Albertans can visit national parks for free with Canada Strong Pass extension
Posted Oct 12, 2025 12:16 pm.
Albertans who enjoy visiting the country’s national parks for free can do so again as the “Canada Strong Pass” is being renewed for the holiday season and next summer.
Prime Minister Mark Carney made the announcement Friday during a news conference previewing programs upcoming in the federal budget, which is being introduced on Nov. 4.
The pass is slated for renewal from Dec. 12, 2025, to Jan. 15, 2026, and then again for the summer of the new year.
That program, which was part of the Liberals’ election platform and was launched over the summer, offers free admission to national parks and museums, and discounts for young adults travelling on Via Rail.
It arrived amid ongoing tariff talks with the U.S., giving Canadians free admission to Parks Canada locations. Running from July 4 to Sept. 2, it encouraged residents to explore this side of the border.
Canadian national parks in Alberta include Banff, Jasper, Waterton Lakes, Elk Island, and Wood Buffalo.
At the same conference, the government said visits to museums, parks and historic sites were up by an average of 15 per cent over the summer.
Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne pegged the cost of the Canada Strong pass at around $100 million.
The Alberta government followed suit and provided free access to provincial attractions when the pass was first announced, but it’s unclear if that initiative will be renewed.
The province’s Kananaskis Conservation Pass didn’t see its fee waived despite Albertans calling to follow the federal government’s initiative. The K-Pass generates about $12 million annually.
Information on the Canada Strong Pass can be found online.
