(Photo from albertaparks.ca)

By Canadian Press

Surge in visits leads to user fee for popular Kananaskis Country

Apr 27, 2021 | 2:12 PM

KANANASKIS, AB – Albertans hoping to escape to a popular provincial recreation area in the Rockies during the COVID-19 pandemic will soon have to pay for the privilege.

Kananaskis Country, which is about 100 kilometres west of Calgary, has been flooded with visitors particularly in the past year due to restrictions designed to limit the spread of the virus.

Alberta Environment Minister Jason Nixon says the Alberta government will be bringing in a $90 per vehicle annual fee for visitors.

Nixon says more than five million people visited Kananaskis last year, which is almost a million higher than nearby Banff National Park.

He says that has led to overflowing garbage cans, more search and rescue calls, and the need for more officers.

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Nixon says the area has exceeded its operational expense budget for the year and the $15 million the user fee generates will go back into supporting the area.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 27, 2021

The Canadian Press