Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Transition Binder (2025)
Book 1: Department and Portfolio Overview

• Section 1 – Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada
  • Mandate
  • Organizational Information
    • Deputy Minister's Office
    • Community Policy and Programs Branch
    • Policy and Results Branch 
    • Communities and Infrastructure Programs Branch
    • Investment, Partnerships and Innovation Branch
    • Corporate Services Branch
    • Communications
    • Audit and Evaluation
    • Corporate Secretariat
  • Constituting Legal Authorities and Agreements
• Section 2 – Portfolio Organizations
  • Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation
  • Canada Infrastructure Bank
  • Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority
  • The Jacques Cartier and Champlain Bridges Incorporated
  • Waterfront Toronto
• Section 3 – Ministerial Advisory Councils and the Federal Housing Advocate
  • Canadian Infrastructure Council
  • National Housing Council
  • Federal Housing Advocate
  • Housing Review Panels

Section 1 – Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada

Mandate

Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada (HICC) is responsible for federal housing policy and program development, supporting public infrastructure projects and initiatives, and promoting the use of innovative financial tools in order to foster the economic prosperity, social inclusivity and environmental sustainability of Canada’s communities. In June 2024, the department officially integrated the housing and infrastructure portfolios through the Department of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Act, which equips the department to deliver on its broadened mandate to advance national housing outcomes, reduce and prevent homelessness, and support and promote public infrastructure.

In collaboration with Crown Corporations, other government departments, provinces, territories, municipalities, Indigenous communities and other stakeholders, the department delivers policies and initiatives that support the following areas:

Policies and Initiatives - Text version

• Climate Resilience
• Green Infrastructure
• Social Infrastructure
• Rural & Northern Infrastructure
• Public Transit Infrastructure
• Active Transportation
• Research
• General Infrastructure
• Renovations or Upgrades
• Housing
• Homelessness
• New Housing
• Roads & Bridges

Housing Initiatives and Partnership with CMHC

Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada leads on housing policy and program development for the Government of Canada and ensures that it is integrated with the infrastructure portfolio to increase housing supply and affordability overall, address housing needs, and support access to housing that is affordable, safe and oriented near transit, employment, services and amenities to meet the wide range of needs of all Canadians. It provides advice on the housing challenges affecting Canadians and the emerging priorities and investments needed to address them. Additionally, it advances program and policy solutions to support housing priorities, working closely with the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) on program delivery. It also leads efforts to make use of federal public infrastructure investments to support improved housing outcomes for Canadians.

The department, along with its partners, is responsible for delivering on Canada's Housing Plan, which was released in April 2024 with supporting investments announced in Budget 2024. The plan is comprised of three pillars:

1. Building more homes: bringing down construction costs, getting cities to allow more homes to be built, transforming how we build them, and growing the workforce to get the job done.
2. Making it easier to rent or own a home: making it easier to rent or own a home and ensuring every renter or homeowner can retain their home.
3. Helping Canadians who can't afford a home: working to end chronic homelessness in Canada and building more affordable housing for students and seniors.

The department is also responsible for the National Housing Strategy, a 10 year, more than $115 billion plan to ensure more people living in Canada have access to safe, affordable and inclusive housing. Launched in 2017, the strategy includes a Range Of Complementary Programs and Initiatives focused on improving housing outcomes for persons in greatest need. The strategy is a requirement of the National Housing Strategy Act, which mandates a national strategy that takes into account the key principles of a Human Rights-Based Approach to Housing.

Homelessness Response and Reaching Home Strategy

Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada is also responsible for the federal government’s response to homelessness in Canada. In particular, it manages Reaching Home: Canada’s Homelessness Strategy. Through Reaching Home, the Government of Canada is investing $5 billion over nine years to provide funding to urban, Indigenous, rural and remote communities across Canada to help them address local homelessness needs including through data-driven approaches. Through Reaching Home and other programs, Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada is working with multiple partners from all orders of government (including CMHC), Indigenous partners and not-for-profit organizations to ensure that the homeless-serving sector has adequate support to pursue the prevention and reduction of homelessness. The department also develops national statistics on homelessness that support an understanding of homelessness trends over time. This is primarily through its collection of emergency shelter data collected from the Homeless Individuals and Families Information System (HIFIS) that is also provided to communities. To get a picture of homelessness outside of the shelter system, including from encampments, the department also supports communities undertaking nationally-coordinated point-in-time counts, which provide an enumeration that can be compared over time, and surveys to help understand the experience of homelessness and who is affected by it.

