Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Transition Book 4 (2023)
Overview and Status of Current Program Suite

*part of the Permanent Public Transit Fund

Infrastructure Canada Funding Programs

1. Canada Community-Building Fund (CCBF)

Program Description

  • CCBF provides a predictable transfer of funding to signatories who in turn flow funding to local governments in their jurisdiction to support infrastructure investments in 19 different infrastructure categories.
  • Current agreements expire in March 2024 and work is underway to renew the program with federal objectives of greater transparency in terms of reporting and communications and requirements for signatories to address housing availability and affordability.

Funding

  • CCBF is a permanent source of per-capita funding provided twice per year.
  • Program will have invested over $26 billion over the 2014 to 2024 agreements and currently provides $2.4B per year with funding indexed at 2% per year, applied in $100 million increments.
  • Annually, the CCBF delivers funding to over 3,600 communities across the country and supports approximately 4,000 projects.

Current Status

  • Agreement renewal discussions are underway with agreement signatories – primarily provinces and territories but also the City of Toronto, the Union of British Columbia Municipalities and the Association of Municipalities of Ontario.

2. Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program (ICIP)

Program Description

  • Under the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program's Bilateral Agreements, Infrastructure Canada is providing funding for public transit, green infrastructure, community, culture and recreational infrastructure, rural and northern infrastructure projects, and COVID-19 Resiliency.
  • ICIP is an allocation-based program. Provinces and territories, in consultation with municipalities and Indigenous communities, are responsible for identifying, prioritising and submitting projects for INFC approval, and flowing funds to eligible ultimate recipients.

Funding

  • ICIP was launched in 2018 and $33 billion in funding was announced for ICIP for five streams: the Arctic Energy Fund; Public Transit Infrastructure; Green Infrastructure; Community, Culture, and Recreation; and Rural and Northern Infrastructure.
  • A COVID-19 Resilience stream was added in 2020. $120M was added for ventilation improvements in 2020 and $70M as a top up in 2021.

Current Status

  • Provinces submitted project applications to completely allocate their ICIP funding envelopes by March 31, 2023, as per Budget 2022 direction. Territories have until March 31, 2025 to submit eligible projects for INFC review. All project construction must be completed by October 31, 2033.
  • 5,835 projects have been approved to date, for a federal contribution of $26.5 billion.
  • 335 projects remain under review with the department. Prince Edward Island and Alberta were the first jurisdictions to have all projects approved and funding fully committed.

3. Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund (DMAF)

Program Description

  • The Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund is a direct-delivery, national program which supports public infrastructure projects designed to mitigate current and future climate-related risks and disasters triggered by natural hazards, such as floods, wildland fires, drought, erosion, severe storms and permafrost thaw.

Funding

  • Through sequential Budget allocations since 2018, the Government of Canada has committed a total of $3.864 billion to the DMAF. 
  • Most recently, under the Government of Canada Adaptation Action Plan, the federal plan to implement the National Adaptation Strategy, the Government of Canada invested up to an additional $489.1 million through the DMAF to help communities increase their resiliency against the effects of climate change.

Current Status

  • The most recent application intake with close to $1B in available funding opened on January 16, 2023 and closed on July 19, 2023. 
  • Assessments of submitted projects have begun and decisions will be made as soon as possible.

4. Green and Inclusive Community Buildings Program (GICB)

Program Description

  • The GICB Program supports green and inclusive retrofits, repairs or upgrades of existing public community buildings and the construction of new publicly-accessible community, cultural and recreational buildings that serve high-needs, underserved communities across Canada, including Indigenous communities.
  • The GICB Program has two intake streams, for small and medium retrofit projects to existing community buildings and for large retrofit projects to existing community buildings or new community building projects. 

Funding

  • $1.5 billion of funding over five years was announced for the GICB in 2021.

Current Status

  • More than a third of the GICB funding has been committed to approved projects that have been announced to date.
  • The most recent program intakes are now closed (applicants from the provinces on February 28, 2023 and for applicants from the territories on April 11, 2023). Assessments are underway and more decisions will be made and announced as soon as possible. 
  • The program has been extremely popular and heavily oversubscribed; the funding envelope is expected to be fully allocated as a result of the most recent intake.

