A recent collapse of sections of the Cabot Trail in Nova Scotia is among infrastructure issue facing Parks Canada. AP Photo/Glenn Adams

Years of chronic “under-investment” have resulted in an “exponential increase in the backlog of maintenance and recapitalization requirements” for Parks Canada’s assets across the country, according to department documents.

The agency has been struggling for years with the question of how to keep up some 12,000 “built asset infrastructure” — historic buildings, visitor centres, bridges and roads in national parks. The current replacement value for Parks Canada infrastructure is estimated at more than $15 billion, up from estimates between $7 billion and $11 billion in 2009.

“Our priority is to address the deteriorating condition of our cultural resources and visitor experience assets, which if not rectified soon, will pose a real and significant risk to the achievement of our mandate — which is preserve and protect these special places for present and future generations,” reads a request for proposals released Monday.

“It has become imperative that Parks Canada begin to implement key strategies in the near future to support the achievement of a sustainable asset management portfolio and program.”

It’s not just decaying historic buildings at stake. The document lists highways, waterways and bridges under the agency’s jurisdiction as “high risk” assets. The cost to replace those assets is $8.06 billion alone.

According to the department’s 2013-2014 plans and priorities report, approximately one third of cultural assets are in poor condition, while more than half of the agency’s dams, highways and bridges are in the same state. And the rate of deterioration is increasing.

“The number and magnitude of critical interventions undertaken to address highway and dam high-risk situations are increasing. Actual asset failures are becoming more frequent, as illustrated by the recent collapse of sections of the Cabot Trail (in Nova Scotia),” the document reads.

The agency is looking for an outside contractor to evaluate its 2012 National Asset Review, which attempted to catalogue the agency’s infrastructure. That document is not yet public.

The contractor would be responsible for a number of site visits to independently verify the agency’s classifications, including the Rideau Canal in Ottawa, the historic fortifications in Québec City, and the Halifax Citadel.

NDP environment critic Megan Leslie said she was not surprised to hear about the funding difficulties, but she had not previously considered the impact on infrastructure under the agency’s jurisdiction.

“This document puts it in plain black and white that there are very serious repercussions on the infrastructure, to the point where I think people’s safety is at risk,” said Leslie on Monday.

“The Conservatives actually announced that there’s going to be a new park in Canada’s north, we just created the Sable Island National Park. These are really good moves, but how meaningful will these moves actually be when there isn’t the money to actually back up what Parks Canada needs to do to fulfill their mandate in these spaces?”

In an emailed response, Parks Canada downplayed safety concerns, pointing to targeted investments in infrastructure spending over the last 14 years.

“Since 1999, the agency has invested an average of $100 million per year on the recapitalization of its infrastructure,” the statement read. “This level of investment does not include the addition of incremental capital resources received in recent years, the most recent of which is $19 million announced in Budget 2013 to address critical improvements to highways and bridges.”

“In addition, Parks Canada continues to make targeted investments in infrastructure to ensure Canada’s system of treasured protected areas remain safe and reliable for visitors.”

Parks Canada’s 2011-2012 budget came in at $777.4 million, down from $937.5 million in 2010-2011. According to public accounts, the agency spent $158.7 million on heritage conservation in 2011-2012, and $104.3 million on throughway and town site infrastructure.

The agency’s asset portfolio includes 44 national parks, four national marine conservation areas, 167 national historic sites and nine historic canals, in addition to highways, bridges, dams, campgrounds and visitor centres.