management of Clear Lake.
- At this stage, all options are being considered including possible restrictions to boating on the lake.
- Parks Canada is committed to working with others to reduce the impacts of zebra mussels.
Q2. What is Parks Canada doing to prevent aquatic invasive species and protect the ecology of Riding Mountain National Park?
- Since 2015, Parks Canada has been running an inspection and decontamination station to prevent the introduction of aquatic invasive species to Riding Mountain National Park. In recent years, the program has adapted to account for the increased threats of aquatic invasive species.
- Parks Canada collaborates with experts from other Parks Canada sites, the Province of Manitoba, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans and other partners to make decisions that protect ecological integrity and are informed by evidence, monitoring and data.
- Parks Canada is committed to working with partners to reduce the risk of aquatic invasive species spread inside and outside of Riding Mountain National Park.
- Parks Canada’s mandate balances ecological integrity and visitor use, and management decisions are made to ensure Canadians can enjoy these protected areas for years to come.
Q3. What public and stakeholder engagement has been done on potential management actions for Clear Lake?
- To increase awareness and empower park users, the park began offering orientation sessions on aquatic invasive species. These sessions were mandatory for visitors who wanted to obtain a seasonal watercraft permit. Temporary permits were also available requiring mandatory inspection and possible decontamination for any launched vessels in the park.
- Parks Canada is collaborating with partners to discuss possible mitigations and resource sharing for options analysis based on the best available science and data. This information will guide decisions and any changes made to the operation of Clear Lake will be communicated transparently.
- An assessment will be done to evaluate if it is feasible to undertake an eradication program in Clear Lake. Input will be sought from First Nations, Province of Manitoba Aquatic Invasive Species Unit, DFO and industry experts.
- As a proactive step in the consideration of a treatment approach, Parks Canada has drafted a Detailed Impact Assessment (DIA) for the Management of Zebra Mussels on Clear Lake and posted on the public registry. The comment period for the DIA has been extended until March 29, 2024, to provide further opportunity for stakeholders to have their say about the potential impact of proposed potential eradication efforts on the environment.
Bill S-14: Protecting Canada’s Natural Wonders Act
Q1. What is the purpose of this legislation?
- This legislation will amend the Canada National Parks Act, the Canada National Marine Conservation Areas Act, and the Rouge National Urban Park Act to:
- finalize the establishment of Akami-Uapishkᵁ-KakKasuak-Mealy Mountains National Park Reserve while permitting and regulating traditional land use activities in this national park reserve;
- finalize the establishment of Tallurutiup Imanga National Marine Conservation Area, once its interim management plan is complete;
- formally update the boundaries of seven existing national parks and one national park reserve, and;
- bring the Acts in line with the modern legislative environment, and strengthen the tools used to operate and manage national parks and national marine conservation areas.
Q2. If Parks Canada already administers the land, why is this legislation necessary?
- As soon as Parks Canada acquires lands, they are administered to the extent possible as though they are part of the national park or marine conservation area. However, until these lands are included under the schedules of Parks Canada statutes, they are not legally considered part of that protected area and do not benefit from the protections offered by those Acts and their associated regulations. Until such time, Parks Canada is limited to relying upon a patchwork of provincial and federal legislation to manage and protect the lands.
- With an increase in the impacts of climate change and biodiversity loss, ensuring that these lands can benefit from the highest level of protection is more important than ever.
- Legislatively completing the creation of Akami-Uapishkᵁ-KakKasuak-Mealy Mountains National Park Reserve and Tallurutiup Imanga National Marine Conservation Area, and formally updating the boundaries of seven national parks and one national park reserve will ensure that these lands receive the full protections of the Canada National Parks Act, the Canada National Marine Conservation Areas Act, and associated regulations. This is the final critical step to ensuring that these lands are protected for current and future generations.
Q3. What is the status of Bill S-14?
- Protecting Canada’s Natural Wonders Act was introduced in the Senate on October 19, 2023. The Senate passed Bill S-14 on December 14, 2023, after making several amendments to the bill that was originally introduced. It was introduced in the House of Commons at first reading on February 27, 2024, with those amendments.
Q4. Does Bill S-14 recognize the NunatuKavut Community Council as a group with section 35 rights?
- The 2015 Shared Understanding Agreement between Parks Canada and the NunatuKavut Community Council includes a commitment that NunatuKavut Community Council members will be viewed as traditional land users, in line with other traditional land users.
- The concepts of “traditional land user” or “traditional activities” in Bill S-14 do not imply that these activities flow from s. 35 rights. Traditional land users are identified based on birth, residency, and familial connections to the area around the park, and are NOT based on Indigeneity.
