Infrastructure Canada
Encyclopedia
Infrastructure Canada is part of the Transport, Infrastructure and Communities portfolio of the Government of Canada
. Established in August 2002, the organization was formerly associated with Treasury Board Secretariat
, the Privy Council Office
, Industry Canada
, and Environment Canada
. The organization's goal is to improve the infrastructure
of Canada by working with other levels of government including provincial, territorial, municipal, First Nations
and the private sector
. The Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities is responsible for the department. The current Minister is the Honourable Denis Lebel.
Investing in Canada’s infrastructure advances the nation’s productivity, increases its competitiveness and enriches the quality of life for all Canadians.
In Budget 2007, Infrastructure Canada was charged with developing the comprehensive $33 billion Building Canada Infrastructure Plan. This plan covers infrastructure investments in water, wastewater, public transit, and other key national priorities.
Infrastructure Canada coordinates the Building Canada federal government plan that guides investments in important national and local infrastructure projects for building a stronger, safer and better Canada. Delivering sustainable infrastructure such as highways, water treatment and wastewater plants, public transit, and green energy is essential to competing internationally and supporting the well-being of Canadians—in communities big and small. Strategic infrastructure investment further important public policy goals, including economic growth and environmental protection.
Infrastructure Canada is also contributing to leading-edge public policy and decision-making. Managing infrastructure program funds and working with federal partners, provinces, territories, municipalities and others to meet the infrastructure needs of all Canadians are ways that Infrastructure Canada is helping to build a stronger, safer and better Canada.
The Policy and Communications Branch identifies and assesses broad infrastructure issues, priorities and needs for potential federal action; conducts research, independently and in conjunction with partners, which contributes to policy work; builds, connects and shares knowledge to help develop a wider understanding of infrastructure issues affecting cities and communities in Canada and abroad; communicates on the department’s mandate; coordinates federal communications on infrastructure; and assists the Deputy in providing policy advice to the Minister.
Program Operations
The Program Operations Branch implements programs, manages infrastructure funding agreements, and provides risk management and analysis, environmental stewardship, and program evaluations. It also manages the federal Gas Tax transfer to Canadian municipalities that is meant to support environmentally sustainable infrastructure.
Corporate Services
The Corporate Services Branch provides support and services for corporate functions such as procurement, IM/IT including the department’s major program management system, called the Shared Information Management System for Infrastructure (SIMSI), human resources, finance, security, planning and administration, and internal audit and evaluation.
By working with municipal, provincial and territorial project proponents and the private sector to identify regional and local development priorities and to finance specific infrastructure projects, Infrastructure Canada is helping meet our national social, economic and environmental objectives.
Targeted Funding Programs
Base Funding Programs
Infrastructure Canada also has broad management responsibilities for the following sunsetting programs:
Additionally, Canada's Economic Action Plan (Federal Budget, January 2009) introduced almost $12 billion in additional and accelerated federal infrastructure investments as part of an immediate action to build infrastructure.
New Infrastructure Canada-led funding through the Economic Action Plan
Accelerated infrastructure funding through the Economic Action Plan
Government of Canada
The Government of Canada, formally Her Majesty's Government, is the system whereby the federation of Canada is administered by a common authority; in Canadian English, the term can mean either the collective set of institutions or specifically the Queen-in-Council...
. Established in August 2002, the organization was formerly associated with Treasury Board Secretariat
Treasury Board Secretariat
The Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat is the administrative branch of the Treasury Board of Canada. The role of the secretariat is to support the Treasury Board as a committee of ministers, and to fulfill the statutory responsibilities of a central government agency...
, the Privy Council Office
Privy Council Office
Privy Council Office may refer to:*Privy Council Office *Privy Council Office...
, Industry Canada
Industry Canada
Industry Canada is the department of the Government of Canada with responsibility for regional economic development, investment, and innovation/research and development. The department employs 6104 FTEs across Canada....
, and Environment Canada
Environment Canada
Environment Canada , legally incorporated as the Department of the Environment under the Department of the Environment Act Environment Canada (EC) (French: Environnement Canada), legally incorporated as the Department of the Environment under the Department of the Environment Act Environment...
. The organization's goal is to improve the infrastructure
Infrastructure
Infrastructure is basic physical and organizational structures needed for the operation of a society or enterprise, or the services and facilities necessary for an economy to function...
of Canada by working with other levels of government including provincial, territorial, municipal, First Nations
First Nations
First Nations is a term that collectively refers to various Aboriginal peoples in Canada who are neither Inuit nor Métis. There are currently over 630 recognised First Nations governments or bands spread across Canada, roughly half of which are in the provinces of Ontario and British Columbia. The...
and the private sector
Private sector
In economics, the private sector is that part of the economy, sometimes referred to as the citizen sector, which is run by private individuals or groups, usually as a means of enterprise for profit, and is not controlled by the state...
. The Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities is responsible for the department. The current Minister is the Honourable Denis Lebel.
Investing in Canada’s infrastructure advances the nation’s productivity, increases its competitiveness and enriches the quality of life for all Canadians.
In Budget 2007, Infrastructure Canada was charged with developing the comprehensive $33 billion Building Canada Infrastructure Plan. This plan covers infrastructure investments in water, wastewater, public transit, and other key national priorities.
Infrastructure Canada coordinates the Building Canada federal government plan that guides investments in important national and local infrastructure projects for building a stronger, safer and better Canada. Delivering sustainable infrastructure such as highways, water treatment and wastewater plants, public transit, and green energy is essential to competing internationally and supporting the well-being of Canadians—in communities big and small. Strategic infrastructure investment further important public policy goals, including economic growth and environmental protection.
