Canada Gazette, Part I, Volume 160, Number 10: Order Amending the National Historic Sites of Canada Order

March 7, 2026

Statutory authority
Canada National Parks Act

Sponsoring agency
Parks Canada Agency

REGULATORY IMPACT ANALYSIS STATEMENT

(This statement is not part of the Order.)

Issues

The Grosse ÃŽle and the Irish Memorial National Historic Site (Grosse ÃŽle) was designated under the federal Historic Sites and Monuments Act as a national historic site in 1974. A federal designation does not automatically provide protection or conservation measures, even for federally owned historic sites.

In recent years, a significant increase in the white-tailed deer population on Grosse ÃŽle has been observed. The significant increase in livestock represents a threat to the safety of employees and visitors in the vicinity of the airstrip and roads. Several observations and incidents involving deer have raised the level of urgency to act, including the most recent incident that forced the aircraft to perform an emergency brake application. Since the transportation of employees is done by plane, the safety of the airstrip is critical.

The only way to protect and conserve (including wildlife control) a national historic site owned by Parks Canada is to add the geographic description of the lands to the schedule to the National Historic Sites of Canada Order. In this way, it will be possible for Parks Canada to use the various legal tools at its disposal to protect and conserve the site.

Background

Located in the St. Lawrence River estuary, 50 km from the city of Québec, Grosse ÃŽle served as a quarantine station from 1832 to 1937. At the time, it was the main gateway for immigrants to Canada. It was the scene of a major human tragedy in 1847 when thousands of Irish people succumbed to typhus. For more than a century, quarantine station employees have tried to protect Canadians from epidemics by caring for sick immigrants.

The Grosse ÃŽle Quarantine Station was recognized as a national historic site in 1974 and has been managed by Parks Canada since 1993. In 1996, the site was renamed Grosse ÃŽle and the Irish Memorial National Historic Site, a testament to important aspects of immigration in Canadian history.

A 1.8 km2 island located in the St. Lawrence River, Grosse ÃŽle is accessible by boat from Berthier-sur-Mer in the summer and by plane from Montmagny throughout the year. Compliance with airstrip standards is the responsibility of Parks Canada.

In recent years, a significant increase in the white-tailed deer population on Grosse ÃŽle has been observed. A herd count conducted by Parks Canada resource conservation specialists in the spring of 2023 indicates a presence of 49.5 white-tailed deer per km2, or an abundance index of 89 to 95 individuals. Conservation specialists indicate that the theoretical support capacity is estimated at 8 white-tailed deer for the total area of the island.

Temporary measures to ensure the health and safety of employees as well as several measures to scare white-tailed deer, the effects of which are short-lived and remain mixed, have been put in place by Parks Canada. Since the regular documentation of the patrols done in June 2023 aimed at scaring the animals, more than 1 000 observations of animals have been noted around the airstrip as an aircraft is approaching. The multiple visual and audible scaring methods, such as continuous inspections of the runway in all-terrain vehicles before landings and take-offs, and negative conditioning with the use of paint markers with white chalk balls, must be more and more intense, as white-tailed deer react little or not at all, and some return to the edge of the runway as soon as the staff leaves.

These incidents, which threaten access by plane, add to a concern about access to the island, as Parks Canada is planning major work on the wharf in 2025–2026, and the plane is the only means of access in the winter.

The overabundance of the white-tailed deer population, whose health is threatened by a lack of food, is also an obstacle to maintaining ecological integrity and landscapes on the island. In spring 2024, Parks Canada finalized the Analysis of Site on Species at Risk report, which outlines conservation and recovery measures for species present on Grosse ÃŽle. The analysis identifies overgrazing and trampling by white-tailed deer as the main threat to the plant species present on Grosse ÃŽle.

Objective

The proposed Order would amend the schedule to the National Historic Sites of Canada Order by adding Grosse ÃŽle and the Irish Memorial National Historic Site of Canada (Grosse ÃŽle). Once Grosse ÃŽle is included in the proposed Order, certain provisions of the Canada National Parks Act relating to the protection of flora and fauna will apply.

