2018-2019 Departmental Results Report
Supplementary information


Corporate Information

Organizational profile

Appropriate ministers: The Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, P.C., M.P., The Honourable Bernadette Jordan, P.C., M.P.

Institutional head: Kelly Gillis

Ministerial portfolio: Minister of Infrastructure and Communities, Minister of Rural Economic Development

The Office of Infrastructure of Canada is part of the Infrastructure and Communities portfolio. The portfolio includes the following:

  • The Jacques Cartier and Champlain Bridges Incorporatedxliv, a Crown corporation whose mandate is to ensure users' safe passage on its structures located in the Greater Montreal Area by ensuring their proper management, maintenance and repair, while respecting the environment and optimizing traffic flow.
  • Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authorityxlv (WDBA), a Crown corporation with the responsibility to design, finance, build, operate and maintain a new, publicly owned international crossing between Windsor, Ontario and Detroit, Michigan that will be delivered through a public-private partnership. Responsibility for WDBA was transferred from the Minister of Transport to the Minister of Infrastructure and Communities on November 4, 2015.
  • The Canada Infrastructure Bankxlvi, a Crown corporation, uses federal support to attract private sector and institutional investment to new revenue-generating infrastructure projects that are in the public interest. The CIB leverages the capital and expertise of the private sector to help government partners build new infrastructure across Canada. The Canada Infrastructure Bank Act received Royal Assent on June 22, 2017. The Minister of Infrastructure and Communities was designated the responsible Minister on July 4, 2017.
  • The Minister of Infrastructure and Communities was designated as the Minister responsible for federal matters relating to the Toronto Waterfront Revitalization Initiativexlvii effective November 4, 2015. In 2000, the Government of Canada, the Province of Ontario, and the City of Toronto each announced a commitment of $500 million to fund the Initiative. The Toronto Waterfront Revitalization Corporation, which is a notforprofit corporation publicly known as Waterfront Toronto, was established in 2001.
  • The Office of Infrastructure Canada also houses the Centre for Rural Economic Development. The Centre was established following the appointment of a Minister of Rural Economic Development in January 2019. The Centre provides leadership for strong and resilient rural communities as an integral part of the Canadian economy, by providing a focus on rural needs, working across departments and agencies (particularly with the Regional Development Agencies for rural community development, and collaborating with Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada on rural broadband), with other orders of government, and a range of stakeholders.

Enabling instruments:

Year of incorporation: The Office of Infrastructure of Canada was established in 2002.

Other: Infrastructure Canada works in collaboration with Transport Canada to deliver some of its sunsetting transfer payment programs. Infrastructure Canada also works with Public Services and Procurement Canada for the New Champlain Bridge Corridor project as the contract authority.

In its role as lead department in the Government of Canada's Investing in Canada plan, Infrastructure Canada works with 13 other federal organizations: Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation; Canadian Heritage; Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada; Employment and Social Development Canada; Environment and Climate Change Canada; Health Canada; Indigenous Services Canada; Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada; Natural Resources Canada; Parks Canada Agency; Public Health Agency of Canada; Public Safety Canada; and Transport Canada.

Raison d'être, mandate and role: who we are and what we do

Raison d'être

The key to building Canada for the 21st century is a strategic and collaborative long term infrastructure plan that builds economically vibrant, strategically planned, sustainable and inclusive communities. Infrastructure Canada works closely with all orders of government and other partners to enable investments in social, green, public transit, trade, transportation and other core public infrastructures.

Mandate and role

Infrastructure Canada is a Government of Canada department that:

  • provides long-term, predictable support to help Canadians benefit from world-class, modern public infrastructure;
  • makes investments, builds partnerships, develops policies, delivers programs, and fosters knowledge about public infrastructure in Canada; and
  • helps address complex challenges that Canadians face every day – including the rapid growth of our cities, climate change, and environmental threats to our water and land.

In January 2019, the Department was mandated to:

  • lead the development of a whole-of-government rural economic development strategy to help create jobs, support growth and ensure that Canada's rural and remote communities remain vibrant for generations to come; and
  • lead the federal government's commitment to increase high-speed broadband coverage in rural Canada.

The Department's two ministers in 2018-19 were the Minister of Infrastructure and Communities and the Minister of Rural Economic Development.

For more general information about the Department, see the “Supplementary information” section of this report.

For more information on the Department's organizational mandate letter commitments, see the mandate letters for the Minister of Infrastructure and Communitieslxv, and for the Minister of Rural Economic Developmentlxvi.

