441-01928 (Culture and heritage)

The Government of Canada is committed to renewing the relationship between Canada and Indigenous peoples based on the recognition of rights, respect, cooperation and partnership, as well as implementing the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action. This includes making significant infrastructure investments in Indigenous communities that improve socio economic conditions and community well-being.

Since 2016, the Government of Canada has made significant infrastructure investments in British Columbia, with more than $7.2 billion in federal funding provided for projects, which includes just over $3.72 billion under the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program. Over $240 million has been allocated to community, culture, sport and recreation projects through Infrastructure Canada’s various programs.

On March 2, 2022, Infrastructure Canada approved $454,112 in funding for the District of Kent Aquatic Centre. The project was prioritized through the final provincial intake under the Community, Culture, and Recreation stream of the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program, which is managed by British Columbia’s Ministry of Municipal Affairs. This final intake allocated all remaining funding under the Community, Culture and Recreation stream in British Columbia. The combined federal and provincial funding totals $10 million, representing a 73% cost share on the District of Kent Aquatic Centre project.

With respect to infrastructure projects experiencing cost overruns, it is important to note that Infrastructure Canada provides a contribution toward the total estimated eligible cost of a project, and that contribution is capped at a maximum amount at the time of approval. Infrastructure Canada is not in a position to increase federal funding to cover cost overruns. As of March 31, 2023, no further projects can be submitted by British Columbia under the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program, and the program allocation available for projects in the province has been fully committed.

Following the March 31^st , project submission deadline for provinces, new time-limited authorities may be available to redistribute funding that remains unused in projects as a result of cancellations, cost savings or descoping. For example, provinces may request the decommitment of unused funding for its reallocation to other projects to accommodate scope increases and, in exceptional cases, revised cost estimates. These authorities are time-limited and acknowledge the ongoing volatility in the construction sector and are intended to maximize use of federal funding. All requests for decommitments and reallocations should be submitted by the Province of British Columbia through established program communication channels. Any such requests would be reviewed by Infrastructure Canada and approved at Canada’s discretion.

As some of Infrastructure Canada’s largest infrastructure funding programs have reached full allocation, the department is taking stock of existing programs and gaining an understanding of needs, which will help to inform the development of the next suite of federally-led infrastructure programming. Infrastructure Canada recognizes that infrastructure programs will need to be efficient and flexible, and attuned to regional and local priorities, while delivering the economic, social, and environmental outcomes that Canadians expect.