Description

The proposed Order would amend the schedule to the National Historic Sites of Canada Order by adding Grosse ÃŽle and the Irish Memorial National Historic Site of Canada, consisting of surveyed lands, the ownership of which has already been transferred to Parks Canada.

Regulatory development

Consultation

During exchanges between Parks Canada and the Quebec Ministry of the Environment, the Fight against Climate Change, Wildlife and Parks, the Ministry indicated that it cannot issue permits for the use of firearms on Grosse ÃŽle, even in the event of the overpopulation of species such as white-tailed deer. To remove this constraint, the Ministry plans to recommend the repeal of the provincial regulation that prohibits hunting on the island, which would make it legal to control the deer population. Parks Canada has indicated that it will establish, prior to this repeal, the rules governing the use of firearms on the site, in accordance with the objectives of the Order Amending the National Historic Sites of Canada Order.

In addition, and in keeping with its mandate, Parks Canada is committed to protecting and presenting nationally significant examples of Canada’s natural and cultural heritage, and fosters public understanding, appreciation and enjoyment in ways that ensure the ecological and commemorative integrity of these places for present and future generations. Species at risk, their residences, and their habitat are protected in heritage places administered by Parks Canada under its legislative framework, including the Species at Risk Act, and its management regimes. Parks Canada is legally responsible for species at risk on lands under its jurisdiction.

In 2017, Parks Canada released the Grosse ÃŽle and the Irish Memorial National Historic Site of Canada Management Plan, which sets out a long-term vision, strategic management direction and objectives. The Grosse ÃŽle management plan embodies Parks Canada’s ongoing commitment to protect and present this historic site for the benefit of present and future generations. The input of many dedicated organizations and individuals, including Indigenous peoples, local and regional residents, visitors, and seniors, was invaluable in developing this plan. The report of the public consultations (July 2017) is also available to the public.

Under the “Importance of Natural Resources” section of the management plan, the conservation and safety issues caused by the overabundance of white-tailed deer are noted:

“On Grosse ÃŽle, the threats to different species are mainly due to loss of habitat caused by climate change, damage resulting from wildlife, including the white-tailed deer, and the spread of diseases and of exotic invasive species. The presence of white-tailed deer on the island represents a threat to rare plants that are destroyed by grazing and trampling. This heavy concentration of deer on a small territory also raises questions about public safety for personnel as well as visitors.”

Indigenous engagement, consultation and modern treaty obligations

Parks Canada undertook an analysis of species at risk on Grosse ÃŽle in 2023–2024, with the goal of gathering expertise and discussing key recovery actions to help species at risk present. From the outset, Parks Canada sent an email with explanatory documentation to the four First Nations concerned, namely the Wolastoqiyik Wahsipekuk, Huron-Wendat, Innu and Abenaki (Waban-Aki) Nations, to inform them of the sequence and to invite them to contact Parks Canada for any questions or expressions of interest in collaborating in the process.

Parks Canada has kept First Nations who have expressed interest informed of the process. The full Species at Risk Site Analysis Report will be sent to all First Nations. This communication will serve as a platform to start conversations about the new white-tailed deer management plan. Communities will be informed of Parks Canada’s intentions to implement the management plan (control hunt) and will be invited to discuss the process and see how they might be involved in future years.

Instrument choice

A few avenues have been considered, including a legislative amendment. But given the importance of addressing the issue in a timely manner, a regulatory amendment was considered the best option. Accordingly, the amendment by Order in Council to the schedule to the National Historic Sites of Canada Order is the instrument of choice.

Regulatory analysis

Benefits and costs

The main advantage of this proposal is to put in place a federal legal instrument to allow Parks Canada to ban hunting on Grosse ÃŽle and allow wildlife management for the purposes of managing the white-tailed deer population. This measure will subsequently allow the province of Quebec to reduce the provincial level of protection for the territory and lift its regulation prohibiting hunting on Grosse ÃŽle.

