Question Period Note: Budget 2025: Canada Strong

The federal Budget was tabled on November 4, 2025.

• Budget 2025 seizes the moment to build Canada strong – a strength rooted in pride, celebration, and protection of what defines us: our values, our shared identities, our cultural richness, and our deep connection to the land.
• Through Budget 2025, the Government is investing in what makes Canada unique and brings Canadians together – our arts, culture, natural and cultural heritage, diversity, celebrations and sport.
• Together, we will strengthen connections between Canadians through cultural experiences and community celebrations, investments in Canadian creators and the cultural economy, and by ensuring that diverse voices and stories continue to thrive across the Country.

Budget 2025, tabled November 4, 2025, announces a number of investments of relevance to the Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture and Minister responsible for Official Languages, through Canadian Heritage and Portfolio organizations:
• $116.3 million over two years between several federal institutions, starting in 2025-26, to renew the Canada Strong Pass for the holiday season, from December 12, 2025, to January 15, 2026, and then again for summer 2026. Reduced-cost access over this holiday season is already in place through several Canada Strong Pass partners, including for eligible VIA Rail travel.
• $150 million over three years, starting in 2026-27, to Telefilm Canada to support Canada’s vibrant film industry.
• $127.5 million over three years, starting in 2026-27, to Canadian Heritage for the Canada Media Fund to support Canada’s audio-visual content creators.
• $48 million over three years, starting in 2026-27, to Canadian Heritage for the Canada Music Fund to enhance the careers of Canadian artists while strengthening the competitiveness and stability of the Canadian music sector.
• $38.4 million over three years, starting in 2026-27, to Canadian Heritage for the Special Measures for Journalism component of the Canada Periodical Fund to help small and community news outlets continue producing quality Canadian editorial and journalistic content.
• $26.1 million over three years, starting in 2026-27, to the National Film Board to produce and share Canadian content with the world.
• $6 million over three years, starting in 2026-27, to Canadian Heritage to support the purchase of Canadian content for the TV5MONDEplus platform.
• $6 million over three years, starting in 2026-27 for the Canada Council for the Arts to support professional artists and arts organisations.
• $150 million in 2025-26 for CBC/Radio-Canada to strengthen its mandate to serve the public and to better reflect the needs of Canadians. The government will explore modernising CBC/Radio-Canada's mandate to strengthen independence and is working with CBC/Radio Canada to explore participation in Eurovision.
• $46.5 million over three years, starting in 2026-27, to Canadian Heritage for the Canada Arts Presentation Fund to support professionally presented arts festivals or performing arts series.
• $21 million over three years, starting in 2026-27, to Canadian Heritage for the Building Communities through Arts and Heritage Program to support local festivals, community anniversaries, and community-initiated capital projects.
• $20 million over four years, starting in 2026-27, to Canadian Heritage for the Celebration and Commemoration Program to support Canada Day celebrations.
• $4 million over four years, starting in 2026-27, to Canadian Heritage for the Celebration and Commemoration Program to support National Acadian Day.
• $4 million over four years, starting in 2026-27, and $1 million ongoing to the Royal Canadian Geographical Society. This funding is to be sourced from existing Canadian Heritage resources.
• $100 million over two years across multiple federal institutions to bolster federal activities that will support the hosting of FIFA Men’s World Cup 2026.
In addition, Budget 2025 announces the intention to:
• Amend the Copyright Act to create an Artist's Resale Right in Canada, ensuring Canadian visual artists benefit from future sales of their work.
• Amend the Broadcasting Act to restore the right to privacy of individuals to the interpretation provisions and remove a duplicative provision relating to official languages.

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