5. Natural Infrastructure Fund (NIF)

Program Description

  • The Natural Infrastructure Fund is a program that funds natural and hybrid infrastructure projects such as wetlands, urban forests, green roofs, rain gardens, and living dykes that are primarily for public use or benefit in communities across Canada. The NIF supports projects in a Large Projects Stream and a Small Projects Stream. 

Funding

  • $200 million of funding was announced for the Natural Infrastructure Fund in 2021.
  • Major cities with innovative natural infrastructure strategies were invited to apply for up to $120 million for large natural or hybrid infrastructure projects. Six applications were received from Vancouver, Saskatoon, Winnipeg, Toronto, Montreal and Halifax.
  • Communities across the country were invited to apply for funding for natural or hybrid infrastructure projects under a Small Projects stream from July – September 2022.

Current Status

  • Decisions for the Large Projects stream will be made and announced as soon as possible.
  • Assessment is underway for the 570 project submissions under the Small Projects stream.
  • Funding is expected to be fully allocated once approvals decisions are made.

6. Active Transportation Fund (ATF)

Program Description

  • The ATF aims to expand and enhance active transportation networks in communities of all types and sizes, while also supporting Canada's National Active Transportation Strategy. It does so by supporting planning for and deployment of a wide range of walking, cycling, and other active mobility infrastructure. 

Funding

  • $400 million of funding over five years was announced for the ATF in 2021.

Current Status

  • The ATF planning and capital intakes have closed; submissions from Indigenous applicants continue to be accepted on a rolling basis.
  • Assessment of project submissions is ongoing. Decisions will be made and projects announced as soon as possible. 
  • The program has been popular; the funding envelope is expected to be fully allocated as a result of the most recent intake.

7. Rural Transit Solutions Fund (RTSF)

Program Description

  • The RTSF addresses unique mobility challenges in rural communities by supporting planning and deployment of locally tailored mobility solutions in rural communities, including support to assess the viability of new approaches to mobility.
  • The RTSF is the first federal fund to target the development of transit solutions in rural and remote communities. From on-demand services, to publicly-owned ride shares, and volunteer community car-pooling, funding will help rural, remote, Northern, and Indigenous communities to develop and offer new public transit options to their residents.

Funding

  • $250 million of funding over five years was announced for the RTSF in 2021.

Current Status

  • A rolling intake of the Capital stream was launched on January 20, 2023 and remains open. 
  • As projects are submitted the program has been assessing them in batches to allow for ongoing project decisions and announcements. 

8. Zero-Emissions Transit Fund (ZETF)

Program Description

  • The ZETF supports the electrification of public transit and school bus fleets, by enabling the purchase zero emission buses and building supporting infrastructure, including charging infrastructure and facility upgrades.
  • ZETF investments are closely coordinated with the Canada Infrastructure Bank's commitment to invest in zero emission buses as part of its Growth Plan. 

Funding

  • $2.6 billion of funding over five years was announced for the ZETF in 2021.

Current Status

  • The program is currently open for applications on an ongoing basis, and project assessments are underway.
  • More than half of the funding envelope has been committed to announced projects and decisions will continue to be announced as they are made.

9. Smart Cities Challenge

Program Description

  • The Smart Cities Challenge, announced in 2017, provides funding for Challenge competitions and the Community Support Program.
  • The Smart Cities Challenge is a pan-Canadian competition to incent communities adopt a smart cities approach for improving the lives of their residents through innovation, data and connected technology. The Community Support Program provides advisory and capacity building services directly to communities of all sizes as they explore and implement smart cities approaches, via Evergreen (a not-for-profit organization).

Funding

  • Program will invest up to 147.3 million by providing funding to community support programming and winning projects over 15 years.
  • To date, $96.1 million has been allocated, including $75 million in Challenge Prizes. Four inaugural Challenge winners were announced in 2019.

Current Status

  • A new Smart Cities Challenge was announced in Budget 2023, on the theme of climate resilience and to be launched by the end of the year.
  • Approximately $50 million is remaining for Challenge Prizes.

