2017 to 2018 Fees Report

Minister’s message

As the Minister responsible for Parks Canada, I am pleased to present the 2017 to 2018 Report on Fees.

On June 22, 2017, the Service Fees Act received royal assent, thereby repealing the User Fees Act.

The Service Fees Act introduces a modern legislative framework that enables cost-effective delivery of services and, through enhanced reporting to Parliament, improved transparency and oversight. The act provides for:

• a streamlined approach to consultation and the approval of new or modified fees
• a requirement for services to have service standards and reporting against these standards, along with a policy to remit fees to fee payers when standards are not met
• an automatic annual fee adjustment by the Consumer Price Index (CPI) to ensure that fees keep pace with inflation
• annual detailed reporting to Parliament in order to increase transparency

This 2017 to 2018 Fees Report is the first report to be prepared under the Service Fees Act. Additional fee information will be included starting next fiscal year, once Parks Canada Agency fully transitions to the Service Fees Act regime. This report includes new information such as a detailed listing of all fees along with future year fee amounts.

In 2017, Canada celebrated the 150th anniversary of confederation and, as part of the celebration, admission was free to all Parks Canada places. For this reason, in fiscal year
2017-18, fee revenues are lower than in other years.

Parks Canada is committed to meeting the new requirements of the Service Fees Act which aims to minimize costs and ease taxpayer burden. In keeping with the spirit of the Act and the Agency’s mandate, Parks Canada’s fees will continue to be set with the values of fairness, transparency, and equity of access to our national heritage places.

Original signed by

Catherine McKenna
Minister of Environment and Climate Change and Minister responsible for Parks Canada

General fees information

The tables that follow provide information on each category of fees, including:

• the name of the fee category
• the date that the fee (or fee category) was introduced and last amended (if applicable)
• service standards
• performance results against these standards 
• financial information regarding total costs, total revenues and remissions

In addition to the information presented by fee category, there is a summary of the financial information for all fees as well as a listing of fees under the department’s authority. This listing includes the existing fee dollar amounts and the adjusted dollar fee amount for a future year.

Note: Amounts for Parks Canada are reported on an accrual accounting basis.

General and financial information by fee category

General information

Fee category

Admission

Fee-setting authority

• Parks Canada Agency Act

Year introduced

1911

Year last amended

Amended in 2008. New fees added in 2010.

Service standard

90% of visitors are satisfied.

Performance results

95% of visitors were satisfied.

Other information

Free admission to all Parks Canada’s places in 2017 and introduced to youth 17 and under, in 2018 and beyond. Plans are regularly reviewed to maintain visitor satisfaction levels.

^# 2016 to 2017 revenue is reported based on the requirements of the User Fees Act, whereas 2017 to 2018 revenue is reported based on the requirements of the Service Fees Act. The 2016 to 2017 revenue restated on the basis of the requirements of the Service Fees Act would have been $64,338,395

* The amount includes direct and indirect costs, where such costs are identifiable and material.

^† A remission is a partial or full return of a fee paid.  Under the Service Fees Act departments are required to develop policies that determine when fees will be remitted to fee payers should service standards not be met. The requirement for departments to remit is anticipated to come into effect on March 31, 2020. This effective date allows departments time to develop remissions policies and adjust service standard tracking and remittance systems.  During fiscal year 2017 to 2018, some departments may have issued remissions, in accordance with their authority of their enabling legislation or regulation, as opposed to the authority given by the Service Fees Act. It is remissions issued under enabling legislations or regulations that are shown above.

 

 

Fee category

Accomodation

Fee-setting authority

• Parks Canada Agency Act

Year introduced

1890

Year last amended

Amended in 2008. New fees added in 2010.

Service standard

90% of visitors are satisfied.

Performance results

95% of visitors were satisfied.

Other information

Camping fees kept in 2017-18. Occupancy rates may increase. Plans are regularly reviewed to maintain visitor satisfaction levels. Communications are clear on what is and is not free.

^# 2016 to 2017 revenue is reported based on the requirements of the User Fees Act, whereas 2017 to 2018 revenue is reported based on the requirements of the Service Fees Act. The 2016 to 2017 revenue restated on the basis of the requirements of the Service Fees Act would have been $30,624,928.

* The amount includes direct and indirect costs, where such costs are identifiable and material.

^† A remission is a partial or full return of a fee paid. Under the Service Fees Act departments are required to develop policies that determine when fees will be remitted to fee payers should service standards not be met. The requirement for departments to remit is anticipated to come into effect on March 31, 2020. This effective date allows departments time to develop remissions policies and adjust service standard tracking and remittance systems. During fiscal year 2017 to 2018, some departments may have issued remissions, in accordance with their authority of their enabling legislation or regulation, as opposed to the authority given by the Service Fees Act. It is remissions issued under enabling legislations or regulations that are shown above.

