Parks Canada is still investigating how it will make up about $60 million in lost revenue by giving out free park passes in 2017 in celebration of the 150th anniversary of Canada’s confederation.
Revenues collected from entry fees stay in the parks where they are collected.
“Exact details are still being determined and will be announced in due course,” wrote Kassandra Dazé, Parks Canada communications officer in Parks Canada’s national office, in an email.
Parks Canada’s total revenue from entry fees across the country for fiscal year 2014-15 was $59.5 million, $20.7 million of which was from the sale of the Parks Canada discovery pass. The majority of the remaining revenue is derived from daily entry fees.
According to Parks Canada, the entry revenue for the mountain parks, including Banff, was approximately $38.8 million for the same time period, with Discovery Passes making up $16 million of that number.
Discovery Passes purchased this year will be valid for 24 months from the date of purchase, instead of 12 months, or alternatively, visitors can just wait until 2017 and get their free pass for that year.
The Discovery Pass, which presently costs $136 for a family, provides unlimited access to almost 200 national parks, historic sites and marine conservation areas.
In his mandate letter to Environment and Climate Change Minister Catherine McKenna, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau outlined some top priorities for her to address, including making admission for all visitors to national parks free in 2017.
Beginning in 2018, the mandate letter states admission for children under 18 is free, and to provide any adult who has become a Canadian citizen in the previous 12 months one year’s free admission.
