Government's new Canada Strong Pass will make travel across the country cheaper

As Canadians rethink summer travel plans and increasingly try to support local, the Canada Strong Pass will make domestic travel much cheaper.

On Saturday, April 12, Liberal leader Mark Carney introduced the new Canada Strong Pass, making it more affordable for kids and young families to travel domestically during peak travel season.

"At a time when our economy is under attack from President Trump, Canadians are stepping up — helping our neighbours, buying local, and celebrating our beautiful country," stated Carney.

Children and youth under 18 using the Canada Strong Pass will get free access to national galleries and museums. They'll also get to travel on VIA Rail for free when they're with their parents.

The pass will be available from June to August 2025. In addition, Canadians aged 18 to 24 will also be able to avail of heavily discounted access and fares.

"Whether it's trips to national parks and historic sites, spending the day at a national art gallery or museum, or hiking Canadian trails, my new government will help the next generation discover all Canada has to offer this summer," said Carney.

"We are a proud country — and united, we will strengthen our Canadian identity in the face of this crisis."

The step to launch the Canada Strong Pass is part of the Liberals' promise to protect Canada's natural environment. For this effort, the government plans to create at least 10 new national parks, marine conservation areas, and 15 new urban parks.

People welcomed the announcement online, with one Redditor stating, "This is brilliant! Canadian tourism and local economies will get a huge boost. Also, I take VIA with my kids a lot; this will help a bunch."

Another stated, "It costs easily over $100 for a family of four to get a basic museum visit. I always wanted to bring my kids more. This is a really good thing!"

One commenter wrote, "This plan may seem silly to some, but making cross-country travel more affordable for families will be good for local economies that rely on tourism."

However, one person pointed out that the pass leaves out adults who don't meet the requirements.

"As a middle-aged adult with no partner and no kids, I kind of get left out with a lot of this kind of thing," they stated.