10. Reaching Home: Canada's Homelessness Strategy

Program Description

  • As part of the National Housing Strategy (NHS), Reaching Home: Canada's Homelessness Strategy is a community-based program that provides federal funding directly to specific communities to help them address their local homelessness priorities.
  • Reaching Home supports the goals of the NHS, to help the most vulnerable Canadians in maintaining safe, stable and affordable housing and to reduce chronic homelessness nationally by 50% by 2027-28.
  • Since April 2019 Reaching Home has supported over 6,500 projects. It has enabled over 64,000 people to be placed in more stable housing and over 117,000 people to receive homelessness prevention supports.

Funding

  • Reaching Home represents a nearly $4 billion investment over nine years since its launch in April 2019. It provides funding to 64 Designated Communities (urban centres); the three territorial capitals; 30 communities and seven regions with a focus on Indigenous homelessness; and rural and remote communities. It also makes funding available to distinctions-based Indigenous partners and modern treaty holders.

Current Status

  • The first cycle of Reaching Home funding (regional streams) was provided through five-year agreements, expiring on March 31, 2024. Recommendations for the next four years of funding will be provided for approval.

11. Veteran Homelessness Program

Program Description

  • The Veteran Homelessness Program was announced on April 27, 2023 by the Minister of Housing and Diversity and Inclusion and the Minister of Veterans Affairs. 
  • It aims to prevent and reduce Veteran homelessness in Canada, and to contribute to the National Housing Strategy's goal of a 50% reduction in chronic homelessness in Canada by 2027-2028.
  • Infrastructure Canada is delivering the program in close collaboration with the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) and Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC). The departments will co-assess and co-recommend projects for funding. Projects will be approved by the federal Minister responsible for homelessness. 

Funding

  • Budgets 2021 and 2022 provided $79.1 million in contributions over 5 years (2023-2028) divided in two streams: Services and Support ($72.9 million) and Capacity Building ($6.2 million). 

Current Status

  • The national call for proposals closed on July 6, 2023. 85 funding proposals were received (60 under Services and Supports and 25 under Capacity Building).
  • Assessments are expected to be completed by late summer 2023. INFC, CMHC, VAC are expected to make joint funding recommendations to the Minister responsible for homelessness in early fall 2023. 
  • Contribution Agreements would be signed in late fall 2023, with the first Veterans served in late 2023 - early 2024.

12. Canada Healthy Communities Initiative (CHCI)

Program Description

  • Launched in 2020, the Canada Health Communities Initiative is supporting over 1,000 projects across Canada. Delivered by Community Foundations of Canada.
  • Funding helps communities of all sizes and compositions adapt to COVID-19 by creating safe and vibrant public spaces, improving mobility options, and digital solutions. 

Funding

  • Program is investing $60.4 million in grants and contributions.
  • To date, $51.3 million has been announced for over 1,000 community projects.

Current Status

  • All funding has been allocated through intake rounds in 2021.

13. Municipal Asset Management Program (MAMP)

Program Description

  • Launched in 2017, and delivered by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, the program supports Canadian municipalities through grants and awareness building events to make informed infrastructure investment decisions based on sound asset management practices.
  • The Municipal Asset Management Program supports training and workshops in communities across Canada, helps communities plan for data collection and analysis, and shares lessons learned.

Funding

  • Program will invest $110 million over eight years. To date, support has been provided to more than 1,400 projects. 

Current Status

  • All funding has been allocated.
  • Projects are to be completed by March 2024, and the final report is due by October 31, 2024.

Alternative Financing Arrangements

14. Canada Infrastructure Bank

Program Description

  • The Canada Infrastructure Bank (CIB) was established as an arms-length federal Crown corporation in 2017 under the Canada Infrastructure Bank Act (CIB Act).
  • The CIB's mandate is to "invest and seek to attract investment from private-sector investors and institutional investors, in infrastructure projects in Canada or partly in Canada that will generate revenue and that will be in the public interest."
  • The CIB's priority investment sectors are: Public Transit, Green Infrastructure, Trade and Transportation, Broadband, and Clean Power. The CIB was also mandated to invest in Indigenous infrastructure projects within these priority sectors. 

Funding

  • Under CIB Act, the CIB can access up to $35 billion in capital to make investments in infrastructure projects. Up to $15 billion can be used as a fiscal expense to support investment risks, bridge financing gaps and operating costs.
  • As of March 31, 2023, the CIB is involved in 46 infrastructure projects with a total capital cost of $27 billion.