Infrastructure Funding and Program Delivery

Public infrastructure projects help address a wide array of challenges for communities across the country, ranging from the rapid growth of our cities to providing transit options that provide mobility choices to Canadians and connect them to employment, services, and recreational opportunities. These projects can also support housing initiatives or help communities cope with disaster risks and environmental threats to water and land. The department provides support to help ensure that Canadians benefit from world-class, modern public infrastructure. To this end, the department makes investments, builds partnerships, develops policies, delivers programs and major projects, funds and conducts research, performs economic analysis, collects and manages data, and considers alternative models to leverage private investment and participation in the planning and delivery of infrastructure in the public interest.

Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada is a key infrastructure funding partner for provincial, territorial, municipal, Indigenous, and community partners, and collaborates with all levels to deliver better planning, become a more informed investor, and contribute to projects that will help to create more sustainable, economically prosperous and livable communities for Canadians.

Major Bridge Projects

The department's portfolio includes some of North America's largest bridge projects:

1. The Samuel De Champlain Bridge Corridor Project opened to traffic in early summer 2019, spans the St. Lawrence River, connecting Montréal to its southern suburbs. This 3.4-kilometer bridge supports heavy traffic, public transit, and cycling, combining architectural appeal with a resilient design. It also integrates with the Réseau express métropolitain (REM), Montréal’s new light-rail network, enhancing regional transit connectivity.
2. The Gordie Howe International Bridge, currently under construction, spans the Detroit River, linking Windsor, Ontario, and Detroit, Michigan. Expected to open in fall 2025, the crossing’s modern infrastructure and state-of-the art technology will enhance trade, cross-border security and transportation efficiency with six lanes for vehicles and dedicated space for cyclists and pedestrians, better connecting Canada and the United States (U.S.).
3. The Québec Bridge, completed in 1917, spans the St. Lawrence River, connecting Québec City and Lévis. This historic steel cantilever bridge, recognized as a national historic site of Canada, carries both road and rail traffic and is an iconic structure due to its impressive engineering and long central span. In November 2024, Canada assumed ownership and will undertake a 25-year rehabilitation project to preserve and modernize the bridge.

Portfolio Entities

The Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities has responsibilities over five arm's length organizations:

• Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC)
• Canada Infrastructure Bank (CIB)
• Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority (WDBA)
• The Jacques Cartier and Champlain Bridges Incorporated (JCCBI)
• Waterfront Toronto

Additional Information about the portfolio entities can be found in Section 2.

Ministerial Advisory Bodies

The Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities is also responsible for two arms-length advisory councils:

• the Canadian Infrastructure Council
• the National Housing Council

Additional information about the councils can be found in Section 3.

Organizational Information

Pending their tabling and Parliamentary approval, Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada's main estimates for 2025-26 total $9.1 billion and are comprised of four main elements; namely $264.4 million to support the department's operating and capital functions as well as the salary of its 1,797 full-time equivalents (FTEs); $129.3 million allocated to major bridges, which is tied specifically to the Samuel De Champlain Bridge corridor project and the Gordie Howe International Bridge; $6.2 billion in grants and contributions funding, which is used to reimburse claims submitted by recipients; and $2.5 billion in statutory funding for the Canada Community-Building Fund, the employee benefit plan, and ministerial salary and car allowance.

The department has 77 percent of staff in the National Capital Region and 23 percent of staff across the country in all provinces and most territories.

Led by the Deputy Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities, the department is served by six Assistant Deputy Ministers, one Associate Assistant Deputy Minister, one Chief Executive, and two Directors General, who report to the Deputy Minister and work in nine functional areas, as outlined below:

Organizational Chart - Text version

• Deputy Minister's Office (DMO)
  Paul Halucha
  Deputy Minister
  • Communities and Infrastructure Programs Branch (CIP)
    Jeff Waring
    Assistant Deputy Minister
    Erin Lynch
    Assistant Deputy Minister
  • Community Policy and Programs Branch (CPPB)
    Janet Goulding
    Senior Assistant Deputy Minister
    Jean Lamirande
    Associate Assistant Deputy Minister
  • Corporate Services Branch (CSB)
    Michelle Baron
    Assistant Deputy Minister and Chief Financial Officer
  • Policy and Results Branch (PRB)
    Matt de Vlieger
    Assistant Deputy Minister
  • Investment, Partnerships and Innovation Branch (IPI)
    Marco Presutti
    Assistant Deputy Minister
  • Audit and Evaluation (A&E)
    Nicole Zywicki
    Chief Audit and Evaluation Executive
  • Corporate Secretariat
    Karl El-Koura
    Director General
  • Communications
    Andrew J. Swift
    Director General

Deputy Minister's Office

Deputy Minister

Paul Halucha

Deputy Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities

Paul Halucha was appointed Deputy Minister of Infrastructure and Communities in December 2024. In this role, Paul supports the Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities.

