Delivering Programs in Partnership

Infrastructure Canada delivers infrastructure funding in collaboration with several federal partners:

• Transport Canada (its portfolio partner)
• Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
• Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions
• Indian and Northern Affairs Canada
• Industry Canada
• Western Economic Diversification Canada

The individual responsibilities of each delivery partner vary depending on the particular fund. Infrastructure Canada’s responsibilities can include project review, selection and approval, negotiation of the contribution agreement and ongoing monitoring and oversight of particular funds or particular projects.

Gas Tax Fund (GTF) and Public Transit Fund (PTF)

For the GTF and PTF, Infrastructure Canada negotiates an agreement with respective provinces, territories, and municipal associations (in the case of Ontario and British-Columbia). The GTF flows to the signatories of the agreement twice a year for the life of the program. The funds are then delivered through solid and constructive partnerships with provincial/territorial and municipal/rural governments while respecting jurisdictional responsibilities. For the PTF, the funding flowed from the Government of Canada to the signatory in one payment.

Established Initiatives (sunsetting funds)

Canadian Strategic Infrastructure Fund (CSIF) and the Border Infrastructure Fund (BIF)

Under CSIF and BIF, each funded project has three key partners involved:

• Infrastructure Canada, as the funding agent for the project, has primary responsibility for project review, selection, and approval, and in many instances for the negotiation of contribution agreements with the project proponents.
• Project partners, which may be a provincial, territorial or local government, First Nations community, private partner or a combination of the above. Once the project has been approved for federal funding, the project proponent negotiates and signs a contribution agreement with Infrastructure Canada.
• Federal implementing department that generally undertakes the ongoing monitoring and oversight of specific projects. The division of ongoing project delivery responsibilities is split between Infrastructure Canada and the implementing department, based on agreements between departments negotiated for each project.

Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund (MRIF) and Infrastructure Canada Program (ICP)

Community application-based infrastructure programs, such as MRIF and ICP, are implemented by the appropriate regional agency. Provinces and municipalities are the managers of the projects. Under these funds, Infrastructure Canada provides national coordination among partners in the implementation of the projects.