Current Status

  • Legislative Review Report on the CIB Act was tabled in Parliament on June 19, 2023. Parliamentary committee hearings likely to occur Fall 2023.
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15. Gordie Howe International Bridge Project

Program Description

  • The Gordie Howe International Bridge (GHIB) is a bi-national infrastructure project, currently under construction in the Detroit-Windsor Trade corridor. It is comprised of four major components: 
    • a 6-lane cable-stayed bridge between Windsor and Detroit;
    • a Canadian Port of Entry; 
    • a U.S. Port of Entry; and 
    • an interchange connecting the U.S. Port of Entry to Interstate 75.
  • The project is managed by the Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority (WDBA) and is being delivered through a public-private partnership with the private partner, Bridging North America. 

Funding

  • Funded by the Government of Canada, with costs to be recovered through future tolling revenue.
  • The $5.7 billion contract with BNA covers the design, build, finance, operating and maintenance phase throughout the 30-year concession period.

Current Status

  • The GHIB project is five years into its construction phase, with construction well underway on all four major project components. The contractual scheduled completion date is November 2024.

16. Samuel de Champlain Bridge Corridor

Program Description

  • The Samuel De Champlain Bridge, which fully opened to traffic on July 1, 2019, is one of the busiest bridges in Canada, carrying approximately $20 billion in international trade per year.
  • The Bridge provides a crucial commuter and commercial link for the Montréal area, the province of Québec, and Canada's economy.

Funding

  • The total cost of the project is $4.474 billion which includes a $235 million settlement agreement announced in 2018 to resolve claims related to the transport of heavy material to the site. 

Current Status

  • Completion of outstanding project components is ongoing and expected to be finalized in 2023. 
  • The Private Partner contract for the operation, maintenance, and rehabilitation of the corridor extends to 2049.
  • The Light Rail Transit system commences operations within the bridges dedicated transit corridor on July 31, 2023 and will require ongoing close collaboration between Infrastructure Canada, its Private Partner, and CDPQ Infra.
  • The deconstruction of the original Champlain Bridge immediately adjacent to the Samuel De Champlain Bridge corridor is in its final stage and expected to reach completion by the end of January 2024.

17. Waterfront Toronto

Program Description

  • Waterfront Toronto is a tri-government organization, established under provincial statute in 2003.
  • Waterfront Toronto has a 25-year mandate (2003-2028) to transform 800 hectares of brownfield lands on Toronto's waterfront into beautiful, inclusive and sustainable communities and public spaces. 

Funding

  • Three government partners collaborate on project investments, including $1.5 billion in seed funding for enabling infrastructure, public realm and transit projects, and $1.25 billion for its current major project, Port Lands Flood Protection (PLFP) Project.
  • Government partners and Waterfront Toronto recently came together to address cost pressures on the PLFP to enable the objectives of the project to be achieved.  

Current Status

  • PLFP project is nearing completion.
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Canada Mortgage Housing Corporation

18. National Housing Strategy (NHS)

Program Description

  • The National Housing Strategy is the largest and most ambitious federal housing program in Canadian history. Over the next decade, it will invest $82+ billion to build stronger communities and help Canadians across the country access a safe, affordable home and is slated to run until March 2028.
  • The NHS includes a wide suite of programs intended to give more Canadians a place to call home. NHS targets include reducing chronic homeless and lifting households from core housing need, renovating and modernizing existing homes and creating new housing.

Funding

  • The Strategy is a $82+ billion 10-year plan, including $35.8 billion in loans and $46.5 billion in contributions.

Current Status

  • As of March 31, 2023, approximately $45 billion remains uncommitted, which includes $18.0 billion in loans, and $27 billion through a variety of funding initiatives.

