Canada and Nunavut make significant investments that will improve the lives of Northern Canadians

$566 million available for projects that build prosperous communities and transition to a clean growth economy

OTTAWA, March 28, 2018 /CNW/ - The governments of Canada and Nunavut are working together to make long-term infrastructure investments to create economic growth, build inclusive communities and support a low carbon, green economy?leading to a higher quality of life for Northern Canadians.

Today, the Honourable Amarjeet Sohi, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities, and the Honourable Lorne Kusugak, Nunavut Minister of Community and Government Services, announced the signing of a bilateral agreement that will provide more than $566 million over the next decade in federal funding dedicated to infrastructure projects under the Investing in Canada plan. The projects supported through this agreement will be cost-shared with the territorial government, municipalities and other partners. The Government of Canada is providing up to 75% of eligible expenditures for projects in the territories and for projects with Indigenous partners.

To access this funding, the Government of Nunavut will contribute more than $188 million to meet its 25% cost sharing requirements, bringing the total impact of this agreement to more than $754 million in direct infrastructure spending for Nunavut.

The new funding will see the Government of Canada make unprecedented investments in small and rural communities, green infrastructure, and recreational and cultural infrastructure. Also included in this funding is $175 million under the Arctic Energy Fund that will address energy security in the territories. These investments will support the Government's plan to create well-paying jobs and economic growth from coast-to-coast-to-coast while building inclusive communities that provide the opportunities Canadians want and need.

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

• Cleaner air and water
• Reduced greenhouse gas emissions
• Smarter and more efficient communities
• Sustainable water management
• Cultural spaces, recreational facilities and other spaces that make communities great places to live
• Better transportation and digital infrastructure for people living in remote communities
• 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

"I am pleased that Nunavut and the Government of Canada have reached an agreement that will benefit communities across the territory for years to come. Today's agreement will provide the long-term, predictable, and sustainable funding needed to help address the unique challenges of life in the North. I look forward to continuing to work with territorial, municipal, and Indigenous partners to make strategic investments in Nunavut that will build inclusive and resilient communities where everyone has opportunities to succeed."

The Honourable Amarjeet Sohi, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities

"The Government of Nunavut welcomes this renewed investment in Nunavut's infrastructure under the federal Investing in Canada plan. We are pleased with the structure of this new funding that supports long-term planning and enhances our engagement with our Inuit and municipal stakeholders. We must also continue the ongoing dialogue that has brought us here today, so that we can work to truly overcome Nunavut's growing infrastructure needs."

The Honourable Lorne Kusugak, Nunavut Minister of Community and Government Services

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.
• 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 fourth new long-term infrastructure bilateral agreement the Government of Canada has signed with provincial and territorial partners.

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Backgrounder

Canada and Nunavut make significant investments that will improve the lives of Northern Canadians
$566 million available for 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 bilateral agreements with all provinces and territories, which will see more than $33 billion in federal investment towards significant infrastructure projects across the country. The objective of these investments is to transform the way Canadians live, move and work in four priority areas:

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

Nunavut's Funding Allocations

The table below shows the allocations for Nunavut by funding stream from 2018-2028 which amounts to $566,761,621.

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

The bilateral agreement will allow the Government of Canada and Nunavut to agree on shared results as well as a method of reporting on results on a regular basis. The bilateral agreement supports the following long-term results:

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

In order 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 for certain projects. Additionally, 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.

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 Nunavut: http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/map-carte/nu-eng.html

Toward a new Arctic Policy Framework: www.canada.ca/arctic-together

Twitter: @INFC_eng

Web: Infrastructure Canada

SOURCE Infrastructure Canada