Q5. Will NunatuKavut members be able to carry on their traditional activities with the amendments adopted in the Senate?
- The effects of the removal of the clause referencing members of NunatuKavut Community Council from the definition of Traditional Land Users as it relates to Akami-Uapishkᵁ-Kakkasuak-Mealy Mountains National Park Reserve is still under review.
- Parks Canada is committed to taking all steps possible to respect its agreements with all groups, including the NunatuKavut Community Council.
Investing in Parks canada’s highways and roads
Q1. What highway, roadway, and related infrastructure assets does Parks Canada manage?
- Parks Canada operates and maintains 3,300 kilometers of roadways, highways, and associated bridges, including segments of the Trans-Canada system that cross national parks.
- These roadways enable access to national heritage places, link communities to essential services, and act as critical regional and national transportation corridors that enable the flow of people and commercial goods.
- The highway and roadway portfolio consists of nearly 1,400 assets with a replacement value of approximately $8.8 billion (in 2022 dollars).
Q2. What investments has Parks Canada made to ensure the availability and safety of highways and roads in the places it administers?
- Since 2015, Parks Canada has invested nearly $1.6 billion to maintain and enhance its existing roadway infrastructure to help ensure it remains safe, reliable, and resilient.
- This investment was made possible through temporary funding provided in 2015 under the 2014 Federal Infrastructure Initiative and supplemented by additional time-limited funding from successive federal budgets.
- Most recently Budget 2022 provided $557 million over three years to deliver projects across Parks Canada’s diverse asset portfolio, including highways.
- This temporary funding has allowed Parks Canada to accelerate investment in the management of this important portfolio segment ($1.6 billion between 2015 and 2024 compared to approximately $534 million between 2006 and 2014).
- Key investments have included:
- 67.5 million to twin 6 kilometers of the Trans-Canada Highway (completed in 2018) as well as subsequent planning work for future twinning in Yoho National Park in Alberta (completed in 2021).
- $30 million to complete critical roadway restoration in Newfoundland on Hwy 436 into L’Anse aux Meadows National Historic Site and Hwy 431 in Gros Morne National Park, as well as replacement of the Western Brook Bridge along Hwy 430 (to be completed by 2025-26).
- $8.3 million to rehabilitate 11 kilometers section of Highway 114 in Fundy National Park, New Brunswick (completed in 2023-24).
- $5.9 million to rehab the Gauron and Lafleur bridges at Lachine Canal’s National Historic Site in Quebec (completed in 2022-23).
Q3. What has been the impact of Parks Canada’s investments in highways and roadways?
- Investments in Parks Canada’s roadways help to make them safe for public use and ensure they remain reliable and resilient for transportation and trade. Further, investments support ecosystem connectivity and facilitate Canadians’ experience and enjoyment of their national heritage places.
- Parks Canada’s infrastructure investments have made a real difference: 87% of roadways and 67% of associated bridges are in good or fair condition, which represents an increase of 45% and 20% respectively since 2016.
- Examples of other key benefits of these investments include:
- Investment in wildlife protection measures (fencing and crossing structures on segments of the Trans-Canada Highway) have demonstrated an 80% reduction in wildlife-vehicle collisions.
- Highway avalanche defense and control investments in Glacier National Park have been estimated to reduce highway closure times for avalanche control by 15%.
- Capacity improvements on national highways included 6 kilometers of twinning, and over 40 kilometers of additional passing lanes throughout the national highway system.
- Increased load capacity on bridges in Jasper along Yellowhead Trans-Canada Highway and Highway 16 to better accommodate transport traffic.
Q4. Does Parks Canada plan to continue to invest in maintaining and improving its highway and roadway infrastructure?
- As available funding permits, Parks Canada will continue to make prioritized investments into its network of roads and highways as well as assess ongoing needs and develop future strategies to help ensure long-term asset sustainability.
- This will include investments in the maintenance of existing roadways and bridges to meet applicable standards, help ensure roads are open, accessible, and resilient to protect the safety of users, and improve ecosystem connectivity.
Parks Canada visitation in 2022-23 (and 2023-2024 YTD)
Q1. How many people visited in 2022-23?
- Parks Canada welcomed 22.5 million visitors in 2022-23 (April 1, 2022, to March 31, 2023). Visitation was up 4% over 2021-22.
- There were 15.2 million visitors to national parks, which is 4% higher than 2021-22. There are 7.3 million visitors to national historic sites, which is also 4% higher than 2021-22.
