Budget 2026 · Chapter 4 · pp. 223–254
A strong and united Canada
Culture, communities and reconciliation: the 160th anniversary, recreation facilities and rinks, national parks and oceans, ferries and rail, and large commitments for First Nations housing, infrastructure, education and child welfare.
Chapter 4 in numbers
- Net impact, five years
- $34.6B
- Of which capital
- $10.9B
- Measures
- 42
- With a cost line
- 39
4.1 Bringing Canadians together by celebrating our stories and places
$5.03B over five years
- Investing in our oceans$1.19BProgram spending
- Supporting Canadian stories, journalism, and media$1.09BProgram spending
- Revitalising recreational facilities and ice rinks$680MProgram spendingTradesPublic work
- Renewing the Canada Strong Pass, making national museums permanently free for children and youth, and supporting national museums and heritage institutions$511MProgram spendingHouseholds
- Extending the Canadian Journalism Labour Tax Credit$501MTax measure
- Promoting Francophone culture$387MProgram spending
- Supporting Canada's national parks and historic sites$278MProgram spendingInfrastructure & transportPublic work
- Celebrating Canada's 160th anniversary$225MProgram spending
- Conserving our oceans$135MProgram spending
- Preserving the legacy of those who have served Canada$27MProgram spending
- Supporting the Terry Fox Humanitarian Awards$10MProgram spending
Announced without a cost line
- Canada Creative Creditno cost lineNo cost line
4.2 Connecting communities
$1.34B over five years
- Supporting ferry and passenger rail services$1.34BProgram spendingInfrastructure & transportPublic work
Announced without a cost line
- Advancing the LaSalle Causeway Bridge Replacement Projectno cost lineNo cost lineInfrastructure & transportPublic work
4.3 Advancing reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples
$26.6B over five years
- Investing in housing and infrastructure First Nations communities - Investments to stabilise, accelerate construction, and transform financing$7.91BProgram spendingHousingTradesIndigenous communitiesInfrastructure & transport
- Supporting Indigenous children and families$5.25BProgram spendingIndigenous communities
- Supporting student success in First Nations communities$4.8BProgram spendingTraining & skillsIndigenous communities
- Investing in housing and infrastructure in First Nations communities - Investments in First Nations clean water infrastructure and legislation$4.61BProgram spendingHousingTradesIndigenous communitiesInfrastructure & transport
- Strengthening health and safety in Indigenous communities$4BProgram spendingIndigenous communitiesHealth
- Strengthening the fiscal and institutional capacity of Indigenous governments$79MTax measureIndigenous communities
Announced without a cost line
- Supporting reconciliation through partnership and ownershipno cost lineNo cost lineLoans, equity or financingInvestmentIndigenous communities
4.4 Building a more inclusive Canada
$297M over five years
- Implementing Canada's Black Justice Strategy$136MProgram spending
- Advancing gender equality$93MProgram spending
- Renewing the 2SLGBTQI+ Project Stream$60MProgram spending
- Supporting Kids Help Phone$8MProgram spendingHealth
Additional investments
$1.3B over five years
- Extending support for the operations of the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority$776MProgram spendingInfrastructure & transport
- Supporting participation in negotiations to advance Section 35 rights$119MProgram spendingIndigenous communities
- Faster services for veterans$110MProgram spendingHealth
- Circular economy for plastics renewal$76MProgram spending
- Renewal of support for expanding First Nations' reserve lands$42MProgram spendingIndigenous communities
- Renewing funding to combat aquatic invasive species$38MProgram spendingIndigenous communities
- Brain Canada Foundation$24MProgram spending
- Supporting Canada Council for the Arts$20MProgram spending
- Indigenous-related litigation research$20MProgram spendingIndigenous communities
- Safety, integrity, and transparency in the Canadian sport system$16MProgram spending
- Sports programming for Indigenous youth$16MProgram spendingIndigenous communities
- Dechinta Centre for Research and Learning$10MProgram spendingIndigenous communities
- Indigenous Justice Strategy$10MProgram spendingIndigenous communities
- Supporting veterans' well-being$9MProgram spendingDefence & securityHealth
- Indigenous Land Surveys and Registration Services$8MProgram spendingAI & digitalIndigenous communities
- Residential Schools Legacy: National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation$5MProgram spendingIndigenous communities
- Renewal of RCMP Legacy Residential School Funding$1MProgram spendingTraining & skillsIndigenous communities
The chapter cost table
| Section | 2026-27 | 2027-28 | 2028-29 | 2029-30 | 2030-31 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4.1 Bringing Canadians together by celebrating our stories and places | 797 | 1,243 | 1,195 | 867 | 925 | 5,026 |
| 4.2 Connecting communities | 5 | 407 | 390 | 414 | 124 | 1,341 |
| 4.3 Advancing reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples | 180 | 4,881 | 6,621 | 7,827 | 7,140 | 26,649 |
| 4.4 Building a more inclusive Canada | — | 89 | 93 | 58 | 56 | 297 |
| 4.x Additional investments – A strong and united Canada | — | 929 | 161 | 128 | 82 | 1,300 |
| Net fiscal impact | 982 | 7,549 | 8,460 | 9,294 | 8,327 | 34,613 |
| Of which, capital investment | 153 | 1,740 | 2,232 | 3,215 | 3,549 | 10,888 |