Minister Metlege Diab highlights Budget 2026 investments in culture, creativity, and access to the arts

HALIFAX, NS, Nov. 10, 2026 /CNW/ -- In an increasingly turbulent world, Canada is determining its future. Budget 2026 aims to make Canadians masters of their own destiny, build our sovereignty and give us the freedom to live our lives as we choose. Being sovereign means building a country where Canadian culture thrives in all its diversity and creativity.

Today, the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, the Honourable Lena Metlege Diab visited the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21 in Halifax, Nova Scotia, to highlight key investments from Budget 2026: Masters of our destiny that support Canadian culture, strengthen creative industries and improve access to arts and heritage across the country. The Minister was joined by leaders in Halifax's thriving cultural sector.

Budget 2026 proposes nearly $4 billion over five years to protect and celebrate what makes us Canadian. This includes unprecedented support for creators, cultural institutions, Canadian stories and the communities that bring them to life.

Key investments include:

• Helping artists build sustainable careers: Exploring a new Canada Creative Credit to support artistic production and cultural entrepreneurship, removing the $1,000 cap on deductible work expenses for employed artists, and introducing an Artist's Resale Right
• Supporting Canadian creators and artists: Strengthening support for Canadian producers, broadcasters, visual artists, writers, musicians, actors and other creators to help them tell our stories and build sustainable careers
• Making it easier to explore Canada: Bringing back and expanding the Canada Strong Pass for summer 2027, and introducing permanent, year-round free admission to national museums for everyone under 25
• Bringing communities together: Supporting festivals, national celebrations and community-driven cultural events that give Canadians more opportunities to connect and take part in the cultural life of their communities
• Celebrating Canada 160: Helping Canadians celebrate Canada's 160th anniversary through local festivals, performing arts events and other arts, cultural and heritage activities
• Celebrating Canada's Francophonie: Supporting Canada's Francophonie leadership objectives and hosting the 2028 Francophonie Summit
• Preserving our cultural heritage: Upgrading our national museums and heritage institutions to ensure that they can stand the test of time and that we can pass this legacy on to future generations
• Making Canadian books more accessible: Creating a free national digital collection of Canadian books, making it easier for Canadians to discover and borrow works by Canadian authors, and making the Canada Book Fund permanent
• Strengthening Canadian stories and journalism: Providing greater support for Canadian stories, creators and trusted local journalism, and strengthening CBC/Radio-Canada
• Boosting creative industries: Introducing the new Productivity Mega Deduction to help Canadian producers and storytellers invest in the equipment and technologies needed to create Canadian content

It is an ambitious plan to meet this moment and shape Canada's future. Budget 2026 provides unprecedented support to Canadian culture and recreation--more than five times last budget's record levels.

Quotes

"Being masters of our destiny is about having the confidence to build on our strengths and shape our own future. This is why we are investing in the cultural institutions and the creatives that tell our stories. Sovereignty means building a country where Canadian culture thrives; where Canadians see themselves in their stories, music, songs and movies; and where we are connected--both physically and culturally--to build Canada strong."
-   The Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Finance and National Revenue

"Budget 2026 is about building a stronger Canada and making life more affordable for Canadians. Initiatives like the Canada Strong Pass are helping families and young people explore our country and discover our shared history and heritage, while broader investments in our communities, infrastructure and economy are helping build a more prosperous future for all Canadians."
-   The Honourable Lena Metlege Diab, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship

Quick facts

Budget 2026 sets out the following measures to support Canada's arts, culture, heritage and creative sectors:

• the creation of the Canada Creative Credit--a new non-refundable personal income tax credit that would provide tax relief on up to $45,000 in annual qualifying net business income derived from original creative artistic works
• a $600-million investment to support Canada's audio and audiovisual sectors, providing greater stability for creators, producers and broadcasters
• funding of $76 million in 2027–2028 for the renewal and expansion of the Canada Strong Pass and $46.3 million over 5 years, starting in 2026–2027, to make national museums permanently free for children and youth under 25
• a new Canada 160 Fund to celebrate Canada's 160th anniversary with a $300­million flagship initiative, as well as $10 million for the Building Communities through Arts and Heritage program and $15 million for the Canada Arts Presentation Fund to support local festivals and performing arts events
• an investment of $393.2 million over 3 years to advance Canada's Francophonie leadership objectives and host the 2028 Francophonie Summit
• $843 million over 5 years, on a cash, basis to help repair and renew Canada's national museums and heritage institutions
• an investment of $300 million over 2 years to strengthen CBC/Radio-Canada
• $32.2 million over 4 years to establish a free national digital collection of Canadian books and $20 million over 4 years to renew the Canada Book Fund and make it permanent
• a $20-million investment over 3 years for Canada Council for the Arts
• $134 million to support independent local journalism through the Local Journalism Initiative, while expanding the Canadian Journalism Labour Tax Credit to include qualifying audio and audiovisual news organizations
• major tax policy changes, including the new Productivity Mega Deduction, to help Canada's producers and storytellers invest in the equipment and technologies they use to create

Associated link:

• Budget 2026: Masters of our destiny

SOURCE Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada

Contacts for media only: Media Relations, Canadian Heritage, [email protected]; Media Relations, Department of Finance Canada, [email protected], 613-369-4000