Today, the Honourable Catherine McKenna, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities, announced $150 million for better ventilation in public buildings to help reduce the risk of aerosol transmission of COVID-19.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has had a major impact on the wellbeing of people right across the country. All Canadians, from students to seniors, need clear air where they gather—in schools, health facilities, shelters and emergency services buildings. That’s why the Government of Canada is investing an additional $150 million with provinces, territories and Indigenous communities in ventilation projects to improve air quality in public buildings. This funding will support the federal government’s effort to help Canadians get through the pandemic safely, create good jobs across the country, and build stronger, more resilient communities.”

The Honourable Catherine McKenna, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities

“Everyone deserves to feel confident that the air they are breathing in is safe. This investment will support Indigenous communities and their leadership to implement community-based solutions to respond to the spread of COVID-19. From coast-to-coast-to-coast, First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities are working hard to keep their citizens and Elders safe – we thank them for their leadership as we continue to work together to fight the Covid-19 pandemic.”

The Honourable Carolyn Bennett, Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations

“The health and wellbeing of First Nations peoples are my department’s highest priorities. This new investment will aid First Nations communities and partners in the fight against COVID-19 by funding critical ventilation upgrades to infrastructure most susceptible to COVID-19 spread.”

The Honourable Marc Miller, Minister of Indigenous Services

“Ensuring that the air we breathe is safe and clean is essential to protecting the health of Canadians through the COVID-19 pandemic and into the future. These investments will ensure that Northern, Territorial, and Indigenous partners have the resources they need to implement local solutions, update ventilation systems, monitor air quality, and keep communities healthy and safe.

The Honourable Dan Vandal, Minister of Northern Affairs

“No matter where Canadians are, they need to be able to breathe clean air. Good indoor ventilation is an important element that, when layered with personal preventative measures, can help prevent the spread of COVID-19. Today’s investment is just one step that we are taking to keep Canadians safe and healthy—through the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond.”

The Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Health

• The first line of defence against COVID-19 continues to be:

  • reducing contact with persons outside your household;
  • interactions of short duration;
  • maintaining physical distancing;
  • proper use of well-fitting masks;
  • proper hand hygiene.

• Improving indoor air quality through increased ventilation is an additional step.  Ventilation, whether through the opening of windows or the use of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, can increase the amount of outside air brought inside. This will dilute the number of viral particles in the air, and help to reduce the risk of exposure.

• Through the Investing in Canada plan, the Government of Canada is investing more than $180 billion over 12 years in public transit projects, green infrastructure, social infrastructure, trade and transportation routes, and Canada’s rural and northern communities.

• The COVID-19 Resilience Infrastructure stream of the Investing in Canada plan, announced in August 2020, is responding directly to the immediate pressures and concerns of Canadians to address the current pandemic, with new eligible project categories, faster approvals, and an increased federal cost share for public infrastructure projects—80 per cent in the provinces, and funding 100 per cent of the cost of projects in the territories and for projects with Indigenous recipients.

• Given the urgency of the public health crisis, and the critical need for additional protective measures to control the spread of COVID-19, for the first year of the program costs for approved projects will be retroactively eligible to December 1, 2020 for the $120 million portion of the fund being delivered through the COVID-19 Resilience Infrastructure stream, which would help to expand aid offered to recipients in this crisis situation and allow recipients to initiate new projects on a risk-managed basis until funding agreements can be signed.

• This funding complements existing federal programs that fund building ventilation upgrades such as Health Canada’s Safe Long-term Care Fund, Employment and Social Development Canada’s Preventing Outbreaks in Shelters Initiative, the Safe Return to Class Fund and Indigenous Services Canada’s Safe Return to First Nations Schools on Reserve.

• The Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program is delivered through bilateral agreements with all provinces and territories to make unprecedented investments in public infrastructure.

Related products

• Backgrounder - Government of Canada investing an additional $150 million in better ventilation for schools, hospitals, and other public buildings

Associated links

• Investing in COVID-19 Community Resilience
• Canada’s COVID-19 Economic Response Plan

Chantalle Aubertin
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Infrastructure and Communities
613-949-1759
chantalle.aubertin@canada.ca

Adrienne Vaupshas
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Indigenous Services
adrienne.vaupshas@canada.ca

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