2024 to 2025 Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy Report
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Cat. No. T91-8E-PDF
ISSN 2564-2693
Introduction to the 2024 to 2025 Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy Report
The 2022 to 2026 Federal Sustainable Development Strategy (FSDS) presents the Government of Canada’s sustainable development goals and targets, as required by the Federal Sustainable Development Act. This is the first FSDS to be framed using the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations 2030 Agenda and provides a balanced view of the environmental, social, and economic dimensions of sustainable development.
In keeping with the purpose of the Act, to make decision-making related to sustainable development more transparent and accountable to Parliament, Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada supports the goals laid out in the FSDS through the activities described in Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada’s 2023 to 2027 Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy (DSDS). This Report provides a report on progress related to Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada’s DSDS in fiscal year 2024-25.
The Federal Sustainable Development Act also sets out 7 principles that must be considered in the development of the FSDS as well as DSDSs. These basic principles have been considered and incorporated in Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada’s (HICC) DSDS and 2024 to 2025 DSDS Report.
To promote coordinated action on sustainable development across the Government of Canada, Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada’s departmental strategy reports on Canada’s progress towards implementing the 2030 Agenda and advancing the SDGs, supported by the Global Indicator Framework (GIF) and Canadian Indicator Framework (CIF) targets and indicators. The Report also now captures progress on SDG initiatives that fall outside the scope of the FSDS.
Commitments for Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada
Goal 6:
Ensure clean and safe water for all Canadians
FSDS Context
While Canada’s drinking water is among the safest in the world, access to clean drinking water remains a challenge in some small, remote, and Indigenous communities. Existing drinking water and water treatment systems require ongoing investment to ensure that they meet the needs of Canadians across the country. When Canadians use water resources, they expect that the infrastructure in their community helps to keep the environment clean by preventing pollution of lakes and rivers, preventing water loss and conserving energy. Addressing sources of water pollution and contamination, such as under-treated wastewater and run-off from cities, can help ensure that lakes and rivers continue to provide services and opportunities for recreational and economic activities over the long term.
HICC has implemented several programs and initiatives to ensure our existing systems are up to the task of producing the high quality of water Canadians expect and reliably delivering it to households. For example, as pipes age and deteriorate over time, they become more prone to cracks and ruptures. Timely repair of these aging pipes can help prevent wasteful leakage of precious water resources and incidences of water overflow from pipe breakage. Investments in the replacement of old pipes support the efficient use of Canada’s water resources, reducing leakages and ensuring that potable water makes it to the taps of Canadians.
HICC investments are helping ensure that, as new communities grow and new houses and businesses are built across the country, they are connected to clean and safe drinking water and systems that treat wastewater. HICC funds water and wastewater projects through the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program (ICIP) and CCBF. Further, HICC will consider SDGs and establish relevant targets and indicators during the development of future programming.
Initiatives advancing Canada's implementation of SDG 6 – Clean Water and Sanitation
The following initiatives demonstrate how Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada’s programming supports the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs, supplementing the information outlined above.
| Planned initiatives | Associated domestic targets or ambitions and/or global targets | Results achieved |
|---|---|---|
HICC has invested in water and wastewater projects through the ICIP. ICIP has helped communities reduce air and water pollution, provide clean water, increase resilience to climate change and create a clean-growth economy. This program overall seeks to build strong, dynamic, and inclusive communities, while ensuring that Canadian families have access to modern, reliable services that improve their quality of life. Eligible projects include the construction and upgrading of water and wastewater treatment plants and pumping facilities, water and wastewater transmission mains, water and wastewater pipes, water meters, water towers, water and wastewater collection systems and water reservoirs, water and wastewater storage facilities, and flood-proofing infrastructure. Funding is also being used to improve stormwater management through the construction and upgrading of treatment facilities, collection systems, and pipes. |
CIF 6.1 Ambition – Canadians have access to drinking water and use it in a sustainable manner. CIF 6.2.1 – Percentage of municipalities across Canada with sustained drinking water advisories. This indicator focuses on municipal owners of potable water assets by drinking water advisories that exceeded 15 days, urban and rural, and population size. There is no specific target identified. GIF 6.b – Support and strengthen the participation of local communities in improving water and sanitation management. |
Over the fiscal year 2024-2025, Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada continued to support projects across the country funded through the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program (ICIP). The projects continued to contribute to economic growth, climate resilience, reduced emissions and the creation of good middle-class jobs. In fiscal year 2024-25, 101 ICIP water and wastewater projects were completed. To date, 1418 projects were funded under ICIP for water and wastewater in 1012 communities (cumulative up to March 31, 2025). |
Investments made through the CCBF aim to provide long-term stability where needed and support planning for future systems improvements that contribute to the objectives of clean economic growth and prosperity. The CCBF is a permanent source of funding provided upfront, twice a year, to provinces and territories, who in turn flow this funding to their municipalities to support local infrastructure priorities, including drinking water and wastewater projects. |
