Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada (formerly Infrastructure Canada)'s 2023-24 Departmental Results Report: Results at a glance
A departmental results report provides an account of actual accomplishments against plans, priorities and expected results set out in the associated Departmental Plan.
Key priorities
Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada's top priorities for 2023-24 were as follows:
Subsequent to the publication of the 2023-24 Departmental Plan, in May 2023 the Government of Canada assigned Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada (HICC) a leadership role on housing policy and program development within the federal government, in partnership with the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC).
Throughout 2023-24, HICC continued to work closely with CMHC, other government departments, provincial, territorial and municipal partners, and transit agencies to link infrastructure investments with achieving greater housing supply, improving affordability of homes, and modernizing how housing is built. To support this goal, HICC has developed a housing conditionality framework that ties infrastructure investments to housing outcomes. This new framework was incorporated into Canada's Housing Plan, which establishes the enabling conditions to build more homes by bringing down the cost of homebuilding, building at a quicker pace and changing the way homes are built.
CMHC's Housing Accelerator Fund (HAF) also set in motion a series of policy changes at the local level that are generating positive early momentum for federal housing objectives and aligning best practices on housing across the country. This includes ensuring that housing actions are based on need by requiring the completion of Housing Needs Assessments (HNA). The Department, taking a Team Canada approach, has developed a standardized federal HNA template to support local governments in fulfilling the requirement for federal infrastructure funding; this includes the HAF, the Canada Community-Building Fund (CCBF), and future public transit funding. HNAs will facilitate the roll-up of data to ensure an informed, evidence-based and long-term planning story at all levels of government. Communities across Canada are already using the template to complete their assessments.
In future reporting years, HICC will set priorities and report on results related to HICC's expanded mandate, including housing policy and program development and linking existing infrastructure programming to housing outcomes.
Align federal infrastructure and housing investments to increase housing supply overall, and support access to housing that is affordable and strategically oriented near transit, employment, services and amenities to meet the diverse needs of all Canadians
HICC continues to leverage future infrastructure funding to improve housing outcomes by promoting integrated planning processes at the local and regional level. This ensures that housing and infrastructure programs work effectively together to achieve mutually reinforcing goals, such as housing supply and affordability, while promoting the development of complete, inclusive and sustainable transit-oriented communities. As the Department worked towards implementing future public infrastructure investments, such as the renewed administrative agreements for the CCBF and the design of future permanent public transit programming, it focused on enabling complete communities where people can afford to live, work and play. To maximize the impact of these investments, funding recipients will be expected to take actions that will unlock housing supply and increase affordability.
Additionally, HICC continued to monitor projects funded through the Active Transportation Fund (ATF), Zero Emission Transit Fund (ZETF) and Rural Transit Solution Fund (RTSF). These funds contribute to national priorities such as growing our carbon-neutral economy and supporting community needs such as the ability to access jobs, services, active transportation and public transportation. Future transit investments will provide predictable funding to cities, transit agencies and large metropolitan regions focused on communities. However, this funding will be contingent on local rules that allow for more density near transit and encourage the right kind of housing that Canadians need, by leveraging data provided through HNAs.
Support communities and organizations to prevent and reduce homelessness, including chronic, Indigenous and Veteran homelessness
Everyone deserves a safe and stable place to call home, but far too many people in Canada face the daily, unacceptable reality of homelessness. HICC is helping to ensure vulnerable populations have a roof over their heads. That is why Reaching Home: Canada's Homelessness Strategy continues to provide funding directly to communities to support efforts to address homelessness. In 2023-24, HICC amended agreements with all recipients to provide funding for the second program cycle which will run from 2024-25 to 2027-28. This included the Budget 2017 base investment and Budget 2022 incremental investment, as well as a $100-million top up for many communities in winter 2023 to support needs related to unsheltered homelessness.
Recognizing the disproportionally large number of Indigenous people experiencing homelessness, Reaching Home has dedicated funding to address the unique needs of Indigenous Peoples through two funding streams: the Indigenous Homelessness stream and the Distinctions-based stream, which includes a portion of funding for Modern Treaty Holders. In 2023-24, significant progress was made with Indigenous organizations to identify and address the specific needs of Indigenous Peoples living in urban and/or rural (i.e. off-reserve) communities experiencing or at risk of homelessness. Distinctions-based partners and Modern Treaty Holders co-developed and advanced approaches to Indigenous homelessness that respond to the specific needs of First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples.
