Tab B: INFC topics

1. Investing in Canada Plan – Status Update
2. Canada Infrastructure Bank
1. Governance
2. Projects/Growth Plan
3. High Frequency Rail
4. CIB's Three Year Plan
3. Auditor General of Canada - Audit of Investing in Canada Plan
4. COVID-19 Resilience Stream
5. Canada Healthy Communities Initiative (CHCI)
6. Operational Funding for Municipalities and Transit - Safe Restart Agreement
7. Transit Projects
8. Gas Tax Fund
9. Indigenous Funding
10. Integrated Bilateral Agreements
11. Climate Lens
12. Zero-Emission Buses (ZEBs)
13. Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund (DMAF)
14. Smart Cities Challenge
15. Programs administered through the Federation of Canadian Municipalities
16. Just Transition Fund
17. Waterfront Toronto
1. Toronto Waterfront Revitalization Initiative
2. Quayside Project
18. Economic Impacts of Infrastructure Investments
19. P3 Projects
20. Stronger Communities Through Infrastructure
21. Funding for Rural and Northern Communities
22. Major Bridges
1. Gordie Howe International Bridge Project
2. Samuel De Champlain Bridge Corridor Project
23. Broadband Investments
24. 2020-21 Infrastructure Canada Departmental Plan
25. Sustainable Development Goals

Investing in Canada Plan – Status Update

Topic

Through the Investing in Canada plan, the Government of Canada is investing more than $180 billion over 12 years in public infrastructure to build inclusive, connected and resilient communities across Canada.

Responsive Lines

• The Investing in Canada plan has committed over $71 billion and supported thousands of projects across the country that are building stronger, more inclusive communities and generating regional and national economic growth. The Plan is delivered through 85 programs and managed by 21 federal departments and agencies.
• Infrastructure Canada works closely with participating departments to provide Canadians with easy-to-access information about the implementation of the Plan, including a project list showing approved projects and timely information on funds committed across all departments.
• Infrastructure Canada also produces an online map, which allows Canadians to see the projects that are being built in their communities.

[responsive, if asked about PBO report on implementation of Plan]

• In his latest report, the Parliamentary Budget Officer indicated that the Plan is well underway and created more than 90,000 jobs last year.

Background

The Investing in Canada plan comprises $95.6 billion in new funding for infrastructure programs, committed in Budgets 2016 and 2017. Additionally, the Plan is designed to deliver $92.2 billion through pre-Budget 2016 programs.

The Office of the Auditor General (OAG) has commenced its audit of the Investing in Canada plan, in response to a motion tabled in Parliament early this year. Infrastructure Canada is working with the OAG on providing information through supporting documentation and interviews. The OAG is also working with various partner departments and agencies under the Plan, selecting a number of programs to analyze.

The Parliamentary Budget Officer (PBO) released its fifth report on the Investing in Canada plan on June 17, 2020. Based on project-level information collected by INFC, the report noted that: the implementation of the Plan was delayed (spending was estimated to be $2 billion lower than forecast over 2016-17 to 2019-20); there is limited evidence that higher federal spending has led to increased provincial spending; and, the Plan has provided significant economic benefits (91,400 jobs and a 0.74% increase in real GDP).

At a parliamentary hearing on May 29, 2020, the PBO indicated that there was a lack of proof that 55,000 projects (20,000 projects missing) had been approved under the Plan. The project count breaks down in the following manner:

• 33,000 projects delivered by INFC and other partners
• Approximately 10,000 projects funded by CMHC for which project-specific information is not available due to privacy and security concerns
• Approximately 12,000 projects funded under the Gas Tax Fund.

Canada Infrastructure Bank

Governance

Topic

The CIB requires top talent to implement its ambitious agenda to co-invest in infrastructure that is in the public interest.

Responsive Lines

• The Canada Infrastructure Bank is an arm's length Crown corporation that develops and executes complex partnership projects with private sector investors. It requires individuals with specialized skills and experience to carry out its mandate and deliver the best value for Canadians.
• The salary range and performance pay of the CEO is recommended by the Board of Directors based on market comparables and needs for the position, and approved by the Government. The specific compensation paid to any employee is protected under the Privacy Act.
• The remuneration framework for the CEO is publicly disclosed, with a base salary range of $510,000 - $600,000 per annum. The CEO also receives annual short-term and long-term incentive awards, subject to the CEO's performance against objectives.

Background

• Crown corporations operate at arm's length from the Government of Canada and have the flexibility to fulfill their commercial mandates, while adhering to applicable policies and guidance.
• Questions have been raised by the media regarding CIB accountability, for example, that Canadians deserve to know how the CIB is using its money.
• The Canada Infrastructure Bank operates in a manner that is transparent and accountable to Government and Canadians.
• It fulfills all of its accountability requirements to me as their portfolio minister, and to Parliament. The Government approves its corporate plan, and its operating and capital budgets.
• The CIB provides the documents required of Crown corporations in the annual reporting cycle, like its corporate plans and its annual report and quarterly financial reports.
• Compensation for the CEO includes ranges for short- and long-term performance incentive awards that are recommended by its Board of Directors, and approved by the Government.
• All Crown corporation CEOs are subject to Government appointee annual performance review processes, which requires the Board of Directors of every Crown corporation to annually seek views from their appropriate minister on the performance of the CEO, towards making a recommendation to that minister on the annual performance rating of the CEO.
• The remuneration framework for the former CEO was publicly disclosed, with a base salary range of $510,000 - $600,000 per annum, and included annual short-term and long-term incentive awards, subject to the CEO's performance against objectives.

Projects/Growth Plan

Topic

What projects have the Canada Infrastructure Bank (CIB) completed?  

Responsive Lines

• Large and transformative infrastructure projects take time to develop because they are complex and require expert advice and planning. The partnerships that the CIB is building with other governments, investors and private sector interests are key to deploying the infrastructure that Canada needs.
• The recently announced $10 billion Growth Plan is a short-term plan with long-term investments that are designed to support Canada's economic recovery and climate goals.
• The CIB has announced its involvement in 10 projects, including the recently announced irrigation project in Alberta and the REM light rail transit in Montréal, as well as advisory roles on a number of hydro and electrical intertie projects. 

Background

The Growth Plan will invest in five major initiatives:

• $2.5 billion for clean power to support renewable generation and storage and to transmit clean electricity between provinces, territories, and regions, including to northern and Indigenous communities.
• $2 billion to connect approximately 750,000 homes and small businesses to broadband in underserved communities, so Canadians can better participate in the digital economy.
• $2 billion to invest in large-scale building retrofits to increase energy efficiency and help make communities more sustainable.
• $1.5 billion for agriculture irrigation projects to help the agriculture sector enhance production, strengthen Canada's food security, and expand export opportunities.
• $1.5 billion to accelerate the adoption of zero-emission buses and charging infrastructure so Canadians can have cleaner commutes.

To accelerate the delivery of projects in which the CIB intends to invest, it will also allocate $500 million for project development and early construction works.

Projects

• The CIB's announced investments include:
• A $1.28B investment in Réseau express métropolitain (REM) light rail in Montréal;
• An up to $2B investment in GO Expansion – On Corridor electric rail in Greater Toronto Area; and
• An up to $300M investment in construction of a new container terminal in Port of Contrecoeur outside Montréal.
• The Port of Montréal launched a Request for Qualifications for Design-Build contractors which will close before the end of the year. The CIB is collaborating with the Port of Montréal and the private sector to advance the contractual and financial arrangements.
• CIB has announced Memorandums of Understanding and advisory engagements on seven projects:
• Alberta Irrigation: A Memorandum of Understanding formalizing collaboration between CIB and the Government of Alberta to develop modern irrigation infrastructure and significantly expand irrigable land opportunities within eight irrigation districts – a potential commitment of up to $407 million. In Alberta irrigation, the CIB is working collaboratively with all parties, including the Government of Alberta, to come to financial close with irrigation districts in late December or early January.
• The first phase includes the construction, financing, operation and maintenance of new water pipelines with the objective of improving the efficient delivery of water, increasing irrigation opportunities and to reducing water loss. This phase is expected to result in approximately 58,900 new irrigated acres.
• The second phase includes new and expanded off-stream reservoirs and is expected to result in approximately 143,800 new irrigated acres. The primary objectives are to enhance water security and supply within the South Saskatchewan River Basin and allow for an earlier start to the irrigation season.
• The MoU was announced publicly on October 9, 2020.
• VIA High Frequency Rail: A Joint Project Office between CIB and VIA Rail to facilitate and oversee the conduct of pre-procurement, planning, due diligence and de-risking activities for VIA High Frequency Rail project between Ontario and Quebec – a Government commitment of $71.1 million (including $55 million from the CIB);
• Lulu Island District Energy: A Memorandum of Understanding formalizing collaboration between CIB and Lulu Island Energy Company to develop a new district energy project in Richmond, BC;
• Taltson Hydroelectric: Advisory services engagement with Government of Northwest Territories to assist in developing a new 60 MW clean energy hydroelectric facility and 270 km of transmission lines to reduce reliance on diesel, and facilitate a more flexible and balanced electricity load in the region;
• Pirate Harbour Wind Farm: A Memorandum of Understanding formalizing the collaboration between CIB and project proponents on the potential Pirate Harbour Wind Farm in Nova Scotia;
• Kivalliq Hydro-Fibre Link between Manitoba and Nunavut: A Memorandum of Understanding with Kivalliq Hydro-Fibre Link project proponents to work on planning and development of the proposal; and
• Calgary-Banff Passenger Rail: A Memorandum of Understanding with the Province of Alberta for a passenger railway between downtown Calgary and Banff. A potential connection to the Calgary airport is being explored as well but has not been formally studied at this stage.
• If questions about specific projects the CIB may be considering are raised:
• I am encouraged that provinces, territories, municipalities and Indigenous communities are engaging with the CIB as an alternative to funding their much needed infrastructure projects.
• The advisory business line was envisioned for the Bank to engage broadly with stakeholders to raise awareness about its role and opportunities to invest in new infrastructure.
• We know that governments alone cannot fill the infrastructure gap, and that by partnering with the private sector and attracting private capital, we can get more built.
• If a question is raised about irrigation in Saskatchewan:
• The CIB has already announced their first irrigation project in Alberta and are engaging with other regions who may have similar needs.
• I cannot comment on specific discussion they may be having, and suggest directing your question to the CIB directly.

If pressed:

• I can't speak to the details of their discussions. I would suggest that questions about specific projects be directed to the Canada Infrastructure Bank.
• If a question is raised about whether the CIB can invest in whatever it wants:
• The CIB's Board of Directors has always had the ultimate responsibility for investment decisions. This has not changed.
• Through the annual corporate planning process, the Government reviews the investment strategy proposed by the CIB for public interest and policy alignment.
• There is close collaboration between the CIB, INFC and other government departments on policy and program responsibilities in the priority areas.
• The CIB must annually submit its planned activities, including how and where it will seek to invest, to Treasury Board for approval. A summary of this corporate plan is made public shortly after its approval.

