Chapter 3: 
Empowering Canadians

Impacts report

Find out more about the expected gender and diversity impacts for each measure in Chapter 3: Empowering Canadians.

A core mission of Canada's new government is to empower Canadians by building Canada's economic strength. From the beginning of our mandate, Canada's new government has been relentlessly focused on bringing down costs for Canadians. On its first day, we cancelled the divisive consumer carbon price —bringing down gasoline prices by approximately 18 cents per litre in most provinces and territories as of April 2025.

The government is also delivering on a tax cut for 22 million middle-class Canadians—saving a two-income family up to $840 per year. The government is reducing taxes to lower the cost of homeownership for first-time home buyers—saving Canadians up to $50,000 when they purchase a home for themselves and their families. The government cut tolls for all vehicles on the Confederation Bridge from over $50 to $20, and fares by 50 per cent on ferries in Atlantic Canada and to Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine—leading to a 25 per cent increase in usage for traffic leaving Prince Edward Island in August compared to the previous year.

By lowering costs for Canadians, the government is creating an economy where every Canadian has more control over building their own future. Canadians will strengthen our shared sense of identity, history, and geography by protecting our culture, nature, official languages, and core values—and we will continue to build the country and its economy in close partnership with Indigenous Peoples.

3.1 Supercharging Home Building Across the Country

Canada continues to face a steep housing supply gap. The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) estimates that to restore housing affordability to 2019 levels, homebuilding must nearly double to between 430,000 and 480,000 units per year over the next decade, while the Parliamentary Budget Officer (PBO) estimates 290,000 units annually would be needed to close the housing supply gap (Chart 3.1).

The core challenge in the housing market is the difficulty in building housing stock. Loans are expensive, builders face multi-year delays in permitting, and land, development charges, and taxes can make up close to half of project costs. High construction costs are exacerbated by little productivity growth in construction in the past 25 years (Chart 3.2). To turn this around, the Government of Canada will catalyse a more productive homebuilding industry with fewer barriers and less red tape so that builders can build homes at the scale we need.

Launching Build Canada Homes

On September 14, 2025, the government launched Build Canada Homes—a new federal agency that will build affordable housing at scale. BCH's mission is to build and finance more affordable homes, while catalysing a new housing industry.

BCH will help tackle homelessness by expanding transitional and supportive housing in partnership with provinces, territories, municipalities, and Indigenous communities. It will also build deeply affordable community and co-op housing for low-income households, while working with private and non-profit builders to increase the supply of affordable homes for the Canadian middle class.

Build Canada Homes will transform how the public and private sectors work together, deploying modern construction methods, and catalysing an entirely new Canadian housing industry. It will leverage public lands, offer flexible financial incentives, attract private capital, facilitate large portfolio projects, and support manufacturers to deliver housing at scale.

Canada's new government will bring federal lands, faster approvals, and strong incentives to the table. The private sector will bring construction capacity, innovation, supply chains, and financing.

Build Canada Homes will focus primarily on non-market housing, supporting a mix of income needs as part of a national effort to double housing construction, restore affordability, and reduce homelessness.

There are three key pillars to this new approach:

1. Build Canada Homes will partner with industry, other orders of government, and Indigenous communities to build affordable housing, including co-op housing, at scale and at speed. 
2. Build Canada Homes will deploy capital, secure demand, and harness innovative housing technologies to build faster and more sustainably, 365 days a year.
3. Build Canada Homes will adopt the government's new Buy Canadian policy and prioritise projects that use Canadian lumber and other Canadian materials.

With an initial investment of $13 billion over five years on a cash basis, starting in 2025-26, Build Canada Homes will deploy capital to supercharge the housing industry. Build Canada Homes has a mandate to move quickly and this fall, the government announced its first four investments and initiatives:

1. Developing public land sites and prioritising innovative, factory-built housing, starting with six sites to build 4,000 factory-built homes with additional capacity of up to 45,000 units across Canada Lands Company's portfolio.
2. Protecting existing affordable housing by launching the $1.5 billion Canada Rental Protection Fund under Build Canada Homes.
3. Providing $1 billion to build transitional and supportive housing for people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.
4. Partnering with the Nunavut Housing Corporation to build over 700 public, affordable, and supportive housing units.

