Sustainable Development Goal 11: Sustainable cities and communities

The National Housing Strategy

The National Housing Strategy (NHS) is a 10-year, $82+ billion plan. The vision of the NHS is that all Canadians have affordable housing that meets their needs. Affordable housing is a cornerstone of sustainable, inclusive communities and a Canadian economy where we can prosper and thrive.

The NHS addresses a range of needs across the housing continuum, from shelters and transitional housing, to community housing, to affordable rental housing and homeownership. It sets ambitious targets to reduce chronic homelessness by 50%, reduce housing needs for 530,000 households, create 160,000 new housing units, repair and renew 300,000 housing units, protect 385,000 community housing units and expand their number by 55,000 units - all by 2027 to 2028.

The NHS focuses on priority populations including:

• women and children fleeing domestic violence
• seniors
• Indigenous peoples
• those experiencing homelessness
• people with disabilities
• those dealing with mental health and addiction issues
• veterans
• 2SLGBTQI+ community
• young adults
• racialized groups including Black Canadians
• recent immigrants
• refugees

As stated in the National Housing Strategy Act (NHS Act), the NHS contributes to meeting the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations. At the core of both the NHS and the NHS Act is the Government of Canada's commitment to progressively realize the right of every Canadian to adequate, safe and affordable housing. To support this, the NHS Act requires that the government establish a National Housing Council and a Federal Housing Advocate. The Council is an advisory body that promotes participation and inclusion in the development of housing policy in Canada and advises the Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities on ways to improve the NHS. The Advocate's role is to investigate systemic housing issues facing people and populations who are vulnerable and to prepare an annual report to the Government on findings and recommendations.

The NHS has many programs and initiatives, of note, are:

• Rapid Housing Initiative: provides funding for the rapid construction of new housing and/or acquisition of existing buildings for rehabilitation or conversion to permanent affordable housing
• Housing Accelerator Fund: provides funding to municipalities to take measures to increase housing supply and promote the development of affordable, inclusive and diverse communities that are low-carbon and climate-resilient
• Affordable Housing Fund: formerly named the National Housing Co-investment Fund, this initiative supports the construction and revitalization of mixed-income, mixed-tenure, mixed-use affordable housing. Funded projects need support from another level of government to optimize investments
• Apartment Construction Loan Program: Formerly named the Rental Construction Financing Initiative, this program, provides low cost loans to promote the construction of rental apartment projects across Canada
• Affordable Housing Innovation Fund: encourages new funding models and innovative building techniques in the affordable housing sector
• Federal Lands Initiative: supports the transfer of surplus federal lands and buildings to eligible proponents at low or no cost
• Federal Community Housing Initiative: supports federally administered community housing projects reaching the end of operating agreements from past social and affordable housing programs
• the Federal/Provincial/Territorial (FPT) Housing Partnership Framework is an agreement endorsed by the Government of Canada and all provinces and territories (PTs), except Quebec, which establishes a shared FPT vision for housing. The Government of Canada has bilateral agreements with all provinces and territories (PTs) to deliver more than $15 billion in joint funding over 10 years through the following initiatives:
  • the Canada Housing Benefit, which provides financial support directly to Canadian households in need to help them afford their housing costs
  • the Canada Community Housing Initiative, which supports PTs to protect, regenerate and expand community housing through ongoing support to housing providers delivering subsidized housing to low-income Canadians
  • Provincial and Territorial Priority Funding, which supports regional needs and priorities related to community housing repair, construction and affordability support

Reaching Home: Canada's Homelessness Strategy is a community-based program aimed at preventing and reducing homelessness across Canada. This program provides funding to urban, Indigenous, rural and remote communities to help them address their local homelessness needs.

The Veteran Homelessness Program was launched in April 2023 to provide funding for rent supplements and wrap-around supports to Veterans experiencing or at risk of homelessness, including chronic homelessness.

Distinctions-based Indigenous Housing Strategies

The co-development of distinctions-based Indigenous housing strategies is a priority for the Government. Indigenous leaders have told the Government that the best approach is one that respects the distinct housing needs of each group and community.

Through investments made in Budget 2017 and Budget 2018, the Government is providing $1.5 billion to support a First Nations-led housing Strategy, an Inuit-led housing plan, and the Métis Nation's housing strategy including:

• $600 million over 3 years to support new construction and repairs to First Nation housing units on reserve, as well as the development of a 10-year Housing Strategy that is being done with First Nations
• $400 million over 10 years to support the implementation of the Inuit Nunangat Housing Strategy, including new construction and repairs of housing units in Nunavik, Nunatsiavut, and Inuvialuit. This is in addition to the $240 million over 10 years announced in Budget 2017 to support housing in Nunavut
• $500 million over 10 years to support the Métis Nation housing strategy

The Inuit Nunangat Housing Strategy and Métis Nation Housing Strategy are in the implementation phase. Plans for the implementation of the First Nations Housing Strategy are currently under development.

Urban, Rural, and Northern (U.R.N.) Indigenous Housing Strategy

Significant gaps exist in addressing the housing needs of Indigenous people living in urban, rural, and northern areas. To help address these challenges, Canada announced that it will co-develop and implement with Indigenous partners an Urban, Rural, and Northern Indigenous Housing Strategy, and create Canada's first ever National Housing Centre. This Strategy is intended to complement the National Housing Strategy, the distinctions-based housing strategies, and investments made in housing for Modern Treaty and Self-Governing Indigenous Governments. This collaborative initiative aligns with Canada's commitment to implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, specifically Articles 21 and 23.

