2021 to 2022 Departmental plan

Table of contents

• From the Minister
• From the President and Chief Executive Officer
• Plans at a glance
• Core responsibilities: planned results and resources, and key risks
  • Protecting and presenting Canada’s natural and cultural heritage
• Internal Services: planned results
• Spending and human resources
  • Planned spending
  • Planned human resources
  • Estimates by vote
  • Future-oriented condensed statement of operations
• Corporate information
  • Organizational profile
  • Raison d’être, mandate and role: who we are and what we do
  • Operating context
  • Reporting framework
• Supporting information on the program inventory
• Supplementary information tables
• Federal tax expenditures
• Organizational contact information
• Appendix: definitions

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© Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada, as represented by the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Parks Canada Agency, 2021

• Catalogue No.: R61-108E-PDF
• ISSN 2561-1526

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From the Minister

As the Minister responsible for Parks Canada, I am pleased to present the 2021–22 Departmental Plan for the Agency. This plan provides Canadians with information on Parks Canada’s priorities and the results that the Agency expects to achieve over the next fiscal year.

As the world continues to respond to the challenges of the global COVID-19 pandemic, Canadians have found comfort in the outdoors and nature. Parks Canada’s role in protecting nationally significant examples of natural and cultural heritage and facilitating the enjoyment of these treasured places by Canadians has never been more important.

Looking to 2021–22, I remain dedicated to delivering on the commitments the Government made to Canadians as set out in my Ministerial Mandate Letter and the Speech from the Throne. Through our work, we will protect and restore natural and cultural heritage in Canada, advance reconciliation with Indigenous peoples, and encourage Canadians to experience national historic sites, national parks and national marine conservation areas. At the same time, we will continue working with partners across the country, including the tourism industry, to contribute to economic recovery following the COVID-19 pandemic.

Parks Canada will also continue to support Canada’s commitment to expand the network of protected and conserved areas and contribute to biodiversity and the recovery of species at risk by conserving 25% of Canada’s lands and oceans by 2025, and working toward 30% of each by 2030.

Ecological integrity will continue to be the first priority in all decision-making in national parks and the Agency will take concrete measures to preserve biodiversity and strengthen ecosystem resilience in response to climate change and other stressors.

Parks Canada will also play a leadership role in protecting and conserving cultural heritage, ensuring that these heritage places continue being a source of pride, knowledge and enjoyment for Canadians today and into the future.

I am committed to advancing new legislation, policies and instruments for the effective protection of federally owned cultural heritage places and the development of clearer direction on the designation and preservation of national cultural heritage places.

Parks Canada will continue to deliver on the Framework for History and Commemoration: National Historic Sites System Plan (2019) in sharing the stories of Canada – one where all perspectives are represented, as well as the difficult periods of our past. In particular, the Framework reflects our commitment to ensuring that the histories and voices of Indigenous peoples and diverse and minority communities are incorporated at heritage places administered by Parks Canada.

National historic sites, national parks and national marine conservation areas represent the very best Canada has to offer. Together, they tell the stories of who we are, including the histories, cultures, and contributions of Indigenous peoples and the stories of Canada in all of its diversity. The actions outlined in Parks Canada’s 2021–22 Departmental Plan reflect our ongoing commitment to ensuring that Canada’s natural and cultural treasures are protected for present and future generations.

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From the President and Chief Executive Officer

I am proud to present this 2021–22 Departmental Plan on behalf of the more than 5,800 dedicated Parks Canada team members whom I have the privilege of leading. The priorities and activities highlighted in this Plan are intended, in all respects, to ensure the delivery of the Agency’s mandate, support the Minister in achieving his mandate commitments, and advance horizontal, government-wide objectives on behalf of all Canadians.

Parks Canada is privileged to administer one of the finest and most extensive systems of natural and cultural heritage places in the world. It is with immense pride that we manage, on behalf of all Canadians, our nation’s vast network of protected heritage places, including 171 national historic sites, 47 national parks, five national marine conservation areas and one national urban park.

The Agency is committed to a system of national heritage places that recognizes and honours the contributions of Indigenous peoples, their histories and cultures, as well as the special relationships that Indigenous peoples have with their traditional lands and waters. In collaboration with other orders of government, Indigenous partners, and stakeholders, we are committed to strengthening the conservation of natural and cultural heritage in Canada.

Parks Canada has played an important role in delivering critical services during the COVID-19 pandemic and in providing Canadians with access to the health and wellness benefits that come from spending time outdoors and in wide open spaces. The Agency has done this while implementing measures to protect the health and safety of visitors, employees, and indeed all Canadians. The pandemic highlights, now more than ever, the importance of protected places for our collective health, well-being, and prosperity, and Parks Canada is proud to have ensured the ongoing stewardship and public accessibility of these national heritage places during this time of great challenge.