Developing Arbo Downsview

On October 17, 2025, Build Canada Homes launched a Request for Qualifications to engage builders for the development of 540 new homes at Arbo Downsview in Toronto. This represents Build Canada Homes' first housing development project. At least 40 per cent of the units on the site will be affordable, with a mix of studios, one-, two-, and three-bedroom homes, supporting middle-class families.

Build Canada Homes will identify Design-Build teams with proven expertise in factory-built housing and other modern methods of construction—including prefabrication, modular building, and mass timber—to ensure speed, affordability, and quality.

This development is also being enabled by the up to $283 million federal investment through the Canada Housing Infrastructure Fund to upgrade the nearby Black Creek sewer system.

Building a new generation of co‑op housing

The federal government has a strong role to play in building non-market housing and Build Canada Homes is central to that role. Ensuring more affordable housing options for Canadians includes building co-operative housing. For decades, co-ops have provided Canadians with secure, affordable, and community-oriented homes. 

The Co-op Housing Development Program was co-designed with the Co-operative Housing Federation of Canada and the co-operative housing sector and is the largest investment supporting the co-op housing sector in the last 30 years. The program is estimated to support the development of thousands of affordable rental co-operative housing units by 2028.

Earlier this year, the program allocated $423 million in funding in support of eight new co-op buildings, creating a total of 837 new homes with more to come.

Eliminating the Goods and Services Tax (GST) for First-Time Home Buyers

To immediately bring down costs for many Canadians, Canada's new government is eliminating the Goods and Services Tax (GST) for first-time home buyers on new homes up to $1 million and reducing the GST for first-time home buyers on new homes between $1 million and $1.5 million.

The removal of the GST for first-time home buyers, which is currently before Parliament as part of Bill C-4, helps bring down the costs of a newly built home—immediately making the goal of home ownership a reality for more Canadians, especially young families.

Training the Next Generation of Canadian Builders

Building major infrastructure and millions of more homes will create high-paying careers for Canadians. These careers will require training for workers, so the newest generation of Canadian builders can build Canada Strong. The government will continue to prioritise building together, and ensuring Canadians can see the community benefits of building our infrastructure and housing, including through supporting union labour.

• As announced on October 27, 2025, Budget 2025 proposes to provide $75 million over three years, starting in 2026-27, to Employment and Social Development Canada to expand the Union Training and Innovation Program, which supports union-based apprenticeship training in the Red Seals trades.

Building More Multi-Unit Homes

Multi-unit homes are critical to increasing the housing supply and providing affordable housing to Canadians. To catalyse the creation of these types of homes, the government is supporting the financing of new multi-unit rental housing through mortgage loan insurance and securitisation.

• Budget 2025 announces that the government will increase the Canada Mortgage Bond (CMB) annual issuance limit from $60 billion to $80 billion, starting in 2026 to unlock thousands of new housing units per year. This will increase access to cost-effective mortgage funding for lenders, helping them offer more mortgages and support the construction of new multi-unit housing across Canada. The increase will apply exclusively to multi-unit housing. The government will maintain the current pace of its purchases of CMBs, up to $30 billion annually, to allow the private market full access to the additional issuance.

Strengthening First Nations Infrastructure Financing and Access to Clean Water

Our approach to supercharge building will help address infrastructure gaps in First Nations communities. With engagement with First Nations partners, the government is continuing to explore new financing tools to make existing funding more effective and expand the options available to communities to deliver critical infrastructure.

• For example, it is the government's intention to explore the creation of a bonding and surety backstop pilot project for First Nations contractors on reserve to enable on-reserve construction companies to bid for infrastructure projects, as well as a standalone pilot scheme to monetise federal transfers to support financing for First Nations infrastructure on reserve.

The government is committed to ending all long-term drinking water advisories on reserve and ensuring reliable access to clean drinking water for First Nations. Since 2015, 149 long-term drinking water advisories have been lifted, and more than 300 short-term advisories have been prevented from becoming long-term. 

