The Canada Strong Pass is set to return for another year, with Budget 2026 revealing that the federal government intends to renew the pass.
The new budget was tabled on Thursday, and in it was the news that the pass, which allowed Canadians to take advantage of discounted travel and free admission to certain sites, is set to come back in 2027 for a third consecutive year.
The federal government stated that last year visits to Parks Canada sites increased by 13 per cent, national museum attendance grew by an average of 15 per cent, and VIA Rail ridership rose by 6.5 per cent.
What is the Canada Strong Pass?
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The Canada Strong Pass first launched on June 20, 2025, and ran until Sept. 2 that year. It came back for a second time last year, being available from June 19, 2026, until Sept. 7.
It’s not a physical pass or ticket, but the program gave Canadians free or discounted access to Parks Canada sites, museums, galleries, and even travel on VIA Rail. It also offered free admission to all national historic sites, national parks, and national marine conservation areas operated by Parks Canada.
The pass was available to Canadians and international tourists.
What was included in the Canada Strong Pass?
Laine Mitchell/Daily Hive
In previous years that the pass was in effect, visitors had access to the following:
- Free entry at participating locations operated by Parks Canada during regular operating hours.
- Twenty-five per cent off camping and overnight accommodations with Parks Canada. However, fees still applied for guided tours, hikes, and programs, as well as permits, parking, fishing licenses, and firewood.
- Free and reduced entry fees at participating museums and galleries. Admission was free for those 17 and under, while visitors aged 18 to 24 got a 50 per cent discount.
- Free and reduced fares on VIA Rail. Children and youth aged 17 travelled for free when accompanied by an adult with a valid discount code, while adults aged 18 to 24 got 25 per cent off on valid Via Rail routes across Canada with valid discount codes.
It’s important to note that in the last three years of the Canada Strong Pass, free admission didn’t apply to provincial or territorial parks, Sépaq parks in Québec, municipal and private parks, parks or historic sites not operated by Parks Canada, nor locations operated by third parties.
Some proposed new perks for 2027 included the Canada Strong Pass being expanded to include discounted access to Indigenous-led museums and cultural centres. Budget 2026 proposes to provide $76 million in 2027-28 to support this renewal.
It was also announced that, in addition to the Pass, Budget 2026 proposes to permanently make admission to Canada’s national museums free year-round for children and youth under 25.
To help make that happen, Budget 2026 proposes to provide $46.3 million over five years, starting in 2026-27, and $11.5 million ongoing to Canada’s national museums and the National Battlefields Commission.
You can view the entire Budget 2026 online.
With files from Irish Mae Silvestre