2017-18 Departmental Results Report
Minister's message
As Minister of Infrastructure and Communities, I am pleased to present Infrastructure Canada's Departmental Results Report for 2017-2018.
This report outlines the Department's achievements over the 2017-2018 fiscal year in delivering on the Government of Canada's commitment to build infrastructure for the future and make a real difference in the lives of Canadians. I believe investing in infrastructure is a key enabler for the country's economy and prosperity.
We know that communities - big and small, urban and rural - benefit from infrastructure that is modern, resilient, and green. Infrastructure is the foundation of strong communities, helping to attract investment and talent, connecting us to our communities, and allowing Canadians to harness their full potential.
This has been a year of great accomplishments for the Department. Working closely with our partners, we have made significant progress implementing the Investing in Canada plan. Thanks to the plan, a water treatment plant in Kinkora (PEI) has transformed its community's capacity to safely handle waste water from homes and businesses; a community centre in Saanich (BC) is replacing its natural gas boilers with a more efficient technology, helping reduce the facility's carbon foot print by 90 percent; and in Montréal (QC) a new transit garage will improve the frequency of service, moving residents throughout the City and supporting future ridership growth.
These projects are a few concrete examples of the tangible impacts that infrastructure has on Canadians and the positive influence it can have on our communities from coast to coast to coast.
The next phase of the Investing in Canada plan builds on this progress. As of March 31st, four bilateral agreements had been signed with provinces and territories. Since then, we have worked closely with our provincial and territorial partners to sign the remaining agreements. These bilateral agreements will deliver more than $33 billion to support public transit, green infrastructure, recreational and cultural infrastructure, and rural and northern communities over the next decade.
This has also been a year of historic firsts for the Department. In June 2017, the Canada Infrastructure Bank was successfully established as a Crown corporation within the Infrastructure Portfolio. The Bank is a new and innovative tool that provincial, territorial, municipal and Indigenous partners can use to build more infrastructure for their communities.
In November 2017, we launched the Smart Cities Challenge. This competition has engaged communities of all sizes to develop their best ideas and improve the lives of their residents through innovation, data, and connected technology. We received 130 eligible applications from communities across the country. Finalists were announced in June 2018 and the winners will be announced in the summer of 2019.
Additionally, we continued to support the development and revitalization of the Toronto Waterfront; the advancement of the Gordie Howe International Bridge Project, which will facilitate trade at the Windsor-Detroit border crossing; and construction on the new Champlain Bridge, which will ensure the continuous and safe flow of people and goods in the Montréal area.
In the coming year, I will strive to meet the commitments outlined in my mandate letter and continue to deliver the investments that will build the best infrastructure for Canadians—infrastructure that will help them to prosper and benefit from an improved quality of life for generations to come.
The Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, P.C., M.P.
Minister of Infrastructure and Communities
- Date modified: