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Parks Canada Agency

Corporate Plan
2008/09 - 2012/13

Section I: Parks Canada Agency Overview

Raison D’être and Responsibilities

The mandate of the Parks Canada Agency is presented in the Parks Canada Agency Act:

On behalf of the people of Canada, we protect and present nationally significant examples of Canada’s natural and cultural heritage, and foster public understanding, appreciation and enjoyment in ways that ensure the ecological and commemorative integrity of these places for present and future generations.

Parks Canada, which was established as a separate Government of Canada Agency in 1998, derives its mandate from several pieces of legislation:

the Parks Canada Agency Act;
the Canada National Parks Act;
the Canada National Marine Conservation Areas Act;
the Historic Sites and Monuments Act; and
the Species at Risk Act.

Parks Canada’s Chief Executive Officer reports directly to the Minister of the Environment.

Key Responsibilities

Parks Canada manages national parks, national marine conservation areas and national historic sites on behalf of Canadians. Parks Canada is a proud steward of these heritage places and protects and presents them for the benefit and enjoyment of Canadians while ensuring that they remain unimpaired for present and future generations.

National parks and national marine conservation areas are representative examples of Canada’s terrestrial and marine regions. They offer to Canadians a variety of recreational activities and learning experiences as well as a unique opportunity to personally connect with their land. Each national historic site tells its own story and contributes to our understanding of Canada as a whole. They are special places where visitors can learn about the men and women who contributed to shaping Canada as we know it today and where they can experience Canada’s history.

There are more than 21 million visits annually to the heritage places administered by Parks Canada. The Agency supports 38,000 direct jobs for Canadians, in more than 460 communities.

Other Responsibilities

In addition to managing over 150 national historic sites, Parks Canada provides support for the protection of the commemorative integrity of national historic sites owned and managed by third parties.

Parks Canada directs or coordinates activities that conserve other specific aspects of Canada’s heritage places:

Federal Heritage Buildings;
Heritage Railway Stations;
Canadian Heritage Rivers System;
Federal Archeology; and
Grave Sites of Canadian Prime Ministers.

Parks Canada also has the legislative mandate to design and implement programs that relate primarily to built heritage. As such, it has the lead role for developing policy and implementing the Historic Places Initiative; a significant collaborative effort developed in conjunction with provinces and territories related to the nation’s built heritage and its conservation.

Parks Canada also contributes to international heritage conservation through its leadership and participation in international conventions, programs, agencies and agreements. Notably, Parks Canada represents the Government of Canada on the World Heritage Committee and is responsible for the hosting of the World Heritage Committee meeting in Quebec City in 2008.

Parks Canada’s long-term goal is to establish at least one national park and one national marine conservation area in each of Canada’s terrestrial and marine regions. The system of national parks, presented in Figure 1, represents Canada’s terrestrial regions. As of March 31, 2007, there are 42 national parks representing 28 of Canada’s 39 terrestrial regions making the system over 70% complete.

The system of national marine conservation areas, as shown in Figure 2, represents Canada’s marine regions spanning its three oceans and the Great Lakes. This system is in the early development stages. Including the recently established Lake Superior National Marine Conservation Area, three of Canada’s 29 marine regions are represented making the system 10% complete.

The system of national historic sites represents places, persons and events of national historic significance. As of March 31, 2007, Canada’s system of national historic sites includes 925 places of national historic significance. Of these, 157 are administered directly by Parks Canada as displayed in Figure 3. The system also includes 597 national historic persons and 375 national historic events.