Veterans and active members of the Canadian Armed Forces will soon be able to get into Ontario parks for free on weekdays.
Jeff Yurek, the province's minister of environment, conservation and parks, announced on Friday the day-use entry fee to all provincial parks will be waived for past and present Canadian Armed Forces members living in Ontario.
"Ontarians are grateful for the service of the brave heroes in uniform and of those heroes who have served our great country in the past," Yurek said in a statement. "Providing veterans and active Canadian Armed Forces members free access to our beautiful provincial parks is a token of appreciation for the sacrifices they have made to protect the freedoms we have and the values we hold dear."
Yurek made the announcement while at the Lord Elgin Branch of the Royal Canadian Legion in St. Thomas.
The new initiative gives service members access to 340 provincial parks and will begin on Monday - Remembrance Day.
Veterans and active service members in Ontario are also allowed to fish recreationally in Ontario without purchasing a fishing licence.