In the coming year, the Agency will continue to be a key player in providing access to nature and supporting tourism in Canada – working with nearby communities to foster economic opportunities and providing visitor experiences that attract a broad diversity of Canadians, particularly in light of the need to support economic recovery following the COVID-19 pandemic.

By delivering innovative programs and services, Parks Canada will continue to introduce children and families to a lifetime of outdoor and cultural activities and foster learning about the environment and Canada’s heritage. This includes delivery of the popular Learn-to Camp program, which introduces thousands of Canadians every year to the joy of camping and provides the tools and knowledge to help more Canadians, including new Canadians, to experience and enjoy protected places.

The Agency will continue to implement infrastructure projects to address deferred work and to improve the condition of its contemporary assets and heritage structures. We will continue to work toward securing long-term capital funding to better manage heritage, tourism, waterway, and highway assets and support program and service delivery for the long term.

In the coming year, the Agency will aspire to lead in the transition to low-carbon, sustainable and climate resilient real property, fleets, services and operations guided by the Government’s commitment to greening government operations.

In addition, Parks Canada is taking action – and we are committed to taking further action – to ensure that our recruitment and retention plans, our policies and programs, and our delivery of services to Canadians are guided by the principles of equity, diversity, inclusion and accessibility.

It is a privilege to lead the Parks Canada team, and I am extremely proud of the work of our team members in the service of Canadians. From coast to coast to coast, Parks Canada employees play an important role in protecting Canada’s nationally significant natural and cultural treasures, advancing Indigenous reconciliation, supporting local jobs and economies, and providing world class opportunities for millions of visitors to experience the best of our nation’s natural and cultural heritage across more than 450,000 km2 of protected areas, all while remaining healthy and safe. Together, we look forward to delivering on the commitments in this Plan.

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Plans at a glance

Natural heritage protection

Parks Canada will support the Minister’s mandate to conserve 25% of Canada’s land and 25% of Canada’s oceans by 2025, working toward 30% of each by 2030.

The Agency will continue to advance the Government of Canada’s commitment to ensuring protected areas are managed to conserve biodiversity over the long term, including by working in partnership to improve the connectivity of national parks with the broader landscape, increasing the use of science and knowledge to inform conservation decision-making, and contributing to the conservation of species at risk.

Parks Canada will be a key contributor in the Government's priority to fight climate change, protect the environment and preserve Canada's natural legacy. The Agency will take concrete measures to preserve biodiversity and build ecosystem resilience in response to climate change and other stressors. Ecological integrity will continue to be the first priority in all decision-making in national parks.

In support of the Government's commitment and priority to advance reconciliation with Indigenous peoples, the Agency will continue working towards a greater recognition of Indigenous leadership and integrate Indigenous knowledge into the stewardship of natural heritage places.

Parks Canada will enhance its efforts to play a leadership role in natural heritage conservation and promotion, and will continue to work to ensure that Canada’s national parks are a source of national pride and enjoyment today and for future generations.

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Cultural heritage protection

Parks Canada will implement the Framework for History and Commemoration, a new approach to history and commemoration at Parks Canada. The Agency will engage Indigenous peoples and minority communities to tell their stories to ensure that the histories communicated at Parks Canada heritage places is reflective of the diversity of Canada.

Parks Canada will advance the Minister’s commitment to work on the development of new legislation, policies and instruments for the effective protection of federally owned cultural heritage places and support the development of clearer direction on the designation and preservation of national cultural heritage places.

The Agency will implement its preventative conservation strategy to safeguard the collection under its care; understand and adapt to the impacts of climate change on cultural heritage; and advance efforts toward conserving cultural resources at heritage places.

The Agency will continue to work with Indigenous peoples to advance the cooperative management of cultural heritage places and support the Government of Canada's continued core priority of reconciliation.

Parks Canada will enhance its efforts to play a leadership role in cultural heritage conservation and promotion, and will continue to work to ensure that Canada’s national historic sites are a source of national pride and enjoyment today and for future generations.

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Connecting to Canadians

Parks Canada will enhance its efforts to play a leadership role in heritage conservation and promotion, and will continue to work to ensure that Canada’s national heritage places are a source of national pride and enjoyment today and for future generations.

Parks Canada will make inclusivity and accessibility fundamental principles in the development and delivery of visitor services and experiences to ensure that national historic sites, national parks and national marine conservation areas are accessible to all Canadians.

Parks Canada will bring nature and history to Canadians in their communities and in their homes with innovative outreach and engagement programming, digital experiences, and promotional activities.

The Agency will work with a wide variety of local and regional partners to provide visitor services and experiences, and also to introduce Canadians to the safe enjoyment of natural, cultural and historic places through popular initiatives such as Learn-to Camp.

In support of the Government of Canada's continued core priority of reconciliation, Parks Canada will facilitate Indigenous connections with traditionally used lands and waters as well as the delivery of experiences and programs which create the space for Indigenous partners to share their cultures and traditions with Canadians and the world, and facilitate a deeper understanding of this foundational part of our country.

