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e-4568 (Infrastructure)
Original language of petition: English
Petition to the House of Commons in Parliament assembled
- Recreational and wellness centres provide opportunities for communities to gather, connect and stay healthy through physical activity;
- Research shows that recreational and wellness centres promote personal health and well-being among users;
- Recreation facilities play a critical role in the rehabilitation of workers recovering from injuries in the workplace;
- Rural communities without adequate recreational facilities find it challenging to retain seniors, youth and families in the community which limits the retention of high qualified professionals, volunteerism and is a loss to communities;
- Benefits for recreation and wellness facilities to individuals and communities have been well-researched and documented;
- Recreation and active living are essential to personal health, both mental and physical;
- Recreation reduces self-destructive and anti-social behaviour;
- Recreation and concomitant facilities build strong families and healthy communities;
- Recreation reduces healthcare and social services costs;
- Recreation and concomitant facilities can be significant economic generators, providing both direct and indirect returns on investment, uniquely represent both pro-active and preventative measures, in addition to enhancing the social fabric of communities;
- Our communities need more facilities (such as the West Coast Multiplex in planning for over 20 years) to offer diverse programs which are accessible by all our populations; and
- Investing in Canada Infrastructure previous partnership with federal & BC governments providing funds needs to be replenished with significant, sustained increase in the capital to meet recreation needs of communities.
Response by the Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities
Signed by (Minister or Parliamentary Secretary): Chris Bittle
The Government of Canada is committed to ensuring communities across Canada have access to stable and predictable infrastructure funding.
The Government of Canada recognizes the importance of recreational facilities in creating sustainable, livable and healthy communities. The Community, Culture and Recreation stream of the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program has funded 796 projects across the country to improve community, culture and recreational spaces. This includes 23 projects on Vancouver Island, among them the Amphitrite Point Project in Ucluelet and the recently completed gathering space in the community of Macoah in the Toquaht Territory.
Another source of funding for community buildings has been the Green and Inclusive Community Buildings Fund (GICB). While more project proposals were received than could be funded under the GICB, this program is currently funding 109 projects across Canada with applications from the most recent intake currently being assessed. Two projects have been announced so far on Vancouver Island, including the Pacific IPCA Innovation Centre retrofit and upgrade in Tofino.
The Canada Community-Building Fund (CCBF) also provides $2.4 billion per year that helps communities build and revitalize their public infrastructure. Individual projects are selected by municipalities at a local level, and eligible categories of investment are broad, including culture and recreation. From 2015 to 2024, the program will have transferred over $24 billion to communities across Canada.
The current CCBF agreements will expire in March 2024 and work is underway to renew them for the next 10 years. Discussions are well under way and funds are expected to be provided to communities under the new agreements in fiscal year 2024/25.
Since Budget 2022, the Government has been taking steps to leverage infrastructure funding to spur community housing and wellness outcomes that can help address current supply and affordability issues in a targeted way in communities across the country.
Infrastructure Canada will continue to work with provincial, territorial, and municipal governments, Indigenous communities, and local partners on infrastructure programming, including community and recreational infrastructure, to unlock the full potential of our investments, meet regional needs, and advance shared priorities.
- Open for signature
- September 12, 2023, at 10:00 a.m. (EDT)
- Closed for signature
- January 10, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. (EDT)
- Presented to the House of Commons
-
Gord Johns
(Courtenay—Alberni)
February 6, 2024 (Petition No. 441-02089) - Government response tabled
- March 21, 2024
