Chapter 2 – Communities Built for Change

Canada in 10 Years

The investments in infrastructure we make today will pay dividends for years to come: delivering clean, sustained economic growth; building stronger, more inclusive communities; and creating more good, middle class jobs for Canadians.

By investing in infrastructure now—in the projects Canada needs and the women and men who can build them—we can strengthen and grow the middle class and make Canada an even better place to call home.

What will these investments deliver for Canadians and their communities?

Within 10 years, Canadian cities will be home to world class public transit systems—so that people can get to work on time, and back home quickly at the end of a long day.

Our communities will also be cleaner, and less reliant on sources of energy that pollute the air, harm the environment and compromise Canadians' health. In Canada's smart cities, traffic lights will adapt to ease congestion and speed up the flow of people and goods, and buildings will conserve more energy (and some will help to produce it, with wider adoption of solar technologies).

Better-connected communities will make it easier to adapt to shifting patterns in trade. Canada's resources and manufactured goods will make their way to global markets through better ports and airports, and on roads and rail lines that connect our cities with our rural communities, especially in the north. Services will flow through faster, more reliable digital networks.

Ten years from now, thanks to an economy that works for everyone, more Canadians will have a real and fair chance at success. Hard-working Canadians will be able to find good, affordable places to live, with affordable child care and better support as they age.

This is the brighter future that all Canadians deserve.

Canada's success has always been rooted in the ambition and hard work of the middle class and those working hard to join it.

The efforts of the middle class helped to build a better country—one that connected Canadians to each other, and communities from coast to coast to coast.

Generations of Canadian families built the roads we drive on, and the rail lines that get us to work and get Canada's goods to market. The hard work of Canadians built the ports that make trade possible, and helped give our most vulnerable citizens safe and welcoming places to live.

In recent years, our understanding of infrastructure has expanded. It now includes things like the Internet—a way to share ideas and connect with others that has transformed the way we live, work and play.

It includes green infrastructure—the projects that will give more Canadian families access to safe water, and help Canadian communities plan for the challenges that come with a changing climate.

And it includes the social infrastructure that makes our communities feel like home—things like affordable housing, high-quality, affordable child care, and cultural infrastructure like community centres, museums, parks and arenas.

In its 150th year since Confederation, Canada needs to approach the future with a renewed sense of confidence, optimism and ambition.

The world is changing. How, when and where Canadians work continues to evolve, economies around the world are exchanging old ways of doing things for clean growth, and digital technologies connect people and communities in ways that were hard to imagine just a generation ago.

Confident, optimistic and ambitious countries embrace progress for women and men, and invest in their own future. It's time for Canada to do that once again.

Investing to Create Jobs and Build Strong Communities

Recognizing the urgent need to build strong communities, create jobs and grow the economy, the Government took swift action. Budget 2016 laid out the Government's plan to make historic investments in public transit, green infrastructure and social infrastructure.

These early investments, together with other measures announced in Budget 2016, have already begun to make a difference in communities across Canada. As of March 8, 2017:

• 744 public transit projects have been approved to date, including 214  projects that will make public transit more accessible for people with disabilities. Investments made will expand 132 transit systems across the country and help communities acquire more than 1,000 new buses, among other improvements. Together, these investments will deliver faster, more reliable service and help reduce traffic congestion and pollution.
• 746 projects under the Clean Water and Wastewater Fund have been approved to date, including the expansion of 219 water/wastewater systems and the rehabilitation of 328 more. These investments will give more Canadians access to clean drinking water and reduce pollution in our lakes and rivers.
• 1,030 projects to retrofit or renovate social housing have been approved to date to help repair 48,795 existing social housing units. These investments will improve energy and water efficiency and reduce energy use, lowering utility costs and making housing more affordable. 162 arts and heritage facilities in 101 communities are being improved thanks to the Canada Cultural Spaces Fund, helping bring people together while reconnecting communities with their local art, culture and history.
• Nearly 6,000 housing units on-reserve have been built, renovated or planned, along with 125 projects aimed at building and improving schools. To improve access to safe drinking water, more than 201 water and wastewater projects are now underway.
• 251 projects under the Post-Secondary Institutions Strategic Investment Fund are underway to enhance and modernize research and commercialization facilities on Canadian campuses, as well as industry-relevant training facilities at colleges and polytechnic institutions.

The Government's Phase 1 investments, along with other measures announced in Budget 2016, will help create or maintain an estimated 100,000 jobs, including jobs in project planning and management, engineering and construction.

Building on these historic investments, the Fall Economic Statement committed an additional $81 billion in infrastructure investments, starting in 2017–18. These additional investments underscore the Government's commitment to long-term growth for the middle class, with targeted investments that will build strong communities, create jobs and grow the economy. Taking into account existing infrastructure programs and new investments made through Budget 2016 and the Fall Economic Statement, the Government is making investments of over $180 billion in modern, resilient neighbourhoods and communities.

Budget 2017 expands on the commitments made in Budget 2016 and the Fall Economic Statement. To strengthen and grow the middle class, the Government proposes to:

• Build stronger, better-connected communities through better public transit.
• Encourage Canada's transition to a clean growth economy through investments in green infrastructure.
• Improve the quality of life in Indigenous communities.
• Support families through better access to more affordable early learning and child care.
• Build a better future for rural and northern communities.
• Build an inclusive National Housing Strategy.
• Prioritize critical home care infrastructure.
• Strengthen cultural and recreational infrastructure.
• Deliver better transportation infrastructure to help support trade.
• Launch a Smart Cities Challenge.
• Establish the Canada Infrastructure Bank.

Encouraging Innovation With the Smart Cities Challenge

Canadians who live in urban communities face many challenges, from traffic congestion that takes time away from family and friends to poor-quality air that can make it difficult to enjoy all that cities have to offer.

Smart infrastructure investments can help to address current problems while helping Canada's cities prepare for the challenges ahead.

To encourage cities to adopt new and innovative approaches to city-building, the Government proposes to provide Infrastructure Canada with $300 million over 11 years to launch a Smart Cities Challenge Fund.

Modelled on a similar competition in the U.S., the Smart Cities Challenge would invite cities across Canada to develop Smart Cities Plans, together with local government, citizens, businesses and civil society.

Participants will create ambitious plans to improve the quality of life for urban residents, through better city planning and implementation of clean, digitally connected technology including greener buildings, smart roads and energy systems, and advanced digital connections for homes and businesses.