CIF 6.1 Ambition – Canadians have access to drinking water and use it in a sustainable manner. GIF 6.1 – By 2030, achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all. GIF 6.b – Support and strengthen the participation of local communities in improving water and sanitation management. |
Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada continued to flow funding to the provinces and territories through the Canada Community-Building Fund (CCBF) which enabled municipalities to invest in initiatives across 19 different project categories, such as water and wastewater, solid waste infrastructure disaster mitigation and community energy In 2024-25, the CCBF program provided $2.4 billion to more than 3,700 communities across Canada. |
Beginning in 2024-25, HICC will invest in water and wastewater projects through CHIF. The core objective of CHIF is to enable increased housing supply through improved capacity of drinking water, wastewater, stormwater, and solid waste infrastructure. The program will enable sustainable community growth by increasing the capacity, reliability, and efficiency of new, and/or existing systems in alignment with federal environmental and climate priorities. Eligible projects include drinking water systems, such as treatment, filtration, and distribution systems; wastewater, sludge, and stormwater systems, such as treatment and collection systems, sewer systems and controls; solid waste management systems, such as organic waste processing, landfill thermal treatment, waste collection and sorting. Natural infrastructure projects that increase system capacity will also be eligible for each asset class. |
CIF 6.1 Ambition – Canadians have access to drinking water and use it in a sustainable manner. CIF 6.2.1 – Percentage of municipalities across Canada with sustained drinking water advisories. This indicator focuses on municipal owners of potable water assets by drinking water advisories that exceeded 15 days, urban and rural, and population size. There is no specific target identified. GIF 6.b – Support and strengthen the participation of local communities in improving water and sanitation management. |
It should be noted that 25 CHIF direct delivery water and wastewater projects have recently been approved. To date, 24 projects were funded under CHIF for water and wastewater in 23 communities (cumulative up to March 31, 2025). |
Goal 9:
Foster innovation and green infrastructure in Canada
FSDS Context
Green infrastructure plays a key role in conserving natural resources and addressing climate change by reducing pollution and greenhouse gas emissions and increasing climate resilience. As climate change continues, people in Canada need to be able to trust that their infrastructure can withstand climate impacts for decades to come. Investing in green infrastructure will provide assurance and be increasingly important to sustain economic, environmental, and social well-being. Green infrastructure, such as low-carbon transportation, natural infrastructure, clean energy, and climate-resilient and energy-efficient buildings, helps build healthy and resilient communities, promotes environmental sustainability, drives economic growth, and supports a net-zero economy. Further, natural infrastructure has significant potential to provide additional benefits, helping to keep infrastructure services reliable in a changing climate.
HICC funds projects to foster innovation and green infrastructure through a number of its programs, notably the Canada Public Transit Fund (CPTF), the Green and Inclusive Community Buildings (GICB) program, the Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund (DMAF), ICIP, CCBF, and the Natural Infrastructure Fund (NIF).
Funding is provided for green infrastructure projects through the GICB program and DMAF. The GICB program aims to improve energy efficiency in existing buildings and support the construction of new net-zero carbon ones, particularly in areas with populations with higher needs. The GICB program supports the construction and adaptation of community buildings across Canada to reduce carbon emissions, advance greenhouse gas (GHG) mitigation measures and encourage best practices in building design for climate change resilience. DMAF invests in structural and natural infrastructure projects to help communities prepare for and withstand natural disasters driven by climate change, prevent infrastructure failures, and safeguard Canadians.
The ICIP Green Infrastructure Stream provides funding for projects that enable greater adaptation and resilience to the impacts of climate change and climate-related disaster mitigation. It also ensures that more communities can provide clean air for their citizens. ICIP projects include those that improve the resilience of communities and facilitate the transition to a clean growth economy, while also improving social inclusion and socio-economic outcomes for Canadians.
CCBF allows for local project selection in 19 eligible categories, including public transit and community energy systems projects. The fund promotes investments in increased productivity and economic growth, a clean environment, and strong cities and communities.
NIF supports natural and hybrid infrastructure projects to further Canada’s commitment to climate change resilience while contributing to national biodiversity goals and targets. By supporting natural infrastructure, such as conserving and restoring wetlands and marshes, projects funded through NIF can help prevent climate change impacts such as flash floods and support the conservation and recovery of wildlife species, including species at risk. Furthermore, NIF helps to build awareness and increase the use of natural and hybrid infrastructure, by creating, expanding, or enhancing a community’s access to nature, furthering resilience to climate change, improving environmental quality, and protecting biodiversity.
HICC also supports innovative projects for climate mitigation and adaptation through its Research and Knowledge Initiative and its Climate Toolkits for Housing and Infrastructure, connecting infrastructure owners to the knowledge and tools they need to build low-carbon, climate-resilient projects. As such, through programs and projects, HICC is supporting new community spaces to be built to net-zero standards, to incorporate low-carbon design elements (e.g., selecting lower-carbon construction materials) and is accelerating the rate of retrofits to achieve deeper emissions reductions and energy efficiency savings.