Infrastructure Canada is also contributing to leading-edge public policy and decision-making. Managing infrastructure program funds and working with federal partners, provinces, territories, municipalities and others to meet the infrastructure needs of all Canadians are ways that Infrastructure Canada is helping to build a stronger, safer and better Canada.
Branches
Policy and CommunicationsThe Policy and Communications Branch identifies and assesses broad infrastructure issues, priorities and needs for potential federal action; conducts research, independently and in conjunction with partners, which contributes to policy work; builds, connects and shares knowledge to help develop a wider understanding of infrastructure issues affecting cities and communities in Canada and abroad; communicates on the department’s mandate; coordinates federal communications on infrastructure; and assists the Deputy in providing policy advice to the Minister.
Program Operations
The Program Operations Branch implements programs, manages infrastructure funding agreements, and provides risk management and analysis, environmental stewardship, and program evaluations. It also manages the federal Gas Tax transfer to Canadian municipalities that is meant to support environmentally sustainable infrastructure.
Corporate Services
The Corporate Services Branch provides support and services for corporate functions such as procurement, IM/IT including the department’s major program management system, called the Shared Information Management System for Infrastructure (SIMSI), human resources, finance, security, planning and administration, and internal audit and evaluation.
By working with municipal, provincial and territorial project proponents and the private sector to identify regional and local development priorities and to finance specific infrastructure projects, Infrastructure Canada is helping meet our national social, economic and environmental objectives.
Infrastructure Programs
Under Building Canada, the Government of Canada's historic $33 billion infrastructure plan, the nation's most important economic and environmental priorities are being addressed through the following targeted and based-funding programs:Targeted Funding Programs
- Building Canada Fund (BCF) (Communities Component (BCF-CC) managed by Western Economic Diversification CanadaWestern Economic Diversification CanadaWestern Economic Diversification Canada is a Canadian federal department that works towards building strong, competitive and innovative businesses and communities in Western Canada...
in Western CanadaWestern CanadaWestern Canada, also referred to as the Western provinces and commonly as the West, is a region of Canada that includes the four provinces west of the province of Ontario.- Provinces :...
) - Public-Private Partnership Fund (P3)
- Gateways and Border Crossing Fund (managed by Transport CanadaTransport CanadaTransport Canada is the department within the government of Canada which is responsible for developing regulations, policies and services of transportation in Canada. It is part of the Transportation, Infrastructure and Communities portfolio...
)
Base Funding Programs
- Gas Tax Fund (GTF)
- GST Rebate (managed by Canada Revenue AgencyCanada Revenue AgencyThe Canada Revenue Agency is a federal agency that administers tax laws for the Government of Canada and for most provinces and territories, international trade legislation, and various social and economic benefit and incentive programs delivered through the tax system...
) - Provincial-Territorial Funding
Infrastructure Canada also has broad management responsibilities for the following sunsetting programs:
- Public Transit Fund (PTF)
- Canada Strategic Infrastructure Fund (CSIF)
- Border Infrastructure Fund (BIF)
- Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund (MRIF) (managed by Western Economic Diversification CanadaWestern Economic Diversification CanadaWestern Economic Diversification Canada is a Canadian federal department that works towards building strong, competitive and innovative businesses and communities in Western Canada...
in Western CanadaWestern CanadaWestern Canada, also referred to as the Western provinces and commonly as the West, is a region of Canada that includes the four provinces west of the province of Ontario.- Provinces :...
) - Infrastructure Canada Program (ICP) (managed by Western Economic Diversification CanadaWestern Economic Diversification CanadaWestern Economic Diversification Canada is a Canadian federal department that works towards building strong, competitive and innovative businesses and communities in Western Canada...
in Western CanadaWestern CanadaWestern Canada, also referred to as the Western provinces and commonly as the West, is a region of Canada that includes the four provinces west of the province of Ontario.- Provinces :...
) - First Nations Communities
- First Nations Infrastructure Fund (FNIF)
Additionally, Canada's Economic Action Plan (Federal Budget, January 2009) introduced almost $12 billion in additional and accelerated federal infrastructure investments as part of an immediate action to build infrastructure.
New Infrastructure Canada-led funding through the Economic Action Plan
- Infrastructure Stimulus Fund (ISF): this $4-billion fund provides funding to provincial, territorial, municipal and community construction-ready infrastructure projects, including road and sewer upgrades, that will be completed between 2009 and 2011.
- Green Infrastructure Fund (GIF): Green infrastructure projects that contribute to cleaner air, land and water are being supported through GIF, which will be providing $1 billion over five years.
- National Trails Fund: $25 million was committed to the National Trails Coalition in 2009-10 to be used to build and renew multi-purpose trails for walking, running, cross-country skiing, biking, all-terrain vehicles and snowmobiles. The government's contribution will be matched by the coalition and its partners.
Accelerated infrastructure funding through the Economic Action Plan
- Top-Up of Communities Component (under Building Canada Fund): an additional $500 million has been committed to projects that are ready to get started and that will be completed by 2011 in municipalities with fewer than 100,000 people.
- Accelerated Provincial/Territorial Base Funding: In November 2007, provinces and territories were each allotted $25 million a year for seven years (ending in 2014) under the Building Canada plan , but under through the Economic Action Plan, they are able to receive any remaining funding up to the max $175 million, subject to matching contributions.