London, Ontario - 24 November 2014
Canada's prosperity and quality of life depend on a vast network of public infrastructure – from roads and highways, to bridges, transit systems, water and wastewater infrastructure, ports, airports and recreational and cultural facilities. Investments in Canada's public infrastructure improve productivity and quality of life, and create jobs, growth, and long-term prosperity from coast to coast to coast.
The Government of Canada has made an unprecedented investment in building and improving infrastructure across the country.
- Through the $33 billion 2007 Building Canada Plan, the Government has supported over 12,000 provincial, territorial and municipal infrastructure projects across Canada. This includes increased and ongoing federal support for municipal roads, public transit and recreational facilities through the Gas Tax Fund (GTF). Since 2009, the Government has doubled, made permanent and indexed the GTF.
- In 2009, Canada's Economic Action Plan supported an additional 30,000 infrastructure projects that created immediate jobs and enhanced Canada's long-term economic growth and competitiveness.
- Investments totalling $9.2 billion since 2006, including ongoing funding, have been made in First Nations communities across Canada to build, operate, maintain and renovate community infrastructure on reserves.
- The Government has also made significant investments in its own portfolio of infrastructure assets, including for the repair and maintenance of federally-owned bridges, ports and airports; the modernization and expansion of border facilities; repairs to small craft harbours; and for the repair and maintenance of federal engineering assets and federal buildings.
The New Building Canada Plan:
- Economic Action Plan 2013 builds on our Government's historic infrastructure investments, with $70 billion for public infrastructure over the next decade, including the $53 billion New Building Canada Plan for provincial, territorial and municipal infrastructure.
- This unprecedented level of federal funding is helping to build roads, bridges, subways, commuter rail and other public infrastructure, in cooperation with provinces, territories and municipalities.
- The Government has announced New Building Canada Fund support for projects in Alberta, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island and Saskatchewan and is working with all provinces and territories to identify further priority infrastructure projects under the Fund.
The Government of Canada is the custodian of a broad range of infrastructure and is committed to maintaining and improving infrastructure across the country. Investments in this critical infrastructure are a key element in our efforts to create jobs, growth, and long-term prosperity. Amongst other purposes, our infrastructure allows people and goods to move more freely and safely across the country, supports scientific innovation, and protects Canada's legendary natural heritage.
The Government is announcing $5.8 billion in new investments that will continue to build and renew infrastructure across the country. The majority of this support will be delivered within the next three years. Of this investment, $5.3 billion will go towards modernizing and repairing various infrastructure assets that will provide employment opportunities in communities across Canada and support services to Canadians that in turn contribute to Canada's long-term economic prosperity. Also, $500 million will be allocated to the repair and construction of on-reserve schools.
This long-term commitment to building and maintaining world-class infrastructure will create jobs and improve the quality of life of all Canadians.
The Government will invest in infrastructure across the country in areas such as heritage, First Nations education, defence, borders, research facilities, harbours, transportation and search and rescue. This includes:
- $2.8 billion to support infrastructure improvements to heritage, tourism, waterway and highway assets located within national historic sites, national parks, and national marine conservation areas across Canada;
- $500 million for the repair and construction of on-reserve schools;
- $452 million to repair and upgrade Canadian Armed Forces facilities;
- $440 million to expedite the replacement of border infrastructure;
- Approximately $400 million to maintain, upgrade and construct federally-owned buildings and other assets across Canada;
- $380 million for major repairs and upgrading of federal laboratories and research facilities;
- $288 million for repair and maintenance of small craft harbours;
- $204 million to support enhancements to federally-owned and operated airports as well as improvements to VIA Rail Canada Inc.'s rail infrastructure;
- $191 million to undertake renewal and repairs of heritage and museum sites; and,
$183 million for the repair and procurement of vessels and small craft for the Canadian Coast Guard and Fisheries and Oceans Canada to support activities including search and rescue, science, and conservation.