Target theme: Green Infrastructure and Innovation
Target: By fiscal year 2027 to 2028, the federal share of the value of green infrastructure projects approved under the Investing in Canada Plan will reach $27.6 billion. (Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities)
| Implementation strategy | Departmental action | Performance Indicator Starting Point Target |
How the departmental action contributes to the FSDS goal and target and, where applicable, to Canada’s 2030 Agenda national strategy and SDGs | Results achieved |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Invest in green infrastructure | Deliver HICC’s programming that contributes to green infrastructure. This includes:
Note: some of HICC’s programming is included in the Investing in Canada Plan. |
Performance indicator: Starting point: Target: |
This indicator tracks the HICC programs that invest in projects that support green infrastructure, which includes greenhouse gas mitigation, adaptation, resilience and disaster mitigation and environmental quality. Relevant targets or ambitions: GIF Target 9.4 – By 2030, upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable, with increased resource-use efficiency and greater adoption of clean and environmentally sound technologies and industrial processes, with all countries taking action in accordance with their respective capabilities. GIF Target 11.7 – By 2030, provide universal access to safe, inclusive, and accessible, green, and public spaces, in particular for women and children, older persons and persons with disabilities. GIF Target 13.1 – Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries. |
Indicator Result: Notes: |
| Develop and implement climate-resilient codes and standards | HICC coordinates the implementation of the Climate Resilient Built Environment (CRBE) initiative led by the National Research Council (NRC) and the Standards to Support the Resilience of Infrastructure Program (SSRIP) led by the Standards Council of Canada (SCC). The CRBE initiative is developing climate resilience guidance in 8 areas: nature-based solutions, flooding, resilience of dams, urban transit, wildland-urban interface design (related to wildfire risk), targeted guidance for northern, remote, and Indigenous communities, tools and technical solutions for public infrastructure management. The SSRIP program is advancing standardization strategies related to community climate resilience in the areas of extreme weather, resilience, frameworks for risk assessment and management, resilient transportation systems, nature-based solutions, and low-carbon resilience. |
Performance indicator: Number of codes, standards, and guidance developed and released. Starting point: 65 climate-informed codes, standards, guidance, and decision-support tools have been developed (as of March 31, 2023). Target: 75 new or updated codes, standards, guidance, and decision-support tools by March 31, 2028. |
Since 2016, HICC has been funding world-leading research to increase resilience to climate impacts of buildings and infrastructure through new and updated design data, construction specifications, decision tools, guidelines, standards, and changes to national codes. This work continues under the CRBE and SSRIP initiatives and with additional support through the National Adaptation Strategy. Priority areas for new research, guidance, codes, and standards by 2026 include nature-based solutions, flooding, resilient dams, Wildland-Urban Interface design, targeted guidance (transit, Northern), tools and technical solutions for public infrastructure management and specifications. Work is also underway to translate these technical documents and initiatives to use data that can be readily applied to infrastructure decision-making. HICC continues work to encourage early adoption of climate-informed guidelines, standards, and codes. Relevant targets or ambitions: GIF Target 13.1 – Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries. |
Indicator result: Notes: |
Goal 10:
Advance reconciliation with Indigenous peoples and take action on inequality
FSDS Context
Social, economic, and environmental inequalities persist in Canada. These inequalities disproportionately affect people with multiple intersecting identity factors such as gender identity and expression, race and ethnicity, faith community, Indigeneity, disability, sexual orientation, and low socioeconomic status. Reconciliation with Indigenous peoples is essential to addressing these inequalities and achieving substantive equality.
HICC fulfills the constitutional duty to consult and, where appropriate, accommodate Indigenous peoples, while also respecting federal environmental legislative and regulatory requirements. When possible, HICC relies on existing government processes or prior Indigenous engagement efforts of funding applicants to assist the department in fulfilling the duty to consult and, where applicable, accommodate Indigenous peoples. For example, if there are existing or planned consultation processes led by funding applicants such as provinces and territories, or by Regulatory Agencies (e.g., Fisheries and Oceans Canada), HICC will rely on these processes to the extent possible. If there are no existing processes, recipients of HICC funding could be asked to undertake or participate in Indigenous engagement and consultation activities, or, in specific circumstances, HICC may coordinate and lead Canada’s Crown-Indigenous consultation process.
HICC continues to support retrofits of existing community buildings and the construction of new resilient and net-zero buildings and outdoor facilities. Due to investments in community assets, Canadians will be able to gather safely in their communities, including Indigenous communities, as the country continues to move towards a net-zero carbon and climate-resilient future.
Given the over-representation of Indigenous peoples among those experiencing homelessness, Reaching Home: Canada’s Homelessness Strategy will continue to fund and support organizations working to address Indigenous homelessness, including through the delivery of Indigenous-specific homelessness programming. HICC will collaborate with Indigenous partners to identify and advance priorities that meet the unique needs of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples.
HICC recognizes the distinct role that community infrastructure plays for the well-being and self-determination of Indigenous Peoples. As such, the Department ensures that a minimum of 10% of the direct-funding program envelopes for the GICB Program, DMAF, and the Natural Infrastructure Fund (NIF), as well as the Active Transportation Fund (ATF) and the Rural Transit Solutions Fund (RTSF), is allocated to Indigenous projects led by and for Indigenous populations and communities. Beginning in 2024-25, a minimum of 10% of the direct-delivery funding stream of the CHIF will be dedicated to Indigenous recipients. Additionally, HICC will continue to support the implementation of the Government of Canada’s commitment to have 5% of the total value of contracts awarded annually to Indigenous businesses.
To advance reconciliation and take action to reduce inequality, HICC has also taken steps to establish internal practices that contribute to reducing the disproportionate impact of social, economic, and environmental inequalities on Indigenous peoples. HICC is committed to acquiring talent that contributes to the representation of designated groups, including Indigenous peoples, which meets or exceeds workforce availability.
