Conservative Government Says ‘Park the Fee’

May 14, 2009

Park fee freeze will keep cost low for Canadians and visitors

Waterloo - Travelers this Victoria Day weekend will be happy to hear Canada’s National Parks and Historic Sites will continue to enjoy low entry fee prices until 2011 thanks to a fee freeze from the Conservative government.  This will allow more families to enjoy Canada’s natural splendour, and will provide a needed boost to our tourism industry.

“More families from our community will be able to enjoy the pristine beauty of our National Parks and our Historic Sites,” said Peter Braid.  “At the same time, this will provide a needed boost to our hospitality industry.  Keeping the price of tourism in Canada low will encourage more Canadians to vacation here at home, rather than travelling abroad.”

For individual travellers, the 2008 rates will stay in place until April 1, 2011.  For tour groups and tour organizers that deal in group rates, the 2009 rates now in effect will be frozen until April 1, 2012.

At the same time, we are undertaking a new advertising campaign to promote Canada’s National Parks and Historic Sites on television and on the Internet.  Parks Canada is using several new tools this year to develop exciting and expanded programs.  From coast to coast Canadians can participate in more activities like:

• An adventuress hike around Cyprus Lake Trail at Bruce Peninsula National Park
• An overnight stay at Quebec’s Forillon National Park
• Improving camping skills at Ontario’s Georgian Bay Islands National Park

“During these challenging economic times, our Conservative government is encouraging Canadians to enjoy the great outdoors,” said Braid.  “For many families every dollar counts, so we are freezing entry fees to Canada’s National Parks and Historic Sites for the next two years.”

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