As Deputy Minister, Paul oversees the department's contribution to Canada's Housing, Homelessness and Public Infrastructure Policy and Programs—building partnerships, shaping policy and delivering programs and services, including investment in infrastructure that meets a variety of community needs and fosters more inclusive, sustainable and prosperous Canadian communities.

Prior to accepting this Deputy Minister role, Paul served as Deputy Secretary to the Cabinet, Clean Growth and Deputy Minister of Public Lands and Housing at The Privy Council Office (PCO).

Paul has held a number of senior positions within the Government of Canada, notably as Associate Deputy Minister of Environment and Climate Change Canada and Senior Assistant Deputy Minister, Industry Sector, Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada.

Paul holds a Master of Arts in Economics from the Norman Paterson School of International Affairs, Carleton University.

Community Policy and Programs Branch

Branch Head

[redacted]

Janet Goulding

Senior Assistant Deputy Minister

Jean Lamirande

Associate Assistant Deputy Minister

The Community Policy and Programs Branch (CPPB) leads the department's housing policy function. In its capacity, the branch advances federal policy and program solutions to support the government of Canada's housing priorities, including the implementation of the National Housing Strategy and Canada's Housing Plan. The branch is responsible for the department's portfolio function vis a vis the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation. It also works to better align housing and public infrastructure policies and investments, in support of complete and inclusive communities. This includes integrating housing conditionality into existing infrastructure programming, such as the Canada Community-Building Fund, as well as new infrastructure programming, such as the Canada Public Transit Fund and Canada Housing Infrastructure Fund.

The branch is also responsible for homelessness policy and research, as well as the design and delivery of Federal Homelessness Programs: Reaching Home: Canada's Homelessness Strategy, which provides direct funding to urban, Indigenous, rural and remote communities across Canada to help them address local homelessness needs; the Veteran Homelessness Program, which supports rent supplements and wraparound supports for veterans experiencing and at risk of homelessness, as well as capacity-building and research projects on veteran homelessness; and, the new Unsheltered Homelessness and Encampments Initiative, through which Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada works with provinces and territories to support communities to address the urgent issue of encampments and unsheltered homelessness.

CPPB – Directorates

• Katarina Pintar – Director General, Community Engagement and Service Delivery
• Kris Johnson – Director General, Homelessness Policy Directorate
• Cheri Reddin – Director General, Housing Policy Integration and Partnerships
• Lindsay Boldt – Director General, Housing and Community Policy

Policy and Results Branch

Branch Head

Matt de Vlieger

Assistant Deputy Minister

The Policy and Results Branch (PRB) identifies and assesses broad infrastructure and housing issues, priorities, needs for potential federal action and also contributes to federal policy development. In this capacity, PRB undertakes policy integration and development in areas like public transit and active transportation, resilient and low carbon infrastructure, community infrastructure like public buildings, water and wastewater infrastructure, and other emerging issues. The branch works across the department with partners to coordinate and integrate products across the mandate, and through annual budget cycles and key horizontal policy issues. The branch also provides strategic advice to support the Minister at Cabinet and oversees and coordinates multilateral federal, provincial and territorial infrastructure meetings.

The branch advances evidence-based decision-making across all levels of government. It is responsible for generating high-quality data, analysis, and research that enhance infrastructure and housing program and policy design while enabling effective reporting on the outcomes of past investments. By collaborating with stakeholders across Canada, the branch provides a stronger foundation for informed decisions on infrastructure investments, including transit and other critical sectors.

Finally, the branch supports the Canadian Infrastructure Council, responsible for National Infrastructure Assessments, and the National Housing Council, and delivers the climate toolkit for housing and infrastructure. These are initiatives that will guide long-term housing and infrastructure planning in achieving outcomes across the country.

PRB – Directorates

• Tim Angus – Director General, Strategic and Sectoral Policy
• Sean Keenan – Director General, Economic Analysis and Results
• Lo Chiang Cheng – Director General, Environment Infrastructure Policy
• Timothea Gibb – Director General, Office of Housing and Infrastructure Councils

Communities and Infrastructure Programs Branch

Branch Head

Jeff Waring

Assistant Deputy Minister

Erin Lynch

Assistant Deputy Minister

The Communities and Infrastructure Programs Branch (CIP) facilitates investment in public infrastructure that benefits all Canadians, through the design, delivery, and performance measurement of a wide array of infrastructure programs.

The branch supports infrastructure projects across the country in collaboration with provinces, territories, municipalities, Indigenous communities and other stakeholders, and provides program-related advice; Risk Management and Analysis; Environmental Assessments; Indigenous Consultation Determinations; and Program Reporting.