HICC also continued to work in close collaboration with Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) to implement the Veteran Homelessness Program (VHP). Launched in April 2023, the VHP aims to prevent and reduce Veteran homelessness in Canada by delivering contribution funding through two streams. The Services and Supports Stream provides funding for rent supplements and wraparound services, such as counselling and treatment for substance use. The Capacity Building Stream funds research on Veteran homelessness, as well as increasing the capacity of organizations to deliver services. HICC and VAC continue to work closely to coordinate the implementation of the program as agreements are put in place with successful applicants.
In 2023-24, HICC also successfully entered into eight Action Research on Chronic Homelessness (ARCH) contribution agreements with selected communities across Canada to conduct action research to test or pilot new interventions and approaches. The ARCH initiative is helping build knowledge about persistent barriers and potential approaches to preventing and reducing homelessness, while strengthening collaboration and knowledge-sharing across local communities and provincial and territorial partners to adopt and adapt lessons learned and best practices.
Provide targeted investments in resilient infrastructure (including natural infrastructure), green and inclusive community buildings, community assets and water and wastewater to strengthen local economies and protect our communities and environment in order to enhance the quality of life of Canadians and drive towards a net-zero carbon, climate-resilient future
Increasingly frequent and extreme weather events are impacting Canada's infrastructure systems. People in Canada need to be able to trust that their infrastructure can withstand climate impacts for decades to come. In 2023-24, HICC supported ongoing programming that invests in climate-ready infrastructure to mitigate the impacts of natural disasters, enabling Canadians to adapt and build resilience to climate change.
HICC supported ongoing projects under the Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund (DMAF) that aim to protect communities across the country from the threats of natural disasters triggered by climate change. From April 1, 2018 to March 31, 2024, the Department allocated over $2.8 billion to 115 projects, including over $242 million for Indigenous recipients, which will help communities remain resilient in the face of extreme events, such as flooding, wildfires and droughts. As well, a further $489 million in new funding for DMAF, secured through the Government of Canada Adaptation Action Plan, allowed the Department to conduct an additional project intake that closed in July 2023.
Through various streams of the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program (ICIP), the Department has contributed to economic growth, climate resilience, reduced emissions and the creation of good middle-class jobs. Since the inception of the Green Infrastructure Stream in 2017, HICC has allocated more than $7.8 billion to 1,709 projects. These infrastructure investments continued to support ongoing government commitments, such as the construction of water and wastewater infrastructure, the delivery of important building retrofits and disaster mitigation and adaptation projects, and the installation of electric vehicle charging stations.
In 2023-24, the Department approved projects totalling over $526 million under the Green and Inclusive Community Buildings (GICB) program, fully allocating the $1.5 billion in funding initially planned for the program. These new projects support the Government of Canada's commitment to build resilient communities, reduce Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions, and enhance the climate resilience of community buildings. The Department allocated 34% of its committed funding to projects for Indigenous applicants, which significantly surpassed the 10% minimum commitment. HICC worked collaboratively with recipients to ensure that contribution agreements were negotiated and signed for approved and funded projects, and also engaged with project proponents to ensure effective stewardship and oversight of federal investments.
Under the Natural Infrastructure Fund (NIF), HICC continued to invest in natural and hybrid infrastructure that is resilient and supportive of healthy communities. Since the program began, a total of 30 projects with a federal contribution of over $80 million were approved, which included $15 million in Indigenous-led projects being approved in 2023-24 alone. These new investments will continue to create, expand and enhance communities' access to nature, furthering resilience to climate change, improving environmental quality, mitigating carbon emissions, and protecting biodiversity.
In 2023-24, the Department provided $2.4 billion to over 3,600 communities across Canada through the CCBF. The funding enabled municipalities to invest in various infrastructure categories, including water and wastewater, solid waste infrastructure, disaster mitigation and community energy systems. Additionally, the Department negotiated with provinces and territories to renew the CCBF administrative agreements for 2024 to 2034. The renewed agreements will strengthen the linkages between CCBF funding and actions taken by provinces, territories and municipalities that support key federal priorities, including housing, transparency and accountability. In 2024-25, HICC will finalize agreements and work with signatories to support communities in administering the renewed program in their jurisdictions.
