Just in time for the peak travel season, the federal government relaunched the Canada Strong Pass on 12 December, providing families with free or deeply discounted access to VIA Rail, national museums and Parks Canada sites until 15 January 2026. Children under 17 travel free on VIA Rail when accompanied by an adult, while youth aged 18-24 receive 25 percent off fares. Comparable discounts apply to camping fees and admissions at more than 80 historic sites nationwide.
Introduced as an affordability measure during summer 2025, the program generated a 6.5 percent bump in rail ridership and a 13 percent increase in park visits. Tourism operators estimate the winter extension could inject CAD 90 million into local economies, particularly in regions that rely on off-season visitors.
Whether you’re an international visitor pairing the Canada Strong Pass with a broader North American itinerary or a Canadian resident planning to hop across the border after your rail journey, VisaHQ can simplify the visa and eTA process. Its streamlined platform (https://www.visahq.com/canada/) lets travellers confirm entry requirements, complete applications and track approvals for Canada and 200+ other destinations—so the only thing left to plan is which park or museum to visit first.
![‘Canada Strong Pass’ Returns, Offering Free Rail and Park Access Over Holidays]()
For corporate travel managers, the key takeaway is that employees aged 18-24 on assignment can leverage the discount for personal travel segments, potentially lowering per-diem costs. Moreover, the pass implicitly encourages rail over air travel along the Toronto–Ottawa–Montreal corridor, tying into many companies’ sustainability targets.
VIA Rail advises travellers to book early, as certain holiday trains are already nearing capacity. No physical pass is required; travellers simply present proof of age at participating venues or use promotional codes when booking online.
The government has hinted that a digital, year-round version of the pass is being studied for 2026, which could further reshape domestic mobility patterns and support Canada’s net-zero transportation goals.
Introduced as an affordability measure during summer 2025, the program generated a 6.5 percent bump in rail ridership and a 13 percent increase in park visits. Tourism operators estimate the winter extension could inject CAD 90 million into local economies, particularly in regions that rely on off-season visitors.
Whether you’re an international visitor pairing the Canada Strong Pass with a broader North American itinerary or a Canadian resident planning to hop across the border after your rail journey, VisaHQ can simplify the visa and eTA process. Its streamlined platform (https://www.visahq.com/canada/) lets travellers confirm entry requirements, complete applications and track approvals for Canada and 200+ other destinations—so the only thing left to plan is which park or museum to visit first.
For corporate travel managers, the key takeaway is that employees aged 18-24 on assignment can leverage the discount for personal travel segments, potentially lowering per-diem costs. Moreover, the pass implicitly encourages rail over air travel along the Toronto–Ottawa–Montreal corridor, tying into many companies’ sustainability targets.
VIA Rail advises travellers to book early, as certain holiday trains are already nearing capacity. No physical pass is required; travellers simply present proof of age at participating venues or use promotional codes when booking online.
The government has hinted that a digital, year-round version of the pass is being studied for 2026, which could further reshape domestic mobility patterns and support Canada’s net-zero transportation goals.