Through policy and data analysis, CIP assesses the economic, environmental and social impacts of infrastructure investments across rural and urban communities, with a focus on ensuring that federal investments support the unique needs of rural communities.

CIP – Directorates

• Nathalie Lechasseur – Director General, Program Integration
• Annie Geoffroy – Director General, Regional Program Operations And Engagement
• Mark Matz – Director General, Public Transit
• Pascal Girard – Director General, Integrated Regional Planning
• Bogdan Makuc – Director General, Resilient and Innovative Communities
• Anna Nowak – Director General, Program Policy and Results

Investment, Partnerships and Innovation Branch

Branch Head

Marco Presutti

Assistant Deputy Minister

The Investment, Partnerships and Innovation (IPI) branch provides policy leadership, research and expertise to advance innovative project finance, Public-Private Partnerships and major project delivery.

The branch is responsible for oversight and support to Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada's portfolio Crown corporations, including the Canada Infrastructure Bank (CIB), the Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority (WDBA) and The Jacques Cartier and Champlain Bridges Incorporated (JCCBI), as well as matters relating to Waterfront Toronto and the Toronto Waterfront Revitalization Initiative.

The branch also oversees several high-profile, major infrastructure projects being realized through Public-Private Partnerships, including the delivery of: the Samuel De Champlain Bridge Corridor Project in Montréal and Integration of the Réseau express métropolitain Light Rail Transit System; the Gordie Howe International Bridge Project between Windsor and Detroit, Michigan, for which IPI supports the WDBA; and Alto, the High Speed Rail initiative between Québec City and Toronto, for which IPI supports Transport Canada. IPI will also support JCCBI in the rehabilitation of the Québec Bridge and delivery of the Bonaventure Redevelopment Project.

IPI – Directorates

• Kathryn McCauley – Acting Director General, Alternative Finance
• Shawn Hibbard – Director General, Major Bridges and Projects

Corporate Services Branch

Branch Head

Michelle Baron

Assistant Deputy Minister and Chief Financial Officer

The Corporate Services Branch (CSB) provides advice, support and services relating to the department's corporate functions, including procurement, human resources, finance, security, planning and administration, accommodations, information management, information technology, and establishing Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada's national footprint.

CSB – Directorates

• Luc Robitaille (as of May 8, 2025) – Director General, Finance and Administration & Deputy Chief Financial Officer
• Sylvain Campeau – Director General, Human Resources
• Terry Rickan – Chief Information Officer & Director General, Information Management and Information Technology
• Allison Wildgust – Director, Transition and Transformation

Communications

Branch Head

Andrew J. Swift

Director General

The Communications branch provides strategic advice and recommendations to the Minister and their office in communicating Government of Canada policies, programs, priorities, and results to Canadians.

Comms – Directorates

• Michael Wronski – Executive Director, Strategic Communications
• Mathias Oliva – Executive Director, Public Affairs
• Jen Powroz – Director, Regional Communications
• Patrick Patenaude – Director, Corporate Communications

Audit and Evaluation

Branch Head

Nicole Zywicki

Chief Executive Audit and Evaluation

The Audit and Evaluation branch provides independent, evidence-based analysis and insight to senior management on departmental risks and operations to support the effective and efficient achievement of results for Canadians, fostering continuous improvement. The branch is led by Nicole Zywicki, chief audit and evaluation executive, who fulfills the dual role of chief audit executive and head of evaluation for the department, and oversees the internal audit and evaluation directorates.

The internal audit directorate helps the department accomplish its objectives by bringing an independent, systematic, disciplined approach to evaluate and improve the effectiveness of risk management, internal control and governance processes. The evaluation directorate provides credible and neutral information on the ongoing relevance, effectiveness and efficiency of the department's programs and initiatives to inform evidence-based decision making on policy, expenditure management and program improvements, thus supporting departmental accountability. The branch is also the department's liaison with the office of the Auditor General of Canada with respect to performance audits and environmental petitions.

Corporate Secretariat

Branch Head

Karl El-Koura

Director General, Corporate Secretariat

The Corporate Secretariat provides specialized advice and services in support of the Minister and the Deputy Minister, including for parliamentary affairs and executive correspondence. To support departmental operations, the branch also provides strategic oversight and coordination for internal core governance, and ensures Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada meets its obligations under the Access to Information Act and Privacy Act.

Constituting Legal Authorities and Agreements

Minister's legal title

• Minister of Infrastructure and Communities - the Department of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Act S.C. 2024, C. 15, S. 323
• Minister of Housing - the Department of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Act S.C. 2024, C. 15, S. 323

Department name

• The Department of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities, known as Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada, a department of the Government Of Canada - the Department of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Act S.C. 2024, C. 15, S. 323

Departmental legal authority

• Legal authority derives from the Department of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Act S.C. 2024, C. 15, S. 323, which establishes the Department of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities, confers on the Minister of Infrastructure and Communities various responsibilities relating to public infrastructure and confers on the Minister of Housing various responsibilities relating to housing and the reduction and prevention of homelessness.

