2021-22 Departmental Results Report
Results at a glance

Investing in Permanent Public Transit

Safe, modern, and efficient public transit systems remain important for the health and sustainability of communities. Federal transit funding supports public transit systems and active transportation networks, creates jobs, and makes communities more accessible and liveable to all. The Permanent Public Transit Program (PPTP) announced in Budget 2021 provides $14.9 billion over 8 years with $3 billion per year ongoing starting in 2026-27. This funding builds on the $20 billion in funding already available for transit across the country from existing federal programs. The transit investments we are making will reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, provide health benefits, and better serve disadvantaged groups for whom car travel is not accessible.

Over the 2021-22 fiscal year, Infrastructure Canada significantly advanced on the Government of Canada commitment to deliver affordable, zero-emission public transit options. Similarly, the Department has made progress on funding transit solutions for rural communities, electrifying existing systems and investing in active transportation projects such as cycling and walking paths. In 2021-22, the federal government successfully launched three public transit application-based funds in this regard, with some leveraging the Canada Infrastructure Bank (CIB).

The Rural Transit Solutions Fund (RTSF), representing $250 million over five years, is the first federal fund to target the development of transit solutions in rural and remote communities. It is making funding available to support the development of locally driven transit solutions that will help people living in rural communities get to work, school, appointments and to visit loved ones.

In addition, the Zero Emission Transit Fund (ZETF), with $2.75 billion over five years, supports the public transit and school bus operators' plan for electrification, the purchase of zero emission buses and building supporting infrastructure, including charging infrastructure and facility upgrades.

Finally, the Active Transportation Fund, representing $400 million over five years, invests in projects that build new and expanded networks of pathways, bike lanes, trails and pedestrian bridges, in addition to supporting active transportation planning activities. In turn, this creates more desirable communities with less traffic congestion and cleaner air.

All three programs have held their initial intakes and are working to finalize approvals and agreements, which includes reviewing projects to identify environmental and Indigenous consultation requirements that proponents must fulfill under the contribution agreement.

In addition to the successful launch of the three funds above, Infrastructure Canada continues to provide funding to provinces, territories and municipalities through the Public Transit stream of the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program (ICIP). To date, over $10.9 billion has been approved for projects under this stream to support new transit networks, service extensions and active transportation. More information on this stream and on the ICIP are presented in Results: What we achieved.

As committed to in the Government of Canada's Emissions Reduction Plan, the Department continues to explore opportunities to link investments in infrastructure, particularly public transit, to the built environment and housing outcomes, including supporting access to and diversity of housing options for Canadians, which helps to build transit-oriented communities.The Department's programming is designed to explore traditional and innovative transportation solutions that meet local needs and realities across the country, from major urban centres to rural areas, helping Canadians access essential services, get to work, and move around their communities.

Promoting Green and Inclusive Community Buildings and Climate Resilient Infrastructure

In 2021, Infrastructure Canada worked with communities to create a Green and Inclusive Community Buildings (GICB) Program, which will provide $1.5 billion over five years to build more community buildings and improve existing ones – particularly in under-served areas with populations experiencing higher needs. The GICB program supports the first pillar of the Strengthened Climate Plan by making it easier for Canadians to improve the places in which they live and gather, including by cutting pollution (e.g. reducing GHG emissions, increasing energy efficiency, building resiliency to climate change and encouraging new builds to net zero standards), making life more affordable and supporting thousands of good jobs.

GICB features a continuous intake stream for small and medium retrofit projects to existing community buildings, and a scheduled intake stream for large retrofit projects to existing buildings or new community building projects. The first intake closed in July 2021 and saw a very high-level interest and was heavily oversubscribed. More details on this are found under Core Responsibility 3.

Also contributing to the Department's climate objectives are the Natural Infrastructure Fund (NIF), which will support the implementation of climate-ready and cost-effective natural infrastructure solutions that are contextually designed and responsive to a changing climate, and the Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund (DMAF). The project application phase for the NIF remained ongoing at the end of the fiscal year.

