PSAC-Quebec is raising the alarm about the future of several national historic sites in Quebec. Parks Canada is closing sites and exploring options to offload them in response to major budget cuts, the union has learned.
Fort Lennox: closed, re-opening uncertain
Fort Lennox National Historic Site in Saint-Paul-de-l’Île-aux-Noix was closed due to mould in 2026. Based on our information, it will not re-open in 2027. Remediation costs were estimated at around $500,000. Over the summer, the historic site manager brought specialists to evaluate costs ahead of a possible sale. A private company was also consulted about the possibility of transferring ownership of the shuttle boat used to transport materials and trucks.
Other affected sites?
- The Fur Trade at Lachine National Historic Site: toured by Collège Sainte-Anne, which seeks to acquire it
- Sir George-Étienne Cartier National Historic Site: undergoing cost assessment
- Sir Wilfrid Laurier National Historic Site: to be sold to the municipality of Saint-Lin–Laurentides
- Coteau-du-Lac National Historic Site: closed, expected to be sold
- Battle of the Châteauguay and Carillon Barracks National Historic Sites: closed, future unclear
Escalating cutbacks
Parks Canada needs to cut $24.6 million in 2026–2027, $45.3 million in 2027–2028, and $75 million in 2028–2029. Selling heritage sites seems to be the government’s latest cost-cutting strategy. These closures place additional strain on employees already grappling with workforce adjustments.
“Historic sites belong to the general public,” said Réginald Bernatchez, Montérégie Area Council President for PSAC-Quebec. “Our members bring their history to life. Closing or selling these sites comes at the expense of jobs, expertise and collective memory. We want clear answers!”
“Our heritage should not be reduced to an expendable budget line,” said Sébastien Paquette, Executive Vice-President for PSAC-Quebec. “We ask the federal government to consult the public and Parks Canada employees before closing or selling any historic sites, and to keep our heritage publicly owned.”
PSAC-Quebec calls on Parks Canada to disclose its intentions for each of these sites and to release a restoration plan for Fort Lennox, including a timeline and budget.