Departmental Programming Legislation

• Canada Community-Building Fund – CCBF
• To provide monies to provinces, territories, municipalities, municipal associations, provincial, territorial and municipal entities & First Nations for the purpose of infrastructure, including infrastructure that can support the growth and affordability of housing.
• Keeping Canada's Economy and Jobs Growing Act, S.C. 2011, C. 24, S. 161; Replaced by:
• Economic Action Plan 2013 Act, No. 1, S.C. 2013, C. 33, Section 233; Amended by:
• Budget Implementation Act, 2019, No. 1, Paragraph 375(1)(I)
• Budget Implementation Act, 2021, No.1, 2021, C. 23, Division 13, Sections 198 & 199
• Department of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Act S.C. 2024, C. 15, S. 323

Departmental legal authority

• Legal authority derives from the Department of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Act S.C. 2024, C. 15, S. 323, which establishes the Department of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities, confers on the Minister of Infrastructure and Communities various responsibilities relating to public infrastructure and confers on the Minister of Housing various responsibilities relating to Housing and the reduction and prevention of homelessness.

Portfolio Organizations – Crown corporations / other entities

Crown corporations:

• Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC)
  • Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation Act, R.S.C, 1985, C. C-7 
  • National Housing Act, R.S.C., 1985, N. N-11
  • Part X of the Financial Administration Act
• Canada Infrastructure Bank (CIB)
  • Designation of the Minister for the purposes of the Canada Infrastructure Bank Act (S.C. 2017, C. 20, S. 403), OIC P.C. 2017-1007 Canada Infrastructure Bank Act;
  • Part X of the Financial Administration Act
• Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority (WDBA)
  • Designation of the Minister as the appropriate Minister for the WDBA, OIC P.C. 2015-1237
  • Letters Patent of incorporation for the establishment of the WDBA:
  • Letters Patent, dated October 9, 2012, OIC P.C. 2012-1350, Canada Gazette
  • Supplementary Letters Patent, dated August 10, 2017, OIC P.C. 2017-1053
  • Transfers to the Minister of Infrastructure the powers, duties and functions under the Letters Patent except any power, duty or function under s.9.1 of the Letters Patent, OIC P.C. 2015-1236
  • Part X of the Financial Administration Act
• The Jacques Cartier and Champlain Bridges Inc. (JCCBI)
  • Designation of the Minister as the appropriate Minister for JCCBI, OIC P.C. 2015-1241
  • Canada Business Corporations Act, R.S.C., 1985, C. C-44
  • Part X of the Financial Administration Act
  • The Jacques-Cartier and Champlain Bridges Inc. Regulations (SOR 98-568), made pursuant to section 141 of the Canada Marine Act

Other shared governance entity:

• Toronto Waterfront Revitalization Corporation (TWR)
  • Designation of the Minister to represent Her Majesty in Right of Canada for the purposes of the Toronto Waterfront Revitalization Corporation Act, OIC P.C. 2015-1240
  • Designation of the Minister for matters relating to the activities of the Government of Canada with respect to Waterfront Toronto and includes the power to enter into Transfer Payment Agreements and Contracts for the Acquisition of Services, OIC P.C. 2015-1239
  • Toronto Waterfront Revitalization Corporation Act, S.O. 2002, C.28

Major Bridges

• New Bridge for the St. Lawrence Corridor Project (NBSL) – (Samuel De Champlain Bridge Corridor)
  • Designation of the Minister for the Purposes of the New Bridge for the St. Lawrence Act, OIC P.C. 2015-1242
  • New Bridge for the St. Lawrence Act, S.C. 2014, C. 20, S. 375
• Gordie Howe International Bridge Project (GHIB)
  • Crossing Agreement between her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada and the State of Michigan and the Crossing Authority, dated June 15, 2012
  • Bridge To Strengthen Trade Act, S.C. 2012, C. 31, S. 179
  • Transfers to the Minister of Infrastructure, the Powers, Duties and Functions under the Bridge To Strengthen Trade Act, OIC P.C. 2015-1238
• International Bridges and Tunnels Act,S.C. 2007, C.1, Section 29

Section 2 – Portfolio Organizations

The Minister of Infrastructure and Communities has responsibilities over five arm's length organizations:

• Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC)
• The Canada Infrastructure Bank (CIB)
• The Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority (WDBA)
• The Jacques Cartier and Champlain Bridges Incorporated (JCCBI)
• Waterfront Toronto

Each organization has a unique mandate and organizational structure. In accordance with their enabling legislation, the Minister of Infrastructure and Communities exercises varying degrees of responsibility for the organizations within the portfolio.