In June 2023, HICC initiated the Supporting Climate Resilient Infrastructure initiative in collaboration with the National Research Council (NRC) and Standards Council of Canada (SCC). Work began to design an Open-Access Climate Toolkit Platform and help desk, and assemble a Roster of Climate and Infrastructure Experts. HICC also worked with the NRC to inform the development of Infrastructure Life-cycle Assessment (LCA) Guidelines. This work will support HICC's ability to apply GHG emissions-reductions measures in future infrastructure funding programs and supports HICC's implementation of a Buy Clean policy approach. To further inform HICC's approach, the Department also implemented a study to assess the regional market availability, cost and performance of low-carbon materials (concrete, steel and aluminum).
HICC is also developing new resilience requirements to ensure federal investments increase the climate readiness of Canada's infrastructure and ensure continuity of service for current and future climate conditions. Resilience requirements will include hazard identification and leverage the latest climate informed design data, hazard maps and guidance developed with the NRC and SCC. Deputy heads at HICC, NRC and SCC signed a trilateral Memorandum of Understanding in 2023-24 to bolster and continue the ongoing collaboration on resilient infrastructure guidance.
Continue significant investments in public transit, including funding for zero-emission buses and active transportation and the development and implementation of permanent public transit funding, to ensure sustainable mobility, create jobs and establish more prosperous and accessible communities
Public transit is an important option for Canadians to get where they need to go. When Canadians choose to take public transit, they expect convenient, dependable and efficient travel. These systems are also a key component to achieving Canada's climate change target of net-zero emissions by 2050.
HICC continued to advance the future of permanent public transit programming in order to support sustainable mobility, job creation and prosperous and accessible communities. This programming will provide cities and communities with long-term, stable funding that will enable them to upgrade and expand public transit and active transportation networks.
HICCcontinued to consult with all orders of government and other key stakeholders on the design and the delivery of future permanent public transit funding. The Department published a “What We Heard Report” summarizing public consultations, which became a foundation for focused outreach with provinces, territories and municipalities on the design of the future programming. In turn, this work informed discussions with government officials on program implementation, including a focus on strategies for managing a significant ongoing funding allocation.
Engagement with all provinces and territories on the overall approach for the future permanent public transit programming began in fall 2023. HICC also held regular discussions with national organizations, including the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, the Canadian Urban Transit Association, the Canadian Urban Transit Research and Innovation Consortium and the Association du transport urbain du Québec to help refine program design to ensure the greatest possible impact for Canadians.
The Department continued to provide ongoing support, stewardship and oversight for projects funded through its existing suite of public transit funding: the ZETF, the ATF, and the RTSF. Through the ZETF, the Department approved a federal contribution of $619 million to support the Government of Canada's commitment to put zero emission buses on the road, bringing the total funded projects since the inception of the program in 2021 to 40, representing more than $1.7 billion in investments. These investments are being made in coordination with the Canada Infrastructure Bank's (CIB) commitment to invest in zero emission buses as part of its three-year Growth Plan.
Active transportation is an important mobility option for Canadians, whether that is walking to the bus stop, cycling to work, or rolling to a local community centre. When Canadians choose to walk or bike, they expect convenient access to safe pathways, bike lanes, multi-use trails and sidewalks. HICC invested $5.7 million via the ATF for new projects in 2023-24, making travel by active transportation easier, safer, more convenient and more enjoyable. By the end of 2023-24, 498 projects had been approved, representing a total federal investment of over $350 million. The Department also completed the assessment of projects received as part of a rolling intake for Indigenous recipients, and funding decisions will be made in fiscal year 2024-25 to allocate the remainder of the funding.
To support rural communities in developing and implementing locally driven transit solutions, HICC approved over $21.3 million in projects via the RTSF in 2023-24. As of March 31, 2024, the Department had allocated $95 million to 168 projects through the RTSF.
Finally, through the Public Transit stream of the ICIP, the Department funded more than $1.5 billion in projects, which provided provinces, territories and municipalities with funding to support new transit networks, service extensions and active transportation infrastructure. As of March 31, 2024, HICC has allocated over $14.7 billion to 604 projects funded under the Public Transit stream of the ICIP.