Further, HICC offers departmental awareness activities to foster cultural awareness and provide a space to support Indigenous peoples and intends to review its Harassment and Violence Prevention Policy to ensure that it aligns with the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
Implementation strategies supporting the goal
This section is for implementation strategies that support the goal “Advance reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples and take action on inequality” but not a specific FSDS target.
| Implementation strategy | Departmental action | Performance Indicator Starting Point Target |
How the departmental action contributes to the FSDS goal and target and, where applicable, to Canada’s 2030 Agenda national strategy and SDGs | Results achieved |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act | Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada is committed to providing departmental competency training on the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (UNDA). Completing the training will provide Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada officials with a clear understanding of how UNDA requires the department to collaborate with Indigenous partners in coordination with other federal departments and agencies to support implementation of the Act. |
Performance indicator: Target: One (1) update per year to Senior Management on UNDA implications for the department. |
Advancing reconciliation with Indigenous peoples will be supported by improving employee awareness of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada’s roles and responsibilities in implementing the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (UNDA) through regular competency training and guidance tools. Relevant targets or ambitions: Not applicable. |
Indicator result: HICC began developing an updated training deck this year which will be used to brief employees and management. The Department also completed its annual UNDA reporting and implementation efforts continued to be discussed both internally and externally with Indigenous partners. |
Goal 11:
Improve access to affordable housing, clean air, transportation, parks, and green spaces, as well as cultural heritage in Canada
FSDS Context
Safe, modern, and efficient public transit systems remain important for the health and sustainability of communities. Public transit is an important option for Canadians to get where they need to go, whether that is to work or school, a healthcare appointment, or a social engagement with family and friends. When Canadians choose to take public transit, they expect convenient, dependable, and efficient travel. Federal transit funding supports public transit systems and active transportation networks, creates jobs, and makes communities more accessible and liveable for all. Since 2015, the federal government has committed to building thousands of public transit and active transportation projects across the country. This includes funding announced in 2021 for zero-emission buses, rural transit services, active transportation, and to accelerate the expansion of large urban transit systems that many Canadians depend on every day.
More recently in 2024, the CPTF was launched: a permanent fund providing ongoing support and the largest single investment in public transit in Canada’s history.
The CPTF will deliver stable, predictable funding over the first ten years, starting in 2026-27, to expand public transit and active transportation in support of long-term goals:
- Increase the use of public transit and active transportation relative to car travel.
- Increase the housing supply and affordability as part of complete, transit-oriented communities.
- Help mitigate climate change and improve climate resilience.
- Improve public transit and active transportation options for all.
The CPTF is designed to meet the unique needs of communities of all sizes, from large metropolitan areas to mid-size and smaller communities, including rural, remote, northern, and Indigenous communities. Three funding components will provide provinces, territories, municipalities, transit agencies, and other partners with the resources they need to plan and implement key public transit projects over the long term.
Through Metro-Region Agreements, the Government of Canada will work with partners across a metropolitan region to support the long-term development of public transit and active transportation infrastructure in large urban areas, including major expansion projects. Baseline Funding will provide predictable, long-term funding to communities with existing transit systems to support routine investments, with an expected focus on public transit and active transportation system expansions, improvements, and state of good repair. Targeted Funding will provide flexible, call-specific funding to address federal priorities that meet local needs, such as rural transit, active transportation and zero-emission solutions.
Building complete, transit-oriented communities will enable more people to live near public transit, providing access to important services and opportunities in their communities. It will also enable increased housing supply by encouraging higher density near transit: communities seeking to access funding through the Canada Public Transit Fund will be required to take actions that directly unlock housing supply where it is needed most.
HICC will continue to support projects that were approved under the ATF, RTSF, and Zero Emission Transit Fund (ZETF) announced in 2021:
- In support of Canada’s National Active Transportation Strategy, the ATF is funding new and expanded networks of pathways, bike lanes, trails, and pedestrian bridges, in addition to supporting active transportation planning and stakeholder engagement activities.
- The RTSF is supporting the development of locally driven transit solutions including new transit agencies, on-demand services, publicly owned ride shares, and volunteer community carpooling to help people in rural areas get around their communities more easily and connect with other communities nearby.
- Further, the Zero Emission Transit Fund (ZETF) is delivering funding to public transit and school bus operators to electrify their fleets by helping them purchase zero-emission buses and build supporting infrastructure, including charging infrastructure and facility upgrades. This program complements the Canada Infrastructure Bank’s Zero-Emission Buses Initiative intended to accelerate the adoption of over 5,000 zero-emission transit and school buses through low-cost flexible loans. HICC also continues to deliver remaining funding to provinces, territories, and municipalities through the Public Transit stream of ICIP. The CPTF will continue to enable rural and Indigenous communities to seek funding in support of active and transit projects and will continue to provide communities with funding to purchase vehicles, build and upgrade supporting infrastructure, and undertake planning activities to decarbonize their public transit fleets.