As Canada responds to the challenges of COVID-19, Parks Canada will continue to be an integral player in supporting tourism in Canada by working with the tourism industry and participating in the sector’s recovery from the impacts of the global pandemic.

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Asset sustainability

Parks Canada will continue to implement infrastructure projects to address deferred work and improve the condition of its contemporary assets and heritage structures so that Canadians can continue to safely access protected heritage places, and built heritage is safeguarded for generations to come. As infrastructure funding is sunsetting after 2021–22, the Agency is developing a long-term plan for the management and sustainability of its infrastructure with a view to securing long term capital funding to better manage heritage, tourism, waterway, and highway assets and support program and service delivery for the long term. The Agency’s investment decision making is prioritized to not only address asset condition but also to build back better by ensuring that key Government priorities including accessibility, inclusivity, reconciliation with Indigenous peoples, greenhouse gas reduction and climate change resilience are incorporated.

For instance, guided by the Government’s commitment to greening government operations, the Agency intends to make significant progress in transitioning to low-carbon, sustainable and climate resilient real property, fleets, services and operations.

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Business innovation

In support of the Government’s commitment to results, transparency and accountability to Canadians, Parks Canada will review its capacity, planning, financial management, business processes, systems and tools, to ensure it has robust, effective and efficient internal services to support program delivery to Canadians.

Building on the strong foundation established since the Agency began its major capital asset investment program in 2015, the Agency will be implementing a multi-year plan to strengthen its investment readiness, This plan will position the Agency to support the Government’s priorities while reinforcing its long term asset planning with a view to securing long-term, predictable funding.

Parks Canada will also develop innovative recruitment and retention strategies.

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Workforce equity, accessibility, inclusion and diversity, and well being

In an effort to foster a diverse workforce and to promote inclusion and equity, Parks Canada will implement a Diversity and Inclusion Strategy based on the following human resource pillars: culture of inclusion, diversity of the workforce, policy and program equity.

This strategy will establish new key actions and activities that will foster a culture of inclusion for all employees. Legislative obligations, such as an employment equity plan, and employment systems review will be encompassed in the strategy. Building on previous achievements, the strategy will also include some focus on supporting Indigenous learning offers and will increase representation in hiring, appointments and leadership development, as part of Canada’s Anti Racism Strategy for 2019-2022.

Parks Canada will provide opportunities for developing a stronger understanding of and training on accessibility considerations, and will equip hiring managers with the knowledge and tools needed to become accessibility-confident. The Agency will initiate the review of its processes, programs and services to identify, remove and prevent accessibility barriers. In parallel, continuous engagement and consultation with staff will be undertaken to feed into the development of an Agency-wide accessibility strategy.

Parks Canada will maintain and create vibrant and engaged employee networks, which will be leveraged to identify, mitigate, and remove barriers in the workplace.

The Agency will continue to focus on the well being and safety of its workforce in particular as a result of the challenges arising from the pandemic.

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Core responsibilities: planned results and resources, and key risks

This section contains detailed information on the department’s planned results and resources for each of its core responsibilities. It also contains information on key risks related to achieving those results.

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Protecting and presenting Canada’s natural and cultural heritage

Description

Establish national parks and national marine conservation areas; designate places, persons and events of national historic significance; protect and conserve natural and cultural heritage guided by science and Indigenous knowledge; provide opportunities to visit, experience and enjoy Canada’s natural and cultural heritage; work with the public, other federal departments, provinces, territories, Indigenous peoples, and stakeholders to carry out these responsibilities.

Departmental results

In carrying out its core responsibility, Parks Canada will advance three Departmental Results:

• Canada’s natural heritage is protected for present and future generations
• Canada’s cultural heritage is protected for present and future generations
• People connect to and experience Canada’s natural and cultural heritage in ways that are meaningful to them

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Planning highlights

Departmental result 1: Canada’s natural heritage is protected for present and future generations
Priority: Natural heritage protection

Natural heritage establishment

Parks Canada will support the Government of Canada’s commitment to protect Canada's natural legacy and conserve 25% of Canada’s land and 25% of Canada’s oceans by 2025, working toward 30% of each by 2030. Expansion of the national park and national marine conservation area systems will continue to make a meaningful contribution towards the government’s goals of conservation, Indigenous reconciliation and rural economic development.

