CALGARY — Parks Canada is proposing an increase in user fees in national parks and historic sites — ranging from higher costs to enter, camp or fish in any of its protected areas to a new charge for firewood by the bundle in Banff.

It could also cost more to take a guided tour of the Burgess Shale in Yoho National Park or hike the West Coast Trail on Vancouver Island.

The proposed fees, posted on the agency’s website late last week, would affect each of the country’s 42 parks, 167 national historic sites and three marine conservation areas.

“For the last five years, the government has frozen fees,” said Andrew Campbell, vice-president of visitor experience with Parks Canada in Ottawa. “Now we’re coming through that.”

The increases and extra fees are expected to bring in an additional $5 million annually to the federal agency, but they are already drawing criticism due to concerns they could limit accessibility to the beloved areas.

Fees were frozen until this April as the agency searched for new sources of revenue.

The proposal, which is open for public consultation until Feb. 18, suggests an increase to entry, camping and fishing fees this year that’s equal to the 2012 average annual consumer price index rate. Starting in 2015, they would increase every two years and keep pace with Canada’s cost of living.

In addition, new mooring surcharges for boaters and new fees for programs such as learn to camp are being considered.

Anne-Marie Syslak, executive director for the southern Alberta chapter of the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society, said they believe Parks Canada is trying to make up for last year’s budget cuts by increasing user fees.

“Overall, we feel that this is unfortunate,” she said. “It may decrease the accessibility of these publicly owned resources for all Canadians. We want to ensure that all Canadians can go to their national parks and feel like that’s part of who we are.

“Now, more than ever — with things like nature-deficit disorder — we need to get people connected with the natural world and we need to ensure that they learn to respect it and protect it.”

In Banff, where officials are working to grow visitor numbers, the proposed hikes include the increased gate and camping fees for every national park and historic site.

There would also be new fees for theatrical performances ($250) and talks or slide presentations ($75).

Firewood could soon cost $6.80 per bundle in Banff, Kootenay and Yoho national parks.

Also in Yoho, the cost to take a guided hike to the Burgess Shale and other fossil sites and the fee to take transit to Lake O’Hara go up under the proposal.

In Waterton National Park, officials would start charging $3 for showers by non-campers and $50 to rent a specific shelter at a day use or campground. Costs for teepee camping would also go up.

Similarly, the Bar U Ranch historical site would be able to start charging wedding parties for carriage rentals ($250 for up to three hours); tent rentals ($150) and site access for photographs ($150).