In addition, the Community, Culture and Recreation Infrastructure stream of ICIP provides provinces, territories, and municipalities with funding for infrastructure projects that will improve social inclusion, such as new, expanded, or renewed community, cultural, and recreational installations, and facilities. Cultural infrastructure facilities support opportunities to highlight the richness of Canada’s diversity, including facilities aimed at supporting off-reserve Indigenous populations.
HICC recognizes that making cities and communities sustainable means improving access to transportation, parks and green spaces, cultural heritage, clean air, and affordable housing. As Canadians face the challenges of a rapidly changing climate, the need for community spaces where people can connect, engage, and support one another has never been greater.
Central to this effort is the NHS, which represents Canada’s commitment to ensuring that people across the country have greater access to safe, affordable, and inclusive housing. Launched in 2017, the Strategy includes a range of complementary programs and initiatives that address diverse needs across the entire housing continuum. It is anchored in the National Housing Strategy Act which requires the Strategy to consider the key principles of a human rights-based approach to housing. In addition to the NHS, the Government of Canada launched Canada’s Housing Plan in April 2024, to make housing more attainable and affordable for Canadians by building more homes, making it easier to rent or own a home, and supporting Canadians who cannot afford a home. In support of the NHS and Canada’s Housing Plan, HICC collaborates with the CMHC in the development and delivery of affordable housing programs, such as:
- The Affordable Housing Fund (formerly known as the National Housing Co-Investment Fund) provides low-interest and/or forgivable loans and contributions for new and repaired affordable and community housing. It includes priority funding for Indigenous communities, Black-led organizations to increase housing that benefits Black households, and women and children’s shelters and transitional housing.
- The Rapid Housing Initiative launched in 2020 to support the rapid construction of new housing or the acquisition of existing buildings for rehabilitation or conversion to permanent affordable housing for vulnerable populations. Additional investment in 2024 will enable a Rapid Housing Stream within the Affordable Housing Fund to build deeply affordable housing, supportive housing, and shelters for our most vulnerable.
- The Federal Community Housing Initiative, since 2018, has provided support to affordable housing providers to help maintain existing affordable housing. Additional flexibility in the program is being developed in 2024 to ensure that eligible housing providers can access funding to maintain housing affordability for low-income tenants and co-op members.
In 2024-25, HICC is working to establish a new transfer payment program, the CHIF, for provincial, territorial, municipal governments, Indigenous communities, and other eligible recipients to invest in drinking water, wastewater, stormwater and solid waste infrastructure that are needed to support increased housing. The core objective of the CHIF is to enable increased housing supply through improved capacity of drinking water, wastewater, stormwater and solid waste infrastructure. The program will play a critical supporting role within Canada’s Housing Plan and the broader NHS.
More information on NHS programs that support affordable housing and quarterly progress reports can be found at Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada - Canada’s National Housing Strategy.
HICC is providing funding and support to urban, Indigenous, rural, and remote communities to prevent and reduce homelessness, including chronic homelessness, through Reaching Home: Canada’s Homelessness Strategy, launched in 2019. HICC helps to address homelessness among the most vulnerable in Canadian communities through measures such as the new Veteran Homelessness Program, launched in April 2023, which provides rent supplements and wraparound support to Veterans experiencing or at risk of homelessness, including chronic homelessness. HICC also provided additional funds in winter 2023-24 to many Reaching Home communities to facilitate emergency support for individuals experiencing or at risk of unsheltered homelessness, including those residing in encampments.
Additionally, Budget 2024 announced funding over two years (2024-2025 and 2025-2026) for HICC to address unsheltered homelessness and encampments through a human-rights-based approach. With this new funding, HICC will work with provinces/territories to support targeted municipalities and community organizations to reduce the number of people experiencing unsheltered homelessness, including the number of people living in homeless encampments, and is expected to contribute to the federal goal of a 50% reduction in chronic homelessness in Canada by 2027-2028. Further, the Action Research on Chronic Homelessness initiative was launched in 2023 to identify persistent barriers to addressing chronic homelessness and test potential approaches to overcome these barriers in eight communities across Canada. Findings will be widely disseminated to communities across the country.
Target theme: Affordable Housing and Homelessness
Target: By 2028, reduce chronic homelessness by 50%. (Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities)
| Implementation strategy | Departmental action | Performance Indicator Starting Point Target |
How the departmental action contributes to the FSDS goal and target and, where applicable, to Canada’s 2030 Agenda national strategy and SDGs | Results achieved |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Prevent and address homelessness |
Continue the implementation of Reaching Home: Canada’s Homelessness Strategy and the Veteran Homelessness Program. Program(s): Homelessness Policy, Homelessness Investment, Homelessness Funding Oversight (Reaching Home; Veteran Homelessness Program) |
Performance indicator: Starting point: Targets: |
Federal homelessness programming allocates funding to communities across Canada to deliver various services and supports to people experiencing or at risk of homelessness. This helps individuals obtain and maintain housing and, as a result, contributes to the reduction of the number of people experiencing homelessness, including chronic homelessness. Relevant targets or ambitions: CIF Indicator 11.1.1 – Percent change from a baseline of people experiencing chronic homelessness. GIF Target 11.1 – By 2030, ensure access for all to adequate, safe, and affordable housing and basic services and upgrade slums. |
Indicator result: Notes: |
Target theme: Public Transit and Active Transportation
Target: By 2030, 22% of commuters use public transit or active transportation. (Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities)
| Implementation strategy | Departmental action | Performance Indicator Starting Point Target |
How the departmental action contributes to the FSDS goal and target and, where applicable, to Canada’s 2030 Agenda national strategy and SDGs | Results achieved |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Invest in public transit and active transportation | Invest in long-term public transit, rural transit, and active transportation solutions to provide reliable, fast, affordable, and clean ways for people to get around. Program(s): Canada Public Transit Fund, Active Transportation Fund, Rural Transit Solution Fund, Zero Emission Transit Fund, Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program - Public Transit Infrastructure Stream |
Performance indicator: Starting point: Target: Performance indicator: Starting point: Target: |
Make contributions to public transit priorities in support of a carbon-neutral economy as well as convenient and sustainable access to jobs and services. Support active transportation systems and improvements to public transportation.
