The new regulation took effect this year, but because of cuts to government advertising budgets, little effort has been made to let the public know.

Robin Reilly, director of tourism and parks, claims the notices have been advertised in "one form or another," but many city campers have been left in the dark about the fees.

Even a receptionist at the Northern Frontier Visitors Centre was unaware of the fee. And until a few weeks ago, neither did one of the staff answering the NWT Tourism 1-800 line.

Nevertheless, the fee has been implemented. It gives the permit holder day use of any territorial park in the NWT for the year.

"The Great White North isn't as free as we thought it would be," said Gary Tees, regional supervisor with the parks office.

He said the department resorted to the word of mouth advertising system because of an $80,000 cut to its advertising budget.

In a 1994 NWT park use survey of Yellowknife households, 31 per cent of those surveyed said they were willing to pay $50 for park passes in their home communities.

Reilly said the NWT has the lowest user fee in all of Canada.

"What it comes down to is that parks cost money to maintain. It was the campers who were paying the full cost. Day users weren't paying a cent," he said.

"Somehow, people don't associate getting a service unless they pay for it. When you force people to pay, they begin to look at what services they do get."