Sean Fraser, Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada, announced the new Canadian Infrastructure Council, an expert advisory body that will deliver the country’s first-ever National Infrastructure Assessment (NIA).
The NIA will support Canada’s long-term infrastructure planning and decision-making by compiling data and evidence and conducting the research and analysis needed to make informed investments that will serve Canadians well into the future.
“A National Infrastructure Assessment will help communities across the country plan for infrastructure they will need in the future, while ensuring that it can support a growing population and is resilient to the impacts of climate change. I look forward to reviewing the first assessment that will focus on infrastructure that is essential to building more homes across the country and in turn will help end Canada’s housing crisis,” said The Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities.
The focus will be on the core infrastructure communities need in place to support housing development over the long term – including water and wastewater, public transit, active transportation and waste management – as well as the impact of population growth and climate change on them. The first NIA will be a critical piece in ensuring we can build the infrastructure needed to alleviate housing pressures and support the continued growth of sustainable, resilient, and inclusive communities.
“Infrastructure shapes community. By harnessing data and evidence, the NIA will enable communities to plan and invest for the long-term so they can grow and thrive now and into the future. I’m honoured to be working alongside the Council to deliver an NIA that will be a useful tool so that infrastructure operators, owners and investors can make decisions with confidence to contribute to strong and resilient infrastructure across Canada,” said Jennifer Angel, Chief Executive Officer, Evergreen (Chair of the Canadian Infrastructure Council).
In support of this work, the Canadian Infrastructure Council – composed of 11 experts in relevant infrastructure sectors across the country – will engage key partners and stakeholders from industry, provincial, territorial, municipal, and Indigenous governments to seek their knowledge and expertise and ensure that the NIA is useful for communities across Canada.
“A key reason for an NIA is to ensure each dollar is invested in a way that effectively contributes to productivity and economic growth, and that improves the quality of life of our growing population. The NIA will be a valuable tool for ensuring decision-makers have the data required to deliver the high-performance infrastructure needed to support thriving communities and I look forward to working with the other Council members on delivering it,” said Peter Weltman, Director, Technomics Inc., Former Financial Accountability Officer of Ontario (Vice-Chair of the Canadian Infrastructure Council).