Winning cities will be selected through a nationwide, merit-based competition, facilitated by the Government's new Impact Canada Fund (see Chapter 1).

To accelerate innovation further, infrastructure and transportation will also be eligible sectors under the Government's commitment to support business-led innovation "superclusters" that have the greatest potential to accelerate economic growth (see Chapter 1).

Delivering Results With the Canada Infrastructure Bank

In its 2016 Fall Economic Statement, the Government announced plans to establish a new Canada Infrastructure Bank, an arm's-length organization that will work with provincial, territorial, municipal, Indigenous and private sector investment partners to transform the way infrastructure is planned, funded and delivered in Canada.

Leveraging the expertise and capital of the private sector, the Canada Infrastructure Bank will provide better results for middle class Canadians. Public dollars will go farther and be used more strategically, maximizing opportunities to create the good, well-paying jobs needed to grow the middle class now, and strengthen Canada's economy over the long term.

The Canada Infrastructure Bank will be responsible for investing at least $35 billion over 11 years, using loans, loan guarantees and equity investments. These investments will be made strategically, with a focus on large, transformative projects such as regional transit plans, transportation networks and electricity grid interconnections.

Accelerated Implementation

To ensure that funds can begin to be invested in a timely manner, the Government will soon propose legislation establishing the Canada Infrastructure Bank.

The Government will begin a process to identify the Bank's Chief Executive Officer and Chairperson of the Board of Directors, with the goal of having the Canada Infrastructure Bank operational in late 2017.

Better Decisions Through Better Data

To help municipalities better track, collect, use and share the data needed to measure the impact of infrastructure investments, the Government of Canada and the Canada Infrastructure Bank will work in partnership with provinces, territories, municipalities and Statistics Canada to undertake an ambitious data initiative on Canadian infrastructure.

The data initiative will help all levels of government by providing intelligence to better direct infrastructure investments, and will support efforts to:

• Provide comparable data and information on issues such as infrastructure demand and usage for jurisdictions across the country.
• Provide a national picture on the state and performance of public infrastructure across asset classes.
• Deliver high-quality data analytics to help inform policy and decision-making, and promote fact-based dialogue between all orders of government.
• Track the impacts of infrastructure investments so that governments can report back to Canadians on what has been achieved.

Further details on the initiative will be announced in the coming months.

Building Strong Communities With Public Transit

The benefits of public transit—shorter commute times, less air pollution, more time with family and friends, and stronger economic growth—are well understood. So too is the cost of inaction; the gridlock that results from traffic congestion costs Canada's economy billions of dollars in lost productivity every year.

Through the Public Transit Infrastructure Fund, Budget 2016 focused on making immediate investments of $3.4 billion over three years, to upgrade and improve public transit systems across Canada.

To support the next phase of ambitious public transit projects, the Government will invest $20.1 billion over 11 years through bilateral agreements with provinces and territories, with provincial and territorial allocations determined using a formula based on ridership (70 per cent) and population (30 per cent). This funding will make it possible for Canadian communities to build the new urban transit networks and service extensions that will transform the way that Canadians live, move and work.

To ensure that public transit dollars are invested in a way that makes the most sense for Canada's diverse communities, the Government is working closely with provinces and territories—partnerships that are already bringing positive change to Canadian communities.

In addition, the new Canada Infrastructure Bank will play a role in defining and building public transit infrastructure in Canada. As part of its mandate to structure, negotiate and deliver federal support for infrastructure projects with revenue-generating potential, the Bank will invest at least $5 billion in public transit systems.

Ambitious transit projects are expected to transform Canada's cities over the next decade:

• Stage 2 of the Ottawa Light Rail Transit (LRT) project will add up to 36 kilometres of new rail and 22 stations, extending the LRT network to the east, west and south.
• The Calgary Green Line LRT will add 40 kilometres of track to the existing 59‑kilometre LRT system, connecting communities between Keystone and Seton to the downtown core. Once fully built, it is estimated that between 90,000 and 140,000 passenger trips will be made on this line every day.
• Building upon Metrolinx's GO Regional Express Rail (RER) program, the SmartTrack project in Toronto proposes to link Scarborough to Etobicoke and enhance the GO RER program with up to six new stations and an integrated fare system.
• The Réseau électrique métropolitain, in Montréal, proposes to connect Montréal's South Shore, North Shore and downtown area to the city's West Island and its international airport—a total of nearly 70 kilometres of rail, with 27 stations.
• The Vancouver Broadway subway project, a tunnelled extension of the Millenium Line SkyTrain along the Broadway corridor, will add six stations over six kilometres of track, supporting a busy and growing corridor.

Creating Canada's Clean Growth Economy

A clean environment and a strong economy go hand in hand—Canadians understand this, and the Government agrees. Across the country, Canadians are working hard to build a new, clean economy, for themselves and for their children and grandchildren.

This is the smart thing to do, and the right thing to do for Canada's economy. Around the world, markets are changing. Industries are moving away from products and services that create carbon pollution and turning to cleaner and more sustainable options. Canada has an opportunity to create a world-leading clean economy, and the investments outlined in Budget 2017 will help to deliver on that goal.

To ensure that Canada's communities are healthy and productive places to live, Budget 2016 included investments of $5.0 billion over five years in infrastructure that protects communities and supports Canada's ongoing transition to a clean growth economy.

The 2016 Fall Economic Statement announced the Government's investment of $21.9 billion over 11 years to support green infrastructure, including through targeted investments by the new Canada Infrastructure Bank.

In addition to these financial commitments, the Government has taken steps to position Canada as a true leader in clean growth:

• With the Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change, the Government and its provincial, territorial and Indigenous partners laid out a plan to create good, well-paying jobs and leave a cleaner, more prosperous economy for generations to come.
• By pricing carbon pollution, the Government signalled to Canadians—and the world—its commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and deliver cleaner air, while combatting climate change.
• The comprehensive Oceans Protection Plan—the most significant investment ever made to protect our oceans and coastlines—will protect the environment, ensure efficient transportation, maintain public safety, and create good, well-paying jobs.
• To support provincial and territorial efforts to reduce carbon pollution, the Government established the Low Carbon Economy Fund, which will provide funding for projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
• To reduce greenhouse gas emissions associated with the use of fuel, and to promote cleaner technologies, the Government is establishing a clean fuel standard.
• The Government has also announced its intention to accelerate the replacement of coal-generated electricity by 2030.
• To foster the development of clean technologies and the growth of Canadian firms, the Government is making $1 billion in strategic investments to support the clean technology sector, through the Innovation and Skills Plan.

