Canada and British Columbia to make significant investments that will improve the lives of Canadians

Supporting new projects that build prosperous communities and transition to a clean growth economy

VANCOUVER, April 2, 2018 /CNW/ - The governments of Canada and British Columbia are working together to make long-term infrastructure investments that will create economic growth, sustain well-paying jobs, build inclusive communities and support a low-carbon, green economy?leading to a higher quality of life for all Canadians.

Today, the Honourable Amarjeet Sohi, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities, and the Honourable Claire Trevena, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure announced the signing of a bilateral agreement that will provide more than $4.1 billion in federal funding through the Investing in Canada plan over the next decade for infrastructure projects. These projects will be cost-shared with the Government of British Columbia, municipalities and other partners.

This new funding will see the Government of Canada and the Province of British Columbia make unprecedented investments in public transit, green infrastructure, recreational and cultural infrastructure, and rural and northern communities.

These investments will have benefits for people in communities across the province, including:

• faster commutes and travel times for more people, and easier movement of goods for businesses;
• cleaner air and water;
• reduced greenhouse gas emissions;
• smarter more efficient cities;
• sustainable water management;
• enhanced public parks, recreational facilities and other spaces that make communities great places to live;
• better transportation and digital infrastructure for people living in remote communities;
• increased energy security and reduced reliance on diesel in the North.

Across Canada, more than $33 billion in federal funding will be invested through new bilateral agreements with provinces and territories. Provinces and territories will develop three-year plans that will provide information on how they will implement their infrastructure projects.

Quotes

"Long-term investments in infrastructure are key to building a strong Canada?connecting people, creating good jobs for the middle class, and building our economy and communities for the future. We are pleased to have reached a new agreement with British Columbia to invest in infrastructure projects that will benefit all communities for years to come. Collaboration and partnership have been at the heart of the success of our Investing in Canada plan and we will continue to work with provinces, territories, municipalities, Indigenous communities, stakeholders, and Canadians from coast to coast to coast."  

The Honourable Amarjeet Sohi, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities

"Signing this new 10-year bilateral agreement with the Government of Canada means people in B.C. stand to benefit from record infrastructure investment ? nearly $10 billion in partnership with all levels of government. From greener infrastructure and better public transit to enhanced community centres and parks, this historic funding gives communities in B.C. of all sizes a boost to deliver modern infrastructure through smart investments that benefit people, the environment, and the economy."

The Honourable Claire Trevena, Minister of Transportation & Infrastructure

"When we invest in infrastructure, we're helping people live active lives, access clean drinking water, travel safely and efficiently and access more arts and culture," said Selina Robinson, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. "This historic agreement is paving the way for a better transportation system in the lower mainland and enhanced infrastructure for communities of all sizes across B.C." 

The Honourable Selina Robinson, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing

Quick facts 

• Under the Investing in Canada plan, the Government of Canada is investing more than $180 billion over 12 years in public transit projects, green infrastructure, social infrastructure, trade and transportation routes, and Canada's rural and northern communities.
• Under the first phase of the plan, Infrastructure Canada has approved nearly 3,500 projects across Canada worth a combined investment of more than $8.4 billion, including more than 200 projects worth more than $1.2 billion in British Columbia.
• As part of the Plan, Infrastructure Canada will deliver $33 billion over the next decade through new bilateral agreements with provinces and territories under four funding streams: 
• $20.1 billion for public transit;
• $9.2 billion for green infrastructure;
• $1.3 billion for community, cultural and recreational infrastructure; and
• $2 billion for wide-ranging infrastructure needs in rural and northern communities. In addition, the $400 million Arctic Energy Fund will be delivered under this stream to support energy security in the territories.
• This marks the fifth new long-term infrastructure agreement the Government of Canada has signed with provincial and territorial partners.
• The funding provided under the bilateral agreement also includes $212.3 million already committed to the Lion's Gate Secondary Wastewater Treatment Plant in North Vancouver.

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Backgrounder

Canada and British Columbia to make significant investments that will improve the lives of Canadians
Supporting new projects that build prosperous communities and transition to a clean growth economy

Under the $180-billion Investing in Canada infrastructure plan, the Government of Canada is signing new ten-year bilateral agreements with all provinces and territories that will see more than $33 billion in federal funding invested in infrastructure projects across the country. The objective of these investments is to transform the way Canadians live, move and work across four priority areas:

• Public transit;
• Green infrastructure;
• Community, culture, and recreation infrastructure; and
• Rural and northern communities.

British Columbia will receive a total of $4,129,680,161 from 2018 to 2028 through this agreement.

Allocations by funding stream:

* Outcomes will be obtained through projects which will be communicated in more details as they are announced.

The bilateral agreements will allow the Government of Canada and the provinces and territories to agree on shared results as well as a method of regularly reporting on results. The bilateral agreements support the following long-term goals:

• Increase the rate of economic growth in an inclusive and sustainable way;
• Improve environmental quality, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase resiliency of communities;
• Improve mobility in Canadian communities;
• Make Canadian communities more inclusive and accessible; and
• Manage infrastructure in a more sustainable way.

Under these new bilateral agreements, the Government of Canada will not only make significant investments in Canadian communities, but open the door to unique innovative project ideas that meet the agreed-upon outcomes. These new ideas will contribute to the long-term sustainability of our infrastructure.

To ensure our partners consider opportunities to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions or better adapt to climate change during the project development stage, a new climate lens will be applied to certain projects. Partners will also report on how larger projects are creating job opportunities for a broader array of Canadians in the construction industry and related sectors through a new Community Employment Benefits framework.

For information on cost-sharing, please see Infrastructure Canada's website.

British Columbia's Transit Allocation

The Public Transit stream will provide provinces, territories and municipalities with funding to address the new construction, expansion, improvement and rehabilitation of public transit infrastructure.

The table below provides an overview of the maximum transit allocations for the following recipients in British Columbia:

Associated links

Government of Canada's $180-billion+ Investing in Canada plan: http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/plan/about-invest-apropos-eng.html

Investing in Canada plan project map: http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/gmap-gcarte/index-eng.html

Federal infrastructure investments in British Columbia:  https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/governments/organizational-structure/ministries-organizations/ministries/transportation-and-infrastructure

Twitter: @INFC_eng

Web: Infrastructure Canada

SOURCE Infrastructure Canada