Ontario Provincial Parks

[Wenchtram]

Hello,

The subject of regulations in various provincial parks has been raised in some other threads here (notably here), but I was not able to find anything definitive about Ontario Parks rules. Hence, I e-mailed them and wanted to share their response:

Thank you for your email regarding the operation of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV’s) in provincial parks.

There are two considerations when answering your inquiry:
1. Operating (i.e. landing/takeoff) a UAV within a provincial park; and
2. Operating (i.e. landing/takeoff) a UAV outside a provincial park and flying a UAV over a provincial park.

A UAV is considered to be an “aircraft” under the Canadian Aviation Regulations.

In most cases, individuals are not permitted to operate (i.e. land) an “aircraft” in a provincial park under the Provincial Parks and Conservation Reserves Act (PPCRA) with the exception of where an Aircraft Landing Authorization has been issued by the Park Superintendent in a provincial park listed under Section 33 of the PPCRA, Ontario Regulation 347/07. Algonquin Provincial Park is not a listed park within this regulation, and therefore not authorized for aircraft landing.

A UAV can be flown over a provincial park, but not landed in a provincial park, provided that the operator complies with the PPCRA and associated regulations, Transport Canada Acts and regulations, and privacy laws. Some of these regulations may include but are not limited to:
• Disturb other persons, make excessive noise, chase or harass wildlife, damage crown property or vegetation under the PPCRA;
• Fail to comply with size restrictions or special operators certificates under Transport Canada Acts;
• Capturing or posting unauthorized images under privacy laws.

Thank you again for your email and if you require any additional information please feel free to contact us again through [email protected] .

Ontario Parks

 

[PropPilot]

From a CBC news report

The National Park Air Access Regulations does not allow aircraft — drones and manned vehicles alike — to take off or land in national parks, except with permission from a park superintendent.

Drones can be used, if authorized, for "natural or cultural resource management," safety, law enforcement or administrative purposes, including tourism, outreach and education, according to the regulations.

 

[Wenchtram]

The National Park Air Access Regulations does not allow aircraft — drones and manned vehicles alike — to take off or land in national parks, except with permission from a park superintendent.

Yes, the Parks Canada stance is pretty clear, including documentation on their website and even on the Transport Canada site. What was less clear was the (Ontario) provincial stance, which is not covered by the National Parks of Canada Aircraft Access Regulation, but rather the Provincial Parks and Conservation Reserves Act. The regulation that they quote in their e-mail is 347/07, which states:

Aircraft
33. (1) No person shall land an aircraft in a provincial park. O. Reg. 347/07, s. 33 (1).

(2) Despite subsection (1), a person with a valid aircraft landing authorization issued by the superintendent may land an aircraft,

(a) in a provincial park named in Column 2 of Schedule 2 in an area named in Column 3 of that Schedule if the conditions set out in that Column are met; and

(b) in a wilderness class park in accordance with Ontario Regulation 346/07 (Mechanized Travel in Wilderness Class Parks) made under the Act. O. Reg. 347/07, s. 33 (2).

(3) Revoked: O. Reg. 22/11, s. 13.

Effectively, they are treating any and all drones the same as manned aircraft.

 

[PropPilot]

It would be interesting to see how things are in practice. Apropos 33.(1) we have landed on floats a number of times in Provincial Parks with zero issues.

 

[Wenchtram]

Anyone bilingual that might be willing to reach out to Sépaq to see what they have to say about provincial parks in Quebec?

 

[frenchcharlie]

The subject of regulations in various provincial parks...

Thanks for posting this; I had the intention of contacting them as well.