Friday, December 12, 2025
ADVT 
National

Parks Canada To Close National Parks, Historic Sites To Vehicle Traffic

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 24 Mar, 2020 07:05 PM

    Parks Canada is restricting vehicles in national parks and national historic sites after people flocked to the popular areas on the weekend.

     

    The federal agency said it's still noticing lots of visitors despite suspension of services and facility closures last week.

     

    Parks Canada plans to suspend all motor vehicle access, starting Wednesday, until further notice.

     

    "The government's top priority remains the health and safety of Canadians," Environment Minister Jonathan Wilkinson, who is responsible for Parks Canada, said in a news release.

     

    "The window to contain the spread of COVID-19 is short and we must all change our behaviours now to flatten the curve and reduce the burden on our health-care system."

     

    Wilkinson said that includes not visiting national parks, national historic sites and national marine conservation areas.

     

    Parks Canada said highways and roadways that go through the parks and historic sites will remain open for residents, but they are urged to stay home unless it's essential travel.

     

    Commercial and truck traffic will also be allow on those corridors, including the Trans-Canada Highway through Banff National Park.

     

    Officials said parking won't be permitted on highways and roadways.

     

    "We are asking all Canadians to respect these restrictions," Parks Canada said in the news release.

     

    Parks Canada staff will continue to perform highway maintenance, snow removal, fire response, dam operations and water management on historic waterways, as well as avalanche forecasting and control in the mountain parks.

     

    Indigenous traditional activities in Parks Canada locations will continue, but users are being asked to follow the advice of public-health experts on social distancing.

     

    MORE National ARTICLES

    Five Things To Know About Ottawa's COVID-19 Financial Aid Package

    OTTAWA - Five things to know about Ottawa's $82-billion financial-aid package announced Wednesday to help weather the COVID-19 pandemic:

    Five Things To Know About Ottawa's COVID-19 Financial Aid Package

    Students At Several Colleges And Universities Asked To Vacate Dorms Over COVID-19

    Students At Several Colleges And Universities Asked To Vacate Dorms Over COVID-19
    Students at several post-secondary institutions are being asked or told to move out of their dorms in response to COVID-19.

    Students At Several Colleges And Universities Asked To Vacate Dorms Over COVID-19

    Canadian Transit Agencies Adjust Services Amid COVID-19 Pandemic

    TORONTO - Transit agencies across Canada are adjusting their operations as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic — in some cases by suspending fare collection altogether.    

    Canadian Transit Agencies Adjust Services Amid COVID-19 Pandemic

    Health Systems Ramping Up To Deal With Potential Influx Of COVID-19 Cases

    Health Systems Ramping Up To Deal With Potential Influx Of COVID-19 Cases
    OTTAWA - While Canadians stay home in an effort to limit the spread of the novel coronavirus, officials are working behind the scenes to try to increase the health care system's capacity to fight the virus.    

    Health Systems Ramping Up To Deal With Potential Influx Of COVID-19 Cases

    WestJet Warning Recent Passengers Of Possible Exposure To COVID-19

    WestJet Warning Recent Passengers Of Possible Exposure To COVID-19
    CALGARY - WestJet Airlines says some of its passengers may have been exposed to people infected with the novel coronavirus on recent flights.    

    WestJet Warning Recent Passengers Of Possible Exposure To COVID-19

    Trump Confirms Canada-U.S. Border To Be Closed To Non-essential Travel

    Trump Confirms Canada-U.S. Border To Be Closed To Non-essential Travel
    The Canada-U.S. border will be closed to non-essential traffic in both directions "by mutual consent," the leaders of both countries confirmed Wednesday as efforts across the continent to contain the widening COVID-19 pandemic continued to upend daily life.    

    Trump Confirms Canada-U.S. Border To Be Closed To Non-essential Travel