2021-22
Departmental Plan - Plans at a glance

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The COVID-19 pandemic has brought about a worldwide health and economic crisis. Infrastructure investment is not only a tool to combat the pandemic while we are in its midst, but will be a vital driver of Canada’s economic recovery when we overcome it and turn with renewed focus to tackling the long-term challenges we face as a country.  Recognizing these critical roles, Infrastructure Canada will ensure that its investments achieve a triple bottom line: supporting economic growth and job creation, combatting the effects of climate change, and promoting social equality.

Infrastructure Canada took timely and focused measures to deliver programming that directly tackles the issues presented by the pandemic. Through the new temporary COVID-19 Resilience Infrastructure Stream of the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program and  funding provided through the Canada Healthy Communities Initiative, Infrastructure Canada’s investments will support community-based COVID-19 responses in things like retrofitting public infrastructure to support physical distancing, and safer public spaces to support cultural and physical activities at a time when Canadians need them the most.

As we look forward to emerging from this pandemic, Infrastructure Canada will help Canada build back better, creating jobs in the short term and infrastructure that will serve Canadians over the long term.  To do this, we will continue to work collaboratively with partners to secure timely approval of programs and advance projects that create good jobs and build for our future, contributing to our long-term prosperity and a cleaner, more resilient future for all Canadians. We will do this with transparency, to promote accountability and provide information to Canadians on what we are doing. Our focus includes:

Investing in Permanent Public Transit
We will move rapidly to advance our Government’s commitments to deliver affordable, zero-emissions transit options, to permanently fund public transit, fund transit solutions for rural communities, to electrify existing systems and to invest in active transportation projects such as cycling and walking paths. Investing in public transit will yield positive results for the economy, environment, and Canadians’ quality of life. This includes:

• Expanding transit systems to deliver jobs in the short-term, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and other environmental impacts, and promote social and economic inclusion.
• Electrifying Canada’s transit systems, instituting measures that will help transit authorities shift from diesel to electric-powered transit, using new and existing tools and working alongside the Canada Infrastructure Bank.
• Investing in active transportation to create more desirable communities with less traffic congestion and cleaner air.
• Work with rural communities to find transit solutions that meet their needs and contribute to increased labour mobility and access to essential services.

Creating Green and Inclusive Community Buildings
Community buildings are where Canadians gather, where they access essential services, where they learn and play.  As focal points for our communities, these buildings should exemplify our aspirations.  They should be green and energy-efficient. Investments in them should be tailored to the areas of greatest need.  By ensuring community infrastructure is inclusive to the needs of Canadians, we build a healthier environment and economy. Our work toward this goal includes:

• Working with communities to create a new Green and Inclusive Community Buildings Program to fund retrofits, repairs, upgrades and new builds which will contribute to climate objectives, support good jobs and local economic growth, and serve the diverse populations who depend on these buildings, especially in under-served areas.
• Ensuring that a portion of these funds will be dedicated to support community buildings projects for First Nations, Inuit, Metis and other Indigenous communities in urban centres, recognizing the distinct role that community infrastructure plays for the well-being and self-determination of Indigenous peoples.

Improving Ventilation in Public Buildings to Support Health and Safety
As we continue to combat COVID-19, it is recognized that indoor ventilation is an important contributor to public health and safety. While being guided by the science, Infrastructure Canada will:

• Carry-out work on a $150-million program to improve ventilation in public buildings. As a result, this will support Canadians’ health during the pandemic and beyond.

Supporting Rural Economic Development
We will strengthen rural economic development by addressing barriers faced by rural communities to accessing federal programs and services intended to benefit them. This includes:

• Engaging with rural leaders to understand and appreciate challenges faced by their communities, and how the government can best support jobs and growth across rural Canada.  
• Working with other federal departments to apply a rural lens and align policies, programs and services, including virtual health care and growing Canada’s ocean economy, to rural needs.

Undertaking a National Infrastructure Assessment
As we look to the longer term, we recognize that investments in infrastructure must be guided by strategic thinking that is informed by the best available data and evidence.  Canada’s first-ever national infrastructure assessment will be critical to identifying our country’s needs and priorities, linking our investment with policy outcomes, and planning for a recovery that is green, inclusive and prosperous. This will allow us to undertake long-term planning for work that is inherently long-term in nature: building infrastructure that supports a prosperous, inclusive net-zero emissions future for Canada. This includes:

• Establishing the National Infrastructure Secretariat, including its membership and terms of reference. Once established, Infrastructure Canada will provide support to the Secretariat as it conducts the National Infrastructure Assessment. 

Advancing Significant Bridge Projects
The Government of Canada is funding the construction of major federal bridges to support economic growth and the efficient flow of people and goods. The performance of the country’s trade infrastructure directly affects the ability of Canadian firms to compete in the global marketplace. Investments in trade-related transportation infrastructure will enable Canadian businesses to access high-growth markets within North America and globally. In 2021-22, the Minister of Infrastructure and Communities will continue to actively work with her colleagues across all levels of government and stakeholders to achieve the following milestones. This includes:

• Working with the Private Partner to complete construction of the Samuel De Champlain Bridge Corridor and transition to long-term operation and maintenance.
• Facilitating construction of the Réseau express métropolitain light rail transit project in the Samuel De Champlain Bridge’s dedicated transit corridor in collaboration with the Private Partner and CDPQ Infra.
• Advancing deconstruction of the original Champlain Bridge in collaboration with the Jacques Cartier and Champlain Bridges Incorporated (JCCBI).
• Supporting delivery of the Gordie Howe International Bridge by working with the Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority and the state of Michigan.

For more information on Infrastructure Canada’s plans, priorities and planned results, see the “Core responsibilities: planned results and resources, and key risks” section of this report.

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