Tuesday, February 3, 2026
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

    Territories Prepare For Novel Coronavirus With Limited Health Facilities

    Arctic governments are bracing for the potential impact of the novel coronavirus in far-flung, isolated communities with often overcrowded homes.

    Territories Prepare For Novel Coronavirus With Limited Health Facilities

    Premiers Seek Billions In Federal Aid To Counter Impact Of COVID-19

    Concerns about possible exposure to COVID-19 forced Justin Trudeau to cancel a face-to-face meeting with first ministers but he'll still get an earful — over the phone Friday — from premiers demanding massive federal aid to confront the health and economic impacts of the novel coronavirus.

    Premiers Seek Billions In Federal Aid To Counter Impact Of COVID-19

    Downtown Calgary Daycare Closed After Child Tests Positive For COVID-19

    A two-year-old who recently returned from a family vacation in Florida is among four new COVID-19 cases confirmed in Alberta, prompting a daycare in a downtown Calgary office tower to temporarily shut down.

    Downtown Calgary Daycare Closed After Child Tests Positive For COVID-19

    Manitoba Confirms Three Presumptive Cases Of COVID-19

    Manitoba Confirms Three Presumptive Cases Of COVID-19
    WINNIPEG - Manitoba announced its first presumptive cases of COVID-19 on Thursday, and officials are warning people to stop shaking hands, rethink travel plans and reconsider attending large public events.

    Manitoba Confirms Three Presumptive Cases Of COVID-19

    Bank Of Canada Pumps $7B, Expands Bond Buy-backs To Ease Economic Concerns

    Bank Of Canada Pumps $7B, Expands Bond Buy-backs To Ease Economic Concerns
    The Bank of Canada prepared to increase the cash it pumps into the financial system and Finance Minister Bill Morneau stressed the need for fiscal measures to manage the impact of COVID-19 as official Ottawa responded to another market plunge.

    Bank Of Canada Pumps $7B, Expands Bond Buy-backs To Ease Economic Concerns

    Allan Schoenborn Case Returns To B.C. Review Board For Annual Hearing

    The British Columbia Review Board is considering whether a psychiatric hospital director should have the discretion to allow limited, unescorted access into the community for a man who was found not criminally responsible in the killing of his three children.

    Allan Schoenborn Case Returns To B.C. Review Board For Annual Hearing