National park pressure; Sin city seeing fewer Canadians during slump: CBC's Marketplace cheat sheet

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Lorne and Riza McVicar of Halifax were excited to take advantage of the federal government's much-touted Canada Strong Pass.

It includes automatic free admission to Canada's national parks and a 25 per cent discount on campsites from June 20 to Sept. 2. 

The pass has been billed as a way for Canadians to more easily explore their own country. But Lorne McVicar says it has actually made it more difficult for the couple to vacation in Canada — and he questions why the program is open to everyone, including international tourists. 

In June, he says, the couple tried to reserve a camping site for several days in July at New Brunswick's Fundy National Park, but it was completely booked that month. So was Newfoundland and Labrador's Gros Morne National Park.

"I anticipated with the Canada Strong Pass, there'd be a higher demand for these campsites, but I didn't anticipate that it would be such a demand that everything was sold out," said McVicar. 

After doing gangbuster business in the post-COVID era, Las Vegas is in the midst of a slump, with the number of tourists down sharply as Canadians in particular avoid Sin City amid bilateral bad blood over trade.

The total number of visitors is off more than 11 per cent year-over-year, according to data from the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, one of the most dramatic declines in recent memory outside of the pandemic.

Airline figures reveal there's been an even steeper decline among Canadians going to the desert gambling mecca.

The number of Air Canada passengers dropped by 33 per cent in June compared to the same month last year, airport figures show. WestJet, the largest Canadian air carrier at the region's Harry Reid International Airport, saw a similar 31 per cent drop. The decline was even more dramatic for low-cost carrier Flair, which saw its passenger numbers fall by a stunning 62 per cent.

Wali Hassan is 21 years old and has been driving for as long as he's been legally able in Alberta — he got his learner's permit at 14 and full licence when he turned 16.

Now, as an adult with a newly financed vehicle, he's required by the terms of his financing to get full insurance, including collision and comprehensive coverage.

He said he shopped around with four providers and ultimately went with the cheapest option he could find: $590 per month in premiums, totalling $7,080 for the year.

"You would expect I'm driving a Lamborghini, but it's a Honda Civic," said Hassan, an Edmonton resident.

The 2018 Honda Civic is the first vehicle he's insured, so he expected to pay more than long-insured drivers.

But Hassan figured his driving history, with no traffic tickets or licence suspensions, would have counted for more in his favour.

But he said the quotes he received were "absurd" — one was as high as $880 per month — so he ultimately went with the cheapest policy he could find, which comes with a $2,500 deductible.

"So I'm just hoping I don't get into any accidents because, if I do, then my life is pretty much over," he said.

Parks Canada urging visitors to West Coast Trail to postpone non-essential travel due to Mount Underwood fire
No new reservations for trail can be made; reservations from Aug. 13 to Sept. 12 eligible for refund.

Has your local emergency department closed temporarily or had its hours reduced? We want to hear what effect this has had on your community and your care. Write to us at marketplace@cbc.ca.

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Data Journalist, Marketplace

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