In support of these goals, Parks Canada, during the planning period, will:

• Work toward the establishment of new national parks and national park reserves, including South Okanagan-Similkameen in the dry interior of British Columbia, and Pitaweikek in northeastern Prince Edward Island, as well as working with provincial, territorial and Indigenous governments to identify additional sites for protection under the Canada National Parks Act.
• Explore opportunities to work with municipalities to expand urban parks across Canada through the assessment of feedback on urban parks received from Canadians during the 2020 Minister’s Round Table engagement and consultation.
• Work toward the establishment of national marine conservation areas in eastern James Bay, les Iles de la Madeleine, southern Strait of Georgia, and northern Labrador; and by initiating work on additional national marine conservation area proposals in unrepresented marine regions. Parks Canada will also assess the potential for new freshwater national marine conservation areas as a contribution towards Canada's terrestrial targets.
• Work with Indigenous governments and communities, as well as territorial governments, on the implementation of establishment agreements for newly established heritage places, including Thaidene Nene National Park Reserve and Tallurutiup Imanga National Marine Conservation Area.

Natural heritage conservation

During the planning period, Parks Canada will:

• Continue to modernize conservation approaches and contribute to a Nature Legacy for Canada.
• Continue to move toward an integrated, landscape-level conservation approach in collaboration with Indigenous partners and other regional stakeholders. This will improve our ability to build ecosystem resilience in response to climate change and other stressors, and improve the connectivity through ecological corridors and integration of Parks Canada-administered places with the broader landscape.
• Continue to monitor ecosystems in national parks and focus efforts on understanding and responding to ecological integrity indicators that will improve conservation results.
• Implement conservation and restoration projects that are designed to enhance the ecological integrity of national parks, ecological sustainability of national marine conservation areas, and recover species at risk in all Parks Canada-administered places.
• Contribute to the protection and recovery of species at risk by implementing actions from new and existing site-based, multi-species action plans in coordination with key partners.
• Continue to work with other federal departments, Indigenous peoples, and stakeholders to advance policy and management tools for national marine conservation areas, including monitoring and reporting standards. These actions will enable the Agency to better understand and report on the state of the national marine conservation area system and more effectively manage these areas.
• Continue to ensure that science, research, and management of knowledge support Parks Canada’s conservation planning and action and enable effective communication to Canadians.
• Continue to manage human/wildlife conflict and coexistence, wildlife health, hyper abundant species, alien invasive species, and wildland fire to enhance ecological integrity and ensure public safety.
• Continue to explore the inclusion of restorative justice principles as an additional law enforcement tool for park wardens to support conservation in Parks Canada-administered places.
• Continue to co-lead #NatureForAll, a global initiative to inspire love, support, and action for nature.
• Collaborate with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society and other partners in the preparations for the Fifth International Marine Protected Areas Congress (IMPAC5), to be held in Vancouver in June 2022 – a major opportunity for the world and Canada to assess progress towards marine conservation, to celebrate our remarkable achievements - and to help plot a path towards new global conservation targets.
• Undertake and fund scientific research to support evidence-based decision making for conservation planning and active management.
• Continue to implement key conservation actions from the Wood Buffalo National Park World Heritage Site Action Plan, in collaboration with Indigenous partners, other federal departments, provincial and territorial governments and key stakeholders, to ensure that the World Heritage Outstanding Universal Value of Wood Buffalo National Park is maintained for future generations.

Working with Indigenous peoples

To advance the Government's priority, Walking the Road of Reconciliation, the Agency will:

• Continue to collaboratively advance cooperative management with Indigenous peoples at natural heritage places by establishing new cooperative management structures or by transitioning existing relationship-building structures to include Indigenous roles to support the management of heritage places, including within Recognition of Rights and Self-Determination processes and Rights Reconciliation Agreements.
• Continue to review and renew existing standards, guidance, and tools to weave in Indigenous knowledge systems and to foster collaboration with Indigenous knowledge holders and meaningful engagement of Indigenous partners in conservation.
• Creatively work with our Indigenous partners to build stronger relationships and co-develop and co-implement innovative conservation and visitor experience projects.
• Develop new policy instruments and legislation to support rights implementation and facilitate Indigenous peoples’ uses of heritage places.
• Investigate, with Indigenous partners, potential methods of fostering joint or contiguous national parks/national marine protected areas and Indigenous Conservation and Protected Areas.
• Enhance Rights-based negotiations, prioritizing timely, implementable agreements and supported by a collaborative digital work environment and renewed information sharing tools.

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Departmental result 2: Canada’s cultural heritage is protected for present and future generations

Priority: Cultural heritage protection

Cultural heritage designation and commemoration

In 2021–22, Parks Canada will:

• Continue to implement the Framework for History and Commemoration to promote the Government of Canada’s objectives related to diversity and inclusion under the National Program of Historical Commemoration and set direction for history presentation at all Parks Canada-administered heritage places. This includes developing tools and resources for these places to emphasize a full range of voices, perspectives and experiences.
• Begin a process to seek new designations of persons, places and events that are aligned with the Framework’s strategic priorities.
• Initiate, through the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada, the work of addressing controversy and conflict stemming from existing commemorations, in line with the annex of the Framework for History and Commemoration.
• Continue to undertake the commemoration of national historic designations by carrying out commemorative plaque unveiling ceremonies in 2021–22, thereby increasing the number of places, persons and events of national historic significance to Canadians that are formally recognized.
• Explore alternative approaches to commemorate national historic designations.