• Budget 2025 proposes to provide $2.3 billion over three years, starting in 2026-27, to renew the First Nations Water and Wastewater Enhanced Program. This funding will maintain progress on approximately 800 active projects, including those focused on ending remaining water advisories and preventing new ones by upgrading at-risk systems.

Supporting Indigenous Housing and Infrastructure

Access to affordable housing and dependable infrastructure is critical to ensuring a better future for Indigenous Peoples. This government will take action to address the unique and persistent housing and infrastructure challenges facing Indigenous communities.

Build Canada Homes will work with First Nations, Inuit, and Métis leadership to determine how this mission-driven organisation and the catalysation of this new modern housing industry can best contribute to First Nations, Inuit, and Métis identified needs and priorities.

We recognise that the need for First Nations, Inuit, and Métis housing is acute. For this reason, $2.8 billion is being confirmed for urban, rural, and northern Indigenous housing. We will work with First Nations, Inuit, and Métis partners to ensure rapid and effective delivery.

Together with funding that is already working to support housing for First Nations on reserve, Inuit, and Métis communities, there remains over $3 billion available for First Nations, Inuit, and Métis to advance their housing priorities.

The Minister of Indigenous Services will coordinate a cross-government Indigenous Housing Strategy following engagement with First Nations on reserve, Inuit Treaty Organisations, Métis governments, and Modern Treaty holders and Self-Governing Indigenous Governments.

• The government is also increasing the Canada Infrastructure Bank's target for investments in Indigenous infrastructure that benefit First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities from at least $1 billion to at least $3 billion across its priority sectors.

3.2 Tackling Affordability

Canada's new government has been relentlessly focused on bringing costs down for Canadians. Above all, the government will empower Canadians by helping them get ahead and reduce their cost of living.

When Canadians keep more of the money they earn, they can better support their families, invest in their communities, and build the future they want.

Budget 2025 builds on the actions Canada's new government has already taken to make life more affordable—delivering three major tax cuts, supercharging homebuilding to increase supply and lower housing costs, and introducing Automatic Federal Benefits so that millions of Canadians receive the support they qualify for.

Middle-Class Tax Cut

Since July 1, 2025, Canadians have been paying less tax after the government announced lowering the first marginal personal income tax rate from 15 per cent to 14 per cent. The rate reduction, which is currently before Parliament as part of Bill C-4, applies to taxable income of up to $57,375 in 2025, providing meaningful relief to middle-class Canadians—during a period of significant economic uncertainty and affordability challenges.

Nearly 22 million Canadians will benefit from tax relief of up to $420 per person, saving two-income families up to $840 a year. The majority of tax relief will go to Canadians with incomes in the two lowest tax brackets. Nearly 45 per cent of the tax relief will go to Canadians with income below approximately $57,400 (the first tax bracket) and 40 per cent to Canadians with income approximately between $57,400 and $114,800 (the second tax bracket).

This measure is expected to provide $27.2 billion in tax relief to Canadians over five years starting in 2025-26.

Cancelling the Divisive Consumer Carbon Price

Canada's new government cancelled the divisive consumer fuel charge—directly allowing Canadians to save money from the price they pay at the pump. The government also removed the requirement for provinces and territories to have a consumer-facing carbon price as of April 1, 2025. These actions have reduced gasoline prices in most provinces and territories by up to 18¢/L in comparison to 2024-2025, lowering headline inflation.

The government is also winding down mechanisms to return direct fuel charge proceeds to Canadians, small- and medium-sized businesses, farmers, and Indigenous governments.

This measure is estimated to cost about $4.2 billion in 2025-26. This included a final Canada Carbon Rebate payment in April 2025 to residents of provinces where the fuel charge applied.

Eliminating the fuel charge, which is currently before Parliament as part of Bill C-4, will give Canadian consumers and businesses certainty that the consumer carbon price is being permanently removed from legislation.

Delivering Automatic Federal Benefits for Low-Income Individuals

Millions of lower-income Canadians do not file their taxes, either because they do not have the resources to do so or because they think their income is too low to owe taxes. This means that people who most need benefits often do not receive them, causing some Canadians to miss out on the GST/HST Credit, the Canada Child Benefit, the Canada Workers Benefit, and more benefits they are entitled to.