Relevant targets or ambitions: CIF Indicator 11.5.1 – Percentage of the population using shared or active transportation for commuting. CIF Target 11.5 - By 2030, 22% of commuters adopt shared or active transportation. GIF Target 11.2 – By 2030, provide access to safe, affordable, accessible, and sustainable transport systems for all, improving road safety, notably by expanding public transport, with special attention paid to the needs of those in vulnerable situations, women, children, persons with disabilities and older persons. |
Indicator result: Notes: Indicator result: Notes: In 2016, 19.3% of commuters used public transit or active transportation, but the COVID-19 pandemic caused a decline in the share of commutes taken by public transit or active transportation. While the 2021 value coincided with the COVID-19 pandemic, the use of public and active transportation for commuting has started to rebound to 17.4% in 2024. |
Initiatives advancing Canada's implementation of SDG 11 – Sustainable Cities and Communities
The following initiatives demonstrate how Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada programming supports the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs, supplementing the information outlined above.
| Planned initiatives | Associated domestic targets or ambitions and/or global targets | Results achieved |
|---|---|---|
In partnership with the Canada Infrastructure Bank’s zero-emission bus initiative, support the purchase of zero-emission buses through the ZETF and HICC’s other transit programs that aim to support Canadian transit agencies and school bus operators in reducing their operating emissions and transitioning to zero-emission fleets. These investments align with both the near-term 2030 emission reduction targets and the long-term objective of net zero by 2050, as the Government of Canada seeks to decarbonize its transportation sector. |
CIF Ambition 13.1 – Canadians reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. | During the fiscal year 2024-2025, Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada announced 29 projects under the Zero Emission Transit Fund (ZETF) to support the government’s commitment to put zero emission buses on the road. These new projects represented a federal contribution of over $565 million and demonstrated the Department’s continued support towards 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. To date, 69 projects for a total federal investment of over $2.35 billion have been approved under the ZETF. |
Invest in projects through HICC’s ATF and ICIP that build new and expanded networks of pathways, bike lanes, trails, and pedestrian bridges. In addition, support active transportation planning activities that can lead to more sustainable transportation choices and contribute to modal shift that advances the decarbonization of the transportation sector. |
CIF Target 11.5.1 – Percentage of the population using shared or active transportation for commuting. |
In 2024-25, the Active Transportation Fund (ATF) continued to expand and enhance active transportation networks in communities, including through the approval of 30 new projects, representing $39 million in federal funding, making travel by active transportation easier, safer, more convenient and more enjoyable. To date, 524Footnote 1 projects have been approved through the ATF for a total federal investment of almost $388 million. |
Through transit programming, improve the capacity of public transit that provides Canadians with sustainable transportation options that meet the needs of their communities. Increasing the capacity of public transportation systems allows Canadian communities to continue to grow while reducing congestion and reliance on personal vehicles contributes to a modal shift that reduces transportation emissions and builds more sustainable and complete communities. |
CIF Ambition 11.5 – Canadians live in healthy, accessible, and sustainable cities and communities. |
In 2024-25, the Government of Canada announced the next wave of permanent public transit funding, the Canada Public Transit Fund (CPTF). The Department continued to move forward with the Government of Canada’s historic investment in transit to improve public transit and active transportation options, help mitigate climate change, and increase housing supply and affordability as part of complete, transit-oriented communities. Eighty recipients representing over 200 communities were deemed eligible for the Baseline Funding stream through which they will receive stable, predictable transit funding for the next decade. HICC made progress towards Metro-Region Agreements, which offer a new way to collaborate with provinces, municipalities, transit agencies and Indigenous communities to encourage long-term integrated planning within large urban areas and support a wide variety of projects from transformational investments that build new subways and bus lines to maintaining and sustaining the health of existing transit systems. The Government of Canada announced that the Vancouver Meto-Region will receive up to $1.52B over ten years through MRAs. |
HICC collaborates with Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) in the development and delivery of affordable housing programs. These and other housing initiatives support the ambition that Canadians have access to quality housing. These initiatives will enable housing supply growth and improved access to existing housing. Housing programs, by design, increase the supply of acceptable housing available to Canadian households. Current and upcoming programs will support the creation of new units, as well as improving the affordability of existing units. |
CIF Ambition 11.2 – Canadians have access to quality housing. |
As of March 2025, commitments under the National Housing Strategy have supported the creation of 166,231 new housing units, including 31,827 affordable units (as per program affordability criteria). Housing commitments as of March 2025 have also supported the repair and renewal of 10,426 affordable housing units and provided direct assistance to 243,940 households. |
Goal 12:
Reduce waste and transition to zero-emission vehicles
FSDS Context
Transportation accounts for a quarter of Canada’s greenhouse gas emissions, with most coming from the on-road sector, including light, medium and heavy-duty vehicles. One way to reduce transportation-related greenhouse gas emissions is to replace vehicles powered by fossil fuels (Internal Combustion Engines, or ICEs), with Zero-Emission Vehicles (ZEVs). It is important to ensure that the life-cycle carbon footprint associated with producing, powering, and recycling Zero-Emission Vehicles (and their parts, such as lithium-ion batteries) is lower than that of ICE vehicles.
