Infrastructure for Today & Tomorrow – Ensuring We Get It Right 

This report is the outcome of this process, and provides a set of recommendations to help guide sound infrastructure investment decisions.

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Infrastructure for Today & Tomorrow – Ensuring We Get It Right

Innovation, Policy and Investments in GTHA
September 1, 2016

In 2016, the federal government committed $60 billion in new infrastructure funding over the next 10 years – a critically important investment in the future of Canada.

With interest rates at historic lows and demographic and climate shifts increasing the need for quality infrastructure, “getting it right,” in terms of where this money is spent, is critical. We have a once in a generation opportunity to change our communities: the way we work, play, and interact within our public spaces and the legacy we leave for future generations.

The federal government has created the conditions to do just that with its 2016 budget announcement by dedicating the funds across three priority areas (transit, green infrastructure and social infrastructure) and taking a two-phased approach to its investment strategy.

In the immediate term, Phase I has made approximately $12 billon of funding available for “shovel ready” projects that will help lay the foundation for long-term impact and sustainable growth through its Phase 2 investment strategy. The investment strategy for Phase 2 funding will be announced as part of the 2017 Budget – following thorough conversations between all levels of government and other stakeholders.

This staged and consultative approach provides a unique opportunity for the federal government to rethink how it approaches infrastructure, invest holistically and work better with other levels of government.

The Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA) powers 20% of Canada’s GDP; acts as an employment, financial and trade hub for the country; and houses a thriving not-for-profit sector. We are a region with great diversity of people, industry, and knowledge. However, we are also a region of pronounced socio-economic divides, high precarious employment and severe traffic congestion. Our ability to address the issues we face by fully leveraging this historic federal infrastructure investment opportunity in local GTHA communities will have ripple effects across the nation.

CivicAction partnered with Deloitte to gather leaders from the not-for-profit, private, labour, academic, and municipal and provincial government sectors to hear their voices and understand their perspectives on how the federal government’s infrastructure investment strategy might be designed to bring maximum economic, social, and environmental impact in the GTHA and across the country.

This report is the outcome of this process, and provides a set of recommendations to help guide sound infrastructure investment decisions that will come with the federal government’s Phase 2 funding. The recommendations outlined in this report fall under 5 broad themes:

  1. To be globally competitive, we must be globally connected: the GTHA can be globally competitive if we can strengthen our trade-enabling infrastructure, ease congestion, and increase international investment in local enterprise.
  2. Build the skills to build the assets: investing in the skills to drive Canada’s current and future infrastructure priorities will leave a dual legacy for our communities.
  3. It takes a village: community partners have diverse expertise and valuable resources to offer and can accelerate innovation and inclusion for quick wins and sustainable solutions.
  4. The need for speed: we need to be more efficient in order to take advantage of current market conditions and more focused on minimizing disruption from changing political priorities.
  5. The future begins right now: investments in resilient infrastructure will allow our communities the flexibility to adapt and scale to shifting needs over time.