Remarks for Catherine McKenna, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities on Canada Healthy Communities Initiative Launch 

Good morning! I am pleased to be here today with Member of Parliament Will Amos and all these eager cyclists.

I would like to acknowledge that the land on which we gather is the traditional territory of the Algonquin.

It is so great to be here on the Rideau Canal, at the Flora Footbridge that connects neighbourhoods, speaking to you in person. I know we’ve all missed having in-person gatherings like this, and it’s especially fitting for today’s announcement – which in many ways is all about bringing people together in a safe way.

People are faced with such different challenges today than only a few months ago. The pandemic has brought losses – human suffering and economic costs – and we’ve learned some vital lessons about our communities – about what we miss when it’s gone.

We know how to reduce the impact of the pandemic, to protect more lives, and to rebuild businesses and create jobs.

We’re aware of the need to improve safety for older people who are living in long-term care facilities. 

We know the importance of school for children, and we know that parents are struggling with what is the best thing for their child this fall.   

I think we’re all more aware of the community bonds that keep us healthy and whole.  We all recognize that immediate and different investments in public infrastructure – both large and small -- are needed now to Build Up, to address the health risks, create jobs, and make healthy, resilient communities.

That’s why I’m announcing today the launch of the Canada Healthy Communities Initiative.

Canadians across the country are coming up with smart solutions to problems brought on by the pandemic, which is why we are supporting the solutions people bring forward.

We’re doing this by directly investing $31 million in federal funds to help support bright ideas that are good for the quality of life in communities – practical things, like bike paths and space to walk safely.

We saw with the Smart Cities Challenge last year how many smart, innovative and forward-looking ideas are out there in Canadian communities, and we want to give every community an opportunity to put that creative energy to work now in response to this pandemic.

These are small projects that can have a big impact.  Whether it’s pop-up bike paths, community gardens, art installations or Wi-Fi hot spots, Canadians want to be able to work, play and learn in safe, vibrant and inclusive communities.

That’s really what this is all about – helping jump-start small, nimble, homegrown projects that otherwise slip through the cracks of our larger infrastructure funding programs.

And we’ve already seen some great homegrown solutions emerge in communities across the country in recent weeks.

Here in Ottawa, for example, the physical distancing circles at Mooney’s Bay are giving families a safe way to spend time at the beach this summer. And the closure of Bank Street to vehicles on Saturdays has been a big hit – giving residents the chance to safely spend time together outdoors while bringing foot traffic back to our downtown businesses.  

We know many organizations across the country have been hard at work helping communities address the unique challenges that COVID-19 has presented. A lot of great work is already being done, and we want to leverage it.

That’s why we will be calling on interested, non-government, not-for-profit organizations to apply for funding under this initiative, so they can work with communities to identify and fund solutions that can be put into place quickly to improve the lives of residents.

More details will be available soon on the call-for-applications. So we encourage communities to keep engaging with residents and stakeholders and think about cool community projects they’d love to put forward – but just couldn’t quite manage in these difficult times.

We are in a time of transition and adaptation. The whole world is.

Every dollar we invest should do triple duty – creating jobs and economic stability, making communities more resilient, especially given the changing climate, and making communities equitable so that everyone has a fair shot to succeed.

I want to leave you with this thought: the trauma of this pandemic will pass, but in its wake the world will be a different place, and Canada will be too.

We have the chance to think carefully about the Canada we need and the Canada we want in the future.

To make the choices that ensure we are that country that lives its values – of compassion, equality, optimism, concern for the planet.

The post-pandemic world will be full of new opportunities, and I want to help our people take advantage of those opportunities. Healthy Communities are a great place to start.

Thank you.