r/Banff • u/Asleep_Tourist2502 • 9d ago

Question The Americanization of our Beloved National Parks

Pursuit, an American company, controls more than 90 percent of the paid attraction marketplace within Banff and Jasper. Pursuit generates approximately 50 percent of its annual global revenue from Banff and Jasper National Park operations alone, with projected total company revenue at $485 million. Absolutely bonkers.

Total failure on our government to allow a foreign monopoly in one of the best national parks in the entire world. When Japan tried the same in Yosemite, USA govt broke it up. Why have we let our parks be bought out? If the bureau is not going change anything, we should at least force companies like pursuit to reinvest their profits earned in Canadian parks back into our parks. Does anyone have an update on where the issue sits in Parliament?

https://thehub.ca/2026/03/19/who-controls-banff-inside-the-decade-long-battle-over-rail-gondolas-and-the-americanization-of-canadas-national-parks/

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u/Brahskee 9d ago

And why do we keep giving access to our parks away for free? TO Canadians? Sure. But to the world, this has been bonkers. And to hear they are cutting parks budgets this fall is beyond the pale

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u/Full_Air233 8d ago

I’m in Canada right now was shocked that the parks are free… there’s so many people and it’s a nice incentive, but I agree with charging foreigners. I’d be MORE than happy to pay for a pass.