 

 

Fee category

Value Added Products and Services

Fee-setting authority

• Parks Canada Agency Act

Year introduced

1886

Year last amended

Amended in 2008. New fees added in 2010.

Service standard

90% of visitors are satisfied.

Performance results

95% of visitors were satisfied.

Other information

Value added products and services are regularly reviewed to maintain visitor satisfaction levels.

^# 2016 to 2017 revenue is reported based on the requirements of the User Fees Act, whereas 2017 to 2018 revenue is reported based on the requirements of the Service Fees Act. The 2016 to 2017 revenue restated on the basis of the requirements of the Service Fees Act would have been $6,381,486.

* The amount includes direct and indirect costs, where such costs are identifiable and material.

^† A remission is a partial or full return of a fee paid. Under the Service Fees Act departments are required to develop policies that determine when fees will be remitted to fee payers should service standards not be met. The requirement for departments to remit is anticipated to come into effect on March 31, 2020. This effective date allows departments time to develop remissions policies and adjust service standard tracking and remittance systems. During fiscal year 2017 to 2018, some departments may have issued remissions, in accordance with their authority of their enabling legislation or regulation, as opposed to the authority given by the Service Fees Act. It is remissions issued under enabling legislations or regulations that are shown above

 

 

Fee category

Permits

Fee-setting authority

• Parks Canada Agency Act

Year introduced

1965

Year last amended

Business licences amended in 1994. Other fees amended in 2008. New fees added in 2010.

Service standard

90% of visitors are satisfied.

Performance results

95% of visitors were satisfied.

Other information

No impact on this service category.

^# 2016 to 2017 revenue is reported based on the requirements of the User Fees Act, whereas 2017 to 2018 revenue is reported based on the requirements of the Service Fees Act. The 2016 to 2017 revenue restated on the basis of the requirements of the Service Fees Act would have been $5,097,186.

* The amount includes direct and indirect costs, where such costs are identifiable and material.

^† A remission is a partial or full return of a fee paid. Under the Service Fees Act departments are required to develop policies that determine when fees will be remitted to fee payers should service standards not be met. The requirement for departments to remit is anticipated to come into effect on March 31, 2020. This effective date allows departments time to develop remissions policies and adjust service standard tracking and remittance systems. During fiscal year 2017 to 2018, some departments may have issued remissions, in accordance with their authority of their enabling legislation or regulation, as opposed to the authority given by the Service Fees Act. It is remissions issued under enabling legislations or regulations that are shown above

 

 

Fee category

Municipal Services

Fee-setting authority

• Canada National Parks Act

Year introduced

1946

Year last amended

Water and sewer fees amended in 2001; remainder in 2003. Garbage fees amended in 1996.

Service standard

100% of drinking water and sewage effluent samples meet quality standards.

Garbage collection frequencies are established in consultation with Community Councils and the Business Community, based on minimum standards established for each community and required to ensure the health and safety of both humans and wildlife.

Performance results

Standards were met. Plans are regularly reviewed to maintain visitor satisfaction levels.

Other information

No impact on this service category.

* The amount includes direct and indirect costs, where such costs are identifiable and material.

^† A remission is a partial or full return of a fee paid. Under the Service Fees Act departments are required to develop policies that determine when fees will be remitted to fee payers should service standards not be met. The requirement for departments to remit is anticipated to come into effect on March 31, 2020. This effective date allows departments time to develop remissions policies and adjust service standard tracking and remittance systems. During fiscal year 2017 to 2018, some departments may have issued remissions, in accordance with their authority of their enabling legislation or regulation, as opposed to the authority given by the Service Fees Act. It is remissions issued under enabling legislations or regulations that are shown above

 

 

Fee category

Lockage

Fee-setting authority

• Parks Canada Agency Act

Year introduced

1972

Year last amended

Amended in 2008. New fees added in 2010.

Service standard

90% of visitors are satisfied.

Performance results

95% of visitors were satisfied.

Other information

Free lockage in 2017-18. Plans are regularly reviewed to maintain visitor satisfaction levels.

* The amount includes direct and indirect costs, where such costs are identifiable and material.