More detailed information on each portfolio organization follows.

Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation

Leadership

Don Iveson

Chair of the Board of Directors

Coleen Volk

President and Chief Executive Officer

Corporate Information

Organization Type: Crown Corporation

Incorporation: Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation Act; National Housing Act

Year Incorporated: Established in 1946

Head Office: Ottawa, ON

Website: www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca

Mandate, Mission and Description

• CMHC is a Crown corporation and Canada's national housing agency, responsible for promoting housing affordability and a stable housing finance system through project funding, mortgage financing, and research and analysis on Canada's housing market.
• CMHC's mandate, as defined in the National Housing Act, is to: "promote housing affordability and choice, to facilitate access to, and competition and efficiency in the provision of housing finance, to protect the availability of adequate funding for housing at low cost, and generally contribute to the well-being of the housing sector in the national economy."
• The statutory objectives for CMHC's commercial operations are further specified in the National Housing Act as follows:
  • to promote the efficient functioning and competitiveness of the housing finance market;
  • to promote and contribute to the stability of the financial system, including the housing market; and,
  • to have due regard to the Corporation's exposure to loss.

Governance

Stewardship of CMHC is the responsibility of the Board of Directors, which is comprised of the Chairperson, the President and Chief Executive Officer; the Deputy Minister of the Minister responsible for CMHC; (ex-officio); the Deputy Minister of Finance; (ex-officio); and eight other directors.

The Chair and the President and Chief Executive Officer are appointed by the Governor in Council. The Deputy Minister of the Minister for CMHC and the Deputy Minister of Finance are appointed based on the office they each hold. The eight other directors are appointed by the Minister designated for the purposes of the Canada Mortgage and Housing Act and the National Housing Act with Governor in Council approval. With the exception of the President and Chief Executive Officer, all members of the Board are independent of CMHC Management.

Canada Infrastructure Bank

Leadership

Macky Tall

Chair of the Board of Directors

Ehren Cory

Chief Executive Officer

Corporate Information

Organization Type: Crown Corporation (FAA, Sched. III, Part I)

Incorporation: Canada Infrastructure Bank Act

Year Incorporated: 2017

Head Office: Toronto, ON

Website: www.cib-bic.ca

Mandate, Mission and Description

• The Canada Infrastructure Bank (CIB) is a Crown corporation that reports to Parliament through the Minister of Infrastructure and Communities.
• The CIB is leveraging $35 billion to attract private capital and co-invest with private-sector and institutional investors in new, revenue-generating infrastructure. The CIB is expected to manage to a maximum fiscal expense of $15 billion.
• Building on Canada's strong Public-Private Partnership model, the CIB was established to ensure that Canadians benefit from modern and sustainable infrastructure through partnerships between governments and the private sector. It does this through its core responsibilities to provide advisory services, undertake research and invest in projects that leverage private and institutional capital to deliver infrastructure that achieves public outcomes and value for taxpayers.
• Working cooperatively with provincial, territorial, municipal, federal, Indigenous and private sector investor partners, the Bank aims to transform the way infrastructure is planned, funded and delivered in Canada by:
  • engaging private sector partners early in the planning and design process;
  • advancing revenue-based business models, where appropriate; and
  • exploring new and innovative approaches to project finance and delivery.

Governance

The CIB's Board is responsible for the organization's ongoing governance and supervision of its business, final investment decisions, and forward-planning and strategic direction, in line with the Government of Canada's priorities.

The CIB's Board is composed of the Chairperson and no fewer than eight but no more than eleven directors, and each is to be appointed by the Governor in Council.

Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority

Leadership

Marie Campagna

Chair of the Board of Directors

Charl Van Niekerk

Chief Executive Officer

Corporate Information

Organization Type: Crown Corporation (FAA, Sched. III, Part I)

Incorporation: Established by Letters Patent pursuant to subsection 29(1) of International Bridges and Tunnels Act; P.C. Order-in-Council 2012-1350

Year Incorporated: 2012

Head Office: Windsor, ON

Website: www.gordiehoweinternationalbridge.com

Mandate, Mission and Description

• Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority (WDBA) is a Crown corporation that reports to Parliament through the Minister of Infrastructure and Communities.
• WDBA is responsible for the delivery of the Gordie Howe International Bridge project between Windsor, Ontario and Detroit, Michigan, through a public-private partnership (P3). As one of the largest P3 projects in North America, the project comprises a six-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 Michigan Interstate 75 (I-75).  
• WDBA is responsible for project oversight of the construction and the operation of the new crossing. As the operator of the new bridge, WDBA will set and collect all tolls.
• The project is a vital investment in the Canadian economy, and will facilitate enhanced cross-border security and increased trade capacity between Canada and the United States by providing redundancy and highway-to-highway connectivity at Windsor-Detroit – the busiest commercial land border crossing between Canada and the United States.

