Harper Government Supporting New Infrastructure Projects Through the New Building Canada Plan

The Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of Infrastructure, Communities, and Intergovernmental Affairs and Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec, recently highlighted the benefits of the $53 billion New Building Canada Plan , the largest long-term federal infrastructure plan in our nation’s history.

The New Building Canada Plan builds on the Harper Government’s unprecedented investments in infrastructure, providing stable, predictable funding for projects that enhance economic growth, job creation and productivity. With a wide range of eligible categories under the Plan, Canadian provinces, territories and municipalities have the flexibility to meet their unique infrastructure needs.

Since the launch of the new Plan in March 2014, important projects worth over $6 billion in total project costs have been identified for funding under the New Building Canada Fund in almost every province across the country.

In addition, communities with fewer than 100,000 residents have access to $1 billion in funding to build projects that deliver on local needs. Multiple projects have already been announced in Manitoba and New Brunswick and we are working closely with other provinces and with the territories to move forward in other jurisdictions.

The cornerstone of the New Building Canada Plan, the federal Gas Tax Fund , also generates economic growth and contributes to job creation across the country. Our Government made many improvements to the Gas Tax Fund. We made it permanent through legislation, doubled to $2 billion annually and has been indexed at two per cent per year. This will mean an additional $1.8 billion for Canadian municipalities over the next decade, making a difference in local communities.

Between 2014 and 2024, the Harper Government will invest around $80 billion in Canada’s public infrastructure that delivers results for Canadians – a stronger economy, a cleaner environment and better communities.

Quick Facts:

The $53 billion New Building Canada Plan provides stable funding for a 10-year period (2014-24), and includes:

• The Community Improvement Fund, consisting of the Gas Tax Fund and the incremental Goods and Services Tax Rebate for Municipalities, which will provide over $32 billion to municipalities for projects such as roads, public transit and recreational facilities, and other community infrastructure.
• The $14-billion New Building Canada Fund, which consists of:
  • The $4-billion National Infrastructure Component that will support projects of national significance; and
  • The $10-billion Provincial-Territorial Infrastructure Component for projects of national, regional and local significance. Of this amount, $1 billion for projects in communities with fewer than 100,000 residents through the Small Communities Fund.
• An additional $1.25 billion in funding for the Public-Private Partnerships

Associated Links:

For additional information on the New Building Canada Plan, visit: www.infrastructure.gc.ca

To learn more about the Government of Canada’s focus on jobs and the economy consult Canada’s Economic Action Plan at http://www.budget.gc.ca/2015/home-accueil-eng.html .