To advance Canada's efforts to build a clean economy, Budget 2017 lays out the Government's plan to invest $21.9 billion in green infrastructure, including initiatives that will support the implementation of the Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change.

Investments to support Canada's transition to a clean economy will flow through three distinct streams:

• Bilateral agreements: $9.2 billion will be provided to provinces and territories over the next 11 years, on a base plus per capita allocation basis, to support priority projects, including those that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, deliver clean water, safely manage wastewater, help communities prepare for challenges that result from climate change, and help build cleaner, better-connected electricity systems.
• The Canada Infrastructure Bank: At least $5 billion will be available over the next 11 years for green infrastructure projects, including those that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, deliver clean air and safe water systems, and promote renewable power.
• An additional $2.8 billion will be invested over the next 11 years through a series of national programs.

In particular, the Government proposes to invest the following national programs over the next 11 years:

• $100 million to support next generation smart grid, storage and clean electricity technology demonstration projects.
• $200 million to support the deployment of emerging renewable energy technologies nearing commercialization.
• $220 million to reduce the reliance of rural and remote communities south of the 60th parallel on diesel fuel, and support the use of more sustainable, renewable power solutions.
• $120 million to deploy infrastructure for electric vehicle charging and natural gas and hydrogen refuelling stations, as well as to support technology demonstration projects.
• $182 million to develop and implement new building codes to retrofit existing buildings and build new net-zero energy consumption buildings across Canada.
• $2 billion for a Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund to support national, provincial and municipal infrastructure required to deal with the effects of a changing climate.

Celebrating and Protecting Our Natural Heritage

Canada is known around the world for its vast expanses of protected natural areas, its magnificent natural scenery and a wealth of wildlife. The natural and cultural heritage Canadians enjoy enriches our communities, creates jobs and economic growth through tourism, and makes Canada a truly great place to live and raise a family.

This heritage is at its best and most beautiful in Canada's national parks. Recognized around the world and loved by those who visit and work in them, our 47 national parks and four national marine conservation areas are a source of real pride for Canadians. They belong to all of us.

2017 marks the 150th anniversary of Confederation and is a chance for all Canadian families to get out, explore and discover the rich natural heritage that Canada has to offer. To make it more affordable for more Canadian families to visit and appreciate the outdoors, in 2017, admission to all national parks, national marine conservation areas and national historic sites will be free.

Canada's system of protected areas is also an important part of local economies, directly contributing about $1.5 billion to Canada's gross domestic product while generating almost 22,700 jobs. Enjoyed by millions of Canadians and international visitors each year, they are iconic symbols of our Canadian identity and tell the stories of Canada's past, including the history, cultures and contributions of Indigenous Peoples.

To ensure that visitors are able to enjoy Canada's national parks for years to come, Budget 2017 proposes to provide up to $364 million over two years on a cash basis, starting in 2018–19, to the Parks Canada Agency to continue its management of national parks, national marine conservation areas and national historic sites. A medium- and long-term plan is under development to ensure ongoing support to these highly valued areas.

Completing the Trans Canada Trail

Canadians are fortunate to live in a country where we can enjoy its natural beauty while pursuing healthy, outdoor activities. The Trans Canada Trail is one of the world's longest networks of multi-use recreational trails, comprising land and water routes across urban, rural and wilderness landscapes. When completed, it will be the longest recreational trail in the world, stretching nearly 24,000 kilometres from the Atlantic to the Pacific to the Arctic Oceans. The Trail connects people across the country, touching every provincial and territorial capital, and linking together 15,000 communities. Its vast network also makes it accessible—the Trail will be within 30 minutes of about 29 million Canadians. To complete, enhance and maintain the Trans Canada Trail, in partnership with the provinces and individual Canadians, Budget 2017 proposes to invest $30 million over five years, starting in 2017–18, to be delivered through the Parks Canada Agency.

Protecting Canada's Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems

To ensure that future generations of Canadians have access to clean water, and to protect the sustainability of Canadian fisheries and the jobs they support, Budget 2017 proposes to develop water protection measures in co-operation with provincial, territorial and Indigenous partners.

This includes introducing measures to protect 17 per cent of land and inland waters, and 10 per cent of coastal and marine waters, by addressing the persistent and growing threat of aquatic invasive species and toxic and nuisance algae, and focusing on preserving Canada's precious freshwater resources.

To prevent the introduction of aquatic invasive species, respond rapidly to the detection of new species, and manage the spread of already established aquatic invasive species, Budget 2017 proposes to provide $43.8 million over five years, starting in 2017–18, to Fisheries and Oceans Canada to continue and expand aquatic invasive species programming. This will better protect our waterways and preserve our fisheries, including in the Great Lakes, the St. Lawrence River Basin and the Lake Winnipeg Basin. Canada's efforts will help address the threats posed by such species as Asian carp and sea lamprey.

The Great Lakes alone represent 20 per cent of the world's supply of surface freshwater, and provide drinking water for more than 10 million Canadians, as well as 25 million Americans. Supporting clean freshwater is an utmost priority. To that end, Budget 2017 proposes to provide up to $70.5 million over five years, starting in 2017–18, to Environment and Climate Change Canada to protect Canada's freshwater resources, including in the Great Lakes and Lake Winnipeg Basins. This investment will refocus efforts to reduce the release of toxic chemicals; pursue ongoing cross-government collaboration on improving water quality, biodiversity conservation and sustainable use; and improve collaboration with Indigenous Peoples.

Improving Air Quality for Canadians

Air pollution harms the environment and the health of Canadians. The Canadian Medical Association estimates that air pollution costs the Canadian economy billions of dollars each year due to premature deaths, hospital admissions, emergency room visits and absenteeism.

The Government is committed to working with provinces and territories to set stronger air quality standards, monitor emissions, and provide incentives for investments that lead to cleaner air and healthier communities. Budget 2017 proposes to provide up to $201 million over four years, starting in 2018–19, to Environment and Climate Change Canada, Health Canada and the National Research Council Canada to continue to take action to address air pollution and undertake activities such as indoor air pollution mitigation. This investment will support the implementation of the Air Quality Management System in cooperation with provinces and territories; help administer and enforce regulations; help make Canadians aware of strategies and tools to reduce exposure to air pollutants; and continue federal programming to address the health impacts of indoor air pollutants, including radon.

The Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change

In the March 2016 Vancouver Declaration on Clean Growth and Climate Change, the Government, along with provincial, territorial and Indigenous partners, agreed to work together to develop a concrete plan to achieve Canada's international climate change commitments.

As a first step, Budget 2016 provided almost $2.9 billion over five years, starting in 2016–17, to address climate change and air pollution. This included $2 billion over two years, starting in 2017–18, to establish the Low Carbon Economy Fund, which will support provincial and territorial actions that materially reduce greenhouse gas emissions, are incremental to current plans, and achieve significant reductions toward meeting or exceeding Canada's national 2030 target. This $2 billion has now been adjusted to span five years, starting in 2017–18, following discussions with provinces and territories in the context of the Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change. Further details on the allocation of the Low Carbon Economy Fund will be announced in the near future.

At the First Ministers' Meeting on Clean Growth and Climate Change in December 2016, the Government, along with provinces and territories, worked with Indigenous partners and adopted the Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change. The Framework follows commitments made in the Vancouver Declaration of March 2016 and in the United Nations Paris Agreement on climate change. It builds on provincial and territorial measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and identifies ways that governments, business and civil society can seize the many economic opportunities afforded by the global clean growth economy.

In Budget 2017, the Government is bolstering its historic investments in green infrastructure, public transit, and clean technology and innovation. These investments—along with additional actions that support the Framework—will help Canada to reach its greenhouse gas emission reduction targets, and ensure a safer, cleaner world for all Canadians.

Federal Carbon Pricing Backstop

The Framework includes a pan-Canadian approach to pricing carbon pollution, with the aim of having carbon pricing in place in all provinces and territories by 2018. Provinces and territories have the flexibility to choose between two systems: a direct price on carbon pollution or a cap-and-trade system. The Government will introduce a backstop pricing system that will apply in provinces and territories that do not meet the federal carbon pricing benchmark.

In the coming months, the Government will release a consultation paper containing the technical details of the proposed federal carbon pricing backstop mechanism, and will work to ensure that the views of Canadians are heard.

Complementary Actions

In addition to investments made in Budget 2016, the Government is proposing to provide additional resources to support the Pan-Canadian Framework, including:

• Ongoing work to develop climate change policy, and support regulations, adaptation and clean energy technology programs.
• New actions in the electricity, buildings and transportation sectors, and new measures to support efforts to reduce emissions from federal buildings and vehicle fleets.

Accelerating the Replacement of Coal-Generated Electricity

The Government has set an ambitious goal of attaining 90 per cent of electricity generation from non-emitting sources by 2030. To help meet this goal, Budget 2017 proposes to provide $11.4 million over four years, starting in 2018–19, to Environment and Climate Change Canada to support the accelerated replacement of coal-fired electricity generation by 2030 and set leading performance standards for natural-gas-fired electricity generation.

Reducing Reliance on Diesel in Indigenous and Northern Communities

The Government is also helping to reduce reliance on diesel in Indigenous and northern communities. To support the deployment of renewable energy projects in communities that rely on diesel for electricity and heating, Budget 2017 proposes to provide $21.4 million over four years, starting in 2018–19, to Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada to continue the Northern Responsible Energy Approach for Community Heat and Electricity Program.

These actions will be supported by other Budget 2017 proposed measures, including $220 million to reduce the reliance of rural and remote communities south of the 60th parallel on diesel fuel, and to support the use of more sustainable, renewable power solutions.

The Government will also invest an additional $400 million in an Arctic Energy Fund to address energy security for communities north of the 60th parallel, including Indigenous communities.

A More Energy Efficient Transportation Sector

In 2014, Canada's transportation sector accounted for nearly a quarter of Canada's greenhouse gas emissions. To help reduce these emissions, Budget 2017 proposes to develop greenhouse gas regulations in the marine, rail, aviation and vehicle sectors. These efforts will be led by Transport Canada, with a proposed investment of $56.9 million over four years, starting in 2018–19. Budget 2017 also proposes to provide $17.2 million over five years, starting in 2017–18, to Environment and Climate Change Canada and Transport Canada to develop and implement heavy-duty vehicle retrofit and off-road regulations, as well as a clean fuel standard to reduce emissions from fuels used in transportation, building and industrial sectors.

Greener Buildings

Making Canada's building and industrial sectors more energy efficient will reduce emissions, make homes and buildings more comfortable, and help to lower energy costs, which can also make Canadian industries more competitive. To continue the work already underway to make the building and industrial sectors more energy efficient, Budget 2017 proposes to provide Natural Resources Canada with $67.5 million over four years, starting in 2018–19, to renew and continue existing energy efficiency programs. Budget 2017 also proposes to provide Natural Resources Canada with $39.8 million over four years, starting in 2018–19, to support projects and activities that increase the use of wood as a greener substitute material in infrastructure projects (for example, in mid-rise commercial and industrial buildings), helping to create new markets for sustainable Canadian products.

These programs will be supported by another Budget 2017 proposed national program to develop and implement new building codes to retrofit existing buildings and build new net-zero energy consumption buildings across Canada.

Leading by Example

The federal government has an important role to play in both setting ambitious emission reduction targets and taking steps to live up to those goals. To support the ambitious target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from federal operations by at least 40 per cent below 2005 levels by 2030, Budget 2017 proposes to provide $13.5 million over five years, starting in 2017–18, to Natural Resources Canada to provide expertise to other federal departments in the best approaches to implement energy efficiency and clean energy technologies, to retrofit federal buildings, and to reduce or eliminate emissions from vehicle fleets.

