Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Transition Binder (2025)
Book 3: Capacity and Evolution of HICC

• Section A: Capacity and Evolution of the Department
  • HICC is built to deliver on evolving priorities
  • How we invest: Policy and program tools to be deployed
  • What we invest in: Many asset classes, housing solutions
  • Annex: HICC’s evolving mandate
  • Annex: What we invest in

Section A: Capacity and Evolution of the Department

HICC is built to deliver on evolving priorities, harnessing capacity and experience

• Over a relatively short history, the Department has delivered an array of programming types and funded a wide variety of asset classes.
  • Infrastructure – from large transfers via provincial agreements to targeted application-based programs and alternative finance models.
  • Housing and homelessness – leading housing policy work to advance Canada’s Housing Plan, in close partnership with CMHC on program delivery, and providing federal funding to support community-based homelessness responses.
• Demonstrated capacity to adapt, pivot, and align to prevailing economic and partner needs and contexts.
  • From time-limited and narrow-purpose funds to long-term, predictable programs.
  • Relationships and credibility built with other levels of government and with sector players.
  • Capacity for economic analysis, intelligence on regional infrastructure and housing needs had been deepened over time.

Whether providing stimulus-type relief, building in areas of strategic long-term need, or addressing the housing supply and affordability crisis, HICC has swung into action to meet the moment.

How we invest: Policy and program tools to be deployed

• The housing and infrastructure portfolio leverages a range of funding and delivery tools. The portfolio has the potential to explore additional funding mechanisms, or funding/delivery tool combinations, as needed.
  • HICC is an established G&Cs funder with experience in PTM agreements, direct delivery and transfer payments.
  • Conditionality on infrastructure funding to achieve housing and housing-adjacent outcomes.
  • Alternative or flexible financing options are also available via CMHC and CIB to deliver housing and revenue-generating infrastructure projects.
• Different tools are better suited to different assets. The portfolio is flexible and can adjust how it funds projects, depending on the project in question.

What we invest in: Many asset classes, housing solutions

• Current infrastructure programming focuses on a few asset classes:
  • Housing-enabling water, wastewater, solid waste (Canada Housing Infrastructure Fund)
  • Public transit and active transportation (Canada Public Transit Fund)
  • Community buildings and assets (Green and Inclusive Community Buildings)
  • Resilient infrastructure (Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund)
  • A broader range of 19 project types – e.g., transit, wastewater, local roads/bridges (Canada Community-Building Fund, ongoing)
• Housing programming spans the housing spectrum:
  • Building more homes, making it easier to own/rent and increasing affordable housing (Apartment Construction Loan Program, Housing Accelerator Fund, etc.)
  • Ending chronic homelessness (Reaching Home, etc.)
• The department has an extensive history of delivering both broad-based and targeted programs targeting different outcomes through infrastructure investment, including the following legacy programs:
  • Long-term, stable infrastructure funding for communities (Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program)
  • Focus on economic growth, job creation and productivity (Building Canada Fund and New Building Canada Fund)
  • Modernizing our border infrastructure (Border Infrastructure Fund)

Annex: HICC’s evolving mandate

Annex: What we invest in