Collectively, HICC transit and active transportation investments have supported the purchase of 7,200 buses including more than 3,100 zero emission buses, and have supported the building of more than 1,350 kilometres of active transportation pathways, sidewalks and bike lanes. HICC is supporting sustainable communities by providing Canadians with environmentally-friendly transportation choices.
Proactively engage with and provide support to all orders of government, as well as Indigenous organizations and communities, to inform policy and program development in support of complete communities that are modern, green, inclusive, innovative, resilient and transit-oriented
HICC has continued to work closely with provinces, territories, municipalities and Indigenous organizations to discuss the concerns and growing needs of communities across Canada, while continuing to promote opportunities for shared priorities including housing, sustainable infrastructure and public transit.
Through multilateral and bilateral channels, HICC worked with partners to ensure federal infrastructure investments enabled the construction, rehabilitation and resilience of core public infrastructure, through programs such as the CCBF, the GICB program, and permanent public transit funding. This facilitated ongoing communication with all orders of government, while supporting the successful delivery of stable, flexible and secure long-term infrastructure funding.
Provinces and territories (PTs) were also engaged during the June 2023 multilateral meeting of Federal-Provincial-Territorial Ministers of Infrastructure. The meeting provided an opportunity for all parties to share information on key infrastructure priorities. HICC also engaged partners through the Policy and Program Working Group, supporting the work of ministers and deputy ministers at their respective multilateral tables. Thematic discussions ensured opportunities for PTs to share best practices that reflect the place-based realities of program delivery and to contribute to policy and program development more broadly.
HICC continues to engage with Indigenous partners at whole-of-government tables such as the Inuit-Crown Partnership Committee and the Indigenous Climate Leadership to support the advancement of shared priorities and strengthen the Department's relationship with Indigenous partners. In addition, the Department continues to directly engage Indigenous organizations and communities in the ongoing delivery of existing programs. For example, HICC conducted 11 sector-based focus groups to inform Climate Toolkit services' design and engaged with Indigenous stakeholders to help ensure services are developed to meet their needs.
Advance work on 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 2023-24, HICC obtained all needed policy, financial and spending authorities to establish a Ministerial Advisory Body to develop Canada's first National Infrastructure Assessment (NIA). Throughout the year, consultations with experts were ongoing and key partnerships with other federal departments and external organizations were established. Once launched, the NIA will provide all infrastructure investors, including governments and private sector entities, with new data, analysis and evidence to support future investment decisions.
Support the long-term construction and operations of major bridge projects to promote economic growth and the efficient flow of people and goods while facilitating effective governance, collaboration and stewardship of our portfolio organizations
HICC continues to support the long-term construction and operations of major federal bridges and projects. Over the past year, through a public-private partnership with Bridging North America, the Department continued to provide leadership and oversight to support the Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority (WDBA) in its delivery of the Gordie Howe International Bridge project. Many important milestones were met in 2023-24, such as the bridge towers reaching their full height of 220 metres and the completion of over two thirds of the bridge deck construction. HICC also assisted and provided oversight as WDBA initiated the transition from capital delivery to operations.
HICC also continues to lead the delivery of the Samuel De Champlain Bridge Corridor project through a public-private partnership. This year, the Department maintained rigorous financial controls and carried out technical inspections and verifications of the project. This included enhanced monitoring of the project's certification status, structural integrity, and traffic and safety conditions across the corridor through the introduction of new data dashboards. In addition, HICC maintained a collaborative relationship with Signature on the Saint Lawrence Group and CDPQ Infra/REM Inc. to ensure the smooth integration of the Réseau express métropolitain light rail transit system across the Samuel De Champlain Bridge.
HICC continued to support the Minister of Transport in the negotiations to repatriate and rehabilitate the Quebec Bridge, which will be completed in 2024-25. This remains a priority for HICC as the restoration of the bridge has strategic, economic and heritage implications.
Furthermore, in October 2023, the Department collaborated with Transport Canada and VIA HFR to launch a Request for Proposals, which will guide the Co-Development Phase of the delivery of the High Frequency Rail project between Québec City and Toronto.
Promote the consideration of alternative finance and delivery models and tools early and upstream in planning phases of projects to optimize the use of public funds and catalyze private investments, including by supporting the Canada Infrastructure Bank in delivering on its mandate
HICC continued to serve as a policy centre of expertise for the Government of Canada in alternative financing projects. To this end, the Department worked with the CIB to promote alternative finance models and attract private and institutional capital in the delivery of infrastructure projects that are vital to addressing Canada's current and emerging infrastructure and housing needs.