As announced on October 10^th, through Budget 2025, Canada's new government will start Automatic Federal Benefits for the 2026 tax year that will reach up to 5.5 million low-income Canadians by the 2028 tax year. These individuals will be able to review and confirm a pre-filled income tax return, and the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) will automatically file these individuals' taxes to ensure they receive government benefits they qualify for—including benefits that these Canadians may not be aware they are entitled to.

For many Canadians, filing an income tax return is the gateway to accessing important benefits, such as the Canada Child Benefit and the GST/HST Credit. While this will make filing easier for millions of lower-income Canadians, some will not be able to or will choose not to use this new service.

• To help individuals with lower incomes receive the benefits to which they are entitled, Budget 2025 also proposes to amend the Income Tax Act to allow the CRA to file a tax return on behalf of certain eligible individuals with lower incomes in simple tax situations who do not owe tax and do not file themselves. The government plans to consult with Canadians on the proposed amendments, using this feedback to improve and scale up this service. This will include consultation with Indigenous partners.
• Budget 2025 further proposes to provide $71 million over five years, starting in 2025-26, with $10.4 million in remaining amortisation and $8.3 million ongoing, to the CRA to implement these new services.

Making the National School Food Program Permanent

Every child deserves to have the food they need to get a fair start in life, regardless of their family's circumstances. Launched in 2024-25 with an investment of $1 billion over five years, the National School Food Program aims to provide meals to 400,000 more kids every year, beyond those served by existing school food programs. The program is saving participating families with two children an average of $800 per year on groceries.

The National School Food Program is helping provinces, territories, and Indigenous partners expand their existing school food programs to make sure more children across the country can enjoy the healthy meals they need. The Program is good for parents and kids, and it is good for the economy as well. It is helping take pressure off of families and directly supporting the success of our kids, while improving children's health, education, and well-being.

• As announced on October 10, 2025, Budget 2025 proposes to introduce legislation and provide $216.6 million per year, starting in 2029-30, to Employment and Social Development Canada, Indigenous Services Canada, and Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada, to make the National School Food Program permanent.

Lowering Costs and Protecting Consumers

Canada's new government is stepping up to give back control and help Canadians keep more of their money in their pockets. This includes taking on consumer pain points and unnecessary costs that can add up at the end of the month.

• Budget 2025 announces the government will review fees charged by banks and other federally regulated financial institutions including Interac e-Transfer fees and ATM fees. We will use every tool and agency at our disposal to address any unjustified fees and pain points for Canadians. We will provide an update on this work in 2026.

Increasing Access to Funds Deposited by Cheque

Digitalisation in the financial sector has brought many benefits for consumers, but there are risks that consumers who remain reliant on legacy financial products and services, including cheques, may be left behind. Access to cheque fund rules are now over a decade old and have not kept pace with cost-of-living increases or technological advances.

• Budget 2025 proposes to amend the Bank Act to raise the first amount of immediately available deposited cheque funds from $100 to $150 and to remove the timing distinction between funds deposited in person and via other means, as well as introduce regulations to apply the change to trust and loan companies.
• Budget 2025 also announces the government's intention to make regulations in the coming months to reduce the number of days banks may hold deposited cheque funds before releasing them to their customers. In addition, the regulations will raise the current value threshold of $1,500—below which shorter cheque hold periods apply—which will increase the number of cheques eligible for earlier access to funds and benefit consumers reliant on cheque payments.

Protecting Against Economic Abuse

Canada's financial sector has a critical role to play in detecting signs of abuse early and providing safe pathways for victims and survivors—many of which are women, ensuring that everyone can build safe and independent futures.

• Budget 2025 proposes to introduce a voluntary Code of Conduct for the Prevention of Economic Abuse for federally regulated banks. This code, to be overseen by the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada, will set clear expectations for how banks can identify, prevent, and respond to economic abuse to better protect Canadians.

Economic abuse—such as restricting access to money, sabotaging employment, or forcing debt—is a common form of gender-based violence. It can also affect seniors, who can be vulnerable to financial manipulation or coercion by those they often know and trust. It robs people of their independence and limits their ability to build secure and fulfilling lives.