Finally, the DMAF has provided over $1.9 billion in federal funding in the past three years to help protect communities against drought, earthquakes, erosion, extreme temperatures, floods, permafrost thaw, storms, and wildland fires. A round of intakes for small- and large-scale project proposals was carried out in 2021, with assessments continuing to the end of the fiscal year. More details on this program are found in our Results: what we achieved.

Improving Ventilation in Public Buildings to Support Health and Safety

Over the past year, Infrastructure Canada carried out work on a program to improve ventilation in public buildings in order to support Canadians' health during the pandemic and beyond.

In the 2020 Fall Economic Statement (FES), a total of $150 million of funding for ventilation improvement projects was announced.  Based on the FES, $120 million was added to the temporary COVID-19 Resilience Infrastructure stream of the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program (ICIP), while the remaining $30 million of that funding was to be delivered through Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) and Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada (CIRNAC) directly to Indigenous communities in April 2021.

Following the 2021 Economic and Fiscal Update, to further support ventilation projects in public and community buildings, another $70 million was added to the ICIP's COVID-19 Resilience Infrastructure stream. This additional allocation brought the total funding dedicated to improving ventilation in public buildings to $190 million for Infrastructure Canada. This stream supports ventilation improvement projects in public buildings such as hospitals  and long-term care facilities.

In total, Infrastructure Canada has funded 636 ventilation projects with a total value of $863,181,855, through both the dedicated ventilation improvement funding and the broader COVID-19 stream.   

Supporting Rural Economic Development

Infrastructure Canada undertook informal engagements early in the fiscal year to build connections between rural community leaders, rural experts, and federal and provincial programs that are designed to support rural communities and rural priorities. For example, connections were made across program areas for community and cultural supports, natural resource economies, and rural transportation and community mobility, with appropriate federal and provincial partners.

Infrastructure Canada also assisted with the Federal/Provincial/Territorial Working Group organized by the Canadian Rural Revitalization Foundation (CRRF) which met every six weeks. In August 2021, the progress report for Canada's Rural Economic Development Strategy was published and provided an update on the progress made to date on key priorities identified in the Strategy. Since 2015, investments in rural Canada have improved quality of life and helped rural economies diversify and compete in a changing world, most notably through the Internet connectivity strategy. Investing over $14 billion in infrastructure in rural communities provides improved food security, more reliable road, air and marine infrastructure, more efficient and reliable energy sources, and improved education and health facilities. Rural communities produce roughly 30% of Canada's Gross Domestic Product and it is important to ensure that they are strong, vibrant and inclusive places to call home.

In October 2021, responsibilities for the federal Rural Economic Development moved to Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED).

Undertaking a National Infrastructure Assessment

Infrastructure Canada continues to lay the groundwork for a National Infrastructure Assessment to identify Canada's infrastructure needs and priorities, linking public investments with policy outcomes, and planning for a future that is green, inclusive and prosperous.

In the summer of 2021, the Department conducted a public engagement on the purpose and benefits of undertaking a National Infrastructure Assessment and sought input from the public, Indigenous peoples, provinces, territories, municipalities and stakeholders on three main priorities of the assessment: assessing Canada's infrastructure needs and establishing a long-term vision; improving coordination among infrastructure owners and funders; and determining the best ways to fund and finance infrastructure. The Department produced a report highlighting the recommendations received from more than 300 organizations and individuals.

This input signaled a strong interest in moving forward with an Assessment, using advice that is rooted in evidence and developed openly and transparently. The Government is currently considering the next steps for the National Infrastructure Assessment, including its mandate, design and governance.

Advancing Significant Bridge Projects

In 2021-22, Infrastructure Canada worked to advance two major bridge projects: the Samuel De Champlain Bridge (SDCB) Corridor Project and the Gordie Howe International Bridge (GHIB).

