Carney highlights $4-billion culture investment, the largest in Canadian history

Prime Minister Mark Carney said in Montreal on Tuesday (November 10) that Budget 2026 invests $4 billion in culture, the largest investment in Canadian history, to strengthen cultural institutions, make culture more accessible, bring Canadians together and empower artists. The budget was tabled in Parliament on November 5 by Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne.

Strengthening institutions

Nearly $800 million over five years will go to national museums, the National Battlefields Commission, the National Arts Centre and Library and Archives Canada to repair aging facilities, protect collections and sustain exhibitions, performances and services; CBC/Radio-Canada will receive an additional $300 million over two years; the Local Journalism Initiative gets more than $130 million over four years plus more than $40 million a year in ongoing funding; and the 35% Canadian Journalism Labour Tax Credit will be extended to qualifying private audio and audiovisual news organizations.

Making culture more accessible

More than $75 million will renew the Canada Strong Pass for summer 2027, offering free or discounted access to national parks, museums and rail travel, with expanded discounts for Indigenous-led museums and cultural centres; more than $45 million over five years, plus more than $10 million a year ongoing, will make national museums permanently free year-round for people under 25; the National Gallery of Canada gets $60 million over four years; a free national digital collection of Canadian books gets more than $30 million over four years, growing from at least 200 titles in 2027–28 to more than 2,000 by 2031–32; and the Canada Book Fund will be renewed with $20 million over four years.

Bringing Canadians together, empowering artists

A $300-million Canada 160 Fund in 2027–28 will deliver signature experiences, new Heritage Minutes and enhancements to the Trans Canada Trail; nearly $400 million over three years will support Canada's Francophonie leadership and hosting the 2028 Francophonie Summit in the National Capital Region; local festivals and performing arts get $10 million for the Building Communities through Arts and Heritage program and $15 million for the Canada Arts Presentation Fund. A proposed Canada Creative Credit would offer a non-refundable personal income tax credit on up to $45,000 in annual qualifying net business income from original creative artistic works; the government will consult the sector, with details in the Spring Economic Update 2027. A new Productivity Mega Deduction would let businesses immediately write off eligible equipment and technology. The Canada Council for the Arts gets $20 million over three years for theatre, dance, music and other live performances.

“Canadian culture brings us together. And in an increasingly divided world, what connects us is what makes us strong,” Carney said. Canada's culture sector accounted for nearly 688,000 jobs in the first quarter of 2026 and contributes more than $69 billion to GDP; a $600-million investment in the audio and audiovisual sectors has already been confirmed.