Cultural heritage conservation

In alignment with the Minister's mandate, the Agency will:

• Take action toward the development of a legislative proposal related to the designation of places, persons and events of national historic significance and for the protection of federally-owned historic places.
• Continue to undertake various actions to better protect the heritage value of cultural resources in a sustainable manner, including ensuring the collection is safeguarded and accessible for present and future generations.
• Continue work to consolidate the collection of historical and archaeological objects―one of the largest in North America―under Parks Canada’s care to a new purpose-built collection facility in Gatineau, Quebec.
• Continue to support efforts to implement the strategy for preventative conservation of historical and archaeological objects (a cost-effective, evidence-based and sustainable approach to identify and reduce potential hazards to cultural resources).
• Work collaboratively across the Agency to continue to protect the heritage value of cultural resources during COVID-19 by providing critical archaeology support and advice.
• Continue to support and/or contribute to the Cultural Resource Management Information System (CRMIS) for the archaeological and historical objects and cultural heritage sites under the administration of Parks Canada.
• Provide financial assistance to support the protection and presentation of nationally recognized heritage places not administered by the federal government through Parks Canada’s National Cost-Sharing Program for Heritage Places.
• Continue undertaking research and analysis of economic, social, and environmental impacts of heritage places conservation, upon which options for enhancing heritage conservation measures can be based.
• Continue to work with custodian departments responsible for the protection and conservation of federal heritage buildings, national historic sites and heritage lighthouses.
• Continue investments to improve the condition of heritage properties at heritage places. As part of this work, Parks Canada’s heritage conservation professionals will continue to support the protection of cultural resources and conduct impact analyses to identify and mitigate potential threats.
• Continue advancing Parks Canada’s global strategy to ensure Parks Canada’s leadership role within the international natural and cultural heritage community. A scalable approach has been developed to leverage partnerships, advance international priorities, enhance implementation of bilateral and multilateral agreements, and share best practices.

Working with Indigenous peoples

To advance the Government’s priority: Walking the Road of Reconciliation, the Agency will:

• Promote Indigenous representation (First Nation, Métis, and Inuit) on the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada.
• Revise the policies, criteria, and practices of the National Program of Historical Commemoration to better reflect Indigenous histories, heritage values, and memory practices into Canada’s national heritage and history.
• Continue engagement with Indigenous organizations and governments to advance the review of cultural heritage policies with the goal of ensuring that the management and presentation of cultural resources at Parks Canada is respectful of Indigenous heritage values, approaches and practices.
• In response to Call to Action 79, continue to work in partnership with the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation, Survivors, Indigenous organizations, and other federal departments to develop and implement a national heritage plan and strategy for commemorating residential schools, the history and legacy of residential schools, and the contributions of Indigenous peoples to Canada’s history.
• Continue to negotiate cooperative management approaches and structures within Recognition of Rights and Self Determination processes and Rights Reconciliation Agreements.
• Continue to advance cooperative management with Indigenous peoples at cultural heritage places by establishing new cooperative management structures, or transitioning existing relationship-building structures to include roles in decisions making.

Built heritage conservation

A key anticipated achievement in 2021–22 will be the conclusion of 11 cultural heritage projects for a total investment of $53.3M. These projects and others will contribute to departmental results and the Agency’s commemorative integrity objectives by preserving and protecting sites of vital national historic significance for future generations.

Over the planning period, Parks Canada will:

• Continue to make prioritized investments in its cultural heritage assets that will improve their condition. As part of this work, Parks Canada’s heritage conservation professionals will continue to support the protection of cultural resources in infrastructure projects and conduct impact analyses to identify and mitigate potential threats. In addition, the Agency will also incorporate improvements – where feasible and within available funding – in the priority areas of accessibility, inclusivity, reconciliation with Indigenous peoples, greenhouse gas reduction and climate change resilience. It should be noted that all of this work will occur within the COVID-19 context.
• Complete the implementation of the Action Plan developed in response to the Auditor General’s report on the conservation of federal properties including: improving the accuracy and completeness of information in its asset management database and reviewing the approach for designating federal heritage buildings.

Build engagement and collaboration

During this reporting period Parks Canada will:

• Develop innovative partnerships with national, regional, and local stakeholders and Indigenous governments and organisations to amplify the reach, thereby enhancing natural and cultural conservation gains.
• Work with Indigenous communities on opportunities for experiences, interpretation and storytelling, and present Indigenous values, perspectives and contributions to Canada’s natural and cultural heritage
• Continue to engage Indigenous communities connected to Parks Canada-administered heritage places on access to Indigenous artifacts and objects and their care and handling.

