The CCA’s 2026 Federal Pre-Budget Submission
Why the CCA Pre-Budget Submission Matters to You
Click the image, or below to view the full submission (EN / FR coming soon)
Every year, the federal government asks Canadians for ideas on how to shape the country’s next budget. It is a massive opportunity for industries to share what they need to thrive.
The Canadian Camps Association (CCA) has officially published and submitted our proposal for the upcoming federal budget, titled Building Canada Strong for All: The Camp Sector as Essential Infrastructure for Youth, Workforce, and Resilience.
If you are a camp director, staff member, or just someone who cares about the future of camping in Canada, you might wonder: What exactly is a pre-budget submission, and why do we do it?
Here is a quick look at why this document matters and a brief summary of what we are asking for this year.
A Pre-Budget Submission: Our Anchor for Government Advocacy
Think of our pre-budget submission as our anchor document. When the CCA sits down for face-to-face meetings with politicians and government officials in Ottawa, this is the blueprint we bring to the table. It provides clear, evidence-based arguments that show decision-makers exactly how summer camps contribute to Canada's economy, youth development, and environmental goals.
It is important to remember that these priorities are not the only things the CCA focuses on. We are constantly working on many different issues behind the scenes, and these four points are definitely not the only things we talk to politicians about.
Instead, we chose these specific priorities because they represent tangible, practical ways to help the entire camping sector. By focusing on these high-impact areas, we can make a strong case for federal support that lifts up camps of all sizes right across the country.
A Snapshot of Our 4 Priorities
Our submission focuses on four main recommendations to support Canadian families, young workers, and camp operators:
Modernizing Youth Employment: We are asking the government to update the Canada Summer Jobs program. We want them to make "Youth Development Infrastructure" a national priority so that camps get stable, predictable funding to hire the 42,000+ young Canadians who work in our sector every summer.
Making Camp More Affordable for Families: We are pushing to amend the Child Care Expense Deduction. Our goal is to make sure parents get fair tax exemptions for the vital first week of an accredited overnight camp program, helping them stay in the workforce while giving kids screen-free development.
Upgrading Infrastructure and Camp Safety: Many camps are dealing with aging facilities and extreme weather like wildfire smoke and heatwaves. We are asking for a Legacy Infrastructure Fund to help modernize historic sites, targeted grants for climate audits, and federal support to strengthen the provincial accreditation systems that ensure child safety.
Stewardship and Reconciliation: Camps are perfect partners for protecting nature. We are asking the government to include camp professionals in environmental task forces and create grants that build formal partnerships with local Indigenous communities, directly delivering on Truth and Reconciliation Call to Action #92.
What’s Next?
Now that the submission is in, our advocacy work shifts into high gear. We will be using this document to meet with Members of Parliament (MPs) and government officials over the coming months to make sure the voice of the Canadian camping community is heard loud and clear.
We encourage everyone in our community to look over the proposal. When we speak with one united voice, we can achieve great things for the future of Canadian camps.
Click below to view the full submission:
French (Coming Soon)