Preventing economic abuse also means ensuring that financial information and supports are accessible. The development of a voluntary Code of Conduct for the Prevention of Economic Abuse will be guided by several principles: taking an inclusive and victim and survivor-centered approach, promoting financial empowerment and independence, fostering a collaborative approach among stakeholders, and continuous improvement.

Protecting Workers Against Wage Theft

Wage theft occurs when an employer fails to pay compensation rightfully owed to an employee, and represents one of the most common labour standards contraventions in federally regulated sectors.

To crack down on employers that do not pay workers the wages they have earned, the 2024 Fall Economic Statement announced the government's intent to make regulatory changes to substantially increase the penalties imposed on federally regulated employers who commit wage theft.

The government remains committed to ensuring workers are protected and compensated for the work they perform. The work to increase penalties is currently underway and consultations with workers and employers on proposed changes will take place over the coming months.

Protecting Workers Against Improper Classification

The deliberate misclassification of employees as independent contractors means that employers are not withholding and remitting the proper amounts of income tax, or Canada Pension Plan and employment insurance contributions. Misclassified employees may lose out on labour law protections, as well as benefits and pensions available to employees. This misclassification of employees has been particularly common in the trucking industry. 

• To crack down on employers that misclassify employees, Budget 2025 proposes to provide $77 million over four years starting in 2026-27, with ongoing funding of $19.2 million annually, for the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) to implement a program that addresses non-compliance related to personal services businesses, as well as lift the moratorium on reporting fees for services in the trucking industry.
• Budget 2025 also proposes to amend the Income Tax Act and the Excise Tax Act to allow the CRA to share information with the Department of Employment and Social Development Canada for the purpose of addressing worker misclassification.

These measures will strengthen compliance in the trucking industry by ensuring that employers comply with reporting requirements and tax obligations, while also protecting workers' rights.

Delivering for Personal Support Workers

Personal support workers support Canadians in living and aging with dignity and helped us get through the COVID-19 pandemic. Funding of $1.7 billion over five years was previously announced as part of the February 2023 Working Together to Improve Health Care for Canadians plan to increase wages for personal support workers. Bilateral agreements were signed with British Columbia ($232 million), Newfoundland and Labrador ($25 million), and the Northwest Territories ($5.3 million).

• As announced on October 27, Budget 2025 proposes to introduce a temporary Personal Support Workers Tax Credit, under which eligible personal support workers employed in the remaining provinces and territories could claim a refundable tax credit equal to 5 per cent of their eligible earnings, providing support of up to $1,100 per year.

This measure to support front-line health care workers would be available for the 2026 to 2030 taxation years and is estimated to cost $1.48 billion over six years, starting in 2025-26. Of this amount, $1.17 billion would be sourced from the funding previously committed but unutilised to support wage increases for personal support workers. This tax credit empowers the personal support workers that care for us by putting more of their hard-earned money back in their pockets.

Helping Youth Find and Keep Jobs

Canada's economic future depends on youth. Investing in their skills and experience today will create a stronger, more competitive workforce and drive long-term prosperity. Canadian youth are facing challenges in the labour market, with the youth unemployment rate sitting at 14.7 per cent in September 2025. Canada's new government is committed to supporting youth in building skills to help them gain employment in high-paying careers.

Canada Summer Jobs, the horizontal Youth Employment and Skills Strategy, and the Student Work Placement Program empower young Canadians to develop work-ready skills through hands-on experience and training. These programs put youth on a path to meaningful, well-paying careers.

To invest in a robust and adaptable workforce, the government is making investments to support about 175,000 youth in 2026-27, empowering the next generation with the confidence and skills they need to succeed.

• Budget 2025 proposes to provide $594.7 million over two years, starting in 2026-27, to Employment and Social Development Canada for Canada Summer Jobs to support around 100,000 summer jobs in summer 2026.
• Budget 2025 proposes to provide $307.9 million over two years, starting in 2026-27, for the horizontal Youth Employment and Skills Strategy to provide employment, training, and wraparound supports (e.g., mentorship, transportation, mental health counselling) to around 20,000 youth facing employment barriers annually. $20.1 million of this is offset by funding already provisioned in the fiscal framework.
• Budget 2025 proposes to provide $635.2 million over three years, starting in 2026-27, to Employment and Social Development Canada for the Student Work Placement Program to support around 55,000 work-integrated learning opportunities for post-secondary students in 2026-27.

