Government of Canada Invests in Parks Canada places in New Brunswick

Funding for visitor facilities and national historic sites

 

January 19, 2017                Kouchibouguac National Park, NB                                     Parks Canada Agency

Canada’s national parks and historic sites belong to all Canadians. They represent the very best that Canada has to offer and tell the stories of who we are, including the history, cultures, and contributions of Indigenous Peoples.

The Government of Canada is investing $4.2 million for various infrastructure projects at Parks Canada sites in New Brunswick. Pat Finnigan, Member of Parliament for Miramichi-Grand Lake, made the announcement today, on behalf of the Minister of Environment and Climate Change and Minister responsible for Parks Canada, Catherine McKenna.

Visitors to New Brunswick marvel at the breathtaking landscape of this region and are captivated by the array of meaningful cultural experiences. This funding will be used for restoration work at Fort Beauséjour – Fort Cumberland and Fort Gaspareaux national historic sites. Improvements to these historic sites will enable Parks Canada to continue sharing the rich and varied heritage of our nation and provide an opportunity for Canadians to learn more about our diverse history.

In addition, this investment will support improvements to campgrounds, trails and visitor facilities at Kouchibouguac National Park, so that more Canadians can experience the natural wonder of the park and learn about our environment and heritage.

As part of today’s announcement, there was also a celebration of the completion of construction along Route 117, which began in 2015 as part of Parks Canada’s infrastructure program. The rehabilitation of Route 117 was an innovative project, spanning 24 kilometers of highway that integrated important conservation gains for Kouchibouguac National Park, specifically the restoration of aquatic habitats and fauna conservation.

Investments in visitor infrastructure such as trails and highways will continue to allow Canadians to connect with nature and history, while stimulating the economy in communities across the country.

 

Quotes

“As we celebrate Canada’s 150th anniversary, investments in the protection and restoration of our national historic sites and national parks will preserve our heritage and invite us to celebrate our nation's achievements. I encourage Canadians to visit Parks Canada destinations in New Brunswick as part of Canada 150, to experience and learn more about the province’s natural and cultural treasures.”

The Honourable Dominic Leblanc,
Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard and Member of Parliament for Beauséjour

 

“The Government is committed to preserving our national parks, while making them more accessible to Canadians, including youth and newcomers. These infrastructure investments will contribute to middle class jobs and sustained economic growth, and will ensure high-quality and meaningful experiences for visitors to our national parks and historic sites in New Brunswick.”

Pat Finnigan,
Member of Parliament for Miramichi—Grand-Lake

 

 Quick Facts

• Kouchibouguac National Park extends over 238-square-kilometres of Maritime Plain Natural Region along New Brunswick’s scenic Acadian Coast. This mosaic of salt marshes, peat bogs, freshwater systems, Acadian woodland, and sandy beaches has long captivated guests, one generation to the next.
• Fort Beauséjour, a large five-star shaped fort was built in 1751 and re-enforced for the War of 1812. Located on a narrow strip of land, known as the Isthmus of Chignecto, that connects present-day New Brunswick with Nova Scotia, this site was once where the future of Acadie and North America hung in the balance.
• Fort Gaspareaux was a border outpost built by French troops in 1751 by order of the Marquis de Jonquière, Governor-General of New France, to prevent the British from penetrating the Chignecto Isthmus. It also served as a provisioning base for the forts of Acadia during the French regime.
• Parks Canada is investing an unprecedented $3 billion dollars over 5 years to support infrastructure work to heritage, visitor, waterway and highway assets located within national historic sites, national parks, and national marine conservation areas.

 

Associated Documents

Backgrounders:

2016 Northern New Brunswick Infrastructure Announcement

Federal Infrastructure Investment Conservation gains – Route 117

 

Related Links

Parks Canada

Kouchibouguac National Park

Fort Beauséjour/Fort Cumberland National Historic Site

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Contacts
Caitlin Workman
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of the Environment and Climate Change
819-938-9436

 

Media Relations
Parks Canada Agency
855-862-1812
pc.media@pc.gc.ca