Federal, Provincial and Territorial ministers meet to discuss early results and the next phase of the Government of Canada's long-term Infrastructure plan Français
OTTAWA, Sept. 21, 2017 /CNW/ - The Government of Canada is working closely with provincial, territorial and municipal partners to make infrastructure investments that create good middle-class jobs and economic growth, build inclusive communities, and support a green economy.
Today, the Honourable Amarjeet Sohi, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities, convened the second federal, provincial and territorial meeting of ministers responsible for infrastructure. Minister Sohi and Minister Bob Chiarelli, Ontario's Minister of Infrastructure, co-hosted the meeting.
The ministers began the conversation by sharing some of the initial results from Phase 1 of the Government of Canada's Investing in Canada plan. Budget 2016 announced accelerated federal investments to provide short-term funding for the rehabilitation, repair and modernization of existing infrastructure with three targeted streams of funding: public transit infrastructure, green infrastructure and social infrastructure. By August 2017, Infrastructure Canada had approved over 3,100 projects under two funds: the Public Transit Infrastructure Fund and the Clean Water and Wastewater Fund.
The meeting focused on sharing lessons learned from Phase 1 and discussions on how to move forward towards signing new bilateral agreements to help support economic, social and environmental outcomes important for our communities, and for Canadians.
The ministers shared their views on future infrastructure investment approaches to better maximize outcomes in their jurisdictions. Ministers also agreed on the importance of flexibility to ensure federal infrastructure funding supports regional/local economic and social priorities. As part of the meeting, representatives of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities provided the municipal perspective on long term infrastructure funding.
The ministers had productive discussions and Minister Sohi expressed confidence that the new agreements will be finalized in the coming months.
Quotes
"The Government of Canada is committed to supporting public infrastructure that contributes to the quality of life of all Canadians now and for future generations. The first phase of the Investing in Canada plan is already at work in our communities—supporting vital repairs to our aging pipes and roads, helping communities improve social housing, and allowing transit organizations to replace or repair their fleet. We have been collaborating with provinces, territories, municipalities and other partners to design a long-term plan that offers them predictable and significant funding because we recognize that each region and every community is faced with unique infrastructure opportunities, challenges, and capacities."
Honourable Amarjeet Sohi, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities
"Ontario's strategic infrastructure investment of $190 billion over 13 years is helping improve the lives of people across Ontario, including creating over 125,000 jobs. We look forward to continued cooperation from the federal government as we work together to build up communities that respond to the needs of those who live in them. It is important to the provinces and territories that our federal partners remain flexible in their funding and support the commitments we've made in our existing infrastructure plans. We look forward to further conversations as we create agreements that will benefit all parties and, ultimately, build stronger provinces and territories across Canada."
Honourable Bob Chiarelli, Ontario Minister of Infrastructure
Quick facts
- The Government of Canada will invest more than $180 billion over 12 years in public transit projects, green infrastructure, social infrastructure, trade and transportation routes, and Canada's rural and northern communities.
- $25.3 billion of this funding will support public transit projects, including $5 billion that will be available for investment through the Canada Infrastructure Bank.
- $21.9 billion of this funding will support green infrastructure projects, including $5 billion that will be available for investment through the Canada Infrastructure Bank.
- $21.9 billion of this funding will support social infrastructure in Canadian communities.
- More than $10.1 billion of this funding will support trade and transportation projects, including $5 billion that will be available for investment through the Canada Infrastructure Bank.
- $2 billion of this funding will support infrastructure projects that meet the unique needs of rural and northern communities like facilities to support food security, local access roads and enhanced broadband connectivity. In addition, the $400 million Arctic Energy Fund will be delivered under this stream, to advance energy security in the territories.
- $4 billion of this funding will support infrastructure projects in Indigenous communities.
Backgrounder
Federal, Provincial and Territorial ministers meet to discuss early results and the next phase of the Government of Canada's long-term Infrastructure plan
Early Results from Phase 1
Public Transit Infrastructure Fund (PTIF)
The PTIF was created in 2016 to make immediate federal investments that would repair, rehabilitate and expand existing public transit systems across Canada, helping improve commutes, reduce air pollution, strengthen communities and grow Canada's economy.
- Through PTIF, over 800 older buses are being replaced with newer, more reliable, and more efficient vehicles. This is in addition to the 835 new buses that have been ordered to expand current transportation networks, offering up over 28,000 additional seats to commuters.
- In addition, over 20% of those new buses will also be better for the environment than traditional diesel buses, using compressed natural gas, bio-diesel, electric or hybrid technologies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Clean Water and Wastewater Fund (CWWF)
The CWWF was created to provide immediate federal investments to communities for the repair, rehabilitation, upgrade and expansion of their drinking water, wastewater and stormwater management systems.
- Through CWWF, over 2,275 small communities saw improvements to their water, wastewater and stormwater management systems, leading to more modern and reliable services.
- Over 14% of these projects helped address critical issues of over 290 First Nation, Metis and northern communities.
These projects help create middle-class jobs today and into the future, ensure that Canadians have access to modern, reliable services that will safeguard their health and well-being, and support growth by making communities more attractive to investment.
The Next Phase
Budget 2017 builds on these measures and clearly outlines the next phase of the long-term Infrastructure plan which will provide more than $180 billion in infrastructure funding over 12 years. These investments will create long-term economic growth; build inclusive, sustainable communities; and support a low carbon, green economy, and focus on five key areas: public transit; green infrastructure; social infrastructure; trade and transportation; and infrastructure in rural and northern communities.
In July 2017, Minister Sohi wrote letters to each of his provincial and territorial counterparts to open discussions on how best to deliver the next phase of federal support. Today's meeting builds on early discussions to outline the details of how that funding will be delivered, its terms and conditions, and the framework for reporting on the results and outcomes of the funding. Once signed, the bilateral agreements will ensure that federal investments help achieve national objectives while still providing the flexibility for provinces, territories and municipalities to address their local and regional infrastructure priorities. Agreements are anticipated to be signed by the end of March 2018, with initial projects being approved in time for the next construction season.
To read the letters to provinces and territories regarding the new infrastructure funding, please visit http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/plan/about-invest-apropos-eng.html#letters.
For more information on the Government of Canada's $180-billion+ infrastructure plan in Budget 2017, please visit http://www.budget.gc.ca/2017/docs/plan/chap-02-en.html#Toc477707375.
Associated links
Government of Canada's $180-billion+ infrastructure plan in Budget 2017: http://www.budget.gc.ca/2017/docs/plan/chap-02-en.html#Toc477707375
Letters to provinces and territories regarding the new infrastructure funding: http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/plan/about-invest-apropos-eng.html#letters
Twitter: @INFC_eng
Web: Infrastructure Canada
SOURCE Infrastructure Canada
Brook Simpson, Press Secretary, Office of the Minister of Infrastructure and Communities, 613-219-0149, [email protected]; Alex Benac, Minister's Office, Ontario Ministry of Infrastructure, 416-326-2137, [email protected]; Infrastructure Canada, 613-960-9251, Toll free: 1-877-250-7154, Email: [email protected]
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