I’ve long felt that Parks Canada matter, but this morning I read an article in the National Observer that Parks Canada is facing a massive $450 million in cuts and lapsed funding over the next two years. It made my stomach drop. I may be especially sensitive about this subject right now because I’ve been anxiously watching the damage Trump is currently doing to the United States National Park Service, or maybe it’s my late-to-the-party appreciation of Parks Canada—but either way, our national natural treasures are at risk, and we really need to be getting loud about this.
It’s easy to shrug this off in the noise of an election cycle, especially when Canada is facing an existential threat to our sovereignty on top of a cost of living crisis, but nature also matters and now is exactly the time we should be paying closer attention. Parks Canada plays a critical role in biodiversity conservation, climate resilience, and cultural preservation. Our national parks are not optional luxuries; they’re essential to our long-term prosperity and well-being. Bottom line; if you care about the climate, but also our economy, you need to care about Parks Canada future.
These cuts are more than numbers on a budget spreadsheet. They threaten the very heart of Canada’s identity; our trails, our protected lands, our historic sites, and the ecosystems they support. It’s also a slap in the face to the 30 x 30 commitment Canada made: to protect 30% of our land, water, and oceans by 2030. Without adequate funding for Parks Canada, that target looks more and more like wishful thinking.
And let’s not pretend these cuts are just about tightening belts. They’re choices. When governments decide to roll back investment in nature, they’re choosing to ignore the climate crisis, biodiversity loss, and the growing mental health toll of being disconnected from the natural world. Also, let’s be honest—it’s pretty tough to build a green economy when you’ve got nothing green left to offer. Parks Canada protects a staggering 450,000 km² of land, contributing to carbon capture, cleaner air, and a healthier, more resilient country. And it’s not just about nature; many Parks Canada sites also safeguard our shared history. In a world where our very identity is being challenged, protecting these places matters more than ever.
Wilder still? It’s not Canadian voters calling for these cuts. In fact, we overwhelmingly want more investment. An EKOS poll conducted late last year found that 84% of us want stronger government action to protect forests and wildlife. And no, it’s not just granola-crunching tree huggers saying so—support cuts across party lines, with three out of four Conservative voters also backing more protections. So yes, this issue matters to voters. It’s just not getting the airtime it deserves. And what better time to push it front and centre than during an election cycle?
We have a chance right now to speak up and demand that all political parties commit to protecting and restoring nature. That includes fully funding Parks Canada—not just to maintain what we already have, but to expand and enhance it for future generations.
Because here’s the truth of the matter: you can’t claim to support climate action or reconciliation or mental health or tourism and then turn around and gut the very system that supports all of those things.
Why Parks Canada matter isn’t just about stunning landscapes and affordable places to vacation. It’s about stewardship, access, education, jobs, culture, climate action, and identity.
If you love this country, you should care about this.
So get as loud about this as you would about anything else that matters to you. Email your MP. Ask candidates where they stand. Support organizations pushing back against these cuts. Visit a park. Share your experience. Make noise.
Silence though is how we lose things we can never get back.