- International visitors from every U.S. state and approximately 90 foreign countries were present. Volume of international visitors was not back to pre-pandemic levels in 2022-23.
- Visitors had positive experiences. Overall, 94% of visitors enjoyed their visit and 94% would recommend visiting the place to friends and family. Visiting was also important for mental wellbeing (81%) and physical wellbeing (80%).
Q2. What does visitation in 2023-24 look like so far?
- Visitation to national parks and historic sites continues to rebound in 2023-24.
- For the period April 1, 2023, to January 31, 2024, visitation is 21.8 million.
- Visitation is up 4% over the same period last year (in 2022-23) and is down 7% from the same period pre-pandemic (2019-20).
- The current projection is approximately 23.3 million visitors by the end of the fiscal year (March 31, 2024). This will be more visitors than 2022-23, but slightly below (down 6%) pre pandemic levels (when it was 24.9 million).
Visitation – 2022-23 (April 1, 2022 to March 31, 2023)

Text description
Site | Visits | Versus same period in 2021-2022 |
Versus same period in 2019-2020 (pre pandemic) |
---|---|---|---|
National parks (includes marine areas) | 15.2 million | +4% | -6% |
Historic sites (includes waterways) | 7.3 million | +4% | -17% |
System | 22.5 million | +4% | -10% |
Province/territory | Visits | Versus same period in 2021-2022 |
Versus same period in 2019-2020 (pre pandemic) |
---|---|---|---|
Yukon | 112,245 | +123% | -6% |
Northwest Territories | 3,568 | -17% | -25% |
Nunavut | 269 | +529% | -60% |
British Columbia | 3,916,830 | +8% | -1% |
Alberta | 7,667,959 | +11% | -1% |
Saskatchewan | 335,872 | -4% | -2% |
Manitoba | 363,747 | -2% | -23% |
Ontario* | 2,276,220 | -38% | -37% |
Quebec | 5,392,857 | +17% | +2% |
New Brunswick | 588,053 | +9% | 0% |
Nova Scotia | 1,393,692 | +96% | +16% |
Prince Edward Island* | 150,887 | -74% | -85% |
Newfoundland and Labrador* | 145,855 | +156% | -66% |
*Some places are not reporting in 2022-23
Season | Visits | Versus same period in 2021-2022 |
Versus same period in 2019-2020 (pre pandemic) |
---|---|---|---|
Summer (July/August, 2022) | 9.5 million | -1% | -14% |
2023-24 – Trending
Visitation expected to be about: 23.3 million
Sidney Island Ecological Restoration Project (SIERP)
Q1. Why is Parks Canada eradicating fallow deer on Sidney Island?
- Parks Canada is committed to working together with First Nations communities and neighbours to ensure the long-term health of the Coastal Douglas-fir ecosystem within Gulf Islands National Park Reserve.
- On Sidney Island, the Coastal Douglas-fir ecosystem is in jeopardy. In the early 20thcentury, settlers brought fallow deer—a species not native to North America—from England to the Southern Gulf Islands for farming and sport hunting. Since then, fallow deer have eaten most of the plants, shrubs, and young trees that belong in the forest’s understory layer resulting in a lack of plant and bird diversity necessary for the forest’s long-term survival.
- Working together with First Nations, the project partners concluded that eradication of fallow deer, paired with removing invasive plant species and repopulating native food and medicine plants, is the most effective long-term solution to restore the ecosystem, and one step towards healing ecological impacts resulting from colonization.
Q2. How was the decision to eradicate fallow deer made?
- Parks Canada is a recognized leader in conservation and has a proven track record of effective ecosystem management. Animal population reduction or eradication is reserved for situations where no other method can be applied.
- Recreational hunters have been hunting fallow deer on the private lands on Sidney Island since 1981, including paid and professional culls. Despite removing almost 15,000 deer, the population has always rebounded. These culls have not been successful at keeping the deer population at a level consistent with a healthy ecosystem. As a result, project partners elected to stop the repeated culling of these animals and instead pursue eradication (complete removal) of the invasive deer population.
- Project partners in this multi-jurisdiction landscape include the W̱SÁNEĆ Leadership Council, Tsawout First Nation, Pauquachin First Nation, the Province of B.C., Islands Trust Conservancy, and Sidney Island residents.
- The project has been collaboratively built from the ground up, with project partners co-developing the project’s vision and goals, thorough expert analysis by specialists and animal welfare organizations to implement the project safely, and then co-designing restoration actions.
- Project partners formed a Steering Committee in 2019, and developed a three-part strategy for long-term ecosystem recovery focusing on vegetation restoration, the eradication of European fallow deer, and the long-term management of black-tailed deer. Each project partner underwent an internal process to determine whether their community or organization supported the proposed strategy for ecosystem recovery. In spring 2023, all project partners formally approved implementation of the strategy.
