Government of Canada Invests in Highway Improvements for Wood Buffalo National Park

Canada’s largest national park more accessible through infrastructure improvements

October 13, 2017          Fort Smith, Northwest Territories                 Parks Canada Agency

Parks Canada is responsible for protecting and presenting nationally significant examples of Canada’s natural and cultural heritage. The Government is committed to preserving our national parks, while making them more accessible so that Canadians, including youth and newcomers, can experience the outdoors and learn about our environment.

The Government of Canada is pleased to announce the completion of improvements to Highway 5 in Wood Buffalo National Park. Today, Michael McLeod, Member of Parliament for Northwest Territories, made the announcement on behalf of the Minister of Environment and Climate Change and Minister responsible for Parks Canada, Catherine McKenna. A ribbon cutting event was held in the park to celebrate the completion of significant improvements to the park’s entry road as part of the Government’s commitment to investing in federal infrastructure assets.

As part of Budget 2016, over $27 million has been invested to improve the remaining 64 kilometre gravel section of Highway 5, by converting the surface to a hard, chip seal surface, and to construct a new storage facility for equipment and materials that will support visitor safety for travelers and long-term maintenance of the highway. As the only all-season road traversing Wood Buffalo National Park, and connecting the communities of Fort Smith and Hay River, Northwest Territories, this investment will result in an improved level of service for this essential regional transportation corridor.

Through this investment the newly chip sealed highway will provide long-term economic and tourism benefits in the region with improved traveling conditions for both transport vehicles, as well as recreational vehicles and trailers, through Wood Buffalo National Park and to the Fort Smith region. The completion of the Highway 5 improvements means it will be easier than ever to visit Wood Buffalo National Park and the Fort Smith region. Parks Canada’s destinations form important cornerstones for the tourism industry that is such an important part of the Canadian economy and employs so many across the country. The Government of Canada recognises the value of this industry and works with communities nation-wide to help grow tourism and create jobs. Additionally, this project provided a significant immediate benefit to local economies, through the influx of required goods and services supplied by area businesses to contractors during the construction period.

This year, as we celebrate the 150th anniversary of Confederation, Parks Canada is proud to continue improving its visitor experience offer while making our treasured places more accessible. The Government is committed to investing in the revitalization of federal infrastructure assets including national parks and national historic sites for the benefit of all Canadians, from coast to coast to coast. These investments bring Canadians together to celebrate our rich and storied past.