Petition to the Government of Canada
 

Whereas:

• Parks Canada sites and surrounding tourism infrastructure have faced ongoing underinvestment, leaving them ill-equipped to meet increasing visitor demand;

• The introduction of the Canada Strong Pass has resulted in a significant increase in visitation to national parks and historic sites, without generating adequate revenue and increasing dependence on Ottawa, thereby compromising the long-term sustainability of these sites;

• The Canada Strong Pass provides free access to visitors from foreign countries, foregoing reasonable user fees that would otherwise help support the maintenance and sustainability of Parks Canada sites;

• This surge in visitors has placed increased pressure not only on national parks, museums, and historic sites, but also on surrounding communities, many of which lack the infrastructure capacity to support higher volumes of tourism;

• Local residents and municipalities are bearing the financial burden of congested roads, strained public services, and increased demand on infrastructure;

• Without proper funding and planning, increased visitation may negatively impact both the visitor experience and the environmental integrity of Canada’s protected spaces;

Therefore, we, the undersigned, citizens and residents of Canada, call upon the Government of Canada to:

• Discontinue the broad application of the Canada Strong Pass; and

• Maintain targeted approach by continuing to allow free entry for residents of the province in which a Parks Canada site is located, as well as for residents living within a 150-kilometre radius of such sites across provincial boundaries.