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Home : Sustainable Communities : Infrastructure Canada Program
Infrastructure Canada Program in Western Canada
What is the Infrastructure Canada Program?
The Government of Canada is committed to building a dynamic economy and an enhanced quality of life for all Canadians. The Infrastructure Canada Program,  created in 2000, allows the Government of Canada to make investments in urban and rural communities that enhance the quality of our environment, support long-term economic growth, and enhance community infrastructure.
In October 2000, the Government of Canada and each of the four western Canadian provincial governments signed five-year federal-provincial partnership agreements under the Infrastructure Canada Program. The Government of Canada contributes approximately one-third of costs for projects approved each fiscal year, while the provincial and municipal government provide the remaining two-thirds.
The Infrastructure Canada Program works with communities from the bottom up. Municipalities play a valuable role in the program as local governments have the best understanding of local needs and priorities. At least 80 per cent of projects result from municipal proposals. Federal and provincial governments can also propose projects, up to 20 per cent of Infrastructure Canada Program funds, to ensure that strategic projects involving more than one municipality are not overlooked.
A management committee in each province reviews project proposals to confirm that they meet program objectives and selection criteria. The committees are made up of equal numbers of federal and provincial government representatives. They meet due diligence requirements, such as ensuring that environmental assessments of projects are completed, before projects can be approved for funding.
Investment Priorities and Eligible Projects
ICAP and the East Peace Water Co-op lay pipe to bring fresh drinking water to Northern Sunrise County.
The Infrastructure Canada Program prefers projects that benefit the environment directly and that take a 21st century approach to infrastructure. Strong projects make use of new technologies, encourage private and public sector partnerships, and promote new ways of delivering services to Canadians.
First priority is given to "green" municipal infrastructure projects, which contribute to our national goals for clean air and water. Such projects include:
- water and wastewater systems
- water management
- solid waste management and recycling
- capital expenditures to retrofit or improve the energy efficiency of buildings and facilities owned by local governments
Secondary priorities include:
- Local transportation infrastructure - urban transit, subway systems, commuter rail, light rail, and transit buses using alternative fuels; other local rail-related infrastructure; roads, bridges, tunnels, intelligent transportation systems technology, as well as public wharves, docks, piers and terminals.
- Cultural and recreational facilities - local museums, designated local heritage sites, art galleries, performing arts facilities, cultural or community centres, recreational and sports facilities, and libraries.
- Tourism-related infrastructure - basic municipal infrastructure to support or provide access to tourist facilities, major public attractions, convention or trade centres, and exhibition buildings.
- Rural and remote telecommunications - such as fibre optic or copper cable, radio or satellite links in rural areas.
- High-speed internet access - for local public institutions such as schools, museums and libraries, community centres or municipal buildings.
- Affordable housing - construction of rental housing, including related infrastructure such as site preparation and utility extensions, that would rent at or below average market rental rates in a particular community and would therefore be affordable to moderate income households as defined by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation.
How to apply?
The deadline for funding applications has passed in Alberta and Saskatchewan. As all projects must be complete by March 31, 2006, the program will now focus on project approvals, announcements and construction. There is one additional year, ending on March 31, 2007, for management committees to receive final invoices and reimburse municipalities for eligible project costs.
The deadline for funding applications for British Columbia is June 30, 2005, or until all funds are committed. The Canada-Manitoba Infrastructure Program has now concluded project allocations.
For information on how to apply, visit the Infrastructure Canada Program community access site.
What is the Canada Strategic Infrastructure Fund?
The Canada Strategic Infrastructure Fund was established to respond to the needs of large-scale infrastructure projects across the country that are beyond the scope and capacity of existing infrastructure programs. The $2 billion Canada Strategic Infrastructure Fund was announced in the 2001 federal budget and an additional $2 billion was set aside in the 2003 budget.
The Canada Strategic Infrastructure Fund complements Canada's other infrastructure programs but differs in its orientation. It emphasizes partnerships with any combination of municipal, provincial, territorial governments and the private sector, with each partnership governed by specifically tailored arrangements. Investments will be directed to large-scale projects of national and regional significance. Regional equity considerations are taken into account and costs are generally shared among the three levels of government. Investments are made in areas that are vital to sustaining economic growth and supporting an enhanced quality of life for Canadians.
What is the Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund?
The $1 billion Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund aims to provide a balanced response to local infrastructure needs in urban and rural Canada. It will ensure that all Canadians, whether they live in large, small or remote communities, will share in the benefits of infrastructure investments. The program will build on past successes in partnership infrastructure funding of over 3,000 projects that have directly benefited Canadians.
The Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund will improve and increase the stock of core public infrastructure in areas such as water, wastewater, cultural, recreation-those very things that make our communities vibrant and productive places to live, work and raise families.
In February 2004, Infrastructure Canada announced negotiations with each province and territory to provide Canadians with better public infrastructure through the Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund. Project announcements are expected to begin once agreements are reached.
What's the WD connection?
Maintaining a high quality of life and promoting sustainable communities in Western Canada are important goals for WD. As such, WD is responsible for implementing the Infrastructure Canada Program and the Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund in Western Canada, as well as certain projects under the Canada Strategic Infrastructure Fund.
What's been accomplished?
Rock trucks and an excavator working
mid-winter to complete the $18 million
Canada Strategic Infrastructure Fund
project to deepen Regina's Wascana Lake.
Between October 2000 and April 2004, WD approved $496.8 million in funding for more than 1,400 projects under the Infrastructure Canada Program.
You'll find information on our latest announcements in our Media Centre.
For more information on projects that have been approved and announced, visit the Infrastructure Canada Program projects site.
What's on the horizon?
WD will continue to play an important role in the administration of infrastructure programs in Western Canada. See the provincial program sites and the Infrastructure Canada site for the latest news.
Links to Infrastructure Sites:
A Canadian flag notes Government of Canada sites.
The globe image notes links to other external sites. 
- Infrastructure Canada Web Sites:
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Progam Web Sites:
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Related Government of Canada Web Sites:
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