Backgrounder: Canada and the Northwest Territories sign a new agreement to make significant investments in transformative infrastructure projects

Backgrounder

Over $570 million available for projects that build prosperous communities and transition to a clean growth economy

Under the $180 billion Investing in Canada infrastructure plan, the Government of Canada is signing new bilateral agreements with all provinces and territories, which will see more than $33 billion in federal investment towards significant infrastructure projects across the country. The objective of these investments is to transform the way Canadians live, move and work in four priority areas:

  • Rural and northern communities.
  • Green infrastructure;
  • Community, culture, and recreation infrastructure; and
  • Public transit;

Northwest Territories’ Funding Allocations

The table below shows the allocations for the Territory by funding stream from 2018-2028 which amounts to $570,776,826.

Funding Stream

Allocation

Expected Outcomes at Project Completion*

Public Transit

$8,344,774 for Yellowknife’s public transit system which will improve the way Canadians live, move and work. 

  • Improved public transit infrastructure
  • Improved quality and safety of existing transit system
  • Improved access to public transit system

Green Infrastructure

$208,230,295 to support greenhouse gas emission (GHG) reductions; enable greater adaptation and resilience to the impacts of climate change and climate-related disaster mitigation, and ensure that more communities can provide clean air and safe drinking water for their citizens.

 

 

  • Increased capacity to manage more renewable energy
  • Increased access to clean energy transportation
  • Increased energy efficiency of buildings
  • Increased generation of clean energy
  • Increased structural capacity and increased natural capacity to adapt to climate change impacts, natural disasters and extreme weather events
  • Increased capacity to treat and manage wastewater and stormwater
  • Increased access to potable water
  • Increased capacity to reduce or remediate soil and air pollutants

Community, Culture and Recreation Infrastructure

$26,187,414 towards community, culture and recreation infrastructure to build stronger communities and improve social inclusion.

  • Improved access to and increased quality of community, cultural and recreational infrastructure for Canadians, including  Indigenous Peoples and vulnerable populations

Rural and Northern Communities Infrastructure

$328,014,343 to support projects that improve the quality of life in rural and northern communities by responding to rural and northern specific needs.

 

The stream includes $153,014,343 and the $175,000,000 allocation under the Arctic Energy Fund that will address energy security in the territories.

  • Improved food security
  • Improved and more reliable road, air and marine infrastructure
  • Improved broadband connectivity
  • More efficient and reliable energy (The Arctic Energy Fund can only be applied to this outcome.)
  • Improved education and health facilities that benefit Indigenous peoples (specific to Truth and Reconciliation Commission)

* Outcomes will be obtained through projects which will be communicated in more detail as they are announced.

The bilateral agreements will allow the Government of Canada and the provinces and territories to agree on shared results as well as a method of reporting on results on a regular basis. The bilateral agreements support the following long-term results:

  • Increase the rate of economic growth in an inclusive and sustainable way;
  • Improve environmental quality, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase resiliency of communities;
  • Improve mobility in Canadian communities;
  • Make Canadian communities more inclusive and accessible; and
  • Manage infrastructure in a more sustainable way.

Under these new bilateral agreements, the Government of Canada will not only make significant investments in Canadian communities, but also open the door to unique and innovative project ideas that meet the agreed-upon outcomes. These new ideas will contribute to the long-term sustainability of our infrastructure.

In order to ensure our partners consider opportunities to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions or better adapt to climate change during the project development stage, a new climate lens will be applied for certain projects. Additionally, partners will also report on how larger projects are creating job opportunities for a broader array of Canadians in the construction industry and related sectors through a new Community Employment Benefits framework.

For information on cost-sharing, please see Infrastructure Canada’s website.

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