High Frequency Rail

Topic

VIA High Frequency Rail: A Joint Project Office between Canada Infrastructure Bank and VIA Rail to facilitate and oversee the conduct of pre-procurement, planning, due diligence and de-risking activities for VIA High Frequency Rail project between Ontario and Quebec – a commitment of $55 million for the Joint Project Office.

Responsive Lines

• Our Government is committed to supporting VIA in bringing high frequency rail in the Toronto to Quebec City corridor.
• A key step has been the announcement of the creation of the High Frequency Rail Joint Project Office between VIA and the Canada Infrastructure Bank to move forward with next steps on the de-risking and pre-procurement activities.
• These activities will help position the Government of Canada in making a final investment decision on the High Frequency Rail project.

Background

• VIA currently operates on shared infrastructure with freight operators, resulting in congestion on conventional tracks, limited frequencies, and poor on-time performance. These impacts therefore constrain the ability of VIA's intercity passenger rail service to be an effective and reliable mobility option for Canadians.
• In response to these challenges, in 2016, VIA put forward a proposal for High Frequency Rail (HFR) between Toronto and Quebec City. A cornerstone of the HFR project is a proposed investment in dedicated tracks exclusive to its services to allow for more frequent, faster and reliable service throughout every day.
• The project also aims to create a more commercially successful, modern rail service that supports economic development in the most populous part of the country. The new, frequent service is expected to reduce vehicle emissions as passengers will leave their vehicles at home to avoid road congestion and create travel options for work, study and leisure pursuits.
• Transport Canada has worked with VIA, the CIB and Finance Canada to conduct an in-depth assessment of VIA's HFR proposal. In June 2019, the Government committed $71.1 million (including $55 million from the CIB) through a Joint Project Office, to undertake pre-procurement and de-risking activities identified by Transport Canada's due diligence.
• This includes preparation for an environmental assessment and preliminary work on land acquisitions, and stakeholder engagement, including consultations with Indigenous communities.
• The contributions will also fund technical work to ensure the interoperability and integration of HFR with operating tracks used by local and regional transit providers in Montréal and Toronto. This includes track work in Montréal's Mont-Royal Tunnel to enable VIA Rail Canada's heavy rail trains to operate on this segment of the Réseau express métropolitain (REM) light rail system. This important piece of preliminary work is needed so that the different rail systems work together should High Frequency Rail proceed in the future. In addition, the Joint Project Office is undertaking a $2 million feasibility study to connect the future REM with the existing rail station in Dorval.

CIB's Three Year Plan

Topic

What modelling was used to calculate job numbers (60,000) in CIB's Growth Plan and who conducted the modelling?

Responsive Lines

• The recently announced Growth Plan will help Canadians get back to work and is expected to create approximately 60,000 jobs across the country.
• The job numbers are based on Statistics Canada's Infrastructure Economic Account model and reflect infrastructure investment in Public Transit, Clean Power, Green infrastructure, Broadband, Trade and Transport (agriculture), and in accelerating existing projects.
• These estimates use Statistic Canada's methodology to calculate the direct jobs in construction of the infrastructure projects and indirect jobs related to suppliers providing inputs to projects.

Background

The Canada Infrastructure Bank (CIB)'s $10 billion Growth Plan aims to stimulate jobs for Canadians and strengthen Canada's economy through new infrastructure investments. By increasing levels of public and private investment in infrastructure, the CIB's Growth Plan will contribute to Canada's competitive, connected and resilient economy.

The Growth Plan developed by the CIB is expected to create 60,000 jobs across the country.

Based on Statistics Canada's Infrastructure Economic Account model, an estimated 57,890 jobs are associated with a $10 billion investment in infrastructure in Public transit, Clean power, Green infrastructure, Broadband, Trade and Transport (agriculture), and in Accelerating existing projects.

The model does not account for labour market conditions, whether at the national level or more local levels.

Over the next 24-36 months, the CIB's plan will build new infrastructure that connects more households and small businesses to high speed internet, strengthen Canadian agriculture and help build a low-carbon economy. These investments will help Canadians get back to work.

The Growth Plan will invest in five major initiatives:

• $2.5 billion for clean power to support renewable generation and storage and to transmit clean electricity between provinces, territories, and regions, including to northern and Indigenous communities.
• $2 billion to connect approximately 750,000 homes and small businesses to broadband in underserved communities, so Canadians can better participate in the digital economy.
• $2 billion to invest in large-scale building retrofits to increase energy efficiency and help make communities more sustainable.
• $1.5 billion for agriculture irrigation projects to help the agriculture sector enhance production, strengthen Canada's food security, and expand export opportunities.
• $1.5 billion to accelerate the adoption of zero-emission buses and charging infrastructure so Canadians can have cleaner commutes.

To accelerate the delivery of projects in which the CIB intends to invest, it will also allocate $500 million for project development and early construction works.

Auditor General of Canada - Audit of Investing in Canada Plan

Topic

The Office of the Auditor General (OAG) has started a performance audit of the Investing in Canada Plan. The OAG's website notes that the IICP audit is planned for winter-2020/spring-2021. No other details are public.

Responsive Lines

• The Government of Canada is committed to transparency and accountability in all its spending of public funds.
• Infrastructure Canada is working with the Office of the Auditor General to provide all required information for its audit of the Investing in Canada plan. We will welcome any findings and recommendations that the Auditor General may have.
• The Government of Canada will continue to ensure the Office of the Auditor General has the appropriate level of support it needs to do its work.

Background

• In February 2020, the Auditor General accepted a motion passed by the House of Commons, and noted that it would endeavour to table a report by January 2021. The motion noted “…immediately conduct an audit of the government's Investing in Canada Plan, including, but not be limited to, verifying whether the plan lives up to its stated goals and promises; and that the Auditor General of Canada report his findings to the House no later than one year following the adoption of this motion.”
• At its June 9, 2020 meeting, the Standing Committee on Finance adopted the following motion: “That the Standing Committee on Finance call on the Auditor General of Canada to audit all federal programs associated with Canada's COVID-19 response and to complete all previously-scheduled audits and all audits requested by the House; and call on the government to provide the Office of the Auditor General all the funding it needs to carry out these audits and any other work it deems appropriate.”
• Department officials have responded to all requests by the Office of the Auditor General. In addition, weekly meetings between the OAG and the department's Internal Audit and Evaluation and Policy and Results Branches are taking place to facilitate coordination of progress.

COVID-19 Resilience Stream

Topic

The time-limited COVID-19 Resilience Stream is aimed at addressing the current health and socio-economic crisis and supporting economic stability.

Responsive Lines

• To support Canadians during the pandemic, the Government of Canada introduced changes to the $33.5-billion Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program integrated bilateral agreements.
• The COVID-19 Resilience stream includes new flexibilities, accelerated approvals and increased federal cost-share for a broader range of vital infrastructure projects such as health and education facilities.
• INFC has received the first projects under the new COVID-19 Resilience stream and I expect to announce new investments very soon.

Background

Infrastructure Canada (INFC) is expanding program parameters under Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program (ICIP) by the introduction of a new, time limited, COVID-19 Resilience stream.

The COVID-19 Resilience stream will be supported by a transfer of up to 10% ($3.5 billion) of the original allocations under the Public Transit, Green Infrastructure, Community, Culture and Recreation Infrastructure, and Rural and Northern Communities Infrastructure streams.

The COVID-19 Resilience stream's eligibility will be determined based on the category and asset class and projects cannot exceed $10 million in total eligible costs. Projects must be completed by December 31, 2021, or by December 31, 2022 in the territories and in remote communities.

The COVID-19 Resilience stream will provide funding to the following types of infrastructure projects:

• Retrofits, repairs and upgrades for municipal and provincial buildings, community, cultural, and recreational infrastructure, health infrastructure and schools;
• COVID-19 Resilience infrastructure, including measures to support physical distancing and repurposing infrastructure to support pandemic response;
• Active transportation infrastructure, including parks, trails, foot bridges, bike lanes and multi-use paths; and
• Disaster mitigation, adaptation and remediation projects, including natural infrastructure, flood and fire mitigation, tree planting and related infrastructure, and remediation of contaminated sites and lands.

The following provinces have signed or are about to sign their amended Integrated Bilateral Agreement: Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Saskatchewan and Alberta.

Canada Healthy Communities Initiative (CHCI)

Topic

The Canada Healthy Communities Initiative (CHCI) will provide up to $31 million in existing federal funding to support communities as they deploy new ways to adapt spaces and services to respond to immediate and ongoing needs arising from COVID-19 over the next two years.

Responsive Lines

• COVID-19 has exposed a real need for low-cost, locally-driven ideas to help communities adapt and thrive.
• The Canada Healthy Communities Initiative will support small-scale infrastructure-related projects. These projects can have a big impact as local governments, Indigenous communities and their non-profit partners rethink public spaces.
• Whether it's pop-up bike paths, community gardens, art installations or Wi-Fi hot spots, Canadians want to work, play and learn in safe, vibrant and inclusive communities.

Background

Announced by Minister McKenna on August 13, 2020, the Canada Healthy Communities Initiative (CHCI) will provide up to $31 million in existing federal funding to support communities as they deploy new ways to adapt spaces and services to respond to immediate and ongoing needs arising from COVID-19 over the next two years.

Contribution funding under the Initiative will be provided to one or more non-governmental not-for-profit organizations selected through an open call for applications. This call was launched on September 11, 2020 and closed on October 16, 2020. The department is reviewing applications. The organization(s) selected through this call will receive up to $31 million in funding over two years to identify and fund local community projects that can be put into place quickly to improve the lives of Canadians. The Initiative will ultimately support projects in communities under three main themes:

• Creating safe and vibrant public spaces
• Projects that create or adapt existing public places such as parks, main streets, and indoor spaces that encourage safe cultural or physical activities, and local commerce.
• Improving mobility options
• Projects that permit physical distancing through permanent or temporary changes that make it easier for people to get around in their communities, whether walking, biking, accessing public and private transit, or other modes of transportation.
• Digital solutions
• Innovative digital projects that address changing community needs through the use of data and connected technologies.

Funding for the Initiative is being repurposed from existing funding for a second Smart Cities Challenge competition to support communities in dealing with the immediate and ongoing challenges posed by COVID-19.

The implementation of the first round of the Smart Cities Challenge is ongoing, and planning is underway for a future competition.

Operational Funding for Municipalities and Transit - Safe Restart Agreement

Topic

The Safe Restart Agreement is a federal investment of more than $19 billion that will help provinces and territories safely restart their economies and make our country more resilient to possible future surges of COVID-19. The investment will help address key priorities, agreed to by Canada's First Ministers, for the safe restart of Canada's economy over the next six to eight months. The agreement will also help get funding quickly to municipalities so they can deliver essential services that Canadians rely on every day, such as public transit.