Advancing the Youth Climate Corps

Investing in paid green skills training and job placements positions Canada to be competitive by equipping the workforce needed to build a climate competitive economy.

• Budget 2025 proposes to provide $40 million over two years, starting in 2026-27, to Employment and Social Development Canada, to create a Youth Climate Corps to provide paid skills training for young Canadians. They will be trained to quickly respond to climate emergencies, support recovery, and strengthen resilience in communities across the country. The skills training and work experience opportunities created through a Youth Climate Corps support reducing youth unemployment, increasing innovation, and strengthening adaptation and mitigation projects.

3.3 Protecting Canadian Culture, Values, and Identity

Canada's values are rooted in our shared identity, cultural richness, and deep connection to the land. We have so much to be proud of, celebrate, and defend as Canadians. The government is committed to protecting what makes Canada unique and brings Canadians together—through continued investments in our official languages, our public institutions, and our natural and cultural heritage. 

These measures reflect a clear vision: a strong, united, and resilient Canada, where our way of life is protected, celebrated, and passed on to future generations. 

Funding for the Department for Women and Gender Equality

Since its establishment in 2018, the Department for Women and Gender Equality (WAGE) has empowered women and 2SLGBTQI+ people through programs that enhance meaningful participation in our economy. WAGE's work extends across government, helping departments and agencies include more Canadians in shaping and strengthening our country's social and economic fabric.

Building on the significant progress made by Status of Women Canada to advance gender equality from 1976 to 2018, WAGE made historic investments that reduced discrimination and helped women advance in the workplace, worked with partners to launch federal strategies to address critical issues impacting women, girls, and 2SLGBTQI+ people, and advocated for a future where everyone can achieve their full potential. However, incidents of gender-based violence—including femicides—continue, as does hate and violence targeting 2SLGBTQI+ communities in Canada. The work of WAGE is needed to eliminate discrimination and advance the rights of women and 2SLGBTQI+ communities.

• As announced on October 29, 2025, to ensure WAGE is able to conduct its critical work and provide long-term benefits, Budget 2025 proposes to provide WAGE with new funding:

  • $382.5 million over five years, starting in 2026-27, with $76.5 million ongoing, to revitalise and stabilise efforts to advance women's equality in Canada.
  • $54.6 million over five years, starting in 2026-27, with $10.9 million ongoing, to support the 2SLGBTQI+ community sector. This includes $7.5 million over five years, with $1.5 million ongoing, for Pride Security.
  • $223.4 million over five years, starting in 2026-27, with $44.7 million ongoing, to strengthen federal action on gender-based violence.

This new funding will support women's organisations in addressing deeply rooted barriers to women's economic prosperity and success, support the vision of a Canada free of gender-based violence from coast-to-coast-to-coast, and advance 2SLGBTQI+ equality, including keeping 2SLGBTQI+ communities and their allies safe.

Ministers Champagne and Valdez also reaffirmed the government's commitment to continue the important ongoing work with the provinces and territories to end gender-based violence—including through the current bilateral agreements that enable these jurisdictions to fund essential prevention services and direct support for survivors.

Empowering Seniors in Their Communities

Far too many of our seniors face isolation in their retirement years, and some experience ageism, poor health, reduced mobility, poverty, and even abuse. Canada's new government is helping to address this by empowering seniors to thrive in their communities through the New Horizons for Seniors Program.

The New Horizons for Seniors Program, with a current annual budget of $70 million, supports projects that improve the quality of life for seniors and promotes their full participation in Canadian society. The program offers up to $25,000 to support projects in local communities—such as new fitness equipment for seniors' centres—and up to $5 million to support projects that are national in scope and that can benefit seniors across the country, like financial literacy classes. 

Connecting Canadians Through Cultural Experiences and Community Celebrations 

Culture is experienced locally, in our towns, neighbourhoods, and public spaces. These investments will help bring Canadians together at festivals, national moments of celebration, and community-driven cultural events across the country. Budget 2025 proposes to provide targeted support to strengthen participation, community identity, and cultural access for Canadians in every region, including: 

• $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;
• $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;
• $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; and
• $9 million over three years, starting in 2026-27, to Environment and Climate Change Canada to support the Biosphère in Montréal.

