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Secretary of State van Koeverden and Minister Robertson announce Budget 2026 investments in community ice rinks and centres

Canadian Heritage
Saturday at 12:28pm AST · November 14, 2026 7 min read

The Government of Canada highlights Budget 2026 investments to build and upgrade ice rinks and community centres in Embrun and across the country   

EMBRUN, ON, Nov. 14, 2026 /CNW/ — In a world reshaped by geopolitical competition, protectionism and rapidly evolving technologies, Canada stands apart. Our abundant natural resources, clean and reliable energy, world-class talent, strong public finances and access to global markets give us a clear competitive advantage.

We have the strength to build and the discipline to deliver. 

These foundations are already translating into results. Investment is growing, major projects are being built, and businesses are reaching new markets at home and abroad. Budget 2026 keeps Canada on a path to meet both fiscal anchors by balancing day-to-day operating spending with revenues by 2027-28, a full year ahead of schedule, and keeping the deficit-to-GDP ratio on a declining path. 

Today, the Honourable Adam van Koeverden, Secretary of State (Sport), and the Honourable Gregor Robertson, Minister of Housing and Infrastructure and Minister responsible for Pacific Economic Development Canada, met with the Embrun community at the Russell Sports Dome to highlight key investments in community recreational facilities and ice rinks from Budget 2026: Masters of our destiny.

Building a strong Canada starts with building strong communities.  

Budget 2026 proposes to provide $1.5 billion over nine years, through the Build Communities Strong Fund, to support the construction, expansion, retrofitting and rehabilitation of community recreational facilities and ice rinks across Canada. This includes $750 million for ice rinks and $750 million for other community recreational facilities. These investments will help extend the life of aging facilities and ensure communities have modern, welcoming places to come together, compete, train and play. 

Budget 2026 is an ambitious plan to meet this moment and shape Canada’s economic future by building on our strengths, driving investment, boosting productivity, diversifying our trade, creating good jobs and making life more affordable for Canadians. 

Budget 2026 catalyzes growth: 

  • It mobilizes private capital, accelerates Canada’s Investment Supercycle and sets the stage for long-term growth and a stronger, more sovereign Canada. 
  • It introduces measures to improve competitiveness that will help Canadian businesses, startups and innovators scale and commercialize at home, while the Canada Growth Incentive will mobilize more Canadian capital behind Canadian companies.  
  • It proposes major tax policy changes, the new Productivity Mega Deduction and the Canada Strong Fund, to help make Canada the destination of choice for global investors.  
  • It provides funding for the Canada Electricity Strategy to double grid capacity by 2050 to meet growing demand, while accelerating electrification, grid modernization and clean power expansion.  
  • It makes investments in nuclear energy and critical minerals that will create high-paying jobs for Canadians, grow exports and strengthen Canada’s position as a global energy superpower. 

Budget 2026 delivers for people: 

  • It puts Canada on a path to end homelessness in 10 years, in coordination with municipalities, provinces and territories. 
  • It enhances the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit with a 2027 supplement and expands Nutrition North Canada to lower the cost of food for Canadians. 
  • It makes the Canada Caregiver Credit fully refundable, helps Canadians get a better deal on their mortgage and cuts monthly energy bills by supporting 1 million energy-efficient home retrofits.  
  • It also takes major steps to tackle long-term pressures by building more homes, strengthening competition across the economy and recruiting and training the workers Canada needs for the future. 

Budget 2026 also strengthens Canada’s sovereignty: 

  • It includes initiatives to support Canadian arts, culture, heritage and journalism through a flagship Canada 160 Fund, a renewed Canada Strong Pass, permanent free admission to national museums for children and youth under 25, and $1.5 billion to expand, retrofit and rehabilitate ice rinks and recreational facilities across the country.  
  • It protects Canada’s natural wealth through the Nature Strategy and advances reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples through more than $50 billion in investments. 
  • It strengthens our sovereignty and defence capabilities, supports our Canadian Armed Forces members and their families and helps ensure Canadians feel safe in their communities, at home and online.

Quotes

“Being masters of our destiny is about having the confidence to build on our strengths and shape our own future. Canada has the resources, talent and ambition to succeed. Budget 2026 builds on those strengths by unlocking investment, building more at home, strengthening our energy and natural resource advantage, and helping Canadian businesses grow and compete on the world stage. That’s how we will create good jobs, make life more affordable, and build a stronger, more resilient, more united Canada for generations to come.”

–The Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Finance and National Revenue

“Sport is our ultimate nation builder. Budget 2026’s historic $1.5 billion-investment in rinks and community centres will change lives across Canada, from playground to podium. It means more accessible places to play, train and compete. More quality time and less screen time. And of course, more people out on the ice. I can’t think of anything more Canadian than that!”

–The Honourable Adam van Koeverden, Secretary of State (Sport)

“Building a strong Canada starts with building strong communities. Through Budget 2026, we are investing in local infrastructure, such as ice rinks and community centres that will support stronger, safer, more connected communities across the country for generations to come.”

— The Honourable Gregor Robertson, Minister of Housing and Infrastructure and Minister responsible for Pacific Economic Development Canada

Quick Facts

Despite a challenging global environment, the Canadian economy has shown resilience: 

  • Canada’s economy grew by 3.3% in the second quarter, the fastest pace in the G7.  
  • The International Monetary Fund expects Canada to be the second-fastest growing economy in the G7 in 2027.  
  • Canada is expected to maintain one of the lowest deficit-to-GDP ratios in the G7, signalling fiscal strength and the capacity to invest in the future. 
  • More Canadians are benefitting from labour market strength. Over the past year, Canada’s economy added 214,000 jobs in private employment, while the unemployment rate fell to 6.5%, near its lowest level in two years.  
  • Since the end of 2024, Canada has created nearly twice as many jobs per capita as the United States. 
  • Rising productivity is helping lay the foundation for stronger wage growth and higher living standards, with productivity increasing by 1.2% over the last year, compared with average growth of just 0.1% following the pandemic. 
  • Foreign direct investment in Canada is at its highest level in nearly two decades. Canada attracted $98 billion in foreign investment in 2025 and has led the G7 in direct investment inflows per capita since early 2025.   
  • Canada has the lowest tax burden on new investment in the G7, encouraging businesses to invest, innovate and grow in Canada.  
  • Nominal goods and services exports to countries other than the United States increased by $33 billion in 2025 and are on pace to rise by a further $57 billion in 2026, as more Canadian businesses reach new markets. 
  • Canada is the only G7 country with free trade agreements with every other G7 member. Through 15 agreements in force covering 51 countries, Canadian businesses already have preferential access to 1.5 billion consumers and economies representing two thirds of global GDP.   
  • Measures to make life more affordable are working. The share of household income needed to cover housing costs has fallen by roughly a quarter, asking rents have dropped for two consecutive years and, since 2019, the average cost of childcare has fallen by about 30% nationwide. 

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SOURCE Canadian Heritage

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