A Parks Canada employee works at a kiosk in P.E.I. National Park. Parks CanadaArticle contentIt was a hot, sunny Canada Day holiday as my husband and I packed up our towels and sunscreen and headed for the P.E.I. National Park. Although it was a perfect beach day, we had never found it difficult on past July 1 holidays to find our own patch of sand more or less to ourselves.THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY.Subscribe now to access this story and more:Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsSUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES.Subscribe or sign in to your account to continue your reading experience.Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsRegister to unlock more articles.Create an account or sign in to continue your reading experience.Access additional stories every monthShare your thoughts and join the conversation in our commenting communityGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorArticle contentSo it was quite the surprise when, not only was the shoreline filled with blankets and umbrellas, we couldn’t even get into the parking lot. After finding a safe place to park a short walk away, we noticed something else unusual. A high percentage of the vehicles sported Prince Edward Island licence plates.Article contentArticle contentArticle contentThe effect of the Canada Strong Pass was immediate and has been evident every weekend since.Article contentVacationing at homeArticle contentThe pass was a Liberal election campaign promise that the government made good on beginning June 30 until Sept. 2. Along with the announcement this past week that also fulfills an election promise to lower Confederation Bridge tolls and Atlantic Canadian ferry fees, the goal is to keep more Canadians exploring at home while the trade war (not to mention border control issues) plague our relationship with the U.S.Article contentAnecdotally, it’s working.Article contentGreen Gables Heritage Place is reporting a 20 per cent increase in visitors in the first weeks of summer compared to the same period in 2024. Kassandra McKinnon, the visitor experience team lead at Green Gables, told the CBC the site’s busiest day had 3,000 visitors.Article contentIn support of my theory that P.E.I. residents might be making up some of that increased visitation, McKinnon said, “We’re actually seeing fewer large tour buses. We’re seeing more… families, couples, independent travelers visiting on their own schedules, which spreads out the visitation (and) actually has been really nice for queues and being able to kind of spread that out throughout the day.”Article contentArticle contentFrigal tendenciesArticle contentIslanders, for those who don’t know, have a reputation for preferring not to pay for something if they can find a way not to.Article contentTo be clear, P.E.I. residents are also known as generous people who donate time, talent and money for every benefit and fundraiser going, and who will invite strangers in for a meal or pick up the grocery bill of the person in front of them who forgot their wallet. But reading a news article, parking downtown for the day or going to the beach? Those should be free.Article contentAnd, since Prince Edward Island is nothing but coastline, finding a beautiful beach without an admission charge is not hard to do. The PE.I. government maintains something like eight to 10 day use parks with beaches, many of them with change rooms and lifeguards. If you don’t need facilities, though, there is access to the water down practically every lane.
JOCELYNE LLOYD: Canada Strong Pass effect was immediate