18a. National Housing Co-Investment Fund (NHCF)

Program Description
  • The NHCF provides capital to partnered organizations for new affordable housing and the renovation and repair of existing affordable and community housing. Funds are provided as low-interest and/or forgivable loans and contributions.
  • Targets include the construction of 60,000 units, the repair of 240,000 units, 2,000 shelter spaces created, and the repair of 2,000 shelters for survivors of family violence.
Funding
  • Program will invest $13.2 billion over 10 years (2018/19 – 2027/28):
    • Roughly $8.6 billion through low-cost loans
    • Roughly $4.6 billion through contributions
  • $25 million is dedicated to urban Indigenous housing projects and $13 million is dedicated to two emergency shelters in the territories. The $13 million is part of the 2020 Shelter Initiative for Indigenous women and children escaping family violence.
Current Status
  • As of March 31, 2023, the program had committed $7 billion ($4 billion in loans and $3 billion in contributions), for a total of 30,217 new unitsFootnote 1 and 123,984 repaired/renewed units. 

18b. Rental Construction Financing initiative (RCFi) 

Program Description
  • The Rental Construction Financing initiative provides low-cost funding to eligible borrowers during the riskiest phases of product development of rental apartments (construction through to stabilized operations). The initiative focuses on standard rental apartment projects in Canada with general occupants where there is a need for additional rental housing supply.
  • Financing of New Rental Projects: for middle-income households in areas in which there is a need for additional rental supply, with a target of 71,000 units.
  • Making Low-Cost Loans Available: to housing developers, non-profit organizations and municipalities during the earliest stage of rental housing development.
Funding
  • Program will invest $25.75 billion over 11 years (2018/18 – 2027/28).
Current Status
  • As of March 31, 2023, the program had committed $14.77 billion, for a total of 41,501 unitsFootnote 2.

18c. Affordable Housing Innovation Fund (IF)

Program Description
  • The Affordable Housing Innovation Fund supports new ideas that will drive change and disrupt the industry. These ideas and approaches will evolve the affordable housing sector and are creating the next generation of housing in Canada.
  • Affordable Housing Innovation Fund 1 provided low-cost loans, forgivable loans, contributions and financing to support housing innovation.
  • Affordable Housing Innovation Fund 2 provides additional funding to give innovative housing providers, developers, and financiers the resources to test new ideas and explore better ways of meeting housing challenges. This includes a new Rent-to-Own stream with low-cost loans and contributions to help develop and scale up rent-to-own projects.
Funding
  • Innovation Fund 1 $208 million over 5 years (2016/17-2020/21).
  • Innovation Fund 2 $550.8 million over 6 years (2022/23-2027/28)
    • This includes $200 million for the new Rent-to-Own stream.
Current Status
  • As of March 31, 2023, the program had committed $259 million, for a total of 19,333 new units. 
  • Innovation Fund 1 exceeded the original target of creating 4,000 units and supported the creation of over 19,100 units, of which 16,500 are affordableFootnote 3.

18d. Rapid Housing Initiative (RHI)

Program Description
  • This initiative provides capital contributions for the rapid construction of new housing and/or acquisition of existing buildings for rehabilitation or conversion to permanent affordable housingFootnote 4.
Funding
  • Round 1 (2020/21), $1 billion to support the creation of 4,763 new affordable units.
  • Round 2 (2021/22), $1.5 billion to support the creation of 5,508 new affordable units. 
Current Status
  • As of March 31, 2023, the initiative had committed $2.9 billion for a total of 11,546 units.
  • For Round 3 of the RHI, there is $1.5 billion in additional funding over two years (2023/24 – 2024/25) to create 4,500 affordable housing units, with at least 25% of funding going towards women-focused housing projects.
  • Projects have been selected and will be announced shortly. 

18e. Federal Land Initiative

Program Description
  • This initiative provides surplus federal lands and buildings available for development into affordable housing units and communities. The Federal Lands Initiative supports the transfer of surplus federal lands and buildings to eligible proponents. This is available at discounted to no cost to be developed or renovated for use as affordable housing.
  • Transfer of surplus federal lands and buildings to eligible developers for the creation of 4,000 affordable housing units.
Funding
  • Program will invest $202 million over 10 years (2018/19 – 2027/28).
Current Status
  • As of March 31, 2023, the program had committed $118 million, for a total of 3,904 unitsFootnote 5.