Responsive Lines

Operational Support

• In the Speech from the Throne the Government committed to continue investing in public transit infrastructure, to keep building strong communities and to continue working toward our 2030 and 2050 emissions goals.
• The Safe Restart Agreement is a federal investment of more than $19 billion to help support provinces and territories, cities and municipalities, so that Canadians can count on the services and programs they need for a safe restart to all areas of the economy.
• Municipalities are on the front lines of a safe restart of the economy and the Government of Canada is contributing up to $2 billion to support municipalities with COVID-19 operating costs for the next six to eight months. Provincial and territorial governments will continue to support municipalities, and will cost-match federal supports with investments made this fiscal year. In addition, the Government of Canada will also cost-match more than $2.3 billion to support any additional provincial or territorial contributions for public transit.

Existing Transit Funding

• Safe, modern, and efficient public transit systems are important for the health and sustainability of our communities.
• The Government of Canada is investing $28.7 billion over 12 years in public transit projects through the Investing in Canada plan.
• This funding will make it possible for Canadian communities to transform the way people live, move and work.

Background

In April 2020, the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) requested $10 billion in emergency federal operations support to help alleviate revenue pressures local governments are reporting as a result of the pandemic lockdown. Municipalities had deferred the collection of property taxes and were unable to collect a range of user fees while simultaneously facing increased costs associated with managing the pandemic and protecting vulnerable populations.

The FCM request included $2.4 billion for transit systems. As a result of the lockdown, ridership had declined by ~80% nationally, and rear-door boarding - intended to protect drivers - prevented many systems from collecting fares. Many systems responded by reducing service levels and, in some cases, furloughed workers to reduce operational deficits.

Public transit is key focus of federal infrastructure investments. The Investing in Canada Plan is investing over $28 billion to improve transit infrastructure throughout Canada. This includes $3.4 billion through the Public Transit Infrastructure Fund; $20.1 billion through the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program; and $5 billion allocated to the Canada Infrastructure Bank. 

The federal government does not fund the general operations of municipal governments and/or transit systems, as this is a provincial jurisdiction. Federal officials have acknowledged current pressures and the strong link between public transit and many national priorities, while signaling that provincial and territorial governments should lead the response to these challenges, which fall under their jurisdiction.

On June 4, 2020 the Prime Minister and First Ministers discussed measures that federal, provincial, and territorial governments could put in place to safely restart Canada's economy, while preparing for any future resurgence of the virus. In July 2020, the Prime Minister announced that the Government of Canada would contribute more than $19 billion to help provinces and territories address their critical needs over the next six to eight months. This included personal protective equipment for healthcare workers and businesses, testing and contact tracing, childcare, assistance for vulnerable populations, support for municipalities, and paid sick leave for workers. In order to unlock funding, provinces and territories were asked to provide letters outlining how funds would be used and those letters have been received. The Safe Restart Agreement (SRA) has not generated negative reactions from provinces and territories. Additionally, the FCM has responded positively to the SRA. However, the Canadian Urban Transit Association has noted that ongoing operational support from provincial and federal governments should continue beyond the SRA to ensure an inclusive and green economic recovery.

In recognition of these pressures, the Government also announced that an allocation of $2.2 billion under the federal Gas Tax Fund would be accelerated this year. This was provided in a single payment in June 2020 to help Canadian communities recover from the COVID-19 pandemic as quickly as possible, while respecting public health guidelines.

In August 2020, the Government of Canada announced changes to the $33.5 billion Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program, making some rules more flexible, expanding project eligibility and accelerating approvals. Among the changes is a new COVID-19 funding stream that provides an increased federal cost-share for a broader range of projects and quicker project approvals in the short-term. Over $3 billion in existing funding can be redirected to this new stream by provinces and territories.

Transit Projects

Topic

To provide responsive lines and background information on funding pressures the Government of Canada is facing given Ontario, Quebec and British Columbia have either come forward or are expected to come forward with an ask for additional funding to cover the costs of major transit projects, costs that go well beyond the original program allocation.

Responsive Lines

• Safe, modern, and efficient public transit systems are important for the health and sustainability of communities. The Government of Canada is investing $28.7 billion over 12 years in public transit projects. This funding will make it possible for Canadian communities to transform the way people live, move and work.
• Work continues with provincial counterparts to move these important and transformative transit projects forward, so that Canadians can access jobs, education, health care and social activities.
• The Government of Canada is committed to establishing a permanent source of funds to support public transit, which would rise with the cost of construction over time.

Background

• The Province of Ontario has prioritized a total of six major transit projects in Toronto and York Region, and is seeking a federal commitment to fund a minimum 40% of the provincial priority projects, requesting an additional $6 billion beyond the $5.1 billion already notionally allocated for these projects under the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program (ICIP).
• These six projects include four provincial priorities: Ontario Line, Scarborough Subway Extension, Yonge North Subway Extension and Eglinton Crosstown West Extension; and two projects put forward by the City of Toronto: Bloor-Yonge Station Capacity Enhancement and SmartTrack Stations. 
• The preliminary cost estimate for the six major transit projects in Ontario is approximately $31.3 billion.
• [redacted].
• Mayors Council (Metro Vancouver) has advocated for a $375-million-a-year permanent transit fund to support future regional transit expansion in addition to federal funding of $685 million required by mid-2021 to cover the third phase of TransLink's 10-Year Vision. This funding is in addition to ICIP. Specific pressures identified are:
• SkyTrain to the University of British Columbia (UBC): TransLink is studying an extension of the Millennium Line from Arbutus. Mayors Council is seeking federal commitment to the Arbutus to UBC line to allow for a continuity of work from Phase 1 (Vancouver Community College/Clark Station to Arbutus). The aim is to complete the project by 2030. Seeking at least $50 million from federal for completion of procurement readiness as part of a broader $215 million request relating to Sky Train, West Coast Express, Seabus.
• Surrey Sky Train Phase 2 (Fleetwood to Langley City Centre): Mayors Council intends to use the remaining TransLink allocation under the Public Transit Infrastructure stream (was $196 million – now likely $156 million as the federal funding has increased for Phase 1) and has requested an additional $330 million in federal support completion of this phase of the project.
• In Quebec, six projects have been approved under the Public Transit Infrastructure Stream (PTIS) of ICIP for a total federal contribution of more than $1.9 billion and an additional $695 million from the Green Infrastructure Stream (GIS). The two major projects are Quebec City's Structuring Public Transit Network (max INFC contribution of $1.1 billion) and the Extension of Montréal Metro's Blue Line (max INFC contribution of $1.3 billion).
• Major investment in public transit is also planned, including 6 major structuring public transit projects in West Gatineau, Longueil, Montréal and Laval, for an estimated federal contribution of more than $8.9 billion. Those projects are part of the Plan Québécois des Infrastructures 2020-2030 and the proposed Bill 66 to accelerate the completion of infrastructure projects to revive the economy of the province.
• In addition, the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) has requested $10 billion in emergency federal operations support to help alleviate revenue pressures local governments are reporting as a result of the pandemic lockdown. The FCM request includes $2.4 billion for transit systems. As a result of the lockdown, ridership declined by ~80% nationally, and rear-door boarding - intended to protect drivers - has prevented many systems from collecting fares. Many systems have reduced service levels and, in some cases, furloughed workers to reduce operational deficits.
• The federal government does not fund the general operations of municipal governments and/or transit systems, as this is a provincial jurisdiction.

Gas Tax Fund

Topic

The federal Gas Tax Fund (GTF) is a permanent, legislated and indexed funding program that currently provides $2.2 billion annually for municipal infrastructure.

Responsive Lines

• Each year, the federal Gas Tax Fund (GTF) provides over $2.2 billion in stable and predictable funding to more than 3,600 communities across the country.
• Municipalities are able to pool, bank, and borrow against this funding, and the GTF can be used to support projects in 18 different categories. The funding supports about 4,000 projects each year.
• This year, the Government of Canada accelerated the payment and provided provinces and territories with this year's entire transfer to help Canadian communities recover from the COVID-19 while respecting public health guidelines.

Background

• The federal Gas TaxFund (GTF) is a permanent, legislated and indexed funding program that currently provides $2.2 billion annually for municipal infrastructure.
• The GTF was established in 2005 and originally designed to provide municipalities with $5 billion in predictable funding over five years. The program was extended and legislated as a permanent source of federal infrastructure funding for municipalities. The federal GTF (signed in 2014) has been indexed at 2% per year, to be applied in $100 million increments. From 2014 to 2024, the GTF will provide municipalities with close to $22 billion in infrastructure funding.
• Typically, Infrastructure Canada makes two equal payments to each signatory each year. The first payment generally occurs in early summer, and the second in the fall. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the full allocation was accelerated for 2020.
• Allocations are calculated on a per capita basis for provinces, territories and First Nations, and provide a base funding amount for smaller jurisdictions (Prince Edward Island and each territory). The GTF allocation is indexed at 2% per year and is paid out in $100 million increments (roughly every two years).
• Eligible categories of investment are broad and include public transit, local roads and bridges, drinking water and wastewater infrastructure, community energy systems, culture, recreation, disaster mitigation and capacity building.
• The federal GTF provides annual infrastructure funding to more than 3,600 communities across the country. In recent years the funding has supported approximately 4000 projects each year.
• On June 5, 2020, a list of projects under the GTF was provided to the Parliamentary Budget Officer in response to the request to clarify the number in projects reported under the Investing in Canada Plan (the Plan). The federal government does not approve review or approve projects under the Gas Tax Fund, and recipients are responsible for reporting on the outcomes of their projects to their residents.
• The list Infrastructure Canada receives from recipients about projects funded by the GTF is only used to provide an estimate of funded projects. Recipients have full discretion to change the project scope or substitute projects after they have been reported to the Department. Despite these limitations, the list provides a broad record of the kinds of projects being advanced by municipalities, and an indication of the overall use of funds under the program.

Indigenous Funding

Topic

The Minister of Infrastructure and Communities is mandated to work with the Minister of Indigenous Services to co-develop and invest in distinctions-based community infrastructure plans, and move forward with addressing critical needs including housing, all-weather roads, high-speed internet, health facilities, treatment centres and schools in First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities by 2030. These plans should also include new investments to support the operation and maintenance of this infrastructure.

Responsive Lines

• The Government is committed to reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples, including closing the infrastructure gap in Indigenous communities by working on a distinctions-basis with First Nations, Inuit, and the Métis Nation to accelerate the government's 10-year commitment.
• Infrastructure Canada's programs complement the core funding being delivered by Indigenous Services Canada. All First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities, governments, and organizations are eligible recipients under our programs. In addition, under the COVID-19 Resilience stream, Indigenous recipients are eligible for up to 100% in federal cost share funding from the program.
• I am working with the Minister of Indigenous Services and my other Cabinet colleagues to engage Indigenous partners and support community infrastructure plans that address critical infrastructure needs.

