Government of Canada Invests in Kouchibouguac National Park

by pmnationtalk on May 16, 2018611 Views

Ongoing investments are improving roads and enhancing conservation efforts

May 16, 2018 Kouchibouguac National Park, New Brunswick Parks Canada Agency

The Government is committed to protecting our national parks, while providing opportunities for Canadians to discover and connect with nature.

The Government of Canada is investing approximately $7.5 million in federal infrastructure funding in Kouchibouguac National Park and celebrating the completion of several other infrastructure projects. The announcement was made today by Pat Finnigan, Member of Parliament for Miramichi – Grand Lake, on behalf of the Minister of Environment and Climate Change and Minister responsible for Parks Canada, Catherine McKenna, as Kouchibouguac prepares to kick-off the 2018 visitor season of bringing people and nature together.

This federal funding will include the replacement of the Kollock Creek and Rankin Brook bridges. Located on Highway 117, an important roadway for both the local community and visitors to the park, these projects will provide safe and improved visitor access to park facilities, while improving this important transportation corridor. Funding is also supporting conservation initiatives to eradicate invasive plant species in the park to help restore the native forest ecosystem.

Similar federal investments have resulted in the completion of other infrastructure projects that will contribute to safe, reliable and high-quality access to the Kouchibouguac National Park for visitors and community members alike. For example, the major improvement of Highway 117 and several of its bridges ensures safety for all motorists on this important roadway. In addition, repairs to Callanders Road and Cap Saint-Louis Road provides improved visitor access to some of the park’s most popular visitor programs, such as the Indigenous cultural programs at the Callanders Wigwams. These improvements to roads and visitor facilities contribute to safe, reliable and high-quality visitor experiences and support the local economy.

Following the largest consultation ever on Parks Canada, Minister McKenna has put forward her priorities for Parks Canada. Kouchibouguac National Park is an excellent example of Parks Canada’s efforts to protect and restore our natural spaces and enable Canadians to discover and connect with nature. Kouchibouguac also helps sustain the local economy and tourism sector. Infrastructure investments directly respond to participant interests in ensuring ecosystem health, while improving the state of built infrastructure in national parks and national historic sites.

Quotes

“Through investments in our national parks, the Government of Canada is helping protect nature and providing opportunities for more Canadians, especially youth, to experience the outdoors and learn about our environment and heritage. These investments in Kouchibouguac National Park will improve the safety and reliability of visitor experiences and preserve the precious forest ecosystem within the park, while also supporting the local economy. I invite Canadian families to take advantage of free admission to Parks Canada places for youth and new Canadians and visit Kouchibouguac this summer.”

Pat Finnigan
Member of Parliament for Miramichi – Grand Lake

Quick facts

Kouchibouguac National Park is a significant economic driver with approximately 200 employees in the summer season and contributes approximately $19 million dollars annually to the GDP. In 2017, for Canada 150, Kouchibouguac experienced an increase in visitation of 11%, for a total of more than 188,000 visitors.
Parks Canada is investing an unprecedented $3 billion dollars over five years to support infrastructure work to heritage, tourism, waterway and highway assets located within national historic sites, national parks and national marine conservation areas across Canada. This investment supports conservation efforts that will ensure these cherished places are protected and secured for the future.
Following the success of Canada 150, the Government of Canada is celebrating diversity and importance of protected areas in 2018 and beyond with free admission for youth aged 17 and under, and free admission for one year for new Canadians. This will make discovering nature and connecting with our history easier and more affordable for families.

Government of Canada Invests in Kouchibouguac National Park

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