Operating context and key risks

Operating context

The good state of Canada's infrastructure is dependent on its good management and on an appropriate rate of reinvestment. Infrastructure Canada has put in place the essential elements of a national monitoring system by developing surveys with Statistics Canada. It is delivering the stable funding required for sound asset management and long-term planning, and it has launched targeted programs to address pressure points such as disaster mitigation, new technologies, changing demographics and the evolving needs and aspirations of Canadians.

Infrastructure Canada is working with its partners to identify Canada's infrastructure needs, to plan, finance, build, operate and maintain Canada's infrastructure, and to realize the intended outcomes of federal investments in infrastructure. Stakeholder engagement is essential to achieve the mandate of the Department. Important initiatives in 2018-19 included the following:

  • National consultation of rural communities.
  • Engagement of association representatives, chambers of commerce and unions, as well as leading policy thinkers.
  • Participation in the Annual Convention of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) and discussions with the FCM's Big City Mayors' Caucus.
  • Engagement with the Assembly of First Nations, the Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, the Métis National Council, the Native Women's Association of Canada, and other Indigenous communities and organizations.
  • Federal-Provincial-Territorial Working Groups which were set up to discuss Emerging Policy and Program Issues as well as Data and Reporting. A Federal-Provincial-Territorial Governance Structure was created to collaborate on Infrastructure Canada's programs.
  • The Department convened a working group of privacy commissioners from across Canada under the Smart Cities Challenge, and engaged with the CIO Strategy Council, the Centre for International Governance Initiatives, the Standards Council of Canada, Future Cities Canada, the Council of Canadian Innovators, and multiple municipal associations.
  • Engagement with all 13 federal departments delivering programs under the Investing in Canada Plan to monitor and report on progress and results.

Key risks

Infrastructure Canada applies a comprehensive approach to identify, assess and manage risks at the strategic, operational, program and project levels. This involves conducting regular environmental scans and an annual risk identification and assessment process with direct participation of senior management. The table below provides an overview of key corporate risks and the results of risk response strategies. As in previous years, the Department has reviewed and updated risks in the context of emerging environmental risk factors and progress made by implementing risk responses.

Risks

Risk response strategy and effectiveness

Link to department's Core Responsibility

Link to mandate letter commitments, government-wide or departmental priorities

Diminished ability to provide timely internal services solutions

Risk exposure declined significantly as a result of the implementation of risk responses and will not require further management attention.

Effective responses include:

Additional resources were allocated to improve the organization's financial and Human Resources Management.

Approval of a Strategic Human Resource Management Plan 2018-2020 and bi-weekly monitoring of its implementation.

Assessing alternative methods of delivering Information Technology-enabled services including two pilot projects of the SSC cloud service to develop a small (non-critical) mobile application and to display geospatial information.

Launched the project to implement Government of Canada electronic document and record management solution – GCDOCS.

Public Infrastructure

Mandate letter: track and report on the progress of our commitments, assess the effectiveness of our work, and align our resources with priorities to get the results we want and Canadians deserve.

Departmental Priority 3: Instill a strengthened culture of measurement, evaluation and innovation.

Delays in bringing new federal bridges into service or failure to maintain the integrity of the existing Champlain Bridge

The risk related to the construction phase of the Samuel De Champlain Bridge and the procurement and start of construction of the Gordie Howe International Bridge project have been well managed.

Effective responses include:

Budget 2018 provided funding to keep the existing Champlain Bridge in service longer.

A Settlement Agreement was reached with the Private Partner to resolve all major claims related to the New Samuel De Champlain Bridge to March 2018.

Additional measures were put in place to launch the opening of the New Samuel De Champlain Bridge as soon as possible.

Obtaining required authorities to extend the bridge team to March 31, 2021.

The Gordie Howe International Bridge procurement process concluded with the announcement of Bridging North America (BNA) as the preferred proponent and start of construction during the fiscal year.

Public Infrastructure

Mandate letter: move forward on a toll-free replacement to the Champlain Bridge

Departmental Priority 2: Advance the New Champlain Bridge Corridor project and the Gordie Howe International Bridge project to contribute to the efficiency and safety of Canada's major gateways and trade corridors

Inability to effectively implement Infrastructure Canada programs under the Investing in Canada plan

Overall, this risk has been effectively managed. However, concerns over the funding flows/planned spending are being addressed as an existing issue.

Effective responses include:

All Bilateral agreements for the Investing in Canada plan are signed and projects are being submitted.

A risk-based approach is being used to streamline the administration (project review and approval) of the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program (ICIP) allowing for more focused oversight for higher risk projects.

INFC developed tailored guidance material for provinces and territories to respond to the expected volume of large transit projects seeking approval in 2018-19.

Established an Other Government Departments (OGD) Steering Committee to review ICIP projects and identify risks, challenges and strategic considerations at its monthly meetings.