Q3. What is the estimated total cost of deer eradication on Sidney Island?
- The estimated budget for the eradication portion of the project is $5.9 million. The expenses incurred for implementation of Phase 1 of the operation was $796,340, including expenses such as meat processing, Indigenous harvesters, equipment purchases and rentals, outreach activities, and amounts paid to contractors.
- The project cost is based on the selection of a humane, safe, and effective method for complete removal of the deer population. The scope of the overall restoration project reaches far beyond the short-term component of addressing the issue of fallow deer and includes the removal of invasive plant species and the propagation and planting of native plants and tree. The project goal is the restoration of the Coastal Douglas-Fir Forest ecosystem.
Q4. What is the population of fallow deer on Sidney Island?
- The current population of fallow deer on Sidney Island is unknown, but prior to Phase 1 of the operation the population was estimated at between 300 and 900 individuals. Following Phase 1 implementation it is estimated that the population is towards the lower end of that range.
Q5. How many deer were removed in Phase 1?
- A total of 84 deer were removed in early December 2023 through a combination of nighttime ground-based hunting and daytime aerial work. The aerial work included one marksman operating out of a single helicopter deployed for a total of 15 hours over 5 days.
- Throughout Phase 1, Parks Canada staff worked closely with First Nations harvesters to recover meat, hides, and other usable materials, for distribution within local W̱SÁNEĆ communities. Harvesters recovered 79 of 84 deer dispatched, for an estimated total of over 800 kg (1,800 lbs) of meat.
Q6. What is the purpose and approach of Phase 2?
- The Phase 2 objective is to complete the eradication of the remaining deer on the island.
- Phase 2 of the operation is planned to take place between fall 2024 and spring 2025. During this phase, temporary fencing will be placed across Sidney Island, creating large, enclosed zones ranging in size from approximately 40 to 120 hectares.
- Each zone will be cleared by professional ground-based marksmen working with highly specialized scent-tracking dogs. These dogs do not physically engage the deer and are controlled by their handlers.
Q7. Why were recreational hunters not given the opportunity to hunt the deer?
- This operation is not a cull, it is an eradication. An eradication requires different skill sets than a cull. Additionally, the project area includes private residential lots, many with residential infrastructure and some with full-time residents.
- Marksmen with a) extensive experience in deer eradications and b) a well-established safety record of marksmanship in semi-urban environments are necessary for the operation to be completed safely and effectively. Animal welfare and visitor safety are priorities for Parks Canada. The proposed eradication methods were selected to ensure the humane treatment of wildlife and to minimize the risk and inconvenience to local community members and visitors. Public Services and Procurement Canada, on behalf of Parks Canada, posted a solicitation process requiring bidders to have experience conducting eradication operations in populated landscapes.
- Recreational hunters have been hunting fallow deer on the private lands on Sidney Island since 1981, including paid and professional culls. Despite removing almost 15,000 deer, the population has always rebounded. These culls have not been successful at keeping the deer population at a level consistent with a healthy ecosystem. As a result, project partners elected to stop the repeated culling of these animals and instead pursue eradication (complete removal) of the invasive deer population.
Q8. How was the contractor selected for the operation?
- The contract to complete this work was posted publicly by Public Services and Procurement Canada. Canadian companies had the opportunity to bid on this work. Public Services and Procurement Canada, on behalf of Parks Canada, awarded this contract to the successful bidder, Coastal Conservation Inc., a Canadian company, on March 29, 2022.
Q9. What type of firearms were used for this operation?
- A CZ Bren 2 .223 calibre firearm was used for Phase 1.
- The firearm used is restricted (not prohibited) in Canada and is legal for use for this purpose under the Firearms Business License issued by the RCMP to the Contractor.
- All necessary statutory and regulatory authorities were granted for this operation, including permits granted by Parks Canada, Transport Canada, the Province of British Columbia and the RCMP.
Q10. How has animal welfare been considered?
- The humane treatment of animals is a priority for Parks Canada and project partners. Partners recognize that eradication of a wildlife population is reserved for situations where no other method is feasible, and only after careful consideration as has been the case for this project.
- Methods selected for this project are globally proven and align with internationally recognized principles for ethical wildlife control. Parks Canada is adhering to animal handling standards set out by the Canadian Council on Animal Care.
- In addition, project partners consulted with the BC SPCA throughout project planning, discussed details of the operation with SPCA’s Manager of Wild Animal Welfare, and BC-SPCA representatives were on site for four days to observe and offer further recommendations during Phase 1 of the operation.
Investments in Parks Canada’s real property assets
Q1. What kinds of real property infrastructure assets does Parks Canada manage?
- Parks Canada has a vast and diverse real property asset portfolio located in national parks, national historic sites, and national marine conservation areas across the country, including:
- built heritage assets in protected places that are unique, irreplaceable, and represent Canada’s rich heritage.
- assets that support tourism and recreation such as campgrounds, trails, and visitor accommodations.
- 3,300 kilometers of roadways, highways and associated bridges, including segments of the Trans-Canada system that cross national parks.
- over 600 km of heritage canals and waterways in Quebec, Ontario, and Nova Scotia that provide navigation corridors, critical water management, clean hydro-electricity generation, and flood mitigation for millions of citizens.
- All told, Parks Canada’s portfolio consists of nearly 18,000 assets with a replacement value of approximately $27.7 billion (in 2022 dollars).
Q2. How is the Government of Canada investing in Parks Canada’s real property assets?
- Since 2015, Parks Canada has invested nearly $4.2 billion to manage and maintain its real property asset portfolio (as of March 2023).
- Temporary funding initially provided in 2015 under the 2014 Federal Infrastructure Initiative has been supplemented by time-limited funding announced through more recent federal budgets.
- Most recently, Budget 2022 provided $557 million over three years to deliver projects across Parks Canada’s diverse asset portfolio.
- This temporary funding allowed Parks Canada to accelerate investment in the management of its assets (from a previous total investment of approximately $1.1 billion between 2006 and 2014).
- Recent investments support help to protect cultural and natural heritage, deliver high quality visitor services and experiences, address health and safety concerns, ensure roads remain accessible, and manage flood control.
- Examples:
- canal wall rehabilitation essential to public safety and to the sustainability of the Lachine Canal in Québec.
- rehabilitation of Highway 114 in Fundy National Park, New Brunswick.
- redevelopment of Whistler’s Campground in Jasper; Alberta’s largest with close to 800 campsites.
- tower stabilization and rehabilitation of Carleton Martello Tower in New Brunswick.
- multi-year projects to rehabilitate key dams along the Trent-Severn Waterway in Ontario.
Q3. What has been the impact of Parks Canada’s investments in its real property asset portfolio?
- Investing in assets helps ensure that natural and heritage places administered by Parks Canada are safeguarded for current and future generation of Canadians.
- Investments in key assets segments, such as waterways and highways, help ensure safety, transportation resilience and water management.
- Between 2016 and June 2022, the percentage of Agency assets in good or fair condition has improved from 50% to 72%.
- Examples of other key benefits of these investments include:
- investment in wildlife protection measures (e.g., fencing and crossing structures on segments of the Trans-Canada Highway (TCH)) have demonstrated an 80% reduction in wildlife-vehicle collisions.
- post-storm recovery and rebuilding after the devasting impacts of 2022’s Hurricane Fiona.
- improvements to accessibility and inclusiveness of Parks Canada places, including introduction of best practices for gender-neutral and disability-inclusive washrooms.
- reduced greenhouse gas emissions from facilities by 28% relative to 2005-06 (as of March 31, 2023).
- Trans-Canada Highway avalanche defense and control investments have been estimated to reduce highway closure times for avalanche control by 15%.
Q4. With current temporary funding set to sunset in March 2025, how will Parks Canada maintain its asset portfolio for Canadians with a decrease in capital funding?
- As a result of significant investments through Parks Canada’s capital program, the percentage of assets in good/fair condition has improved from 50% to 72% since 2016.
- Available funding will continue to be prioritized to address health and safety risks, protect cultural and natural heritage, and deliver high quality visitor services and experiences.
- Continued investment in maintenance and recapitalization is required to sustain Parks Canada’s built heritage and contemporary assets in acceptable condition and to continue to make progress towards improving the overall condition of its built asset portfolio.
- Parks Canada continues to develop long-term strategies and funding requirements for managing and sustaining its varied and complex network of heritage, tourism, waterway, and highway assets to support its program and service requirements into the future.
Q5. Does Parks Canada plan to continue to invest in maintaining and improving its highway and roadway infrastructure?
- As available funding permits, Parks Canada will continue to make prioritized investment into its network of roads and highways as well as assess ongoing needs and strategies as part of its approach for long-term asset sustainability.
- This will include investments in the maintenance of existing roadways and bridges to meet applicable standards, help ensure roads are open, accessible, and resilient to protect the safety of users, and improve ecosystem connectivity.
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