Background

• Under the Investing in Canada Plan, Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) and Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada (CIRNAC) were allocated a total of $24 billion and $262 million, respectively, to support Indigenous infrastructure programs.
• To date, ISC has 12,913 projects approved, representing $8.7 billion in federal share investments, and CIRNAC has 599 projects approved, representing $172.18 million in federal share investments.
• Approximately $1 billion in additional funding was allocated to Indigenous Services Canada in Budgets 2018 and 2019 for investments in water and waste water, urban programming, and climate change adaptation.
• With respect to Infrastructure Canada, to date, under the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program, we have committed more than $310 million to at least 78 First Nations projects, $281 million for 17 projects in Inuit Nunangat, and $16 million for two Métis projects. We have also committed more than $60 million to 13 projects benefiting Indigenous people more generally.
• Indigenous recipients receive a higher federal cost share (75%) and are not subject to “stacking limits” meaning they are eligible to have federal programs (from all departments) fund up to 100% of their projects – making Indigenous projects a low cost option for provinces and territories to prioritize. 
• Under the new COVID-19 Resilience Infrastructure Stream, Indigenous ultimate recipients are eligible for up to 100% in federal cost share funding from the program (with no stacking required).
• Under the Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund, we have announced more than $75 million for two projects benefiting the Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte in Ontario and Skwah First Nation in British Columbia.
• The Gas Tax Fund includes dedicated funding for First Nations, the Métis Settlements in Alberta, and Inuit Nunangat. Funding for First Nations on reserve in the provinces is delivered by Indigenous Services Canada.
• The department is co-chairing an infrastructure working group with Indigenous Services Canada and Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami under the Inuit-Crown Partnership Committee to implement the Infrastructure Work Plan.

Integrated Bilateral Agreements

Topic

Infrastructure Canada has signed long-term infrastructure agreements with all provincial and territorial partners to make unprecedented investments in public transit, green infrastructure, recreational, cultural, and community infrastructure, as well as rural and northern communities.

Responsive Lines

• Under the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program Bilateral Agreements, Infrastructure Canada is providing $33.5 billion in funding for public transit, green, community, culture and recreational, and rural and northern infrastructure projects from coast to coast to coast.
• Three years in, over $10 billion for over 1500 projects has already been approved, and an additional $2 billion is currently under review.
• To address the challenges faced by communities as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program now includes a new COVID-19 Resiliency Infrastructure stream and expanded eligibilities under the program's previous streams to deliver more infrastructure projects during the pandemic.
• Once projects are approved, our partners can start their projects immediately.

Background

• The Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program (ICIP) is the centrepiece of Infrastructure Canada's funding initiatives supporting the broader Investing in Canada Plan.
• This 10 year allocation-based program promotes strong collaboration between all levels of government by advancing outcomes in a manner that is flexible and responsive to unique local, provincial and territorial circumstances, and supporting local and regional decision-making in the realm of public infrastructure.
• Provinces and territories (P/Ts), in consultation with municipalities and Indigenous communities, are responsible for identifying, prioritizing and submitting projects and flowing funds to eligible ultimate recipients.
• Managed through Integrated Bilateral Agreements (IBAs), the ICIP is divided into four funding streams: Public Transit ($20.1 billion); Green Infrastructure ($9.2 billion); Community, Culture and Recreation Infrastructure ($1.3 billion); and Rural and Northern Infrastructure ($2 billion + $400 million).
• The new COVID-19 Resilience stream will help communities respond to the immediate pressures and concerns as a result of the current pandemic as well as build resiliency for the future. The new time-limited stream will have an increased federal cost-share for a broadened range of infrastructure projects and a simplified approval process to allow work to get underway quickly while respecting public health measures.
• Three years into the 10 year program, approvals are as follows:
• Projects approved to date: 1536, worth $10.7 billion
• Projects Under review: 540, worth $2 billion
• 59% or $18.6 billion remains uncommitted
• (Info as of October 21, 2020)
• Examples of eligible projects include:
• Transit:  New Light Rail Transit systems; extensions of existing subway systems; electric bus purchases; or removing barriers in the built environment, such as by providing wheelchair ramps at transit stations.
• Green:  Renewable energy storage; strategic Interties; publicly-accessible electric vehicle (EV) charging stations; preservation of natural wetland systems, rehabilitation of public infrastructure to be climate resilient; or, water main and sewer replacement, waste diversion, and recycling facilities.
• Community, Culture and Recreation:  Community centres, art galleries, community recreation and trail facilities, and community service hubs.
• Rural and Northern:  Greenhouses, community freezers, short sea shipping wharves, and broadband projects.
• COVID-19 stream:  Upgrades to municipal buildings, hospitals or schools, temporary COVID-19 testing facilities, and active transportation pathways.

Climate Lens

Topic

The Climate Lens is a project-level requirement intended to (1) drive the consideration of climate mitigation and climate adaptation / resilience opportunities in decision-making and design; and (2) support INFC in measuring its progress towards meeting its 10Mt greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction target.

Responsive lines

• The Government of Canada is strongly committed to meeting its climate goals and achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.
• Applicants seeking funding from Infrastructure Canada programs for major public infrastructure projects are asked to assess how their projects will help reduce carbon pollution, and increase resilience to climate change.
• The Climate Lens assessment is required for all climate-focused projects and all projects valued over $10 million under the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program bilateral agreements with provinces and territories, and any projects under the Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund and the Smart Cities Challenge.

Background

• The Climate Lens was launched on June 1, 2018, and requires INFC-supported projects to:
• Assess their expected greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions against a baseline, and;
• Consider resilience to the impacts of climate change using a risk management approach based on international standards at the planning stage.
• The Climate Lens is intended to (1) drive behavioural change and (2) support INFC in measuring its progress towards meeting its 10Mt GHG reduction target. Currently approved projects are estimated to reduce emissions in the range of 2 Mt.
• The Climate Lens applies to all projects over $10 million under the $33 billion Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program (ICIP).
• The Lens also applies to all climate-focused projects under the Green Stream of ICIP (where it serves as an eligibility test), and to all projects under the Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund.
• A $10 million threshold was applied to ensure that major infrastructure projects consider mitigation and adaptation impacts without placing undue administrative burden on smaller projects. By design, over 80% of project funding was intended to be captured.
• A deferral option was introduced for non-climate-focused projects to address concerns around climate lens delaying project approvals. Deferred assessments must be submitted prior to first payment.
• Exemptions can be granted by the Minister on a case-by-case basis, to respond to capacity considerations or if the asset is unlikely to reduce GHG emissions or to be at risk from climate impacts.
• In total, 280 assessments (mitigation & resilience) have been required to date: 161 were completed on time; 88 deferred; and 31 exempted.

Zero-Emission Buses (ZEBs)

Topic

The Minister of Infrastructure and Communities' Mandate Letter committed to support school boards and municipalities in purchasing 5,000 zero-emissions school and transit buses over the next five years, and ensure that new federal investments in public transit are used to support zero-emissions buses and rail systems starting in 2023. The federal government will work with the Canada Infrastructure Bank who announced in October 2020 an initiative to support zero-emission bus fleets.

Responsive Lines

• Investing in safe, modern, green, and efficient public transit systems generates economic growth and helps create healthy and sustainable Canadian communities.
• Through its infrastructure investments, the federal government is supporting jobs, economic growth and Canada's 2030 climate goals. It also has a plan to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050 that includes investing in zero-emissions vehicles and charging infrastructure across the country, and transitioning our public transit fleet to zero-emissions vehicles.
• The Government of Canada will ensure that new investments in public transit are used to support zero-emission buses and rail systems, working with municipalities to address any exceptional circumstances.
• In addition, the Canada Infrastructure Bank recently announced a $1.5-billion initiative to accelerate the adoption of modern zero-emission bus fleets, and reduce greenhouse gases and operating costs over the long-term.

Background

• The mandate commitment to support the deployment of 5,000 zero-emission buses (ZEBs) aims to proliferate zero-emissions technologies throughout Canada's transportation sector, a sector which is a major contributor to Canada's greenhouse gas emissions. It will also produce public health benefits by reducing exposure to the toxic chemicals contained in vehicle exhaust and lay the groundwork for exclusive investment in ZEV transit beginning in the future.
• The Canadian Urban Transit Association has indicated that Canada's ZEV-related economy is projected to grow to $43 billion of GDP by 2040, with the potential to grow to $152  billion by 2040 with strong incentives.
• On October 1, 2020, it was announced that the Canadian Infrastructure Bank (CIB) would use $1.5  billion of its allocation to speed up the adoption of ZEBs and charging infrastructure. The proposal will provide long-term financing for the incremental upfront costs of ZEBs based on expected operational savings during the useful life of the asset.

Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund (DMAF)

Topic

The Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund (DMAF) is a program aimed at strengthening the resilience of Canadian communities through investments in large-scale infrastructure projects, including natural infrastructure projects, enabling them to better manage the risk associated with current and future natural hazards, such as floods, wildfires and droughts.

Responsive Lines

• Now more than ever, communities need support to adapt to the intensifying weather events that are associated with climate change. Through the Government of Canada's Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund (DMAF), more than $1.7 billion has been announced for 59 large-scale infrastructure projects that will help protect Canadians, their homes and businesses, while reducing the long-term costs associated with replacing infrastructure following natural disasters.
• In order to ensure that the remaining DMAF envelope can get to communities quickly, an accelerated review of eligible projects was undertaken this summer, which will further help communities protect their infrastructure against extreme weather events.

Background

The Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund (DMAF) was launched on May 17, 2018. DMAF is a $2-billion national merit-based program that supports large-scale infrastructure projects to help communities better prepare for and withstand the potential impacts of natural disasters, prevent infrastructure failures, and protect Canadians and their homes.

DMAF projects are supporting the Government of Canada's objectives laid out in the Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change.

Investments through DMAF are expected to have a positive impact on the Disaster Financial Assistance Arrangements (i.e., leading to less payments through the DFAA). These investments are expected to reduce the financial and human impacts of ever-increasing natural hazards brought on or exacerbated by climate change.

In order to leverage the remaining DMAF envelope of $234.6 million, Infrastructure Canada undertook an accelerated targeted intake of eligible projects previously submitted to the department. The merit-based assessment is complete and the Minister of Infrastructure and Communities will be making funding announcements over the coming months.

Infrastructure Canada is currently working on the details to meet the mandate letter commitment to launch a second call for proposals to help communities, whether they are from small, rural and Indigenous communities, or large urban centres, to address the projected impacts disasters triggered by natural hazards and related impacts of climate change.