Improving air quality and reducing air pollution

The Government of Canada collaborates with provinces and territories to improve air quality by implementing Canada's Air Quality Management System (AQMS). As part of the AQMS, in consultation with provinces and territories, Canada updates the Canadian Ambient Air Quality Standards (CAAQS) which drive continuous improvement of air quality across the country.

In 2016, Canada introduced the Multi-Sector Air Pollutants Regulations, which established Canada's first-ever mandatory national air pollutant emissions standards for major industrial facilities. Most recently, the government established regulations to reduce air pollution from petroleum refineries, upgraders, and certain petrochemical facilities, and from certain types of engines. In addition, measures to reduce greenhouse gases can contribute to reducing air pollution, such as the regulations to phase out coal-fired electricity.

The Government of Canada is taking action to help reduce the overall levels of air pollution. Releasing pollutants into the atmosphere is subject to a number of regulations aiming to limit the amount of pollutants that are released into the air each year. The Government of Canada has put in place regulations to phase out coal-fired electricity, adopted some of the most stringent national standards in the world for air pollutant emissions from new cars and light trucks, and put a price on carbon pollution that is creating incentives for industry to invest in cleaner technologies. In 2016, as part of the federal government's contribution to the implementation of the Air Quality Management System, the Government of Canada introduced the Multi-sector Air Pollutants Regulations, which established Canada's first ever mandatory national air pollutant emissions standards for major industrial facilities.

Infrastructure

The Government of Canada continues to provide funding to provinces, territories, and municipalities under the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program to support the building, expansion and upgrading of urban and rural transit and active transportation networks that improve service and transform the way Canadians live, move and work. In addition, the program supports the new, expanded, or renewed community, cultural, and recreational facilities that improve social inclusion and diversity for different groups such as off-reserve Indigenous populations.

Th Canada Cultural Spaces Fund seeks to improve physical conditions for artistic creativity and innovation. It is also designed to increase access for Canadians to performing arts, visual arts, media arts, and to museum collections and heritage displays. The Fund supports the improvement, renovation and construction of arts and heritage facilities, the establishment of creative hubs, the acquisition of specialized equipment as well as conducting feasibility studies. Through its objectives, it helps make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable. In 2022 to 2023, the program approved $48.4million in support of 159 cultural infrastructure projects.

The First Nation Infrastructure Fund combines multiple funding sources, including the Canada Community Building Fund, to support the delivery of essential community infrastructure on-reserve.

Public transit

Safe, modern, and efficient public transit systems remain important for the health and sustainability of communities. Federal transit funding supports public transit systems and active transportation networks, creates jobs, and makes communities more accessible and liveable to all.

The Government of Canada's Permanent Public Transit Program launched in 2021 supports new subway lines, light-rail transit and streetcars, electric buses, active transportation infrastructure, and improved rural transit. The permanent transit funding that is scheduled to start in 2026 to 2027 will also provide local governments with predictable and ongoing transit funding. This will create affordable commuting options and reduce Canada's emissions. It will also provide local governments with predictable transit funding.

Under the Permanent Public Transit Program:

• the Active Transportation Fund provides funding to support a modal shift away from cars and toward active transportation, in support of Canada's National Active Transportation Strategy. The Fund invests in projects that build new and expanded networks of pathways, bike lanes, trails and pedestrian bridges, in addition to supporting active transportation planning and stakeholder engagement activities. Projects funded through this fund provide tangible benefits to communities, shortening commute times for families, creating good middle-class jobs, growing the economy, promoting healthier lifestyles, cutting air and noise pollution, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions
• the Rural Transit Solutions Fund seeks to help Canadians living in rural and remote areas get around their communities more easily. This program is the first federal fund to target the development of transit solutions in rural and remote communities. the Fund supports the development of locally driven transit solutions that will help people living in rural communities get to work, school, appointments, and to visit loved ones
• recognizing that the electrification of public transit fleets can be challenging due to the complexities of converting transit systems to a new technology, which involves significant upfront costs, the Zero Emission Transit Fund offers support to public transit and school bus operators electrifying their fleets through the purchase of zero-emission buses and construction of supporting infrastructure, including charging infrastructure and facility upgrades

The Government of Canada also continues to provide funding to provinces, territories, and municipalities through the Public Transit stream of the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program. The programs in this stream support the building, expansion and upgrading of urban and rural transit networks that improve service and transform the way Canadians live, move and work. In addition, the Community, Culture and Recreation Infrastructure stream provides provinces, territories, and municipalities with funding for infrastructure projects that will improve social inclusion, such as new, expanded, or renewed community, cultural, and recreational installations and facilities.

The Canada Infrastructure Bank is targeting public transit investments totaling $5 billion across the country for projects including Zero Emission Buses (ZEBs), light rail transit, bus rapid transit, subways and transit-oriented development as a part of the its 3year Growth Plan.

Green spaces, cultural and natural heritage

The Government of Canada conserves and promotes natural and cultural heritage places, such as national historic sites, national parks, national marine conservation areas, and national urban parks to ensure that they continue to be a source of national pride and enjoyment for all Canadians. It is working to remove barriers, foster participation, and embrace diversity and inclusion by designing and delivering visitor services and experiences so that all Canadians and visitors from around the world can enjoy and appreciate them.

The Government of Canada is collaborating with partners, including Indigenous peoples, to create national urban parks in Canada's large urban centers. Each national urban park will be unique and together will form a network with a shared vision of conserving nature, connecting people with nature, and advancing reconciliation with Indigenous peoples. These national urban parks can also lead to other ecosystem services, socio-economic benefits, and cost saving. For example, national urban parks will contribute to cleaner air and water, flood management, and help cool temperatures in hot urban centers, reducing associated costs. It has been shown that when people have increased opportunities for spending time in nature, they enjoy health benefits and demands upon healthcare are lessened.