The SDCB project continues to transition from the design-build phase to the operations-maintenance-rehabilitation (OMR) phase. The Corridor is fully operational while Infrastructure Canada's private partner, Signature on the Saint Lawrence Group, completes outstanding work and corrects minor deficiencies, and collaborates with CDPQ Infra to ensure timely commissioning of the Réseau express métropolitain (REM) light rail transit system on the Bridge.

During the fiscal year, Infrastructure Canada continued to work closely with CDPQ Infra/REM to advance the construction of the light rail transit system within the Samuel De Champlain Bridge's dedicated transit corridor. Most of the construction work was completed and the Department continues to liaise with its partners to ensure that the tentative commissioning date of the REM, set for late 2022, is respected. In terms of the Corridor itself, Infrastructure Canada collaborated with its private partner, Signature on the Saint Lawrence Group, as it carried out outstanding work and the correction of minor deficiencies that it expects to complete in late 2022. At the same time, Infrastructure Canada continued to support the Jacques Cartier and Champlain Bridges Incorporated (JCCBI) as it deconstructs the original Champlain Bridge. Deconstruction remains on time and on budget, with the project expected to be completed in 2024, and with rehabilitation of the area expected to be completed in 2025.

In addition to its work on the SDCB, Infrastructure Canada has been supporting the delivery of the GHIB project. The Department works with Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority (WDBA) in its delivery of the Bridge, alongside the State of Michigan, through a public-private partnership with Bridging North America (BNA). In 2021-22, substantial progress was made on the GHIB's construction. Some noteworthy advancements include the construction of the bridge towers on both sides of the border, with work moving ahead to join the towers. Work on the ports of entry continues.

Supporting communities in their efforts to prevent and reduce homelessness

Following Election 2021, Infrastructure Canada's mandate expanded to include work on homelessness, housing and social inclusion. As such, the Homelessness Policy Directorate (HPD) has moved from the Department of Economic and Social Development Canada through an Order-in-Council, resulting in the creation of a new Community Policy and Programs Branch (CPPB) at Infrastructure Canada. This new branch is responsible for supporting the Minister of Housing and Diversity and Inclusion (HDI) with the development of homelessness policy, research and the delivery of Reaching Home: Canada's Homelessness Strategy, as well as working closely with the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) to help build stronger communities and better align housing and public infrastructure investments.

Launched in 2019, Reaching Home is a community-based program aimed at preventing and reducing homelessness across Canada. Reaching Home provides funding directly to communities through six regional and national funding streams. Recognizing the overrepresentation of Indigenous peoples among those experiencing homelessness, the program has a dedicated Indigenous Homelessness stream, in addition to distinctions-based funding and funding for modern treaty holders. In addition, Reaching Home includes a Community Capacity and Innovation (CCI) stream to foster innovation in the homelessness sector and support communities in establishing Coordinated Access, an integrated systems-based approach that prioritizes people most in need of assistance and matches individuals to appropriate housing.

Throughout 2021-22, HPD continued to support communities in their efforts to reduce and prevent homelessness through Reaching Home's base funding, as well as $299.4 million in incremental program funding provided through the FES 2020. This incremental funding supported COVID-19 recovery efforts and the shift to more permanent and long-term housing solutions.

HPD also supported nationally coordinated Point-in-Time counts in 33 communities in 2021-22. Communities use the results of the counts to understand the impact of the pandemic on people affected by homelessness at a given point in time and to update and adjust plans to prevent and reduce homelessness. They also contribute to the national understanding of how homelessness is changing over time.

Lastly, HPD continued to engage and collaborate with its key partners throughout 2021-22, including the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC), and other stakeholders on the continued implementation of Reaching Home, efforts to address chronic homelessness and the design of new initiatives funded through Budget 2021. For example, in March 2022, the Minister of Housing and Diversity and Inclusion and Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defense hosted three virtual roundtable discussions with stakeholders, including Veterans' organizations, homelessness-sector organizations and Veterans with lived experiences, in order to gather ideas on how the Government can lead efforts to end Veteran homelessness.

For more information on Infrastructure Canada's plans, priorities and results achieved, see the Results: what we achieved section of this report.