Funding

The Government announced all approved projects through spring and summer 2019. As of October 14, 2020, DMAF has funded the following 59 projects representing $1.756 million in federal funding:

British Columbia (6 projects)

Recipient	Project Summary	Federal contribution
Skwah First Nation	New dyke / flood barrier to protect Skwah FN, Shxwha:y Village and City of Chilliwack	$45,000,000
City of Kelowna	Mill Creek Flood Protection	$22,000,000
City of Victoria	Climate and Seismic Resilient Underground Infrastructure	$15,393,320
City of Richmond	Richmond Flood Protection	$13,780,000
City of Surrey	Coastal Flood protection for the cities of Surrey, Delta, and the Semiahmoo First Nation	$76,602,850
Corporation of the City of Grand Forks	Grand Forks and Regional District of Kootenay Boundary Flood Mitigation	$19,987,653

Alberta (4 projects)

Recipient	Project Summary	Federal contribution
Province of Alberta	Springbank Off-Stream Reservoir (SR1)	$168,500,000
Town of Canmore	Flood Mitigation of Several Steep Mountain Creeks in the Bow Valley	$13,760,000
Town of Drumheller	Drumheller Flood Mitigation and Climate Change Adaptation System	$22,000,000
City of Edmonton	Riverine and Urban Buffer on Flood Mitigation	$53,766,000

Saskatchewan (5 projects)

Recipient	Project Summary	Federal contribution
City of Meadow Lake	Sewage replacement and relocation for Meadow Lake sewage lagoon	$8,000,000
Saskatchewan Power Corporation	Wildfire Risk Reduction and Capacity Development in Northern Saskatchewan	$19,802,475
City of Saskatoon	Flood Control Strategy	$21,600,000
Government of Saskatchewan	Saskatchewan Wildfire Risk Reduction and Community Resilience	$18,018,834
Government of Saskatchewan	Highway 55 Corridor Improvements	$12,500,000

Manitoba (2 projects)

Recipient	Project Summary	Federal contribution
Thompson Regional Airport Authority	Air Terminal Building Redevelopment	$23,200,000
Province of Manitoba	Lake Manitoba / Lake St. Martin Outlet Channels (Announced in 2018.)*	$247,500,000

*Projects approved outside the competitive process

Ontario (23 projects)

Recipient	Project Summary	Federal contribution
City of Markham	Flood Control Project (Don Mills Channel, West Thornhill, Thornhill Community Centre)	$48,640,000
Corporation of the City of Sarnia	Combined Sewer Separation - Flooding and Overflow Mitigation	$10,412,000
Regional Municipality of York	Aurora Sewage Pumping Station Overflow Mitigation	$8,280,000
Regional Municipality of York	Enhancement and restoration of an urban forest	$10,136,000
Regional Municipality of York	York Durham Sewage System Forcemain Twinning	$48,000,000
City of Toronto	Construction of the Midtown Toronto Relief Storm Sewer for Basement Flooding Protection	$37,160,000
City of Toronto	Construction of the Fairbank-Silverthorn Trunk Storm Sewer System for Flooding Protection and Overflow Reduction	$73,200,000
City of Toronto	Repair, remediate, and enhance resilience of Toronto's tree canopy and waterfront shoreline structures	$11,989,186
City of Toronto	2020/2021 Culvert Rehabilitation *	$8,738,800
City of Vaughan	From Average to Awesome-Implementing Vaughan Stormwater Flood Mitigation	$16,572,127
City of Hamilton	Project Bundle - Extreme Storms - Shoreline Protection Resilience	$12,686,000
Upper Thames River Conservation Authority	West London Dyke Reconstruction	$10,000,000
Corporation of the City of Windsor	Disaster Mitigation and Infrastructure Enhancement Initiative	$32,090,691
Municipality of Chatham-Kent	Flood Mitigation along Thames & Sydenham Rivers	$16,575,200
Corporation of the City of Kitchener	Stormwater Network Adaptation	$49,990,000
City of Greater Sudbury	Junction Creek Watershed Flood Mitigation, Control and Improvements	$8,840,000
Toronto and Region Conservation Authority	Toronto Region Ravine Erosion Risk Management and Hazard Mitigation	$22,311,578
Toronto and Region Conservation Authority	Toronto Waterfront Erosion Hazard Mitigation *	$33,794,667
City of Thunder Bay	Community Flood Mitigation	$13,249,200
Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte	Drought Reduction Project for the Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte Territory	$30,093,216
City of Kingston	Shoreline Protection Works*	$9,806,191
City of Kingston	Combined Sewer Separation and Storm Water Management Infrastructure*	$10,400,000
St. Clair Conservation Authority	Shoreline Rehabilitation along Lake Huron and St. Clair River *	$7,984,000

Quebec (10 projects)

Recipient	Project Summary	Federal contribution
Ville de Montréal	Construction d'un ouvrage de rétention visant la diminution des surverses lors de pluies abondantes (ouvrage St-Thomas)	$21,280,000
Ville de Montréal	Construction d'ouvrages de rétention pour le contrôle des débordements et des surcharges des réseaux unitaires lors de pluies abondantes	$33,060,400
Ville de Montréal	Protection des émissaires de débordement contre le refoulement provoqué par les inondations liées à l'augmentation des crues ou aux pluies abondantes (Pierrefonds-Roxboro) *	$50,000,000
Gouvernement du Québec	Réhabilitation du tronçon ferroviaire de la Gaspésie : Port-Daniel-Gascons à Gaspé	$45,815,200
Gouvernement du Québec	Projet d'intervention pour protéger la route 132 contre les aléas côtiers	$13,200,500
Ville de Victoriaville	Protection et sécurisation de l'approvisionnement en eau potable dans le réservoir Beaudet de la Ville de Victoriaville *	$16,000,000
Ville de Gatineau	Bassin versant du Ruisseau Wabassee *	$22,510,000
Ville de Sainte-Marthe-sur-le-Lac	Travaux de réfection, renforcement, rehaussement, imperméabilisation de la digue de la Ville de Sainte-Marthe-sur-le-Lac *	$19,726,000
Ville de Deux-Montagnes	Ouvrages de protection contre les inondations pour le secteur du lac des Deux-Montagnes (Oka, Pointe-Calumet, St-Joseph-sur-le-lac) *	$17,949,080
Ville de Deux-Montagnes	Ouvrages de protection contre les inondations pour le secteur de la rivière des Mille Iles (St-Eustache, Rosemère, Boisbriand) *	$11,515,720

New Brunswick (3 projects)

Recipient	Project Summary	Federal contribution
City of Saint John	Flood Mitigation Strategy: SeaWall/Pumping Stations/Waterfront Critical Electrical Utility Infrastructure	$11,916,074
Province of New Brunswick	NB Arterial Highway # 11: Culvert Mitigation and Improvement *	$13,573,000
City of Fredericton	Multiple Natural and Structural Infrastructure Projects to Adapt to Pluvial and Fluvial Flood Events in Fredericton *	$11,400,000

Nova Scotia (2 projects)

Recipient	Project Summary	Federal contribution
Government of Nova Scotia – Department of Agriculture	Construction Upgrades to Dykes to Protect Communities from the Impacts of Coastal Flooding	$24,997,500
Government of Nova Scotia - Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal	Upgrades to Dykes to Protect the Town of Windsor, Falmouth, and Surrounding Areas from Bay of Fundy Coastal Flooding	$32,000,000

Newfoundland & Labrador (1 project)

Recipient	Project Summary	Federal contribution
Government of Newfoundland and Labrador	Replacement of provincial highway bridges	$15,180,000

Northwest Territories (3 projects)

Recipient	Project Summary	Federal contribution
City of Yellowknife	Flood Hazard Mitigation for the Yellowknife Region	$25,862,218
Government of Northwest Territories	Inuvik Airport Surface Structures Adaptation for Climate Change Resilience	$16,500,000
Government of Northwest Territories	Increase fuel storage capacity to mitigate impacts to the public and essential services due to wildfires *	$21,750,000

Smart Cities Challenge

Topic

The Smart Cities Challenge is a national competition that encourages communities to leverage innovation, data and connected technology in order to deliver meaningful outcomes for residents.  Announced in 2017 with funding over 11 years, its implementation has been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Responsive Lines

• The Smart Cities Challenge was created to spark innovation in communities across the country using data and connected technology to improve the everyday lives of Canadians. The first round of the Challenge was a success and the winners' projects are underway.
• While we remain committed to this goal, the COVID-19 pandemic has delayed the launch of a new round of the Challenge, and we are instead repurposing funding to create the new Canada Healthy Communities Initiative.
• As this new $31-million Initiative rolls out to support the COVID-19 response, we continue to work closely with the winners of the first Challenge as they take their winning proposals from concept to reality. Decisions about the timing of the next round of the Challenge will be made in the coming months.

Background

The Smart Cities Challenge was announced in Budget 2017 as a $300 million program. Approximately $31.3 million of the remaining $170 million budget for this program has been redirected to the Canada Healthy Communities Initiative.

The Smart Cities Challenge is an experimental program that encourages communities to connect with their residents to adopt new and innovative approaches to solving civic issues. This pan-Canadian challenge is open to communities of all sizes, including rural and indigenous communities. Multi-stakeholder consortia involving partners from civil society, the private sector, academia, and not-for-profits are encouraged.

Competition One was launched in November 2017 and received 130 eligible applications when the intake closed on April 24, 2018. An independent jury evaluated all proposals and put forward a recommendation of 20 finalists to the Minister of Infrastructure and Communities. Four winning communities were announced at a finalist showcase event in Ottawa on May 14, 2019.

The winners are:

• Town of Bridgewater, NS ($5 million):  Addressing energy poverty through data and connected technology; restoring control to residents over their energy costs (contribution agreement signed);
• Nunavut Communities, NU ($10 million):  Strengthening resilience and improving mental health among young Nunavummiut through community Makerspaces (contribution agreement signed);
• City of Guelph and Wellington County, ON ($10 million):  Becoming Canada's first Circular Food Economy by creating new circular business opportunities, transforming food waste into a resource and increasing access to affordable, nutritious food (contribution agreement signed);
• City of Montréal, QC ($50 million):  Improving mobility for neighbourhood residents via a multi-modal transportation app and electric vehicle service. Heightening food security through an integrated digital platform to manage food inventory, sales, donations and delivery (Contribution agreement under negotiation).

The Smart Cities Community Support Program runs in parallel to the Challenge and aims to help communities across the country build capacity for and knowledge of smart cities approaches. It is open to all communities, not just Challenge applicants or winners. The program is currently funding Evergreen to providing support to their Community Solutions Network, which offers capacity-building advice, information and guidance. The organization has received $6.008 million since October 2018. The contribution agreement was extended to March 2022, and over the course of the four years of this agreement, the organization will receive up to $9.2 million in total funding.

Programs administered through the Federation of Canadian Municipalities

Topic

The Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) is a key stakeholder and partner in the delivery of public infrastructure funding programs. The Government works with the FCM to respond to the needs of the communities they represent.

