Implement an Infrastructure Strategy that improves green infrastructure.

What success looks like

More infrastructure in place to ensure access to clean water, reduced greenhouse gas emissions, and increased resilience against the impacts of climate change.

Government's narrative on progress

Through Budget 2016 and 2017, the Government of Canada is investing $26.9 billion in Green infrastructure over 12 years, including projects to improve access to clean water, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase resilience against the impacts of climate change. To ensure that investments are made towards more resilient, sustainable communities, Infrastructure Canada has adopted a Climate Lens as a requirement for funding under its new programs. The Climate Lens will help applicants to better understand how their projects will contribute to or reduce carbon pollution, and to consider climate change risks. Significant investments towards clean water have been made across Canada. For example, the government has invested over $1 billion in 772 drinking water systems as well as $830 million in 655 wastewater systems. In Budget 2016, the government announced significant new funding to end long-term drinking water advisories on public systems on reserves by 2021. With the aim of ending long-term drinking water advisories on reserves by 2021, the government has invested $776 million to fund 468 projects that will significantly strengthen the infrastructure of on-reserve public drinking water systems. As of October 1, 2018 there were 69 advisories in effect. Through the Canada Infrastructure Bank, at least $5 billion will be available for green infrastructure projects. As well, national “green” programs, totaling $2.8 billion, will be provided to address a number of priorities identified in the Pan-Canadian Framework. This includes investments of over $180 million in charging and alternative fuel infrastructure to support greater deployment of zero-emission vehicles. On May 17, 2018, the Government of Canada launched the $2 billion Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund (DMAF). The DMAF is designed to strengthen the resilience of Canadian communities through investments in large-scale infrastructure projects to better manage the risk associated with natural hazards such as floods, wildfires and droughts. Announcements of approved projects began in March 2019 and are expected to continue through May 2019. In addition, $9.2 billion is being provided to provinces and territories through the Integrated Bilateral Agreements for green infrastructure. Natural infrastructure projects are eligible under both DMAF and the green stream of the Integrated Bilateral Agreements. In addition to this, delivered through the Rural and Northern Stream of the Investing in Canada Infrastructure program, the Arctic Energy Fund will provide $400 million to support energy security in the territories. The Transportation Assets Risk Assessment initiative, announced in 2017, provides up to $16.35 million over a five year period (from 2017/18 to 2021/22) to help those responsible for federal transportation assets obtain information and data, and assess climate change-related factors that may present risks to their infrastructure. In addition, funding for the Northern Transportation Adaptation Initiative was renewed in fall 2017 providing $6.9 million over a three-year period (from 2018/19 to 2020/21) for research, development and collaborative activities to support the resilience of northern transportation systems to a changing climate. In Budget 2019, the government announced plans to invest $1.01 billion in 2018–19 to increase energy efficiency in residential, commercial and multi-unit buildings. These investments will be delivered by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) through the Green Municipal Fund, through three initiatives: Collaboration on Community Climate Action ($350 million), Community EcoEfficiency Acceleration ($300 million), and Sustainable Affordable Housing Innovation ($300 million).

Note: this is the government's own description, not an independent assessment.