Governance

The WDBA Board is responsible for overseeing the business activities, forward planning and strategic direction as aligned with the Government of Canada's priorities.

The WDBA's Board is composed of the Chairperson, the CEO and up to seven directors. The directors are appointed by the Minister with the approval of the Governor in Council (GiC). The Chairperson and the CEO are appointed by the GiC.

In addition, the International Authority is a joint Canada-Michigan governance entity responsible for monitoring compliance of WDBA with the Crossing Agreement signed by Canada and Michigan. The International Authority consists of six members with equal representation from Canada and Michigan. Two members are appointed by Canada, one appointed by WDBA and three appointed by Michigan.

The Jacques Cartier and Champlain Bridges Incorporated

Leadership

Sylvain Villiard

Chair of the Board of Directors

Sandra Martel

Chief Executive Officer

Corporate Information

Organization Type: Crown Corporation (FAA, Sched. III, Part I)

Incorporation: Canada Business Corporations Act

Year Incorporated: Jacques Cartier and Champlain Bridges Incorporated (JCCBI) was established on November 3, 1978, and was a wholly owned subsidiary of the St. Lawrence Seaway Authority until 1998 when it became a wholly owned subsidiary of the Federal Bridge Corporation Limited. In 2014, JCCBI became a parent Crown corporation reporting to the Minister of Infrastructure and Communities.

Head Office: Longueuil, QC

Website: www.jacquescartierchamplain.ca

Mandate, Mission and Description

• The Jacques Cartier and Champlain Bridges Incorporated (JCCBI) is a Crown corporation that reports to Parliament through the Minister of Infrastructure and Communities.
• It oversees the management, maintenance and rehabilitation of two bridges, namely the Jacques Cartier Bridge and the federal portion of the Honoré Mercier Bridge, while also being responsible for the deconstruction of the original Champlain Bridge. It is also responsible for three related infrastructures, namely the federal section of the Bonaventure Expressway, the Champlain Bridge Ice Control Structure and the Melocheville Tunnel. These structures play a vital role in the regional transportation system and economy.
• The JCCBI's mission is to ensure the mobility of users, the safety and the longevity of infrastructure using a systematic approach based on sustainable development.
• The Corporation plays a vital role in the daily life of thousands of users whose modes of transportation are constantly evolving. As an island city, Montréal and Québec City depend on bridges to ensure the passage and mobility of goods and people.

Governance

The JCCBI Board is responsible for the organization's ongoing governance and supervision of its business, final investment decisions, and forward-planning and strategic direction, as aligned with federal priorities.

The JCCBI's Board is composed of the Chairperson, the CEO and up to five directors. The directors are appointed by the Minister with the approval of the Governor in Council (GiC) and the Chairperson, and the CEO are appointed by the GiC upon recommendation from the Minister.

Waterfront Toronto

Leadership

Jack Winberg

Interim Chair of the Board of Directors

George Zegarac

Chief Executive Officer

Corporate Information

Organization Type: Tri-Government Organization

Incorporation: Toronto Waterfront Revitalization Corporation Act

Year Incorporated: Established in 2001

Head Office: Toronto, ON

Website: www.waterfrontoronto.ca

Mandate, Mission and Description

• Waterfront Toronto (formerly the Toronto Waterfront Revitalization Corporation) is a tri-governmental organization. It was established in 2001 and continued under provincial statute in 2003 following the commitment of $500 million each in seed funding by the governments of Canada, Ontario, and Toronto.
• 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 dynamic public spaces. Ongoing projects include the port lands flood protection project, jointly funded by all three levels of government and one of the largest infrastructure projects in North America. Other key initiatives include the privately-procured Quayside development opportunity, which is set to transform 12.5 acres of post-industrial lakefront land into a dynamic, inclusive and resilient new community.
• Tri-government partners are currently discussing what the next phase of projects could look like, with a focus on housing (including affordable housing), transit solutions and public realm elements.

Governance

Waterfront Toronto's oversight and strategic direction is provided through three forums: an independent Board of Directors, an Intergovernmental Steering Committee composed of high-ranking government officials, and the Port Lands Executive Steering Committee.

