Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada explained

Agency Name:	Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada
Type:	Department
Formed:	2002
Employees:	701 (2020–2021)
Budget:	CA$5.5 billion (2020–2021)
Minister1 Name:	Sean Fraser
Minister1 Pfo:	Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities
Parent Agency:	Government of Canada
Footnotes:	^[1]
Parent Agency Type:	organization

Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada (HICC) (French: Logement, Infrastructures et Collectivités Canada) (formerly Infrastructure Canada or INFC)^[2] is a department of the Government of Canada responsible for the federal public infrastructure policy. Construction and development of infrastructure is primarily the responsibility of provincial/territorial and municipal governments, as such, much of the department's work involves co-financing projects with other levels of government.

The department is responsible to Parliament through the minister of housing, infrastructure and communities.

History

The Office of Infrastructure of Canada (Infrastructure Canada) was created as a federal department in 2002 via an Order in Council issued pursuant to the Financial Administration Act.^[3] The department was mandated to enter into funding agreements with Canada's provinces, territories and municipalities for the purpose of supporting strategic infrastructure projects across Canada.

There are two programs managed by the department that have their own federal legislation: the Canada Strategic Infrastructure Fund, and the Canada Community-Building Fund (formerly the Gas Tax Fund).^[4]

On June 20, 2024, with the passing of Bill C-59, Infrastructure Canada was renamed Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada.^[5]

Programs

Infrastructure Canada is the lead federal department responsible for infrastructure policy development and program delivery. The department makes investments for both local and regional infrastructure needs. In the first year after its creation, the department invested mostly in water and wastewater plants, highways, culture, recreation, and broadband projects.^[6]

During the Great Recession, the department was tasked with implementing the Harper government's economic stimulus package.

In January 2016 the Trudeau government announced a two-year, $10 billion plan to repair infrastructure across the country.^[7]

Branches and sub-agencies

The Department is made up of five branches:^[8]

• The Policy and Results Branch
• The Program Operations Branch
• The Corporate Services Branch
• The Audit and Evaluation Branch
• The Communications Branch

Some of the sub-agencies of the Department include:

• Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority
• Waterfront Toronto
• Jacques Cartier Bridges Incorporated
• PPP Canada (from 2009 to 2018)

References

Notes

1. Web site: GC InfoBase. 2022-02-04. www.tbs-sct.gc.ca. en.
2. Infrastructure Canada is the applied title under the Federal Identity Program; the legal title is Office of Infrastructure of Canada (French: Bureau de l'infrastructure du Canada).
3. Web site: Infrastructure Canada - Info Source 2014 (in English). Canada. Government of Canada, Infrastructure. www.infrastructure.gc.ca. 2016-02-25.
4. Web site: The Canada Community-Building Fund. Canada. Government of Canada, Infrastructure. www.infrastructure.gc.ca. 2023-11-23.
5. Web site: Infrastructure Canada. Government of Canada. June 28, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240623045551/https://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/index-eng.html. June 23, 2024. live.
6. Book: Canada in Cities: The Politics and Policy of Federal-Local Governance. Graham. Katherine A. H.. Andrew. Caroline. 2014-01-01. McGill-Queen's University Press. 9780773544031. en.
7. Web site: City infrastructure projects must be 'shovel-worthy' of federal cash, minister says. CBC News. 2016-02-25.
8. Web site: Infrastructure Canada - Organizational Structure. infrastructure.gc.ca. 18 June 2020.