This federal legal framework would allow Parks Canada to manage the overabundance of white-tailed deer, which causes safety problems for employees, and to properly manage the Island’s natural resources. The costs associated with measures to scare white-tailed deer would be reduced or even eliminated, and the safety of employees, particularly during take-off and landing, would be enhanced. From a conservation perspective, the implementation of the measures contained in the species at risk management plan would be facilitated by the adoption of this Order.

Small business lens

The proposed Order does not impact small businesses.

One-for-one rule

The proposed Order does not impact the regulatory burden on businesses.

Regulatory cooperation and alignment

This proposal only affects the mandate of the Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture and Minister responsible for Official Languages, and the Minister responsible for Parks Canada.

Effects on the environment

In spring 2024, Parks Canada finalized the Analysis of the Site on Species at Risk report, which outlines conservation and recovery measures for species present on Grosse ÃŽle. The analysis determined that overgrazing and trampling by white-tailed deer were the main threats to the plant species present on Grosse ÃŽle.

The site is known for its rare vascular flora, which includes two species endemic to Quebec (Victorin’s gentian and Victorin’s water-hemlock), one endangered tree species (Butternut) according to Schedule 1 of Canada’s Species at Risk Act and 13 species that are either vulnerable to harvest, vulnerable or threatened in Quebec or likely to be vulnerable or threatened.

Gender-based analysis plus

A more preliminary gender-based analysis plus indicates that the entire Canadian population would benefit from the diversity of habitats on Grosse ÃŽle, with more than 25 tree species and more than 600 floral species recorded. The direct beneficiaries of the Order would be Parks Canada staff and visitors, whose transportation would be safer as a result of the reduction in the white-tailed deer herd, as well as airplane pilots providing transportation. None of the demographic groups would be disproportionately impacted by the proposed Order.

Implementation, compliance and enforcement, and service standards

Implementation

The proposal would achieve the objective of the Order in Council to add Grosse ÃŽle and the Irish Memorial National Historic Site to the National Historic Sites of Canada Order.

Grosse Île, like the other islands of the archipelago, is under the cover of the Sûreté du Québec. Parks Canada will contact the Sûreté du Québec to authorize them to intervene in Parks Canada places in the region. Consequently, the application of the law will continue to be done with the Sûreté du Québec once the Order is in force. Parks Canada proceeds in the same way with the municipal police for other sites in the city of Québec region, and there are no costs associated with it.

Contact

Alison Lobsinger
Director
Policy, Legislative and Cabinet Affairs
Parks Canada
Email: alison.lobsinger@pc.gc.ca

PROPOSED REGULATORY TEXT

Notice is given that the Governor in Council proposes to make the annexed Order Amending the National Historic Sites of Canada Order under subsections 42(1) and (3) of the Canada National Parks Act footnote a.

Interested persons may make representations concerning the proposed Order within 30 days after the date of publication of this notice. They are strongly encouraged to use the online commenting feature that is available on the Canada Gazette website but if they use email, mail or any other means, the representations should cite the Canada Gazette, Part I, and the date of publication of this notice, and be sent to Alison Lobsinger, Director, Policy, Legislative and Cabinet Affairs, Parks Canada, 30 Victoria Street, Gatineau, Quebec J8X 0B3 (email: alison.lobsinger@pc.gc.ca).

Ottawa, March 2, 2026

Janna Rinaldi
Acting Assistant Clerk of the Privy Council

Order Amending the National Historic Sites of Canada Order

Amendments

1 Section 2 of the National Historic Sites of Canada Order footnote 1 is replaced by the following:

2 Subsection 8(1), section 12, subsections 16(1) to (3) and sections 17 to 32 of the Canada National Parks Act apply to the National Historic Sites of Canada.

2 The schedule to the Order is amended by adding the following under the heading “Quebec” after the description of Lévis Forts National Historic Site of Canada:

Grosse ÃŽle and the Irish Memorial National Historic Site of Canada comprising the following described area:

Coming into Force

3 This Order comes into force on the day on which it is registered.

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