Investing in Canadian Creators and the Cultural Economy 

Canada's artists, creators, and cultural entrepreneurs are at the heart of our creative economy. Their work drives innovation, supports good jobs, and ensures Canadian stories and voices are heard at home and around the world. Budget 2025 proposes to provide funding to grow Canada's creative industries and help Canadian talent succeed in an increasingly digital and global marketplace, including: 

• $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;
• $6 million over three years, starting in 2026-27, to Canadian Heritage to support the purchase of Canadian content for the TV5MONDEplus platform;
• $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;
• $26.1 million over three years, starting in 2026-27, to the National Film Board to produce and share Canadian content with the world;
• $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; and
• $6 million over three years, starting in 2026-27 for the Canada Council for the Arts to support professional artists and arts organisations.

Protecting Artists' and Creators' Copyrights

Artists, particularly visual artists, are great contributors to Canada's cultural scene and among the lowest income earners in Canada despite their significant cultural contributions. An Artist's Resale Right provides the creators of original visual artwork with a royalty whenever their work is resold through an eligible sale, providing an additional income stream.

• In Budget 2025, the government announces its intent 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.

Protecting Our National Broadcaster: CBC/Radio-Canada

CBC/Radio-Canada is part of our Canadian identity. Canada's new government is protecting our national broadcaster by ensuring it has the resources needed to modernise and better deliver for Canadians, and to continue providing vital programming in both French and English.

• Budget 2025 proposes to provide $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.

Renewing the Canada Strong Pass

This summer, the government introduced the Canada Strong Pass, which helped Canadians see more of our great country, for less money. The pass provided families and young people free or discounted access to national parks, museums, galleries, and rail travel. It brought Canadians together, supported tourism, and celebrated the values that unite us. 

The pass boosted VIA Rail ridership by 6.5 per cent, visits to Parks Canada places increased by 10 per cent, and visitors at our museums were up around 15 per cent on average.

• As announced on October 10, Budget 2025 proposes to provide $116.3 million over two years, 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.

Supporting the Royal Canadian Geographical Society

Strengthening Canadian identity and sovereignty begins with equipping Canadians and young people to understand their land, history, and place in the world. For nearly a century, the Royal Canadian Geographical Society has advanced this mission—reaching over 4.3 million monthly readers of Canadian Geographic and 28,000 educators and 750,000 students each year through its award-winning education programs.

• To promote knowledge of Canada and national unity, Budget 2025 proposes to provide $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.

Improving Access to Health Care in the Arctic and the North

Canadians deserve timely access to health services whenever and wherever they are needed. And yet health care delivery in Canada's Arctic and North is hampered by insufficient infrastructure, a shortage of health care workers, and limited access to hospitals outside of major population centres. Many people must leave their communities to access specialised care or to give birth. These inequities are particularly persistent for Indigenous communities. As a result, territorial governments face high costs to provide necessary care for their residents.

• To improve health care access and services, Budget 2025 announces the government's intention for the Minister of Health and the Minister of National Defence, in collaboration with the Minister of Indigenous Services and the Minister of Northern Affairs and Arctic Affairs, to undertake a comprehensive assessment of health care and health infrastructure needs in the North, with the goal of identifying innovative ways to increase access to health care in northern communities and reduce medical travel costs through engagement with Northen and Arctic Indigenous Peoples.

In short order, the Special Representative will release their external review of Nutrition North Canada. The government will take this review seriously and remains committed to co-developing with Inuit and Northern Indigenous leaders, evidence-based food security approaches that better meet the high cost of living and affordability challenges faced by many Inuit and Northerners.

Empowering Canadian Fishers and Building Coastal Communities

Small craft harbours are essential to the way of life of coastal communities, supporting work and recreation for nearly 45,000 Canadians. The government's Small Craft Harbours program supports the operations and maintenance of a national system of close to 950 harbours, representing over 10,000 structures valued at approximately $7.1 billion. Of these 950 harbours, roughly 690 are considered critical to the commercial fishing industry. The government ensures these harbours are fully operated, in good working condition, and managed and maintained by self-sufficient harbour authorities who represent the interests of users and communities.