Responsive Lines

• The Government of Canada works with the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) to help municipalities strengthen their asset management practices, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and manage the impacts of climate change.
• The FCM administers funding from Infrastructure Canada to support initiatives that help Canadian municipalities in making smart, data-driven decisions about key infrastructure to better prepare for and adapt to the new realities of climate change as well as reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
• These programs also support initiatives that advance innovative solutions to environmental challenges to improve air, water and land quality, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and generate economic and social benefits to local communities.

Background

• The Green Municipal Fund supports grants, loans and loan guarantees to encourage investment in environmental municipal projects. Since 2000, the Green Municipal Fund has financed more than 1,310 municipal sustainability initiatives. These projects have cut 2.6 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions through $862 million worth of approved sustainability initiatives.
• Budget 2019 significantly expanded the work of the Green Municipal Fund. Three upcoming initiatives include:
• Making affordable and social housing units more energy efficient.
• Supporting home energy projects to make homes more affordable and energy efficient.
• Supporting activities that reduce greenhouse gas emissions from large community buildings.
• The Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) delivers two programs funded by Infrastructure Canada, that were launched in February 2017:
• The Municipal Asset Management Program
• A program that helps Canadian municipalities make informed infrastructure investment decisions based on sound asset management practices. Initially designed as a five-year, $50 million program.
• Budget 2019 committed to provide an additional $60 million in funding for the program, as well as extend the program for an additional three years to 2024-2025.
• Benefits of improved asset management include reduced total cost of ownership and extend beyond this to lay the foundation for consideration of climate and other risks in infrastructure decision-making.
• The Municipalities for Climate Innovation Program
• A five-year, $75 million program that provides funding, training and resources to help Canadian municipalities adapt to the impacts of climate change and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The Program is scheduled to end in 2021-2022, but is already fully subscribed.
• The program provides: (1) grants for training partners who provide assistance and expertise to municipalities; and (2) grants to municipalities to support plans, operational studies, feasibility studies, small capital projects, and climate change staff positions. The program has funded 276 municipal climate projects, reflecting investment of $48.5 million.
• [redacted].

Just Transition Fund

Topic

The Canada Coal Transition Initiative-Infrastructure Fund (CCTI-IF) is a $150 million fund created to support infrastructure investments and economic diversification in impacted communities as they transition away from coal-fired electrical generation.

Responsive Lines

• Canada is ensuring a just transition of the energy workforce by supporting communities impacted by a rapidly transforming energy sector and providing opportunities for their transition away from coal-fired electrical generation.
• Affected communities and surrounding areas will benefit from these new infrastructure investments, allowing them to diversify their economies and bring in new sources of revenue to support growth and prosperity.
• I am pleased to support the Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages, who leads the implementation of the Canada Coal Transition Initiative – Infrastructure Fund as they continue to work closely with communities to support transitions away from coal.

Background

• In 2018, the Government of Canada introduced regulations to phase out coal-fired electricity by 2030 as part of the Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change. In support of impacted workers and communities, Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) established the Task Force on the Just Transition for Canadian Coal Power Workers and Communities (Task Force), to provide recommendations on adapting to the phase-out. Ten recommendations were made by the Task Force, including support for infrastructure needs in affected communities.
• There are 3,900 workers directly employed in thermal coal mines and coal-fired generating stations in over 25 communities, 16 counties and 10 broad geographic areas within Alberta, Saskatchewan, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick. The majority of affected workers are in Alberta and Saskatchewan.
• Impacts on communities will arise from the loss of jobs, loss of industrial tax base and potential out-migration of workers to other centres as they seek employment.
• Budget 2019 directed Western Economic Diversification (WD) ($105 million) and Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) ($45 million) to deliver the CCTI-IF funding beginning in 2020 to address infrastructure needs by the communities affected by the phase out of coal-fired electricity.
• The Minister's mandate letter included the commitment to “finalize the creation of an additional infrastructure fund by 2020/21 to support priority projects and economic diversification for communities transitioning from fossil fuels”, which includes $150 million of funding announced in Budget 2019.
• The CCTI-IF is in addition to an initial $35 million provided to WD and ACOA in Budget 2018 to support communities experiencing job and revenue losses. Projects funded under CCTI thus far have come from this initial commitment, and support workforce transitions. No projects have been submitted or approved yet, under the new “Infrastructure Fund” stream of funding.
• Infrastructure Canada is working in collaboration with WD and ACOA to provide intelligence and advice in the development of projects. The Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages holds the authority to approve projects. 

Waterfront Toronto

Toronto Waterfront Revitalization Initiative

Topic

The Minister of Infrastructure and Communities is responsible for federal matters relating to the Toronto Waterfront Revitalization Initiative. The Initiative is revitalizing the Toronto waterfront through investments in both traditional city-building infrastructure, such as local transportation and sewers, and more contemporary urban development, including parks, green spaces, recreation facilities and the redevelopment of underutilized post-industrial areas.

Responsive Lines

• The Government of Canada has partnered with the City of Toronto and the Province of Ontario to invest $1.25 billion in the current phase of revitalizing Toronto's eastern waterfront. 
• This investment is contributing to the long-term environmental, social and economic sustainability of the waterfront area.
• Since 2016, we have announced over $416 million in contribution funding towards critical flood protection to Toronto's Port Lands, which will transform roughly 290 hectares of underused industrial land into a vibrant and resilient neighbourhood. These efforts are being led by Waterfront Toronto.

Background

• Waterfront Toronto (formerly the Toronto Waterfront Revitalization Corporation) was established under provincial legislation as a corporation without share capital to lead and implement the Toronto Waterfront Revitalization Initiative (TWRI).
• In October 2000, Canada, Ontario, and Toronto announced a commitment of $500 million in contribution funding each to the TWRI, which supported a series of initial investments that served as the first step to transform the waterfront into sustainable new communities and to foster economic growth.
• Federal contribution funding was allocated primarily towards the planning, design, and construction of parks and other green and public spaces. Federal funding has also supported investments in urban infrastructure, strategic land acquisitions, and recreational facilities.
• The next phase of waterfront revitalization includes flood protecting the Port Lands for which Canada, Ontario and Toronto are contributing funding equally in a total amount of $1.25 billion.
• Federal support has been provided through: (1) a contribution agreement for up to $384.2 million towards the Port Lands Flood Protection and Enabling Infrastructure (PLFP) project; and (2) up to $32.5 million towards the Cherry Street Lake Filling project (which is now 95% complete) via the Canada-Ontario Bilateral Agreement for the Clean Water and Wastewater Fund. Both projects are expected to transform the underused industrial area into a vibrant and resilient downtown neighbourhood.
• The PLFP project is expected to provide critical flood protection through the creation of a naturalized mouth for the Don River. The project scope includes brownfield remediation, the creation of public parks, green space, and upgrades to existing municipal infrastructure including roads, bridges, and water and wastewater systems. It is expected to also establish new aquatic habitats and wetlands that support native species.

Quayside Project

Topic

On June 25, 2020, the Waterfront Board directed the corporation to pursue consultations that will lead to a new Request-For-Proposals for developing the Quayside site in early 2021. This will culminate in the selection of a new development partner for the project by summer 2021.

Responsive Lines

• Livable, sustainable and affordable cities are more important now than ever, and we are committed to supporting new, innovative communities that meet these objectives.
• Our government welcomes Waterfront Toronto's approach to move forward on the Quayside project and seek new partners to work with and consult widely.
• We will continue to work with Waterfront Toronto, the Province of Ontario and City of Toronto to ensure that Quayside is ultimately developed with the long-term goal of making Toronto a more sustainable and livable city.

Background

Waterfront Toronto (WT) was established under provincial legislation as a not-for-profit entity to lead and implement the Toronto Waterfront Revitalization Initiative (TWRI).

In October 2000, Canada, Ontario, and Toronto announced a contribution commitment of $500 million each to the TWRI, which has supported a series of investments that serve as the first step to transform the waterfront into sustainable new communities and to foster economic growth.

In addition, Waterfront Toronto decided in 2016 to seek an “innovation and funding partner” to test new and innovative approaches to addressing urban challenges, using a 12-acre site along the eastern waterfront known as Quayside.

Quayside / Sidewalk Labs
On October 16, 2017, Waterfront Toronto's Board of Directors endorsed the selection of Alphabet subsidiary Sidewalk Labs as the preferred partner for the Quayside project.

The Quayside project sought to create a new community that would serve as a pilot project to test a range of mixed-use ‘smart' community concepts, innovative building techniques and connectivity to build a climate positive city.

In June 2019, Sidewalk Labs' draft Master Innovation and Development Plan (MIDP) for Quayside was submitted to Waterfront Toronto and released to the public. This was followed by several weeks of public and online consultation led by Waterfront Toronto.

The draft MIDP surfaced a number of “threshold issues” that Waterfront Toronto determined would need to be addressed by Sidewalk Labs before both parties moved forward into the next phase of the proposal (e.g., project geography governance models; and data management, use and privacy).

Formal resolution of these issues was announced by Waterfront and Sidewalk on October 31, 2019, with many of the more challenging aspects of the MIDP being modified.

Over the course of fall 2019 and into spring 2020 Waterfront Toronto consulted the public on the final Quayside proposals and evaluated the MIDP with the assistance of external experts, including a third-party Digital Strategy Advisory Panel that was established early on to guide Waterfront on how best to incorporate data privacy, digital systems, and the safe and ethical use of new technologies in the next phase of waterfront revitalization.

Sidewalk formally withdrew from the Quayside partnership on May 7, 2020. A statement from the Sidewalk CEO cited an inability to identify a commercially viable path forward with Waterfront Toronto.

On June 25, 2020, the Waterfront Board directed the corporation to pursue consultations that will lead to a new Request-For-Proposals for developing the Quayside site in early 2021. This will culminate in the selection of a new development partner for the project by summer 2021.

Waterfront Toronto has held a number of public engagement activities in the first half of October 2020 to seek input on updated Quayside project goals, and expects to report on the outcome of these in November 2020.

Economic Impacts of Infrastructure Investments

Topic

The Investing in Canada Plan is the federal government's long-term investment in Canada's infrastructure. The Plan seeks to promote both short-term economic growth and provide long-term economic, environmental and social benefits.

Responsive Lines

• The Government's investments in infrastructure are contributing to Canada's triple bottom line: providing social, environmental, and economic benefits across the country.
• These investments have created tens of thousands of well-paying construction jobs across Canada and are setting the stage to support the jobs of tomorrow – in emerging fields such as low-carbon building materials, where Canada can be a world leader in supporting the environment.   
• The full economic benefits of our investments will materialize in the decades to come as Canadians use the assets created under the plan. In fact, analysis by McKinsey suggests that each dollar spent on low carbon infrastructure could create two to three dollars in economic benefits.

