Question Period Note: Spring Economic Statement 2026: Canada Strong for All

The Spring Economic Statement was tabled on April 28, 2026

· The Spring Economic Statement is about building Canada strong, fostering independence and resilience, and bringing Canadians together through sport, arts and culture.
· Canada is a sporting nation, and the Government is making a generational investment in Canadian sport with $755 million over five years, and $118 million ongoing.
· This funding will increase sport participation, support our world-class athletes, and help host sporting events that leave lasting economic, social and community benefits.
· We are also investing to ensure national arts, culture, heritage and news institutions remain trusted sources of information and inspiration, driving Canada’s growth at home and abroad.

The Spring Economic Statement, tabled April 28, 2026, announces several relevant investments and activities.
Department of Canadian Heritage:
· $755 million over five years, starting in 2026-27, and $118 million ongoing, to Canadian Heritage to support Canada’s sport system to:
o Host and compete with the best: $50 million over five years to bring more world-class sporting events to Canada.
o Support our athletes in performing at the highest levels: $45 million over five years and $8 million ongoing to help our athletes train, compete, and perform, including support for better mental health and funding that will be linked to robust safe sport measures and frameworks.
o Get more Canadians involved in sport: $660 million over five years and $110 million ongoing for National Sport Organisations, increasing funding that has remained largely unchanged since 2005, so that they can invest in a strong and safe sport system and grow participation among children and youth nationwide.
· Intention to seek the views of Canadians and stakeholders on extending the Canadian Journalism Labour Tax Credit to audio and audiovisual news production.
· Proposal to amend the Red Tape Reduction Act to add the Official Languages Act to the list of exempted statutes for regulatory sandboxes.
Portfolio Organizations:
· $81.9 million over four years, starting in 2027-28 and $22.4 million ongoing for extending Support for Access to Information and Privacy with funding to Library and Archives Canada.
· Focusing on lower mobile and Internet plan prices by building on the 2023 direction to the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) that places stronger emphasis on competition, affordability, and consumer interests with a decision to uphold a CRTC ruling on third-party access to fibre infrastructure in August 2025.
The Spring Economic Statement also confirms the renewal of sunsetting initiatives:
Department of Canadian Heritage:
· $42.5 million over five years to the Harbourfront Centre Funding Program to help maintain operating support for the Centre’s arts, cultural, educational and recreational programming and for time-limited funding for capital repairs.
· $4.3 million in 2027-28 and $4.0 million in 2028-29 for the Digital Citizen Initiative.
· $95 million over five years, and $19 million ongoing for the Creative Export Strategy.
· $66 million over two years for the Canada’s Anti Racism Strategy.
· $4 million in 2026-27 for the Canadian Safe Sport Program.
· $8 million annually for two years, starting in 2026-27 (for the Sport Support Program (safer sport environment).
Portfolio organizations:
· $18 million over five years, starting in 2026-27, with $1.4 million in remaining amortization
($19.4 million in 2026-27 on a cash basis) for the National Museums and historical institutions.

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