As a department, HICC supports the Government of Canada’s transition to low-carbon and climate-resilient operations, while also working to reduce environmental impacts beyond carbon. HICC has invested in modernizing its small fleet by using low-carbon mobility vehicles. The Department encourages its employees to use climate-resilient assets, services, and operations, as well as green goods and services that consider sustainability.
HICC investments are facilitating low-carbon communities where Canadians can opt to take transit for their transportation needs. This includes investments in zero-emission buses, which help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, curb air pollution, and protect our environment.
The ZETF supports clean procurement by offering support to public transit and school bus operators electrifying their fleets through the purchase of zero-emission buses and the construction of supporting infrastructure, including charging infrastructure and facility upgrades.
Target theme: Federal Leadership on Responsible Consumption
Target: The Government of Canada’s procurement of goods and services will be net-zero emissions by 2050, to aid the transition to a net-zero, circular economy. (All Ministers)
| Implementation strategy | Departmental action | Performance Indicator Starting Point Target |
How the departmental action contributes to the FSDS goal and target and, where applicable, to Canada’s 2030 Agenda national strategy and SDGs | Results achieved |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Transform the federal light-duty fleet |
Transform HICC’s fleet towards ZEVs and plug-in hybrids. Program(s): Corporate Services - Procurement |
Performance indicator: Starting point: Target: |
HICC will be retiring HICC gas-only vehicles and is planning to have a 100% ZEV fleet by March 31, 2026. Fleet management will be optimized, including by applying life cycle analysis (looking at mileage and years of usage) to determine when vehicles are scheduled to be replaced. Relevant targets or ambitions: CIF Indicator: 12.1.1 – Proportion of new light-duty vehicle registrations that are zero-emission vehicles. |
Indicator result: Notes Clarification, 50% is hybrid (not ZEV or Plug in). |
| Strengthen green procurement criteria | Ensure procurement and/or material management employees are provided with green procurement training. Program(s): Corporate Services - Procurement |
Performance indicator: Starting point: Target: |
Support for green procurement will be strengthened, including guidance, tools, and training. Green procurement incorporates environmental considerations into purchasing decisions and is expected to motivate suppliers to reduce the environmental impact of the goods and services they deliver and of their supply chains. Relevant targets or ambitions: CIF Indicator: 12.2.1 – Proportion of businesses that adopted selected environmental protection activities and management. |
Indicator result: Notes: |
Goal 13:
Take action on climate change and its impacts
FSDS Context
The effects of human-caused climate change are being felt across our country. Canadians are experiencing more extreme temperatures and precipitation, as well as an increase in the frequency and severity of wildfires, heatwaves, droughts, and flooding. Canada is warming at twice the global rate, with this rate being even higher in the Canadian Arctic. Meanwhile, rising sea levels are putting coastal cities at risk. An increasing number of Canadian communities from coast to coast have experienced significant weather-related disasters triggered by climate change.
Infrastructure failures from natural hazards and extreme weather events can pose threats to health and safety, the destruction of homes, interruptions in essential services, significant disruptions in economic activity, and high costs for recovery and replacement. More resilient infrastructure will help communities better withstand damage caused by climate change and extreme weather events while keeping Canadians safe, protecting local businesses, and supporting strong local economies. HICC is investing in projects that will protect Canadians and communities from current and future climate conditions.
HICC is working to ensure that Canadians have a resilient, climate-smart, accessible, and inclusive public infrastructure by targeting investments at key points along the infrastructure value chain: investing in data, evidence, and knowledge, supporting the creation of climate-informed codes, standards, and guidance, helping build integrated planning capacity, and providing capital funding for projects. These investments are made through programs dedicated to supporting projects that increase the resilience of communities and safeguard against future severe weather events, while also helping meet climate goals, such as DMAF and the GICB Program.
DMAF is a grant-based funding program that aims to help protect and prepare communities against natural hazards and extreme weather events, such as those triggered by climate change. This includes drought, earthquakes, erosion, extreme temperatures, floods, permafrost thaw, storms, and wildland fires. DMAF strengthens the resilience of Canadian communities at risk of infrastructure failure caused by those hazards. By investing in climate-resilient infrastructure, DMAF helps protect communities and the critical services they rely on to stay safe, healthy, and prosperous. One way DMAF-funded projects increase resilience is through natural infrastructure, which can help mitigate climate-related risks and extreme weather events while providing additional benefits like recreation to communities.