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Departmental result 3: People connect to and experience Canada’s natural and cultural heritage in ways that are meaningful to them

Priority: Connecting to Canadians

Parks Canada-administered places are a source of shared pride for all Canadians. Parks Canada is committed to ensuring that national historic sites, national parks and national marine conservation areas reflect Canada’s diversity, are accessible, and that all Canadians can participate in their protection and enjoyment now and into the future.

Parks Canada will continue its work to ensure that national heritage places can be enjoyed by all and that more Canadians understand and appreciate Canada’s rich history, ecology and the value of cultural and natural conservation.

Visitor services, experiences and promotions

Parks Canada works continuously to improve its services to Canadians and to remove barriers to the use and enjoyment of national historic sites, national parks and national marine conservation areas. The Agency strives to make inclusion and accessibility fundamental principles in the development and delivery of visitor services and experiences. During this planning period, Parks Canada will:

• Design and deliver visitor services and experiences that welcome all Canadians as well as visitors from around the world to national historic sites, national parks and national marine conservation areas.
• Advance inclusive and accessible visitor services and experiences in heritage places across the country.
• Continue to serve long-standing audiences while innovating in the services, experiences, and outreach programs offered to them.
• Engage youth, urban Canadians, young families, Canadians with disabilities, and Canadians of diverse backgrounds in the enjoyment and appreciation of protected places.
• Facilitate awareness, enjoyment and visitation to a wider range of national heritage places, including lesser known national historic sites, national parks and national marine conservation areas, as well as visitation in the spring, fall and winter.
• Manage visitation at Parks Canada’s busiest destinations to provide high quality visitor experiences while encouraging Canadians and visitors from around the world to enjoy the full range of destinations in the Parks Canada network.
• Continuously improve digital services to Canadians, including planning tools, transaction tools, and online reservations and advance a digital first approach to better serve Parks Canada clients.
• Plan for visitor experience and investments in visitor infrastructure to offer a diverse range of quality experiences, maximize revenues, and improve financial sustainability.
• Provide an integrated and consistent brand experience to Parks Canada visitors and across Parks Canada’s communications channels.

Collaboration, engagement and outreach

Canada’s national historic sites, national parks and national marine conservation areas welcome millions of visitors every year at over 200 protected places across the country, delivering an extraordinary range of cultural, natural and recreational experiences. Parks Canada also brings nature and history to Canadians in their communities and in their homes with innovative outreach and engagement programming, digital experiences, and promotional activities. Parks Canada staff work with a wide variety of local and regional partners to provide visitor services and experiences, and also to introduce Canadians to the safe enjoyment of natural, cultural and historic places through popular initiatives such as Learn-to Camp. To this end, Parks Canada will:

• Reach more Canadians with community and digital outreach programs, advancing awareness, appreciation, and enjoyment of protected places, including through the popular Learn-to Camp program and urban outreach programming. Work with partners to jointly amplify the reach of Parks Canada and other outreach and engagement programs.
• Strengthen and better integrate Parks Canada’s digital offerings to Canadians on the Agency’s website and across communications channels.
• Work with a wide array of local, regional and national partners to advance the enjoyment and appreciation of nature, history, culture and conservation.
• Work independently and with partners to employ youth in the delivery of outreach programming and engagement activities to connect more Canadians to our country’s nature, culture and history.
• Collaborate with Indigenous partners in the delivery of authentic Indigenous experiences at Parks Canada administered places and the sharing of Indigenous stories, perspectives and cultures with Canadians and visitors from around the world.
• Work cooperatively with municipal, regional, provincial and territorial parks systems on initiatives to advance connection to nature, culture and history.
• Work with partners in the tourism industry to help respond to the impacts and challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and continue to advance national and regional strategies for tourism recovery and destination development.

Build engagement and collaboration

National historic sites, national parks and national marine conservation areas are popular destinations enjoyed by millions of Canadians and visitors from around the world. Parks Canada takes seriously the role these places play in local economies and in regional and national tourism and in this reporting period will:

• Develop innovative partnerships with national, regional, and local stakeholders and Indigenous governments and organisations, thereby enhancing natural and cultural conservation gains.
• Engage with Indigenous governments and organizations to seek their views on the presentation and management of cultural resources through policy.
• Work with Indigenous communities on opportunities for experiences, interpretation and storytelling, and present Indigenous values, perspectives and contributions to Canada’s natural and cultural heritage.
• Continue to implement the Framework for History and Commemoration to transform how history is presented at national historic sites, national marine conservation areas and national parks across Canada.
• Further the Government of Canada's priority to strengthen the middle class by supporting Canada’s new tourism strategy, Creating Middle Class Jobs: A Federal Tourism Growth Strategy.

