Scheer to throw open the doors to Canada’s national museums


A new Conservative government will scrap admission fees from all of Canada’s national museums, Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer announced on Monday.

Andrew Scheer

Removing these fees will make it easier for families to learn about Canada’s proud history and will make school field trips and family vacations more affordable.

“National museums celebrate Canada by sharing our foundational stories and most cherished artifacts, the very things that make us Canadian. They are places of beauty, discovery, and inspiration,” said Scheer. “Making them more accessible to Canadians and visitors is part of our plan to celebrate Canadian culture and make life more affordable for families across the country.”

As Prime Minister, Scheer will make it free to visit national museums 365 days a year for every visitor.

There are nine national museums across Canada:

  • Canada Agriculture and Food Museum (Ottawa, Ontario)
  • Canadian Museum of History (Gatineau, Quebec)
  • Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21 (Halifax, Nova Scotia)
  • Canada Science and Technology Museum (Ottawa, Ontario)
  • National Gallery of Canada (Ottawa, Ontario)
  • Canada Aviation and Space Museum (Ottawa, Ontario)
  • Canadian Museum of Nature (Ottawa, Ontario)
  • Canadian Museum for Human Rights (Winnipeg, Manitoba)
  • Canadian War Museum (Ottawa, Ontario)

A new Conservative government will also designate the RCMP Heritage Centre in Regina, Saskatchewan as a national museum. Admission would also be free.

Scheer announced that a new Conservative government will also designate the gravesites of past Prime Ministers and Governors General as national historic sites.

“We can and we should celebrate the achievements of our historical giants like William Lyon Mackenzie King, Sir Wilfrid Laurier, and Sir John A. Macdonald,” Scheer said. “These leaders, and others, have left their mark not only on our country, but on the entire world and they are worthy of honour and respect.”

Quick Facts:

  • The first National Museum of Canada was established by the Department of Mines in 1927.
  • The current system of national museums (listed above) are administered by six Crown Corporations.
  • According to the Parliamentary Budget Officer, this move would save Canadians more than $20 million per year.
  • Admission fees generally represent small proportions of these museums’ revenue mix; these other revenue streams, including Parliamentary appropriations, will not be impacted by this measure, except to increase the appropriations to compensate for reduced revenue from this policy.
  • Smithsonian Institution museums in Washington, D.C. have offered free admission since 1846.

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