In 2023-24, the Department completed the first legislative review of the Canada Infrastructure Bank Act, which led to a final report being tabled in Parliament. The review found that the CIB's mandate and legislative framework remained relevant and identified some areas for improvement around engagement, governance and results measurement. In September 2023, building on the findings of the review of the Canada Infrastructure Bank Act, the Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities issued a Statement of Priorities and Accountabilities. This Statement gives further guidance to the CIB to implement directives from Budget 2023 on addressing current and emerging infrastructure needs given the changing fiscal environment.
Following the issue of the fall 2023 Ministerial Statement of Priorities and Accountabilities letter, which requested the CIB examine opportunities to deploy its tools to address challenges in housing supply, the CIB launched its Infrastructure for Housing Initiative in March 2024. The objective of this initiative is to address infrastructure capacity constraints that are limiting new housing construction by enabling municipalities to build infrastructure ahead of population growth.
This year, the Department also conducted a wide array of research activities that contributed to a deeper understanding of the role private and institutional investors can play in the development and delivery of infrastructure and housing. This included monitoring of key capital market developments and conducting research and analysis on infrastructure investment strategies of institutional investors, construction firms and developers.
Finally, HICC also supported Waterfront Toronto in their exploration of alternative financing tools to enable investment in future waterfront revitalization projects that are aligned with federal priorities of housing and transit. One particularly important area of work was the Port Lands Flood Protection project, a major transformative revitalization project on Toronto's waterfront that is remediating and flood protecting land around the mouth of the Don River and unlocking it for future housing development.
As part of Refocusing Government Spending, announced in Budget 2023, HICC identified savings of $1.6 million through targeted reductions in professional services and travel during 2023-24. Overall savings in operating budgets will amount to $51.1 million over five years and $11.3 million ongoing.
To identify and implement savings, the Department underwent a complete operational review of its professional services contracts and streamlined its approach to outsourcing expert advice, research, data consulting and Memorandums of Understandings with other government departments. Reductions were achieved through a combination of rationalizing professional services, finding new more cost efficient delivery models and reducing service level standards. Savings in travel were achieved by leveraging HICC's growing national footprint and investments in hybrid technology made during the pandemic.
During fiscal year 2023-24, HICC worked to operationalize these reduction measures while ensuring that changes were adopted in the organization to support their long-term effectiveness.
Highlights
In 2023-24, total actual spending (including internal services) for HICC was $7,619,725,159 and total full-time equivalent staff (including internal services) was 1,567. For complete information on HICC's total spending and human resources, read the Spending and human resources section of the full report.
The following provides a summary of the department's achievements in 2023-24, according to its approved Departmental Results Framework. A Departmental Results Framework consists of a department's core responsibilities, the results it plans to achieve and the performance indicators that measure progress toward these results.
Core responsibility 1: Public Infrastructure, Communities, Affordable Housing and Homelessness Policy
Actual spending: $68,096,685
Actual human resources: 399
Departmental results achieved
- Departmental Result 1.1: Infrastructure, communities and homelessness policy are informed by evidence
- Departmental Result 1.2: Infrastructure, affordable housing and homelessness policies improve the quality of life for all Canadians
More information about Public Infrastructure, Communities, Affordable Housing and Homelessness Policy can be found in the “Results – what we achieved” section of the full Departmental Results Report.
Core responsibility 2: Public Infrastructure, Communities and Homelessness Investment
Actual spending: $40,731,961
Actual human resources: 317
Departmental results achieved
- Departmental Result 2.1: Funding is invested and leveraged to support public infrastructure, affordable housing and homelessness projects in Canada
More information about Public Infrastructure, Communities and Homelessness Investment can be found in the “Results – what we achieved” section of the full Departmental Results Report.
Core responsibility 3: Public Infrastructure and Communities Investment Stewardship and Delivery
Actual spending: $7,432,105,423
Actual human resources: 365
Departmental results achieved
- Departmental Result 3.1: Investments are delivered with appropriate stewardship
More information about Public Infrastructure and Communities Investment Stewardship and Delivery can be found in the “Results – what we achieved” section of the full Departmental Results Report.
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