Waterfront Toronto's Board of Directors is composed of a chairperson and 12 other members – four each appointed by the Government of Canada, the Province of Ontario, and the City of Toronto. The Minister of Infrastructure and Communities is responsible for appointing up to four federal directors to the board through Ministerial appointment processes.

The Chairperson of the board can be chosen either through tri-governmental agreement or through majority board vote, as permitted by the corporation's enabling legislation. In the case of tri-governmental agreement, all three partners must appoint the chosen Chairperson through their formal appointment processes to give effect to the Chair's term. Waterfront Toronto issues both an Annual Report and an Integrated Annual Report and solicits tri-governmental feedback for both, however neither one requires federal approval.

Section 3 – Ministerial Advisory Councils and the Federal Housing Advocate

The Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities is also responsible for two arm’s length advisory councils, the Canadian Infrastructure Council and the National Housing Council. The Federal Housing Advocate is an ex-officio member of the National Housing Council.

Canadian Infrastructure Council

Leadership

Jennifer Angel

CEO, Evergreen Canada (Chair)

Peter Weltman

Director, Technomics Inc., (Vice-Chair)

Mandate, Mission and Description

• The Canadian Infrastructure Council is an expert advisory body announced by the Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities in December 2024. Supported by the Canadian Infrastructure Council Secretariat, housed within the Policy and Results Branch, the council is mandated with providing impartial, evidence-based research and analysis, which is developed openly and transparently, to help improve infrastructure planning and investment decision-making at all levels of government in Canada.
• The council's primary focus is developing national infrastructure assessment(s), producing evidence-based research or analysis on key infrastructure issues, and providing analysis and advice on any other matter referred to the council by the Minister. The first national infrastructure assessment is expected in mid-2025 and will focus on core public infrastructure needed to build more housing.

National Housing Council

Leadership

Tim Richter

President & CEO of the Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness (Co-Chair)

Mandate, Mission and Description

• The National Housing Council is an advisory body established in 2020 under the National Housing Strategy Act 2019 (NHS Act). With the support of the National Housing Council Secretariat, located within the Policy and Results Branch, the council furthers the effectiveness of the National Housing Strategy and housing policy by providing advice to the Minister responsible for the NHS Act, on its own initiative or at the Minister's request. The council promotes participation and inclusion in developing Canada's housing policy, ensuring that the needs of marginalized and vulnerable groups are at the forefront of housing policy. The Deputy Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities is an ex-officio member of the council, along with the Deputy Minister of Indigenous Services, the President and CEO of CMHC and the Federal Housing Advocate. The council meets quarterly and in-person once a year.
• Council priorities for 2024 and 2025 are:
  • Scaling the non-market housing sector in Canada.
  • Understanding the structure and health of the housing system in Canada.

Federal Housing Advocate

Leadership

Marie-Josée Houle

Federal Housing Advocate

Mandate, Mission and Description

• The Federal Housing Advocate (FHA) is a Governor in Council appointee whose mandate includes monitoring the implementation of housing policy, conducting research on systemic housing issues, and consulting with persons with lived experience of housing need and homelessness as per the NHS Act. 
• The Advocate can request that the National Housing Council establish review panels to hold hearings on specific systemic housing issues (as noted above), can conduct reviews into systemic housing issues and present recommendations to the Minister, and must report to the Minister on an annual basis. The Minister is required to respond to the FHA's reports on systemic housing issues and annual reports. The Minister is also required table both the annual report and his response to the annual report in parliament.
• The FHA is supported by the Office of the Federal Housing Advocate (OFHA) housed within the Canadian Human Rights Commission (CHRC).

Housing Review Panels

Review panels encompass a large part of the National Housing Council’s mandate and are a participatory human rights accountability mechanism established under the National Housing Strategy Act (NHS Act). The Council must establish a review panel to review a systemic housing issue that falls within Parliament’s jurisdiction upon request by the Federal Housing Advocate. The review panel must hold a hearing to review the issue in a way that offers the public an opportunity to participate, particularly members of communities directly affected by the issue and experts 1in human rights and housing. It must then prepare a report with its opinion and recommendations to the Minister responsible for the NHS Act (presently the Minister of Housing, Infrastructure, and Communities). Under the NHS Act, the Minister must table a response to the review panel within 120 days after receipt of the report and must subsequently table it in Parliament within 30 days.

The first review panel on “The Financialization of Purpose-Built Rental Housing” was concluded and the Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities’ response was tabled in Parliament on October 23, 2024.

A second review panel, entitled “Neha”, was launched in September 2024. Neha is examining the right to safe, adequate and affordable housing for women, Two Spirit, Trans, and gender-diverse people, and the government's duty to uphold this right. The review panel is currently holding hearings and is accepting written submissions.

A third referral by the Federal Housing Advocate is expected in 2025.