Background

• According to the Department of Finance's Budget 2019 estimates, the value of the overall investments made under the Investing in Canada plan in 2018-19 were associated with about 100,000 direct and indirect jobs. Slightly more than half of these jobs are associated with well-paid industries such as construction or manufacturing, whereas the rest are in the Canadian companies that supply the equipment, supplies and services needed for large-scale infrastructure projects.
• In 2019, the construction industry accounted for about 7% of Canada's GDP and employed about 1.4 million Canadians.
• In light of the economic impact of COVID-19, the government has announced a new COVID-19 resilience stream that will assist provinces and territories with more flexibility in their infrastructure priorities in the short-term. This new program streamlines approval processes to ensure construction can occur quickly, in particular this construction season, and projects can proceed without unnecessary delay.
• This new program stream will enable additional infrastructure investments by provinces and territories by allowing more eligible investment categories, including healthcare related assets. Moreover, the new stream will take on a greater share of project funding, with the federal government matching up-to 80% of eligible costs in provinces and 100% in territories and First Nations communities.

P3 Projects

Topic

A P3 is a long-term, performance-based approach to procuring public infrastructure where the private sector assumes a major share of responsibility for risk and financing, and the delivery and the performance of the infrastructure, from design and structural planning, to long-term maintenance.

Responsive Lines

• Public-private partnerships or P3s allow municipalities and other governments to benefit from the experience, expertise and investment of the private sector. The Canada Infrastructure Bank is taking P3s further through more advanced revenue and risk transfer models.
• P3s work differently than privatizations. P3s are performance-based contracts where private partners collect a revenue stream and are paid to develop major public infrastructure while the private sector retains the ownership of the asset.
• Canada is a global leader in delivering and managing high-quality infrastructure projects that achieve Value for Money for taxpayers with approximately 290 P3 projects underway.

Background

• There are a variety of different P3 models that exist. Under a full lifecycle P3 model, the private sector is engaged to design, build, finance, operate and maintain an infrastructure project based on well-defined performance criteria over a fixed term. The public sector retains ownership of the asset.
• P3s are not for every project. They are one of many tools in the public sector's tool box for delivering and managing major infrastructure projects. P3s work best for large, complex projects that appropriately transfer project risks to the private sector in a manner that delivers positive Value for Money.
• A Value for Money analysis is a comparison of the present value of the estimated total cost of delivering a public infrastructure project using a traditional delivery model compared to the cost of delivering the project using a P3 delivery model. Using past projects as benchmarks, this analysis requires a detailed assessment of the various risks linked to the asset and identifies who is best placed to manage these risks – the public or private sector.
• The P3 model was an important building block in the formation of the CIB. The Bank is taking elements of the P3 model further by using revenue and user charges to fund the asset, in whole or in part, and transfer more revenue, usage and ownership risks to the private sector. This allows for equity to be shared with the private sector for a risk-adjusted rate of return.
• A P3 project was proposed for Mapleton's water/wastewater project, where CIB would provide debt financing. In July 2020, the town council concluded that self-financing was more advantageous to the township.
• According to the Canadian Council for Public-Private Partnerships, there are currently 20 water and wastewater facilities across Canada delivered through the P3 model.
• Projects such as the Regina Wastewater Treatment Plant, will provide treatment capacity for a population of 258,000 and significantly reduce ammonia, nitrogen, phosphorous, E. Coli and suspended solids levels from entering the water system. As a P3, this contract transfers significant risks to the private sector over the whole lifecycle of the project, allowing the City of Regina to realize greater value for taxpayer's dollars. It was procured as a design-build-finance-operate-maintain P3 with a contribution from the P3 Canada Fund of up to $58.5 million.

Stronger Communities Through Infrastructure

Topic

The Speech from the Throne rests on four pillars, including a ‘Build Back Better' pillar focusing on the social dimension, which infrastructure initiatives can help advance. Jobs will be created by direct investment in infrastructure; communities will benefit from the COVID-19 response infrastructure and the social amenities that the government is investing in, and a broader range of Canadians will access good construction jobs, thanks to the Community Employment Benefit initiative which supports the diversification of recruitment and procurement.

Responsive Lines

• “Building Back Better – a resiliency agenda for the middle class” is a key pillar of our plan to achieve a stronger and more resilient Canada, as outlined in this fall's Speech from the Throne. Under this pillar, the Government will launch a campaign to create over one million jobs, restoring employment through direct investments in the social sector and infrastructure, and providing training incentives for employers to hire and retain workers.
• To keep building strong communities, over the next two years the Government will invest in all types of infrastructure, including COVID-19 response infrastructure, rural broadband, and affordable housing, particularly for Indigenous Peoples and northern communities.
• The Community Employment Benefits initiative under the Investing in Canada plan encourages project planners and communities across the country to use their infrastructure projects to support the diversification of recruitment, training and procurement practices. The federal government will continue to work with its provincial, territorial, municipal, and Indigenous partners to promote socio-economic benefits derived from public investments in infrastructure.

Background

• To address the challenges faced by communities as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Canada Healthy Communities Initiative (CHCI) was launched earlier this fall to provide up to $31 million in existing federal funding to support communities as they deploy new ways to adapt spaces and services to respond to immediate and ongoing needs arising from COVID-19 over the next two years.
• In addition, the over $33 billion Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program now includes a new stream designed to deliver more infrastructure projects during the pandemic by increasing the types of eligible projects and accelerating project approvals. The expanded program is a targeted first step aimed at addressing the current health crisis and supporting economic stability with existing funds and programs.
• The new COVID-19 Resilience stream will help communities respond to the immediate pressures and concerns as a result of the current pandemic as well as build resiliency for the future. It will fund the following types of infrastructure projects:
• Retrofits, repairs and upgrades for provincial, territorial, municipal and Indigenous buildings; health infrastructure; and schools;
• COVID-19 response infrastructure, including measures to support physical distancing;
• Active transportation infrastructure, including parks, trails, foot bridges, bike lanes and multi-use paths; and
• Disaster mitigation and adaptation projects, including natural infrastructure, flood and fire mitigation, and tree planting and related infrastructure.
• The new time-limited stream will have an increased federal cost-share for a broadened range of infrastructure projects and a simplified approval process. It supports projects whose eligible costs are $10 million or less, with construction starting no later than September 30, 2021, and to be completed by the end of 2021 (or by the end of 2022 in the territories and in remote communities).
• The Community Employment Benefits initiative applies to the larger projects funded under the Investing in Canada Plan. It promotes the employment of apprentices, Indigenous peoples, women, persons with disabilities, veterans, youth and recent immigrants, as well as procurement from small and medium-sized businesses and social enterprises.
• As of October 2020, 76 projects have committed to report on Community Employment Benefits. Their total eligible costs stand above the $13 billion mark.

Funding for Rural and Northern Communities

Topic

Although broadband connectivity is the number one priority for investment identified by rural Canadians, community infrastructure is also important for recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, as it helps attract new investment and labour, facilitates trade and growth and improves quality of life.

Responsive Lines

• Under the Investing in Canada plan, we have committed over $71 billion and have invested in thousands of projects.
• Infrastructure Canada alone has approved funding of over $10.5 billion for more than 5,000 projects in communities with fewer than 30,000 people under the Investing in Canada plan. To support Canadians during the pandemic, a COVID-19 Resilience Stream was introduced under the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program to give communities access to quicker and more flexible funding. To benefit rural communities in particular, mobile phone and cellular projects, as well as inter-city transit projects are now eligible.
• Rural communities have also received significant federal support of over $800 million to date for infrastructure to address the threats of climate change through the Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund.

Background

• In June 2019, the Government of Canada launched the Rural Economic Development Strategy for Canada, concurrent with Canada's Connectivity Strategy.
• Rural Canada identified connectivity, labour and skills, housing, climate change, community infrastructure and transportation as their greatest gaps and challenges.
• The Investing in Canada plan was launched in 2016, and is delivering more than $187 billion over 12 years through the programs of 21 departments and agencies.

Major Bridges

Gordie Howe International Bridge Project

Topic

Update on the Gordie Howe International Bridge project.

Responsive Lines

• The Gordie Howe International Bridge will grow the economy, create jobs and promote trade for decades to come, as well as provide significant social, economic, and environmental benefits for the Windsor-Detroit area through the Community Benefits Plan.
• The Bridge will provide modern facilities and direct highway to highway connection between Highway 401 in Ontario and Interstate 75 in Michigan, facilitating the flow of people and goods at the busiest Canada - U.S. border crossing
• Construction activities continue on both sides of the border, as Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority and Bridging North America have implemented comprehensive health and safety protocols to ensure worker safety.

Background

• With one quarter of the overall Canada-U.S. trade passing through the Windsor-Detroit crossing annually, having a second bridge with efficient highway-to-highway connectivity, is essential to support trade between Canada and the U.S. and for our national security. Having both the Gordie Howe International Bridge and a fully functioning Ambassador Bridge will ensure capacity and reliability at Canada's busiest crossing.
• The construction of the Gordie Howe International Bridge remains a top infrastructure priority for the Government of Canada. Official construction started in October 2018 and the bridge is scheduled to be opened by December 2024.
• The Government of Canada is funding the entire project, with costs to be recouped from future toll revenues. Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority was responsible for selecting the P3 partner, Bridging North America, in July 2018 and is also responsible for project oversight including construction and operation of the new crossing.
• The Gordie Howe International Bridge project will benefit the communities on both sides of the border in a variety of ways including providing additional crossing capacity, direct highway-to-highway connectivity, and technologically advanced ports of entry. The bridge will be publicly owned by both Canada and Michigan, and delivered by Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority through a public-private partnership.
• On July 5, 2018, Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority announced the selection of Bridging North America as the private partner to design, build, finance, operate and maintain the Gordie Howe International Bridge project. Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority signed a fixed-priced contract with Bridging North America valued at $5.7 billion (nominal value) to design, construct, finance and then operate and maintain the project for 30 years.
• On June 14, 2019, Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority and Bridging North America unveiled a comprehensive Community Benefits Plan for the project which will be delivered by Bridging North America over the course of the construction phase. The Community Benefits Plan has a workforce development component with employment, training, and educational opportunities, as well as a neighbourhood infrastructure component that will make aesthetic and functional improvements to local communities. 
• On June 10, 2020, Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority announced the first annual distribution under the Community Organization Investment (COI) initiative, a component of the Community Benefits Plan for the project, to six non-profit organizations based in Windsor and three based in Detroit. The COI is a five-year annual investment allowance of $100,000 (CAD) to registered non-profits or charitable organizations, through an application process, with $50,000 allocated for investments in Windsor and Detroit respectively. The first release of funding was provided in July 2020.
• Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority and Bridging North America continue to meet virtually with delivery partners in both Canada and the U.S. to move Community Benefits Plan initiatives forward, realizing some of the positive social, environmental and economic outcomes envisioned for the Sandwich and Southwest Detroit/Delray communities. Initiatives delivered include funds to community organizations, tools to support local engagement in the project procurement activities, and training support through co-operative learning experiences and union engagement.
• It has now been two years since the Prime Minister attended the official start of construction of the Gordie Howe International Bridge Project. Despite the current pandemic, construction is advancing on all project components. Progress achieved to date includes: Concrete pours for the main bridge foundations that support the two towers, each rising up to 219 m above the footings of this 2.5 km long bridge, wick drain installation on both sides of the border to help consolidate the soils for future building construction, demolition of five pedestrian bridges and three road bridges over I-75 with the aesthetic design of the new pedestrian bridges announced following public consultation.
• Despite the challenging times being faced worldwide as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, construction activities are continuing on both sides of the border in accordance with the directives issued by the Province of Ontario and the State of Michigan. Bridging North America has implemented comprehensive COVID-19 safety protocols and procedures that include the guidance provided by public health professionals.

