Ontario offering one-day free access to provincial parks next week
Ontario is offering free one-day access to provincial parks next Friday.
The initiative, announced in conjunction with Healthy Parks Healthy People Day, will grant visitors day permits to the provincial park network without admission. Usually, fees range from $9 to $21 per vehicle.
“I invite all Ontarians to take advantage of this free pass to Ontario Parks, an opportunity to immerse yourselves in the joy and wonder of exploring the great outdoors,” Andrea Khanjin, Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks, said in a release issued Monday. “Whether you’re looking to get some exercise or seeking a fun and affordable day with your family, I hope this free day will give more people the opportunity to explore everything that their local provincial park has to offer.”
The option to reserve day-use permits ahead of time at Ontario provincial parks was rolled out during the pandemic as a means to increase access to outdoor spaces. It was also meant to prevent people from driving to a park only to find out they were at capacity, the province said.
Residents can pre-book day trips online up to five days in advance using the same booking system for campsites. As of 2024, the program included 76 of Ontario’s most popular provincial parks.
Uxbridge Urban Provincial Park in Durham Region, opened to the public on Canada Day, is the newest day-use park to be established under the Provincial Parks Act. The park is still in the early stages of development, the province said in June, and currently there are “no facilities or services offered at the site" and parking is limited. Still, visitors have been granted access to an existing network of trails on the more than 1,300 acres of land.
In its release, the Ministry of Environment said it plans to build 300 new campsites in provincial parks. It also committed to providing electrical services to more than 800 existing sites.
Correction
We have corrected this story to reflect that free access to Ontario provincial parks will take place on July 19.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Economic experts call it 'terrible policy,' but most Canadians support expansion of Old Age Security benefits: Nanos survey
Amid new polling indicating most Canadians support boosting Old Age Security benefits by 10 per cent for seniors aged 65 to 74, a former Liberal finance minister and former Bank of Canada governor are warning the government not to pursue the policy change.
Tax rebate: Canadians with low to modest incomes to receive payment on Friday
Canadians who are eligible for a GST/HST tax credit can expect their final payment of the year on Friday.
WestJet ordered to reimburse B.C. passenger for hotel, despite claim bill was 'excessive'
WestJet failed to convince a B.C. tribunal that a woman whose flight was delayed for three days spent an "excessive" amount on a hotel room, and the airline has been ordered to pay her full bill.
Parliament 'ground to a halt' over Conservative allegations of Liberal corruption
Government business has been put on indefinite pause in the House of Commons and the Conservatives say it will stay that way until the Liberals hand over documents related to misspent government dollars.
DoorDash driver who appeared to spit in Ontario man's drink removed from platform
A DoorDash driver who was caught on camera appearing to spit into an Ontario man’s drink has been removed from the platform, the food delivery company has confirmed.
Iran's foreign minister vows harsh retaliation if Israel strikes Iran in response to missile barrage
Iran's foreign minister warned Israel on Friday that if it carries out an attack on Iran, Tehran will retaliate in a harsh way.
'No one has $70,000 dollars lying around': Toronto condo owners facing massive special assessment
The owners of a North York condominium say they are facing a $70,000 special assessment to fix their building's parking garage. '$70,000 is a lot of money. It makes me very nervous and stressed out of nowhere for this huge debt to come in,' said Ligeng Guo.
REVIEW 'Joker: Folie a Deux': A study in fantasy, obsession and the ordinariness of evil
CTV's film critic Richard Crouse says 'Joker: Foli a Deux' is a study in fantasy, the ordinariness of evil, and obsession.
Garth Brooks accused of rape in lawsuit from hair-and-makeup artist
A woman who says she worked as a hair-and-makeup stylist for Garth Brooks alleged in a lawsuit filed Thursday that he raped her in a Los Angeles hotel in 2019.