Adaptation and Climate Resilience

To protect our communities and all Canadians from the risks associated with climate change, Budget 2017 proposes to:

• Establish a new Canadian Centre for Climate Services to improve access to climate science and regional climate resilience centres. The centres will work with provincial, territorial, Indigenous and other partners to make it easier for governments, communities, decision-makers, businesses and organizations to access data and information on climate science, and help support climate adaptation decision-making across the country. This new Centre will be administered by Environment and Climate Change Canada. Budget 2017 proposes to provide $73.5 million over five years, starting in 2017–18, to Environment and Climate Change Canada and Natural Resources Canada to establish the Centre and build regional adaptation capacity and expertise.
• Develop and implement a national action plan to respond to the broad range of health risks caused by climate change. Budget 2017 proposes to provide Health Canada, the Public Health Agency of Canada and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research with $47.0 million over five years, starting in 2017–18, to develop and implement this plan.
• Implement a climate change and health adaptation program for First Nations and Inuit communities. This funding will support surveillance and monitoring activities, risk assessments, laboratory diagnostics, as well as health-professional education and public awareness campaigns. Budget 2017 proposes to provide $18.0 million over five years, starting in 2017–18, to Health Canada for these purposes.
• Integrate traditional Indigenous knowledge to build a better understanding of climate change and to guide adaptation measures; enhance Indigenous community resilience through infrastructure planning and emergency management in those communities where flooding risks are increasing; and enhance resilience in northern communities by improving the design and construction of northern infrastructure. Budget 2017 proposes to provide Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada with $83.8 million over five years, starting in 2017–18, to begin this work.
• Continue the Aquatic Climate Change Adaptation Services Program and the Northern Transportation Adaptation Initiative. To that end, Budget 2017 proposes to provide $21.6 million over four years, starting in 2017–18, to Fisheries and Oceans Canada and Transport Canada.
• Undertake risk assessments on federal transportation infrastructure assets. Budget 2017 proposes to provide $16.4 million over five years, starting in 2017–18, to Transport Canada to ensure that Canada's federally managed roads, bridges, rail systems and ports are able to withstand the effects of natural disasters, climate change and extreme weather events.

In addition, the Government will develop a new, cost-shared Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund for built and natural, large-scale infrastructure projects supporting mitigation of natural disasters and extreme weather events and climate resilience.

Clean Technology

Budget 2017 proposes significant investments in clean technology that will support objectives of the Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change. The details of these proposals are provided earlier in this chapter as well as in Chapter 1.

Policy, Communications and Engagement

To ensure a co-ordinated, whole-of-government approach to climate change, Budget 2017 proposes to provide $135.4 million over four years, starting in 2018–19, to Environment and Climate Change Canada and Natural Resources Canada. This investment will be used to enhance action on short-lived climate pollutants, decarbonize the transportation system, and maintain policy and coordination capacity, as well as to develop a legislative framework for offshore renewable energy projects. The Government is also proposing to provide $26.4 million over five years, starting in 2017–18, to Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada to support Indigenous collaboration on climate change.

Charting a Better Future for Rural and Northern Communities

Investments in rural and northern infrastructure will help grow local economies, build stronger, more inclusive communities, and help safeguard the environment and the health of Canadians.

Because rural and northern communities have unique infrastructure needs that require a more targeted approach, the Government will invest $2.0 billion over 11 years to support a broad range of infrastructure projects, to be allocated to provinces and territories on a base plus per capita allocation basis.

Projects could include improving road access or expanding Internet connectivity—building on progress already underway thanks to a $500 million investment in rural broadband included in Budget 2016.

Other infrastructure improvements could include the renewal and replacement of energy systems in northern communities, so that remote communities can reduce their reliance on diesel. The Government will invest an additional $400 million in an Arctic Energy Fund to begin this work by addressing energy security for communities north of the 60th parallel, including Indigenous communities.

These investments will be made through bilateral agreements with provinces and territories, and will have flexible terms, so that funds can be directed to the areas with the greatest need.

Building Stronger Communities and Neighbourhoods

Building strong communities and thriving neighbourhoods is part of our plan to create well-paying jobs for middle class Canadians, make our cities more dynamic and competitive, and drive economic growth. By investing in the things that help make our neighbourhoods better places to live—things like early learning and child care, and affordable housing—we can build stronger neighbourhoods that we are all proud to call home.

The Government is working to give every Canadian a real and fair chance at success, in part by making investments in Indigenous communities, early learning and child care, affordable housing, home care, and cultural and recreational infrastructure, which will strengthen our communities now, and build a better quality of life for our children and grandchildren. That is why Budget 2017 proposes new investments of $21.9 billion over 11 years to support social infrastructure in Canadian communities.

Supporting Families Through Early Learning and Child Care

For too many families, the lack of affordable, high-quality child care means difficult choices—some parents may have to sacrifice retirement savings to pay for child care, while others may leave their careers because child care is unavailable or unaffordable.

Recognizing the connection between child care and family economic security, Budget 2017 proposes measures that will increase support for early learning and child care, so that more Canadian parents can pursue new opportunities to learn and to work. With stronger skills and more work experience under their belts, families can focus on what matters most—building a better future for themselves, and their children.

To help Canadian children get the best start in life, and to better support Canadian families, Budget 2016 provided an initial $500 million in 2017–18 for early learning and child care.

Building on this commitment, Budget 2017 proposes to invest an additional $7 billion over 10 years, starting in 2018–19, to support and create more high-quality, affordable child care spaces across the country.

A portion of this investment will be dedicated to early learning and child care programs for Indigenous children living on- and off-reserve.

Over the next three years, these investments could:

• Increase the number of affordable child care spaces for low- and modest-income families by supporting up to 40,000 new subsidized child care spaces.
• Make it more affordable for parents to return to work, with thousands of parents more likely to enter the labour force once child care is made more affordable.

To ensure that Canadian families have better access to high-quality, affordable child care, the Government is working with the provinces and territories to develop a National Framework on Early Learning and Child Care, focusing on best practices and new approaches to best serve families.

In addition, a distinct Indigenous Framework on Early Learning and Child Care, will be created in cooperation with Indigenous partners. The distinct Indigenous framework will reflect the unique cultures and needs of First Nations, Inuit and Métis children across Canada.

Building an Inclusive National Housing Strategy

All Canadians need and deserve housing that is safe, adequate and affordable. Without it, Canadians feel less secure, making it harder to accomplish every other goal—from raising healthy children to pursuing education, jobs and opportunity.

When affordable housing is in short supply, Canada's whole economy suffers. The lack of access to adequate, suitable and affordable housing is a particular concern in big cities.

To help address immediate housing needs, Budget 2016 committed to invest $2.2 billion over two years, to give more Canadians access to more affordable housing. To supplement these investments, Budget 2016 also provided funding for low-cost loans and new financing tools to encourage municipalities, housing developers and non-profit housing providers to develop more affordable rental housing units.