Samuel De Champlain Bridge Corridor Project

Topic

The Samuel De Champlain Bridge Corridor Project

Responsive Lines

• After four years of construction, the Samuel De Champlain Bridge opened to traffic in summer 2019, followed by the multipurpose path for bikes and pedestrians on December 23, 2019. Other components of the project, including paving local roads and landscaping, are expected to be completed by the end of 2020.
• We continue to work with CDPQ Infra to build the Réseau express métropolitain light rail project within the bridge's dedicated transit corridor. This project will provide new public transit options for the Montréal region by connecting the South Shore to downtown Montréal.
• The original Champlain Bridge was decommissioned on June 28, 2019, and its deconstruction is expected to be completed by January 2024.

Background

• The Samuel De Champlain Bridge, a 3.4 km cable-stayed bridge, is one of the busiest bridges in the country and carries $20 billion in international trade per year, 11 million public transit users and 40-50 million vehicles per year.
• On June 19, 2015, a Project Agreement between the Government of Canada and Signature on the Saint-Laurent Group (SSLG) came into effect. This agreement covers the design, construction, financing, operation, maintenance and rehabilitation of the Project over a 34-year period (2015–2049) at a cost of $4.212 billion, which includes an additional $235 million as per the settlement agreement announced on April 13, 2018.
• The Samuel De Champlain Bridge has three corridors: two for vehicular traffic and a central corridor dedicated exclusively to public transit, in which a light rail transit system, the Réseau express métropolitain (REM) is being built.
• While the Project Agreement called for the opening of the bridge in December 2018, the Project was delayed by several unforeseen situations including issues related to the transportation of oversized pieces, a crane operators' strike in 2018, a general construction strike in 2017, and several weather-related events.
• The Project is currently in a “transition period,” which began following the opening of the Samuel De Champlain Bridge in summer 2019. This period ends when the construction of the remainder of the corridor is complete, and all outstanding issues, including construction deficiencies and claims have been resolved.
• While these issues are resolved, operations-maintenance-rehabilitation (OMR) activities have commenced, bringing different Project Agreement requirements for the Private Partner to implement, and different oversight responsibilities for the Government of Canada to ensure Canadians continue getting the best value for money.
• The Project is managed through an integrated project team with Infrastructure Canada as the technical lead, Public Works and Procurement Canada as the contracting lead, and Justice Canada providing legal support.
• The project to deconstruct the original Champlain Bridge is managed by the Jacques Cartier and Champlain Bridges Incorporated (JCCBI). The overall estimated cost of the deconstruction project including the deconstruction work, environmental protection measures, material reuse programs, research and development and the end-of-project shoreline redevelopment component is approximately $400 million. This amount includes $225.7 million for the design-deconstruct contract signed by JCCBI and Nouvel Horizon St-Laurent G.P. Deconstruction work began in August 2020.

Broadband Investments

Topic

Broadband connectivity has been an ongoing challenge for Canadians living in rural communities during the COVID-19 pandemic. Rural Canadians have experienced slow and unreliable connections, as traffic has increased on local networks. As well, many rural customers have faced significantly higher monthly charges after exceeding monthly data limits.

Responsive Lines

• High-speed Internet access is no longer a luxury — it is a necessity for all Canadians, no matter where they live.
• The current COVID-19 crisis has only reinforced the importance of access to high-speed Internet as Canadians are working and learning at home.
• The Government of Canada has made billions available to support broadband connectivity:
• Infrastructure Canada's Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program has invested over $340 million for 11 connectivity projects, through the Rural and Northern Communities Infrastructure Stream. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic,  
  this stream now will also support mobile/cellular projects that are able to start construction by September 30, 2021.
• We've made $2 billion in new funding available through the Canada Infrastructure Bank to help connect about 750,000 homes and small businesses to broadband in under-served communities.
• Also, the Gas Tax Fund Program also provides $2.2 billion annually to support local infrastructure projects, including broadband connectivity.
• These investments complement the recently announced Universal Broadband Fund, which has been enhanced with an additional $750 million, to a total of $1.75 billion. Up to $150 million of these funds will be available in a Rapid Response Stream for projects that can be completed during the 2021 build season.
• In the recent Speech from the Throne, the Government of Canada committed to accelerating federal investments in broadband connectivity – together these will connect 98% of Canadians by 2026, up from our original target of 95%. The Universal Broadband Fund, along with existing federal investments through Infrastructure Canada, reflects our coordinated approach to extending broadband to all Canadians.

Background

• In June 2019, the Government released Canada's Connectivity Strategy, with the objective of connecting 95% of Canadians to internet speeds of at least 50 Megabits per second (Mbps) download / 10 Mbps upload (50/10 Mbps) by 2026, and 100% by 2030, no matter where they are located in the country.
• To help reach this target, a wide range of investments are needed to reach rural communities in particular. In 2018, just 41% of rural households had access to internet speeds of 50 Megabits per second (Mbps) download / 10 Mbps upload (50/10Mbps), compared with 98% of urban households.
• The Universal Broadband Fund has dedicated $1.75 billion, up from the original $1 billion, towards connecting Canadians living in rural and remote areas of the country. It will provide:
• Up to $150 million for a Rapid Response stream to assist in building projects that are ready to go but lack the necessary funding. These projects must be completed in 2021.
• Up to $750 million for large, high-impact projects that will connect large numbers of households, large geographic areas and will substantially improve the speeds being offered to these communities. Projects with the Canada Infrastructure Bank are encouraged.
• Up to $50 million for mobile Internet projects that primarily benefit Indigenous peoples. 
• INFC provides funding for broadband connectivity through the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program (ICIP)– Rural and Northern Communities Infrastructure Stream. The Rural and Northern Communities Infrastructure stream allocates $2 billion to support the unique infrastructure needs of rural and northern communities. 
• To date, over $340 million has been approved under this stream for 11 connectivity projects.
• In October 2020, the Government announced how Canada Infrastructure Bank investments are anticipated to be allocated. This includes $2 billion to help connect about 750,000 homes and small businesses to broadband in under-served communities. Additionally, $1.5 billion will be made available for agricultural infrastructure in Western Canada, $2.5 billion for clean power, $1.5 billion for zero-emission buses and $2 billion to retrofit buildings for energy efficiency, and $500 million for studies and technical reports.
• The Government of Canada will keep Canadians up to date on all of these connectivity investments and the progress being made through a comprehensive annual report, as well as regular online reporting, updated quarterly.

2020-21 Infrastructure Canada Departmental Plan

Topic

2020-21 Infrastructure Canada Departmental Plan.

Responsive Lines

• The Department continues to focus on improving quality of life and growing the economy through innovative, sustainable and inclusive infrastructure in communities of all sizes⁠—from cities to rural communities by:
  • Making investments that build stronger, more inclusive and resilient communities while enabling local economic growth and creating good jobs.
  • Supporting informed decision-making by strengthening capacity in data, analytics, research, and results reporting.
  • Working collaboratively with partners to deliver on infrastructure priorities and to advance projects quickly.
  • We work in partnership with provinces, territories, municipalities, Indigenous communities, other federal departments/agencies, private sector and not-for-profit organizations to deliver funding for infrastructure projects as well as build capacity for improved asset management and evidence-based planning.

Background

This plan outlines Infrastructure Canada's continuing commitment to building sustainable, resilient communities across Canada – communities that have clean water and air; that provide good jobs and contribute to the economy; and that can withstand the impacts of climate change.

Infrastructure Canada has made tremendous progress in implementing the historic Investing in Canada plan, our long-term plan for infrastructure. Programs such as the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program, the federal Gas Tax Fund, the Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund, and the Smart Cities Challenge are all delivering results for Canadians across the country. The Canada Infrastructure Bank has invested more than $3 billion and delivered advisory services on eight transformative projects in various urban and rural regions of the country.

The Government of Canada recognizes that infrastructure investments are the foundation for Canada's long-term economic growth and a better quality of life for all Canadians, and the department is proud to deliver programs and policies that directly impact Canadians across the country.

Sustainable Development Goals

Topic

Infrastructure Canada's commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Responsive Lines

• All departments have been called to provide input into the development of Canada's 2030 Agenda National Strategy under the SDG.
• The department's mandate aligns with such key SDGs as Clean Water and Sanitation; Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure; and Sustainable Cities and Communities.
• INFC has supported assessments and data collection relevant with these targets, including convenient access to public transit.

Background

• The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, adopted by all United Nations Member States provides a shared blueprint for peace and prosperity for the present and future. Canada joined this initiative in September 2015.
• This global initiative includes 17 goals (No Poverty, Zero Hunger, Good Health and Wellbeing, Quality Education, Gender Equality, Clean Water and Sanitation, Affordability and Clean Energy, Decent Work and Economic Growth, Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure, Reduced Inequalities, Sustainable Cities and Communities, Responsible Consumption and Production, Climate Action, Life below Water, Life on Land, Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions, and Partnerships for the Goals).
• The Government of Canada is leading the development of a 2030 Agenda National Strategy. The final document is expected by the end of November 2020. All ministers are responsible to implement this agenda within their departmental mandates. The Canadian Indicator Framework (CIF) has been developed to target Canadian action.
• Goal 6: Clean Water and Sanitation - focuses on drinking water, sanitation and hygiene to address the quality and sustainability of water resources that are critical for life. Indicators such as proportion of population using safely managed drinking water services, and proportion of wastewater safely treated.
• Goal 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure - focuses on building quality, reliable, sustainable and resilient infrastructure including water and wastewater systems, clean energy, climate-resilient to protect the natural environment, strengthens the health of communities, supports economic growth and improves the quality of life with a focus on affordable and equitable access for all. Indicators such as passengers and freight by transportation mode, CO2 emission per unit of value added.
• Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities - ensures cities and communities are inclusive settings for economic growth and environmental sustainability. Indicators such as proportion of population that has convenient access to public transport, by sex, age and persons with disabilities; number of deaths, missing persons and directly affected persons attributed to disasters per 100,000 population.