Working with Indigenous peoples

No relationship is more important to Parks Canada than the Agency’s relationship with Indigenous peoples. Parks Canada works collaboratively with hundreds of Indigenous communities and organizations in the management of protected places, and also in the delivery of visitor experiences, outreach and engagement. Over this planning period, Parks Canada will:

• Advance opportunities for Indigenous people to connect meaningfully with their traditional territories.
• Advance agreements with Indigenous peoples that support their ongoing use of traditional territories in Parks Canada administered heritage places.
• Support implementation of the Government of Canada's commitment to the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples through the development of guidance to support Indigenous stewardship at Parks Canada administered places.
• Support existing and new Guardians programs by identifying barriers, best practices, local needs, and requests from Indigenous communities.

Contemporary assets

Through fiscal year 2021–22, Parks Canada will continue to address work related to its contemporary assets while working within the constraints presented by COVID-19.

A key anticipated achievement in 2021–22 will be the conclusion of 38 projects for contemporary visitor experience assets for a total investment of $350.9M.

These investments will contribute to Parks Canada’s priority of connecting Canadians to their natural and cultural heritage and will improve the quality their visitor experience by addressing asset condition, while contributing to federal greening targets and meeting or exceeding federal standards for accessibility and inclusivity.

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Gender-based analysis plus

Parks Canada uses Gender-Based Analysis Plus (GBA+) to assess all Treasury Board Submissions, Memoranda to Cabinet and Budget proposals for potential impacts or implications on diverse populations of Canadians. This allows the Agency to respond to potential barriers while facilitating more inclusive and equitable opportunities and outcomes.

As an operating agency of the Government of Canada, Parks Canada seeks to employ an inclusive lens in its policies and programs and to continuously improve its services to Canadians and to remove barriers to the use and enjoyment of national historic sites, national parks and national marine conservation areas. The Agency strives to make inclusion and accessibility fundamental principles in the development and delivery of visitor services and experiences.

In 2021–22, Parks Canada will continue to improve GBA+ application through various key processes such as strategic partnering, management planning and evaluation. Evaluations will be informed using the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat’s Integrating Gender-Based Analysis Plus into Evaluation: A Primer.

In addition, actions to increase awareness of GBA+ and to broaden knowledge of GBA+ among team members, as well as greater collaboration on GBA+ between Parks Canada and other departments and organizations, will continue.

In providing services to Canadians, Parks Canada is committed to building inclusive visitor experiences. A number of initiatives are underway to audit and increase accessibility at Parks Canada-administered national heritage places across the country. Guidance has been created to foster the creation of accessible and inclusive facilities and spaces as part of the Agency's ongoing infrastructure program. This includes incorporating inclusive facilities in new and renovated washroom projects, ensuring that these places are designed with everyone in mind and offer greater flexibility of use to accommodate the varying needs of visitors, including spaces for families, people with disabilities, people from diverse cultural and religious backgrounds and inclusive of all gender expressions, gender identities and sexual orientations.

Internally, workplace equity, accessibility, inclusion and diversity has been included as a main Agency priority for this departmental plan. In an effort to foster a diverse workforce and to promote inclusion and equity, Parks Canada will implement a Diversity and Inclusion Strategy that will establish new key actions and activities that will foster a culture of inclusion for all employees. Legislative obligations, such as the employment equity plan, and employment systems review will be encompassed in the strategy. Building on previous achievements, the strategy will increase representation in hiring, appointments and leadership development, as part of Canada’s Anti-Racism Strategy for 2019-2022.

Parks Canada will provide opportunities for developing a stronger understanding of and training on accessibility considerations, and will equip hiring managers with the knowledge and tools needed to become accessibility-confident. The Agency will initiate the review of its processes, programs and services to identify, remove and prevent accessibility barriers. In parallel, continuous engagement and consultation with staff will be undertaken to feed into the development of an Agency-wide accessibility strategy.

Parks Canada will also maintain and create vibrant and engaged employee networks, which will inform the identification, mitigation, and removal of barriers in the workplace.

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United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Through its planned activities for 2021–22, Parks Canada Agency will contribute to Canada’s achievement of the following United Nations SDGs and targets:

• Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable (Goal 11), and, more specifically, target 11.4 (Strengthen efforts to protect and safeguard the world's cultural and natural heritage).
• Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts (Goal 13), and more specifically, target 13.2 (Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning).
• Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development (Goal 14).
• Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss (Goal 15) and, more specifically, target 15.5 (Take urgent and significant action to reduce the degradation of natural habitats, halt the loss of biodiversity and, by 2020, protect and prevent the extinction of threatened species), and target 15.4 (By 2030, ensure the conservation of mountain ecosystems, including their biodiversity, in order to enhance their capacity to provide benefits that are essential for sustainable development).
• Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development (Goal 17) and, more specifically, target 17.17 (Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships, building on the experience and resourcing strategies of partnerships).