To build on these early efforts, Budget 2017 proposes to invest more than $11.2 billion over 11 years in a variety of initiatives designed to build, renew and repair Canada's stock of affordable housing and help ensure that Canadians have affordable housing that meets their needs.

These investments will be made as part of a new National Housing Strategy. The Strategy was developed following extensive consultation with and input from provinces, territories, municipalities, Indigenous Peoples, industry experts, stakeholders and, most importantly, those Canadians who are living with the challenge of finding adequate and affordable housing in many of Canada's big cities, and rural and remote communities.

The Strategy will provide a roadmap for governments and housing providers across the country as they decide how to best support housing renewal in their communities. Key elements include:

• A renewed partnership between the Government and provinces and territories to better support key housing priorities.
• A new $5 billion National Housing Fund to address critical housing issues, and better support vulnerable citizens.
• Targeted support for northern housing.
• Targeted housing support for Indigenous Peoples not living on-reserve.
• Renewed and expanded federal investments to combat and prevent homelessness.
• Making more federal lands available for the development of affordable housing.
• Expanded funding to strengthen CMHC's housing research activities.

A Renewed Federal-Provincial-Territorial Partnership in Housing

As housing needs vary greatly by community, the Government is committed to working with the provinces and territories to ensure that the unique needs of communities all across Canada can be met.

Budget 2017 proposes to provide approximately $3.2 billion over the next 11 years to provinces and territories to support key priorities for affordable housing. These priorities may include the construction of new affordable housing units; the renovation and repair of existing housing; rent subsidies and other measures to make housing more affordable; and other initiatives to support safe, independent living for Canada's seniors, persons with disabilities and other individuals requiring accessibility modifications.

This investment will be provided through a new, expanded, multilateral investment framework that will replace the existing Investment in Affordable Housing initiative, which is set to expire at the end of 2018–19.

A New National Housing Fund

As part of the Government's renewed role in housing policy, Budget 2017 proposes to establish a National Housing Fund to address critical housing issues and prioritize support for vulnerable citizens, including: seniors; Indigenous Peoples; survivors fleeing situations of domestic violence; persons with disabilities; those dealing with mental health and addiction issues; and veterans.

Administered through CMHC, this Fund will receive an investment of $5 billion over the next 11 years.

The National Housing Fund will:

• Encourage greater collaboration and investment in housing: A new co-investment fund will be established to pool resources among many housing partners, including governments, the private sector and community organizations, to prioritize large-scale community renewal projects.
• Expand direct lending for new rental housing supply and renewal: Building on investments made in Budget 2016, the National Housing Fund will provide municipalities and other housing partners with sustained and improved access to low-cost loans for the repair and renewal of housing units, as well as for the construction of new affordable housing, through the Affordable Rental Housing Financing Initiative. This will leverage billions of dollars available for investment in affordable housing, and help improve the quality and condition of affordable housing across Canada.
• Support for innovations in affordable housing: To develop a stock of affordable rental housing that delivers a better quality of life for residents, CMHC will make up-front capital contributions available to affordable housing providers. This will encourage innovative approaches to housing development, such as energy efficiency retrofits to lower utility costs, and accessibility modifications to expand the range of housing options available to Canadians living with disabilities.
• Preserve the affordability of social housing: To help social housing providers maintain rent-geared-to-income units when long-term operating agreements expire, CMHC will provide temporary funding to social housing providers as they transition to more sustainable operating models.
• Support a strong and sustainable social housing sector: CMHC will also establish a Sector Transformation Fund and Technical Resource Centre to provide technical assistance, tools and resources to help social housing providers transition to more efficient and financially sustainable operating models.

Further details about the National Housing Fund will be announced as part of the launch of the National Housing Strategy later this year.

Over the next number of years, a large number of operating agreements which help subsidize affordable rental housing will be expiring as CMHC-supported mortgages wind down. The Government intends to preserve the baseline funding related to these agreements, so that Canadians have access to housing options that are affordable and meet their needs. The use and renewal of these funds will be determined over the next year.‎ These funds are in addition to the new investments in affordable housing and homelessness supported by Budget 2017.

Targeted Support for Northern Housing

Budget 2017 proposes to invest $300 million over the next 11 years to provide targeted support for northern housing. This will provide stable and predictable funding to the territorial governments to help offset the higher cost of construction in the north, and support territorial efforts to improve housing conditions across the region. These investments, provided as a top-up to the Investment in Affordable Housing initiative and the new multilateral investment framework, will help approximately 3,000 northern families find adequate, suitable and affordable housing.

Funding for northern housing will be allocated as follows: $24 million will be provided to Yukon, $36 million to the Northwest Territories, and $240 million to Nunavut, where additional funding is provided for Inuit communities and housing need is the greatest. This targeted investment is in addition to Indigenous-specific housing investments to be made as part of funding for infrastructure in Indigenous communities.

Targeted Housing Support for Indigenous Peoples Not Living On-Reserve

Indigenous Peoples not living on-reserve face unique challenges accessing culturally appropriate and affordable housing. In recognition of this, Budget 2017 proposes to invest $225 million over the next 11 years to provide financial support to housing providers serving Indigenous Peoples not living on-reserve.

This funding will provide assistance for needed capital repairs, help ensure the continued affordability of units previously supported by the former Urban Native Housing Program and encourage development of new housing. The Government will develop and administer this program in collaboration with First Nations, Inuit and Métis partners.

Working Together to Tackle Homelessness

Homelessness is a reality for too many Canadians and a challenge for every Canadian community.

Through the Homelessness Partnering Strategy, the Government provides direct support and funding to communities across Canada for projects to prevent and reduce homelessness, including Housing First initiatives that help homeless women and men secure stable housing while providing them with support for underlying issues, such as mental health or addiction.

Budget 2017 proposes a total investment of $2.1 billion over the next 11 years to expand and extend funding for the Homelessness Partnering Strategy beyond 2018–19, when current funding is scheduled to end. By 2021–22, this will nearly double the investments made in 2015–16, prior to the start of Phase 1 of Canada's new infrastructure plan.

Over the next year, guided by the efforts of an advisory panel of homelessness experts, the Government will consult with stakeholders, provinces, territories and Indigenous partners on how the Homelessness Partnering Strategy can be redesigned to better reduce and prevent homelessness across Canada.

