On October 10, 2025, Prime Minister Mark Carney announced a series of key national affordability measures that will be featured in Budget 2025 in his riding of Nepean at the Minto Recreation Complex in Barrhaven.
The announcement focused on federal measures aimed at easing financial pressures for Canadian families through a new automatic tax filing system for low-income Canadians, the permanent establishment of the National School Food Program, and the renewal of the Canada Strong Pass for travel and cultural activities.
Some of the key measures announced by the Rt. Hon. Mark Carney include:
Introducing Automatic Tax Filing for 5.5 million Canadians
Starting in the 2026 tax year, the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) will begin pre-filing tax returns for low-income Canadians, scaling up to reach 5.5 million low-income Canadians by 2028. This will help ensure that vulnerable Canadians automatically receive the benefits they are entitled to, including the GST/HST Credit, Canada Child Benefit, Canada Workers Benefit, Canada Disability Benefit, and Disability Tax Credit.
For example, a single parent with two children earning $15,000 annually could receive more than $25,000 in federal and provincial benefits through this simplified process. In addition, eligible recipients of the Disability Tax Credit and Canada Disability Benefit may receive up to $3,000 through new automatic federal benefits. This measure is expected to deliver hundreds of millions of dollars in previously unclaimed benefits to Canadians who need them most.
Making the National School Food Program Permanent
The Government of Canada is making the National School Food Program permanent, ensuring healthy school meals for up to 400,000 children across Canada every year. This measure will be saving families with two children $800 per year.
Since its launch, the program has helped children focus on learning while reducing food insecurity for families. It also helps participating families with two children save an estimated $800 per year on groceries. The government will continue working with provinces, territories, and Indigenous partners to expand access so more children can benefit nationwide.
Renewing the Canada Strong Pass (Holiday Season + Summer 2026)
The federal government is renewing the Canada Strong Pass for both the 2025 holiday season (December 12, 2025 – January 15, 2026) and summer 2026, allowing children and young families to enjoy Canada for free or at a lower cost.
The pass provides:
- Free entry to national parks and historic sites
- Free or discounted access to national museums and galleries
- Free or discounted VIA Rail travel for families
- A 25% VIA Rail discount for young adults aged 18–24 travelling during the holiday season
The previous Canada Strong Pass was highly successful, increasing:
- VIA Rail ridership by 13%
- Museum, park, and historic site attendance by an average of 15%
- Over 50,000 rail travel bookings made through the program
To view the full announcement, please visit: PM Carney Announces Affordability Measures from Budget 2025 – October 10, 2025 - Headline Politics - CPAC.ca.