ST. ANDREWS, Man. – A federal program making it cheaper and more accessible for Canadians to go to national parks and sites from coast to coast is ending on Monday.
The Canada Strong Pass was first introduced in 2025 and returned this summer.
The federal program provides free or discounted admission to national parks, historic sites, museums, and train travel across Canada.
No physical or digital pass is required to access the benefits. The temporary program – which started in June – will no longer exist, with regular admission prices returning Tuesday.
Teanna Dukart and her family were visiting Manitoba from Saskatchewan this Labour Day weekend, and decided to go to Lower Fort Garry, which is a national historic site in the rural municipality of St. Andrews, Man.
The Canada Strong Pass made their first visit to Lower Fort Garry a little easier on the wallet with free admission.
“It’s awesome that you don’t have to pay, with everything being so expensive nowadays,” Dukart told CTV News.
Atul Sharma and Celia Rodd have been actively taking advantage of the program, visiting national sites and parks across the country.
“I’m originally from Nova Scotia, so we go and visit my family every year. Last year we visited Evangeline, and now we are at Lower Fort Garry today,” Sharma, who is an active user of the program, told CTV News.
“I think it’s especially important for families with kids, because it makes those facilities accessible… and I think it’s even more important these days, where we’re trying to discourage tourism south of the border.”
Rodd says having the pass available makes it easier for them to plan trips within the country.
“When I start planning a trip, I could say this is available and I could easily afford to go there because it is free,” she said.
But as the program comes to an end, Sharma says he would like to see its temporary aspect changed into a permanent one.
“I would actually like to see the pass expanded to an all-year around option,” he said.
Dukart is of the same opinion, saying the savings could make it easier for families to get out and explore.
“It would definitely encourage me more to go out and do more things,” she said.
“I can imagine people with lots of kids and having to foot a bill for a lot of children to go out and explore… and it would kind of suck to not be able to enjoy things like this because you can’t afford it.”
Increased visitation in 2025
Parks Canada sites saw a 13 per cent increase in foot traffic last summer when the program was in place, reporting over 14 million visitors.
All provinces and territories saw increases in the number of visitors last year — except Saskatchewan.
Matthew Rothenberger says Manitoba’s Lower Fort Garry has seen an increase in visitors since the program was introduced.
“We’ve seen an influx of new Canadians coming to visit the site, people coming for their first time experiencing a national historic site, so it’s been very much appreciated in making it accessible to all Canadians,” said Rothenberger, who is an interpretation co-ordinator with Parks Canada.
He says having the program year-round would help Canadians experience national parks and museums during the winter months.
“I’d love to see it continue,” Rothenberger said.
“Most sites are a little bit seasonal in nature, but there are certainly some that have year-round operations, whether it be a national park or a national historic site or some of our marine conservation areas.”
There is no decision at this time from the federal government whether the program will return in 2027.