^† A remission is a partial or full return of a fee paid. Under the Service Fees Act departments are required to develop policies that determine when fees will be remitted to fee payers should service standards not be met. The requirement for departments to remit is anticipated to come into effect on March 31, 2020. This effective date allows departments time to develop remissions policies and adjust service standard tracking and remittance systems. During fiscal year 2017 to 2018, some departments may have issued remissions, in accordance with their authority of their enabling legislation or regulation, as opposed to the authority given by the Service Fees Act. It is remissions issued under enabling legislations or regulations that are shown above

 

 

Fee category

Leases/Licenses of Occupation

Fee-setting authority

• Canada National Parks Act
  • National Parks of Canada Lease and Licence of Occupation Regulations
• Federal Real Property and Federal Immovables Act
  • Federal Real Property Regulations

Year introduced

• S.C. 2000, c. 32, October 20 (CIF February 19, 2001)
  • SOR/92-25, December 12, 1991
• S.C. 1991, c. 50, December 17 1991
  • SOR/92-502, August 27 1992

Year last amended

• 2017, c. 26, December 12, 2017- SOR/2010-23, February 2, 2010
• 2014, c. 2, April 1 2014- SOR/SOR/2007-43, February 22, 2007

Service standard

Not applicable – Fees set by contract

Performance results

Not applicable – Fees set by contract

Other information

Not applicable – Fees set by contract

* The amount includes direct and indirect costs, where such costs are identifiable and material.

^† A remission is a partial or full return of a fee paid. Under the Service Fees Act departments are required to develop policies that determine when fees will be remitted to fee payers should service standards not be met. The requirement for departments to remit is anticipated to come into effect on March 31, 2020. This effective date allows departments time to develop remissions policies and adjust service standard tracking and remittance systems. During fiscal year 2017 to 2018, some departments may have issued remissions, in accordance with their authority of their enabling legislation or regulation, as opposed to the authority given by the Service Fees Act. It is remissions issued under enabling legislations or regulations that are shown above

 

 

Fee category

Staff Housing

Fee-setting authority

• Contract (Staff Housing)
• Parks Canada Agency Act
• Financial Administration Act
• Federal Real Property and Federal Immovables Act
  • Federal Real Property Regulations

Year introduced

• S.C. 1998, c. 31, December 3 1998
• R.S.C., 1985, c. F-11
• S.C. 1991, c. 50, December 17 1991
  • SOR/92-502, August 27 1992

Year last amended

• 2017, c. 9, June 19, 2017
• March 12, 2018, 2017, c. 6, c. 9, c. 15, c. 20, c. 33
• 2014, c. 2, April 1 2014
  • SOR/SOR/2007-43, February 22, 2007

Service standard

Not applicable – Fees set by contract

Performance results

Not applicable – Fees set by contract

Other information

Not applicable – Fees set by contract

* The amount includes direct and indirect costs, where such costs are identifiable and material.

^† A remission is a partial or full return of a fee paid. Under the Service Fees Act departments are required to develop policies that determine when fees will be remitted to fee payers should service standards not be met. The requirement for departments to remit is anticipated to come into effect on March 31, 2020. This effective date allows departments time to develop remissions policies and adjust service standard tracking and remittance systems. During fiscal year 2017 to 2018, some departments may have issued remissions, in accordance with their authority of their enabling legislation or regulation, as opposed to the authority given by the Service Fees Act. It is remissions issued under enabling legislations or regulations that are shown above

 

 

Fee category

Retail Products

Fee-setting authority

• Contract
• Parks Canada Agency Act

Year introduced

1986

Year last amended

New and amended fees in 2018

Service standard

Not applicable – Fees for the provision of a product

Performance results

Not applicable – Fees for the provision of a product

Other information

Not applicable – Fees for the provision of a product

* The amount includes direct and indirect costs, where such costs are identifiable and material.

^† A remission is a partial or full return of a fee paid. Under the Service Fees Act departments are required to develop policies that determine when fees will be remitted to fee payers should service standards not be met. The requirement for departments to remit is anticipated to come into effect on March 31, 2020. This effective date allows departments time to develop remissions policies and adjust service standard tracking and remittance systems. During fiscal year 2017 to 2018, some departments may have issued remissions, in accordance with their authority of their enabling legislation or regulation, as opposed to the authority given by the Service Fees Act. It is remissions issued under enabling legislations or regulations that are shown above

 

 

Fee category

Access to Information Act

Fee-setting authority

• Access to Information Act

Year introduced

1985

Year last amended

• Amended in 2016

Service standard

A response is provided within 30 days following receipt of a request; the response time may be extended under section 9 of the Access to Information Act.

Performance results

Standards were met

Other information

Not applicable

* The amount includes direct and indirect costs, where such costs are identifiable and material.

^† A remission is a partial or full return of a fee paid. Under the Service Fees Act departments are required to develop policies that determine when fees will be remitted to fee payers should service standards not be met. The requirement for departments to remit is anticipated to come into effect on March 31, 2020. This effective date allows departments time to develop remissions policies and adjust service standard tracking and remittance systems. During fiscal year 2017 to 2018, some departments may have issued remissions, in accordance with their authority of their enabling legislation or regulation, as opposed to the authority given by the Service Fees Act. It is remissions issued under enabling legislations or regulations that are shown above

 

Financial totals for all fee categories

Fees under the department’s authority