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Experimentation

As a direct service provider to Canadians at national heritage places across the country and with activities that span a wide variety of disciplines ranging from forest management to the care of cultural and archaeological objects to ensuring the smooth running of parking lots and campgrounds, among innumerable others, the nature of Parks Canada’s operations mean that informal experimentation in regular business is a necessity. Continuing to build upon the unprecedented innovation that occurred to respond to free admission to national heritage places during Canada’s 150th anniversary in 2017, and looking to shift the innovative culture of the Agency’s operations to its corporate functions, Parks Canada has undertaken a number of pilot projects to find ways to address persistent challenges and improve outcomes for Canadians both in its operations and in its supporting internal services and is working on building a culture of experimentation and innovation Agency-wide.

The following are some examples of innovations and pilot projects that will be undertaken in the planning period:

Innovation Competition

In 2020, as part of building a culture of experimentation and innovation, Parks Canada launched an internal crowd sourced virtual innovation fair to gather ideas for solutions to natural resource conservation challenges at Parks Canada-administered places. This competition, which ran throughout the year invited Agency employees throughout the organisation to put forward ideas to strengthen natural resource conservation. In the first phase, participants were to provide a statement of the problem that was to be addressed and a proposed approach, rationale and costing. In the second phase, all Agency employees were invited to vote on the proposals as a means of identifying which proposals be screened in and considered for funding. Successful proposals were announced in December 2020.In total, 75 proposals were put forth, with 29 being screened in; of which eight were chosen, with $140,000 invested. These eight new natural resource conservation projects, including a crowd sourced coastal monitoring program in Prince Edward Island National Park and a pilot project to digitize the Agency's grey (site specific reports, studies and histories, for example) literature, will be brought to fruition in 2021‑2022 and beyond.

Building Net-Zero Residential Units

Given the nature of its operations, Parks Canada, like other federal departments, maintains a housing stock to provide living accommodations for its employees working in remote areas where there are few private sector housing options. The Agency has been providing some of its employees with housing in a number of regions for decades. To innovate in this area, Parks Canada-administered protected heritage places located in Canada's north are working together after receiving Greening Government funding to design replicable, highly energy efficient houses that will meet the needs of the Agency's operations in this remote region. This pilot project will result in the design of a Net Zero Carbon, highly efficient residential unit that supports Parks Canada's carbon reduction targets, and could be deployed in other northern locations. Ultimately, this project will inform the Agency’s strategy for the replacement of aging and inefficient housing stock and meeting the increasing demand for staff housing. Once the pilot project is completed, the new residential units is expected to decrease annual operating costs (currently $406K annual cost for heating fuels) and reduction in GHG emissions (currently 621 tonnes).

Building off COVID-19 Innovations in Visitor Services

Given the necessity for physical distancing in Parks Canada-administered national heritage places during the COVID-19 pandemic, 2020 marked a significant year of innovation in visitor services. In 2021 and beyond, the Agency will build upon those activities piloted during the pandemic to expand its visitor service offer, such as in the following examples:

• National heritage places in southern Manitoba implemented COVID adaptations that resulted in new visitor offers, and enhanced site accessibility. This offer will continue in future years. Development of additional innovations in the visitor offer will follow in future years. Included in these was the development of a guided driving tour highlighting the history and architecture of southern Manitoba. Visitors participated in this unique offer from their own vehicle; keeping safe, and using radio transmitter technology. Parks Canada will continue to build on this activity and lessons learned are shared internally and with partners.
• Using new technologies made commonplace by the pandemic, the national heritage places in the southwest Northwest Territories will reach more northern school classrooms in remote areas of the Northwest Territories and in northern Alberta than ever before. Live and interactive video programming offered will centre on the geology of northern parks, unique wildlife, how guiding and interpretive programs are delivered at sites, and on-the-land survival skills using traditional bush craft. These programs aim to promote a greater connection between Parks Canada-administered places and the Indigenous cultures and peoples of the region.
• Following enormously positive feedback regarding the COVID-related vehicle restriction of the eastern section of the Bow Valley Parkway in Banff National Park in 2020, a pilot project providing an enhanced cycling experience in Banff is planned to be offered for 2021. This pilot builds on the successes of an established well-used network of cycling opportunities in the park, and aligns with a long-term strategy for moving people sustainably throughout the park and learnings from the pilot will support assessment and planning for enhanced cycling experiences in the future.
• In Prince Albert and Elk Island National Parks, due to COVID-19 realities and limitations on travel, the “Learn-to Camp” program was rapidly revamped to a completely virtual offer. The virtual offer was so successful that the parks will be offering that format in future years.

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Key risks

Parks Canada has identified six key risks in relation to its core responsibility that could impact delivery of programs and services. Associated mitigation strategies have been developed to minimize the overall likelihood and impact. These risks and associated mitigation strategies are described in the table below.

Planned results for protecting and presenting Canada’s natural and cultural heritage