Your days of a quiet trip to a Canadian National Park might be over soon.
The Canadian Press is reporting that the agency is requesting tenders from contractors to install Internet access points at 150 locations over the next three years.
Parks Canada plans to install wireless Internet access hotspots at up to 50 of its parks this year, and it expects to triple that number soon afterward.
As you can expect, this issue is controversial. Many Canadians see Canada’s national parks as places of solitude, where families can escape the hustle and bustle of modern life.
But Parks Canada says visitors want to be able to stay in touch with work, friends and family, stay up to date on the news and connect with social media. With modern cellphone coverage either partial or non-existent at many of its parks and historic sites, Parks Canada is likely right in making this technological step.
The service is expected to be free of charge in most locations, but a fee might be necessary in areas where the cost of implementation is excessive or the location particularly is remote.