The government is committed to continued support for the Small Craft Harbours program. Recently provided support includes:

• $463.3 million over three years on a cash basis, starting in 2024-25, announced in Budget 2024 for repairs and maintenance of small craft harbours across the country. This funding is in addition to the program's $90 million annual budget.
• $70 million over two years, starting in 2022-23, to support the repairs of small craft harbours damaged by Hurricane Fiona in 2022 as part of the Hurricane Fiona Recovery Fund.  

Lowering Barriers to Access the Canada Disability Benefit

Since issuing the first payments in July 2025, the Canada Disability Benefit has increased the financial well-being of hundreds of thousands of working-age low-income persons with disabilities. However, for many, obtaining a valid Disability Tax Credit certificate to become eligible for the benefit can represent a financial barrier.

• Budget 2025 reaffirms the government's intention to lower barriers to access the Canada Disability Benefit by helping to offset the costs of applying for the Disability Tax Credit for Canada Disability Benefit recipients. To that end, Budget 2025 proposes funding of $115.7 million over four years, beginning in 2026-27, and $10.1 million per year ongoing, including administrative costs, for a one-time supplemental Canada Disability Benefit payment of $150 in respect of each Disability Tax Credit certification, or re-certification, giving rise to a Canada Disability Benefit entitlement. This one-time payment would be retroactive to the launch of the Canada Disability Benefit. Following successful completion of the regulatory process, the first supplemental payments are expected to be made to Canada Disability Benefit recipients before the end of 2026-27.
• In addition, the government is committed to looking at ways to provide such a payment in respect of other Disability Tax Credit certifications as part of its work to review and reform the process to apply for the credit.

Helping to reduce poverty and increase the financial well-being of low-income persons with disabilities is a key priority in the government's work to build a fairer Canada.

• To help ensure Canada Disability Benefit recipients keep the full value of their benefits, including other federal income-tested benefits and programs, such as the Canada Child Benefit, Budget 2025 confirms the government's intention to bring forward legislation to exempt the Canada Disability Benefit from being treated as income under the Income Tax Act.

Gender and Diversity Impacts Spotlight

Budget 2025 takes action to improve outcomes for women by:

• Proposing stable, long-term funding for the Department for Women and Gender Equality, which will continue to support progress in eliminating discrimination and advancing the rights of women.
• Increasing affordable and non-market housing through Build Canada Homes. According to the 2021 Census, single-parent households are still predominantly women (81.2 per cent), and will particularly benefit from more affordable housing.
• Strengthening First Nations Infrastructure Financing and Access to Clean Water. Women, in First Nations communities, would disproportionately benefit. Women in these communities are more likely to shoulder caregiver responsibilities.
• Proposing to introduce a voluntary Code of Conduct for the Prevention of Economic Abuse for federally regulated banks, as women are disproportionately affected by economic abuse, which is a common yet under-recognised form of gender-based violence.

Budget 2025 will support First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities by:

• Strengthening Indigenous Infrastructure and Access to Clean Water, by working to ensure First Nations communities have reliable access to clean, safe drinking water, and providing supports for First Nations and Inuit communities to renovate and build affordable housing. Since November 2015, First Nations have lifted 149 long-term advisories, with 38 still active in 36 communities.
• Supporting Indigenous Housing and Infrastructure, which will work with Indigenous communities to address their unique and persistent infrastructure needs through the Canada Infrastructure Bank.
• Addressing Economic Abuse, as Indigenous communities are among the groups most affected by financial abuse, with Indigenous women more likely to experience financial abuse by an intimate partner compared to non-Indigenous women.

Budget 2025 will support the financial well-being of young people by:

• Helping Youth Find and Keep Jobs. Providing employment services, training, and wrap-around supports will benefit youth facing barriers, especially those without a high school diploma, who are Indigenous, newcomers, racialised, have disabilities, and live in rural areas.

For more information on the expected impacts of Budget 2025 measures on these and other diverse groups of Canadians, please see Annex 6.