As part of the National Adaptation Strategy, the Government of Canada Adaptation Action Plan provided funding for several resilience-building initiatives including open-access climate toolkits and resilience requirements for funding. Designed to be an evergreen source for consolidated and authoritative climate-smart tools and resources, the Climate Toolkits for Housing and Infrastructure will help infrastructure owners and investors develop projects that ensure Canada is on the path to a net-zero emission and resilient future. In addition, HICC oversees the development of guidance, standards, and codes for climate-resilient and low-carbon infrastructure with the National Research Council of Canada, through the Climate Resilient Built Environment Initiative, and the Standards Council of Canada, through the Standards to Support Resilience in Infrastructure Program.
Through GICB, HICC supports green and accessible retrofits, repairs, or upgrades of existing public buildings or construction of new publicly accessible community buildings that serve high needs and underserved communities across Canada. The GICB Program supports the first pillar of the Strengthened Climate Plan by improving the places in which Canadians live and gather by making life more affordable, supporting thousands of good jobs, and cutting pollution by reducing GHG emissions, increasing energy efficiency, building resiliency to climate change and encouraging the construction of new builds to net zero standards.
HICC is taking action to pursue the National Adaptation Strategy target that “Starting in 2024, resilience to climate change impacts is factored into all new federal infrastructure funding programs.” In this regard, HICC is building on the lessons learned from its Climate Lens initiative to develop resilience requirements for funding programs across the department. These requirements will ensure that all HICC funds go to projects that have analyzed current and future climate conditions in their geographic locations to identify any risks that climate change may pose to the project. For each of the identified risks, they are asked to consider and propose appropriate mitigation measures to help withstand, respond to, recover from, or adapt to climate change impact.
For GHGs, HICC is focusing on putting in place GHG emissions assessments and reduction measures for infrastructure project types and sizes where there is the greatest opportunity for emissions reductions. This supports the objectives of the 2030 Emissions Reduction Plan both by directly reducing emissions associated with individual projects and by more broadly supporting GHG best practices on the part of infrastructure owners and developers. HICC is implementing measures to support the use of low-carbon materials in major projects, as part of the federal Buy Clean policy approach.
The resilience requirements and GHG measures are intended to encourage project development that considers climate change and climate impacts to support Canada’s mid-century goals of a clean growth low-carbon economy.
Target theme: Federal Leadership on Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reductions and Climate Resilience
Target: The Government of Canada will transition to net-zero carbon operations for facilities and conventional fleets by 2050. (All Ministers)
| Implementation strategy | Departmental action | Performance Indicator Starting Point Target |
How the departmental action contributes to the FSDS goal and target and, where applicable, to Canada’s 2030 Agenda national strategy and SDGs | Results achieved |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Implement the Greening Government Strategy through measures that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve climate resilience, and green the government’s overall operations | Increased awareness of green considerations in the purchase of goods. Program(s): All programs. |
Performance indicator: Starting point: Target: |
The purchase of goods will be optimized, including initial purchase as well as disposal strategy when considering the green impact. Relevant targets or ambitions: CIF Ambition 12.1 – Canadians consume sustainably. |
Indicator result: Notes |
Implementation strategies supporting the goal
This section is for implementation strategies that support the goal “Take action on climate change and its impacts” but not a specific FSDS target.
| Implementation strategy | Departmental action | Performance Indicator Starting Point Target |
How the departmental action contributes to the FSDS goal and target and, where applicable, to Canada’s 2030 Agenda national strategy and SDGs | Results achieved |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Collaborate on emergency management and disaster risk reduction |
Provide funding for communities to increase their ability to adapt to and withstand climate change impacts, disasters triggered by natural hazards and extreme weather events. Program(s): Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund, Natural Infrastructure Fund, Green and Inclusive Community Buildings, Zero Emissions Transit Fund, Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program, Canada Community Building Fund, Projects with green energy or disaster mitigation as a standard category. |
Performance indicators: Starting point: Target: |
Provide funding for large-scale infrastructure projects supporting mitigation of natural disasters and extreme weather events and strengthening climate resilience. Relevant targets or ambitions: Indicator 13.3.1 – Proportion of municipal organizations who factored climate change adaptation into their decision-making process. Target 13.1 – Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries. |
Indicator result: Notes: The results achieved show an increase in the number of communities provided with funding to increase their ability to adapt to and withstand climate change impacts, disasters triggered by natural hazards and extreme weather events. |
Integrating Sustainable Development
HICC will continue to ensure that its decision-making process includes consideration of FSDS goals and targets through its Strategic Environmental and Economic Assessment (SEEA) process. A SEEA for a policy, program or regulatory proposal includes an analysis of the climate, nature, environmental and economic effects of the given proposal.
To implement the SEEA Cabinet Directive of April 2024, HICC has developed an internal policy and supporting review processes involving different expertise areas within the Department to ensure that appropriate SEEA analysis is conducted on all relevant proposals and submissions.
Public statements on the results of HICC’s assessments are issued when an initiative that was the subject of a detailed Strategic Environmental and Economic Assessment is implemented or announced (Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada - Transparency). The purpose of the public statement is to demonstrate that the environmental and economic effects, including contributions to the FSDS goals and targets, of an initiative have been considered during proposal development and decision making.
HICC has issued 9 public statements for proposals that were subject to a detailed SEEA during 2024-25.
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