Backgrounder: The Investing in Canada plan: Overall Progress Summary

The Investing in Canada plan, the federal government’s long-term infrastructure plan, was announced in Budget 2016 and expanded on in Budget 2017. In total, it makes over $180 billion available to support local, provincial, and territorial infrastructure projects over 12 years.

Budget 2016 Programs

• $14.4 billion available to support projects prioritized by our funding partners
• All 34 programs launched
• Over 28,000 projects approved, worth $11.8 billion in federal funding alone (accounting for over 80% of available program funding)
• Over 70% of approved projects underway or completed

Budget 2017 Programs

• $81.2 billion in additional funding
• 24 new programs, 11 of which have been launched
• $33 billion will be delivered through Infrastructure Canada bilateral agreements with provinces and territories
• Seven agreements signed so far
• Agreements signed with most provinces and territories to deliver the new Early Learning and Child Care initiative
• Negotiations with provinces and territories underway for the delivery of the National Housing Strategy
• Smart Cities Challenge launched, with finalists for the first competition being announced in the coming weeks
• Canada Infrastructure Bank launched to provide partners with new funding options

Ongoing Programs

• $92.2 billion available through 22 ongoing programs supporting thousands of local infrastructure projects every year
• Federal Gas Tax Fund alone supports about 4,000 projects across 3,600 communities every year

Overview of the Investing in Canada Plan

The Investing in Canada plan, the federal government’s long-term infrastructure plan, was announced in Budget 2016 and expanded on in Budget 2017. In total, it makes over $180 billion available to support local, provincial, and territorial infrastructure projects over 12 years.

The Plan provides a single, consolidated strategic framework to guide the delivery of all federal infrastructure funding programs. It introduced a new way of designing and delivering federal infrastructure programs, and is focused on achieving three key objectives:

• Grow the economy and create jobs for the middle class,
• Build inclusive communities where everyone has access to opportunities, and
• Support a low-carbon, green economy.

The new funding provided through Budgets 2016 and 2017 is delivered by 14 federal departments and agencies. The 58 funding programs are organized across five main funding streams, with $7.5 billion designated to support infrastructure projects in Indigenous communities.

1. $28.7 billion of this funding will support public transit projects, including $5 billion that will be available for investment through the Canada Infrastructure Bank.
2. $26.9 billion of this funding will support green infrastructure projects, including $5 billion that will be available for investment through the Canada Infrastructure Bank.
3. $25.3 billion of this funding will support social infrastructure in Canadian communities.
4. $10.1 billion of this funding will support trade and transportation projects, including $5 billion that will be available for investment through the Canada Infrastructure Bank.
5. $2 billion of this funding will support infrastructure projects that meet the unique needs of rural and northern communities like facilities to support food security, local access roads and enhanced broadband connectivity. In addition, $400 million will be delivered through the Arctic Energy Fund to advance energy security in the territories.

Funding also included an additional $2 billion for the Post-Secondary Institutions Strategic Investment Fund and $500 million for the Connect to Innovate Program delivered by Innovation, Science and Economic Development.

In addition to the new funding programs, over $92.2 billion remains available to support thousands of additional local projects each year through 22 ongoing programs. For example, through the federal Gas Tax Fund, about 4,000 projects are supported annually in 3,600 communities across Canada.  

Under the first phase of the plan, which was announced in Budget 2016, investments totalling $14.4 billion focussed on the repair and modernization of key infrastructure across Canada. The funding targeted vital public transit services, water and wastewater systems, and social infrastructure such as affordable housing.

Budget 2017 provided an additional $81.2 billion in new funding programs across five priority areas: public transit, green, social, trade and transportation and rural and northern communities’ infrastructure. The funding is focused on supporting longer-term, transformative infrastructure projects.

The Plan also called for the creation of a new Canada Infrastructure Bank, which is now established, attracting private and institutional capital and pursuing potential investment opportunities. As well, it sought innovative ideas and approaches to tackling community problems through a Smart Cities Challenge. The finalists from the first competition will be announced in the coming weeks.

For more information on approved projects, please see the Investing in Canada project map at http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/gmap-gcarte/index-eng.html.