Making More Federal Lands Available for Affordable Housing

The Government has a unique opportunity to directly contribute to the creation of additional affordable housing and social housing.

Budget 2017 proposes to invest $202 million over the next 11 years to make surplus federal lands and buildings available to housing providers at low or no cost for the development of affordable housing. This includes funding to top up the existing Surplus Federal Real Property for Homelessness Initiative in 2017–18, and a new expanded initiative starting in 2018–19, which will also provide funding for environmental remediation and for renovations or retrofits needed to ensure that the surplus federal buildings are suitable for use as housing.

Taken together, these investments will increase by a factor of 10 the Government's annual contribution of land and property intended for development as affordable housing.

Strengthening Housing Research and Establishing a Housing Statistics Framework

In recent years, Canada has grappled with difficult questions about housing affordability and foreign ownership—questions that could not be answered in a timely or effective way. Gaps in research and data in these areas must be filled, to ensure that Canada maintains a stable and well-regulated housing market, and to ensure that investments made under the National Housing Strategy are effective.

As part of the National Housing Strategy, Budget 2017 proposes to provide $241 million over the next 11 years to CMHC to improve data collection and analytics, which will strengthen the ability to report the outcomes of the National Housing Strategy and make informed policy decisions. This investment will also support expanded housing research through university networks and collaboration with other levels of government, and a network of innovation labs that will incubate new ideas and design solutions to affordable housing challenges.

To address data gaps in current nationwide housing data, Budget 2017 also proposes to provide $39.9 million over five years, and $6.6 million per year thereafter, to Statistics Canada to develop and implement a new Housing Statistics Framework. This investment is over and above investments under the National Housing Strategy.

The Housing Statistics Framework will be a nationwide database of all properties in Canada, and provide up-to-date information on purchases and sales, including the degree of foreign ownership, as well as information on homeowner demographics and financing characteristics.

The Framework will represent a significant jump forward in the quality and type of housing data available, and will provide more accurate and timely information to existing and prospective homeowners, industry analysts and government decision-makers.

Statistics Canada will begin to publish Housing Statistics Framework data in the fall of 2017.

Delivering Better Transportation to Support Trade

As a large country that relies on trade for its economic success, Canada needs to ensure that people and products can move quickly and safely—whether from home to work, or from harvest to warehouse.

As announced in the 2016 Fall Economic Statement, the Government will invest $10.1 billion over 11 years in trade and transportation projects. This investment will build stronger, more efficient transportation corridors to international markets and help Canadian businesses compete, grow and create more jobs for Canada's middle class.

Moving People and Helping Businesses Compete

Canada's Trade and Transportation Corridors Initiative will help to improve the quality of trade infrastructure across Canada—from border crossings in the south to airports in the north.

Building on Transport Canada's "gateways" model, the Trade and Transportation Corridors Initiative will prioritize investments that address congestion and bottlenecks along vital corridors, and around transportation hubs and ports providing access to world markets.

To help connect northern communities to trade and investment opportunities, investments will also be made to resolve critical transportation needs in Canada's north.

The Trade and Transportation Corridors Initiative includes the following: a National Trade Corridors Fund; a Trade and Transportation Information System; measures to enable the modernization of Canada's transportation system; the Oceans Protection Plan; and funding to undertake climate risk assessments and address the requirements of existing federally funded transportation assets (VIA Rail Canada Inc., Marine Atlantic Inc. and Eastern Atlantic ferries).

National Trade Corridors Fund

To address urgent capacity constraints and freight bottlenecks at major ports of entry, and to better connect the rail and highway infrastructure that delivers economic growth across Canada, the Government proposes to establish a new National Trade Corridors Fund.

Investments will target congestion and inefficiencies at marine ports such as Vancouver (vital to expanding Canada's trade with Asia) and Montréal (critical to the success of Canada's Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement with the European Union), as well as along the busiest rail and highway corridors around the Greater Toronto Area and other urban centres across the country. Budget 2017 proposes to provide $2 billion over 11 years to support the Fund's activities. At least an additional $5 billion will be provided through the Canada Infrastructure Bank to address trade and transportation priorities.

In addition to identifying priority investments that will help streamline transportation along Canada's major trade corridors, the Fund will look for ways to improve the flow of supplies to northern communities, unlock economic development in Canada's three territories, and create good, middle class jobs.

Trade and Transportation Information System

To make smart decisions, government and the private sector alike need access to high-quality, timely and accessible data and analysis. The Government is committed to strengthening Canada's transportation networks and needs good information to make the targeted investments in trade corridors that will support growth and the creation of good, well-paying jobs.

To that end, the Government proposes to establish a new Canadian Centre on Transportation Data, and an open data portal, to serve as authoritative sources of multi-modal transportation data and performance measures. Statistics Canada, other levels of government, industry and educational institutions will be partners in this initiative. The initiative will support innovations that will move goods more efficiently across supply and distribution chains, getting them from the manufacturer and into the hands of consumers more quickly, affordably and sustainably.

To support this measure, Budget 2017 proposes to provide $50 million over 11 years to Transport Canada to launch a Trade and Transportation Information System.

Modernizing Canada's Transportation System

Travel and transportation is evolving. From self-driving cars on our roads to drones in our skies to ever-changing patterns in trade, the Government must stay on top of changing trends by updating regulations, certifications and standards. Proposed activities include:

• Developing regulations for the safe adoption of connected and autonomous vehicles and unmanned air vehicles.
• Working with industry, provinces, territories and municipalities to establish pilot projects (e.g., to evaluate new unmanned air vehicle technology at a new test centre).
• Increasing Transport Canada's ability to establish and provide the standards and certifications that industry will need to safely use these new technologies.

To complete these and other related activities, Budget 2017 proposes to provide Transport Canada with $76.7 million over five years, starting in 2017–18, on a cash basis, including existing resources.

Transport Canada provides a range of services to the transportation sector on a cost recovery basis. This applies to all modes of transport, including the licensing and certification of aircraft, a service that is essential to the economic success of Canada's aerospace industry.

To support the long-term growth of this and other transportation-related industries, the Government will introduce legislation to enter into service-level agreements with industry. These new authorities will allow for more effective cost recovery for regulatory and certification services, so that new products and services can be brought to market faster, and enhance the industry's competitiveness.

In addition, the Government has announced plans to increase limits on international investment in Canada's airlines, and to enhance passenger rights.

