Grosse Île Added to National Historic Sites

Summary#

The Order Amending the National Historic Sites of Canada Order: SOR/2026-175 adds Grosse Île and the Irish Memorial National Historic Site of Canada to the schedule of national historic sites. That change lets Parks Canada use federal tools under the Canada National Parks Act to protect plants, animals and visitor safety on the island. The Order comes into force on registration (registered on August 7, 2026).

What it does#

• Adds a formal land description for Grosse Île and the Irish Memorial National Historic Site of Canada to the National Historic Sites of Canada Order, covering parcels that together are about 250 hectares.
• Makes certain provisions of the Canada National Parks Act apply to this national historic site. In practice, that gives Parks Canada clearer legal authority to carry out conservation and wildlife-control measures on the island.
• Enables a federal framework that can be used alongside provincial actions (the Quebec ministry has said it plans to propose repealing a provincial ban on hunting on the island) so deer-management options that require use of firearms could be possible if chosen.
• Does not itself set operational details (for example, how any deer reductions would be carried out). Operational plans and animal-care safeguards will be handled through Parks Canada’s deer-management plan and its Animal Care Committee.

Who's affected#

• Parks Canada staff and visitors to the site, especially people who travel by plane to the island and staff who use the airstrip.
• Air transport operators and pilots who land at Montmagny (the island is accessible year-round by plane).
• Local communities and people with an interest in the site’s heritage and environment.
• Indigenous peoples consulted or notified: Wolastoqiyik Wahsipekuk, Wendat, Innu and Abenaki (Waban-Aki) Nations.
• The Quebec Ministry of the Environment, the Fight against Climate Change, Wildlife and Parks, because provincial rules about hunting on the island are relevant to how deer control may be implemented.
• Members of the public who commented during the prepublication period (March 7 to April 6, 2026) — the Order follows that consultation. The source says small businesses are not affected.

Why it matters#

• There is a significant overpopulation of white-tailed deer on Grosse Île. A Parks Canada survey in the spring of 2023 found about 49.5 white-tailed deer per km2 (an abundance index of 89 to 95 individuals), while the island’s estimated carrying capacity was about 8 white-tailed deer. That overabundance is damaging rare plants and preventing forest regeneration, and it threatens public safety because deer frequently use the airstrip.
• Adding the island to the national-sites schedule gives Parks Canada clearer legal authority to manage wildlife and protect species at risk on Grosse Île (the agency says this will make it easier to implement the species-at-risk recovery measures finalized in spring 2024).
• The Order makes it legally possible for Parks Canada to use tools that may include strictly controlled culls as part of an overall management plan. The Order itself does not describe those operations; Parks Canada says operational protocols, animal-welfare safeguards and opportunities for Indigenous and public involvement will be set out separately.
• The change matters to anyone concerned about protecting historic landscapes and rare plants, ensuring safe access to the site (especially by air), and how humane and ecological principles are balanced in wildlife management. The public consultation showed clear interest in non‑lethal options, Indigenous participation, and transparent planning.