The new Infrastructure Recipient Information System (IRIS) has been launched and continues to be developed in collaboration with provincial/territorial partners.

“Just-in-time” (JIT) audits of the approval, governance and payment and reporting phases of the Public Transit Infrastructure Fund (PTIF) and Clean Water/ Wastewater Infrastructure Fund (CWWF) were undertaken to provide timely assurance that the department would achieve its objectives. Similar JIT audits are planned for other programs under IICP over the next five years.

Public infrastructure

Mandate letter: Develop a 10-year plan to deliver significant new funding to provinces, territories and municipalities.

Departmental Priority 1: Implement Investing in Canada, a long-term infrastructure plan that will deliver significant new funding for provinces, territories and municipalities to support inclusive and sustainable economic growth.

Departmental Results Framework and Program Inventory

Infrastructure Canada's Departmental Results Framework and Program Inventory of record for 2018–19 are shown below:

Departmental Results Framework

Core Responsibility: Public Infrastructure

Internal Services

Departmental Result 1:

Infrastructure projects are

funded and supported by Infrastructure Canada

Indicator 1.1: INFC funding committed to projects

Indicator 1.2: Value of INFC's funding contribution in the fiscal year

Indicator 1.3: Implementation status and oversight of major bridge projects

Departmental Result 2:

Public infrastructure is

managed in a more

sustainable way

Indicator 2.1: Total annual investments from all levels of government in infrastructure projects supported by INFC

Indicator 2.2: Percentage of municipalities that strengthened their asset management practices as a result of federal funding

Indicator 2.3: Change in remaining useful life of infrastructure assets

Departmental Result 3:

Rate of economic growth is increased in an inclusive

and sustainable way

Indicator 3.1: Change in real GDP attributable to federal

investments in infrastructure

Departmental Result 4:

Improved urban mobility in Canadian communities

Indicator 4.1: Percentage of Canadians living within 400 metres of a transit station or stop

Indicator 4.2: Modal share of public transit and active

transportation

Departmental Result 5:

Environmental quality is

improved, GHG emissions

are reduced and resilience

of communities is

increased

Indicator 5.1: Percentage of municipalities that built or enhanced their capacity to reduce GHG emissions and adapt to climate change as a result of federal funding

Indicator 5.2: Percentage of municipalities that built or enhanced their drinking water system as a result of federal funding

Indicator 5.3: Percentage of municipalities that built or enhanced their wastewater treatment system as a result of federal funding

Departmental Result 6:

Canadian communities are

inclusive and accessible

Indicator 6.1: Number of community, cultural and recreational facilities that were enhanced or built as a result of federal funding, and that are accessible

Indicator 6.2: Number of public transit systems that were enhanced or built as a result of federal funding, and that are accessible

Program Inventory

Investing in Canada Phase 1 – Funding Allocations for Provinces and Territories

Investing in Canada Phase 1 – Funding for Federation of Canadian Municipalities

Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program

Gas Tax Fund – Permanent Funding for Municipalities

New Building Canada Fund – National Infrastructure Component

New Building Canada Fund – Funding Allocations for Provinces and Territories

Historical Programs

New Champlain Bridge Corridor Project

Gordie Howe International Bridge Team

Toronto Waterfront Revitalization Initiative

Smart Cities Challenge

Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund

Supporting information on the Program Inventory

Financial, human resources and performance information for Infrastructure Canada's Program Inventory is available in the GC InfoBaselxvii.

Supplementary information tables

The following supplementary information tables are available on Infrastructure Canada's websitelxviii

  • Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy
  • Details on transfer payment programs of $5 million or more
  • Gender-based analysis plus
  • Horizontal initiatives
  • Response to parliamentary committees and external audits
  • Status report on transformational and major Crown projects

Federal tax expenditures

The tax system can be used to achieve public policy objectives through the application of special measures such as low tax rates, exemptions, deductions, deferrals and credits. The Department of Finance Canada publishes cost estimates and projections for these measures each year in the Report on Federal Tax Expenditureslxix. This report also provides detailed background information on tax expenditures, including descriptions, objectives, historical information and references to related federal spending programs. The tax measures presented in this report are the responsibility of the Minister of Finance.

Organizational contact information

For more information on the Department and its infrastructure programs, please visit www.infrastructure.gc.calxx or contact:

Infrastructure Canada
180 Kent Street, Suite 1100
Ottawa, Ontario K1P 0B6
National information line on infrastructure: 613-948-1148
Telephone toll free: 1-877-250-7154
TTY: 1-800-465-7735
Email: infc.info.infc@canada.ca


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