Connecting Communities by Rail and Water

For nearly 40 years, VIA Rail Canada Inc. has connected passengers across Canada, and presently serves more than 400 communities on a 12,500-kilometre rail network. To ensure VIA Rail's continued operations, Budget 2017 proposes to provide VIA Rail with $867.3 million over three years on a cash basis, starting in 2017–18, to support its operations and capital requirements.

Marine Atlantic Inc. operates two marine routes connecting Newfoundland and Labrador to the rest of Canada: a year-round route between North Sydney, Nova Scotia, and Channel-Port aux Basques, Newfoundland and Labrador, and a seasonal route from North Sydney to Argentia, Newfoundland and Labrador. To support the continued operations of Marine Atlantic Inc., Budget 2017 proposes to provide funding of up to $445.3 million over three years on a cash basis, starting in 2017–18, including existing resources.

In addition to the services offered by Marine Atlantic Inc., the federal government provides financial support to ferry routes between Îles de la Madeleine, Quebec, and Souris, Prince Edward Island; between Saint John, New Brunswick, and Digby, Nova Scotia; and between Wood Islands, Prince Edward Island, and Caribou, Nova Scotia. Budget 2017 proposes to provide $278.3 million over five years on a cash basis, starting in 2017–18, including existing resources, for the continued safe and reliable operations of these ferry services.

Investing in Canadian Small Craft Harbours

A safe and accessible network of small craft harbours is essential to support the fishing industry and coastal communities across Canada. These harbours are also an important and unique element of the broader transportation system and are relied on daily by both commercial and recreational users. In Budget 2016, the Government invested $149 million over two years for small craft harbour infrastructure improvements. Budget 2017 builds on this funding by proposing to provide an additional $5 million in 2017–18 to Fisheries and Oceans Canada to support the Small Craft Harbours Program.

Protecting Air Travellers

To ensure consistent and effective security screening of travellers and workers at airports, Budget 2017 proposes to provide new funding of $152 million in 2017–18 for the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority, Transport Canada and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

Strengthening Cultural and Recreational Infrastructure

Canada's cultural industries—from television and film to dance to digital games—are the heartbeat of our communities and an important contributor to Canada's economy. Collectively, they employ nearly 650,000 Canadians, providing good, well-paying jobs for the middle class, and account for approximately 3 per cent of Canada's gross domestic product.

More than an economic driver, Canada's cultural industries reflect the Canadian experience, and share that experience with the world. They showcase Canadians' creativity and diversity, strengthening our understanding of what it means to be Canadian.

To help promote arts and culture in Canada, Budget 2016 invested $1.9 billion over five years to support key national cultural institutions. This funding also included $168.2 million over two years for the Canada Cultural Spaces Fund.

Budget 2017 proposes to build on this commitment, with a further investment of $1.8 billion over 10 years starting in 2018–19. Of this amount, more than $1.3 billion will be provided to provinces and territories through integrated bilateral agreements, on a base plus per capita allocation basis. This investment will be delivered through the second phase of social infrastructure funding.

Canada Cultural Spaces Fund

To construct, renovate and better equip the creative spaces and hubs that will be home to the next generation of artists and innovators, Budget 2017 proposes to provide $300 million over 10 years to the Canada Cultural Spaces Fund. This investment will help support the development of Canadian talent, and support entrepreneurialism in the arts and cultural communities.

This new investment will bring artists, cultural entrepreneurs and organizations together in shared spaces where they can collaborate and take their ideas to new heights. The new investment in the Canada Cultural Spaces Fund will be focused on the construction, renovation and equipment needs of creative spaces/hubs, which will help drive growth in Canada's creative economy.

Community Educational Infrastructure

To celebrate and promote Canada's linguistic diversity, $80 million over 10 years will be invested to support the construction of community educational infrastructure in official language minority communities. Working with the provinces and territories, the Government could invest in projects like early childhood centres, community centres and cultural centres. This commitment will create more vibrant communities by supporting local official languages groups in protecting their language and culture, enriching their lives and the lives of those around them.

Enabling Accessibility Fund

The Enabling Accessibility Fund supports the construction and renovation of public spaces to make them more accessible, making it possible for Canadians with disabilities to participate more fully in their community and the economy. Since its creation in 2007, the program has provided funding to over 2,300 projects across the country, leading to significant improvements in the lives of Canadians.

However, more needs to be done to improve the safety and accessibility of community spaces and workplaces. Budget 2017 proposes to provide $77 million over 10 years to expand the activities of the Enabling Accessibility Fund. Eligible projects will include constructing and renovating infrastructure (e.g., adding ramps, automatic door openers and accessible washrooms), providing accessible information and communication technologies and retrofitting vehicles.

Improving Indigenous Communities

In Budget 2016, to advance the process of reconciliation, and to support shared economic interests between Canada and Indigenous peoples, the Government committed to invest $8.4 billion over five years—an unprecedented level of investment in Indigenous communities across Canada.

The proposed investments in education, infrastructure, training and other programs are targeted to improve the quality of life for Indigenous peoples, and to ensure that Indigenous peoples have a real and fair chance at success.

At the same time, the Government recognizes that this early commitment is just a start. The barriers that make it difficult for Indigenous Peoples and their communities to reach their full potential have been in place for far too long. Resolving past injustices will take time, and can only be achieved with sustained support and collaboration.

To that end, Budget 2017 proposes to invest an additional $4 billion over 10 years, starting in 2018–19, to build and improve housing, water treatment systems, health facilities and other community infrastructure.

This investment will be delivered through the second phase of green infrastructure and social infrastructure funding.

To maximize the benefits and long-term sustainability of these proposed investments, funding allocations will be determined in partnership with Indigenous Peoples.

Prioritizing Critical Home Care Infrastructure

Many patients currently receiving care in Canadian hospitals could be better supported at home or in the community. To help more Canadians receive the care they need outside of hospital settings, the Government has offered $1 billion over four years to provinces and territories, starting in 2018–19, for home care infrastructure. In total, the Government has committed to invest $11 billion over 10 years to support better home care and mental health initiatives. Further details on this commitment are provided in Chapter 3.

To date, the provincial and territorial governments of New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Yukon, the Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Saskatchewan, Prince Edward Island, British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario and Quebec have accepted the federal offer and will receive their share of the home care infrastructure investment.