18f. Housing Accelerator Fund (HAF)

Program Description
  • The Housing Accelerator Fund provides incentive funding to local governments encouraging initiatives that remove systemic local barriers to increasing housing supply. It also supports the development of complete, low-carbon and climate-resilient communities that are affordable, inclusive, equitable and diverse.
  • Targets the creation of 100,000 net new housing units over the next five years.
Funding
  • Program will invest $4 billion over 5 years in contributions (2023/24 – 2027/28).
Current Status
  • The Housing Accelerator Fund is now accepting applications until August 18, 2023.

18g. Indigenous Shelter and Transitional Housing Initiative

Program Description
  • The Indigenous Shelter and Transitional Housing initiative supports the construction of shelters and transitional housing for Indigenous women, children and LGBTQ2S+ people fleeing gender-based violence. The initiative will fund at least 38 shelters and 50 transitional homes.
  • Relevant supports for Indigenous women, children and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people facing gender-based violence.
  • Respond to calls for justice 4.7 and 16.19 in the Final Report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.
Funding
  • Program will invest $420 million over 5 years (2021/22 – 2025/26).
Current Status
  • As of March 31, 2023, the program had committed $76 million, for a total of 11 community housing units and 18 transitional homes. 

18h.Help for Qualifying First-Time Homebuyers

First-Time Home Buyer Incentive (FTHBI)
Program Description
  • Shared equity mortgage with the Government of Canada to support up to 100,000 first-time homebuyers with 5% or 10% for the purchase of a newly constructed home, 5% for the purchase of an existing home, or 5% for the purchase of a new or resale mobile/manufactured home.
Funding
  • Program will invest $1.25 billion over 6 years (2019/20-2024/25).
Current Status
  • The program has approved $347.5 million for a total of 19,438 applications.
Shared Equity Mortgage Providers (SEMP)
Program Description
  • A lending fund to shared equity mortgage providers that will support 1,500 new homeownership units and help at least 1,500 homebuyers buy their first home by encouraging additional housing supply and helping to attract new providers of shared equity mortgages.
Funding
  • Program will invest $1.25 billion over 6 years (2019/20 – 2024/25).
Current Status
  • As of March 31, 2023, the program has approved $28.95 million for a total of 1,018 applications. 

18i. Initiatives Delivered by Provinces and Territories

Canada Housing Benefit (CHB)
  • $4.6 billion for the Canada Housing Benefit provides payment directly to households to help them afford their housing costs.
  • Federal Funding Committed: $185M
  • PT/ Funding Committed: $367M
PT Priority
  • $2.2 billion for PTs to address their local priorities and housing needs.
  • Federal Funding Committed: $603M
  • PT/ Funding Committed: $1.42B
Funding for Northern Housing
  • $300 million to address the unique housing needs in Canada's North.
  • Federal Funding Committed: $149M
  • PT/ Funding Committed: N/A
Canada Community Housing Initiative (CCHI)
  • $8.6 billion to protect and expand community housing through the Canada Community Housing Initiative.
  • Federal Funding Committed: $656M
  • PT/ Funding Committed: $966M

With exception of Funding for Northern Housing, amounts above represent total combined Federal + Provincial/Territorial funding (with cost-matching)

18j. Funding for Data, Innovation and Research

Solutions Labs
  • $24.5 million from (2018/19 – 2027/28) to support experts and housing stakeholders to incubate and scale potential solutions to housing affordability pressures.
Demonstrations Initiatives
  • $12.5 million over 10 years to support demonstrations of forward-looking technologies, practices and strategies that explore the future of housing in Canada.
Housing Supply Challenge
  • $300 million over 5 years (2020/21 – 2024/25) to the Housing Supply Challenge (HSC) which invites citizens, stakeholders, and experts from across Canada to propose innovative solutions to the barriers that limit the housing supply. The Housing Supply Challenge will result in new ideas and solutions that will help more people find an affordable place to call home.

Legacy Programs

  • INFC also oversees the implementation of a suite of legacy programs that have been fully allocated or are no longer accepting new applications.
  • These include programs such as the Building Canada Fund and the New Building Canada Fund, where project monitoring continues as projects are completed. 
  • It also includes programs that were launched during the development under the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program that are delivering targeted projects for priority asset classes – the Public Transit Infrastructure Fund and the Clean Water and Wastewater Fund.