jan-2018

60 61 BVM: How does the Ministry bolster sustain- ability in infrastructure and communities? Sohi: “The Investing in Canada plan is focused on building sustainable and inclusive communi- ties, big and small, across Canada. In particular, our focus on public transit, green infrastructure, and the Department’s support for disaster miti- gation infrastructure will help support modern, sustainable, and resilient Canadian communities. “Over the next decade, my Department will invest $20.3 billion in public transit in order to reduce traffic congestion and promote sustain- able and healthy communities. Our public transit stream supports construction, expansion, and improvement of the public transit infrastructure that many Canadians depend on, including active transportation projects that integrate ‘first-mile/ last-mile connectivity. “We also know that infrastructure can help with environmental sustainability. That’s why we will invest over $8 billion in projects that mitigate greenhouse gas emissions, enhance our ability to withstand the impacts of climate change, and improve overall environmental quality. Addition- ally, we are developing a ‘climate lens,’ which will help ensure that assessments of greenhouse gas emissions and/or resilience to climate change are conducted on many of the projects funded by INFC. “Our investments will support Greenhouse gas mitigation through projects that: focus on electricity generation and transmission (such as the construction of smart grids and renew- ables); improve the energy efficiency of buildings; by a panel of experts and the best will receive funding to realize their projects. The Smart Cities Challenge will focus on innovative, measurable, and meaningful outcomes, and most importantly, it will be delivered in full partnership with all sectors of Canadian society.” BVM: Can you provide any examples or plans to collaborate with other Ministers to better serve Canadian communities and infrastructure?   Sohi: “I am proud of the relationships I have built with my colleagues in the other orders of government and of what we have achieved over the past two years. In September 2016, and again in September 2017, I met with the provincial and territorial ministers responsible for infrastructure to discuss the long-term infrastructure plan and how we can make sure our next steps govern- ment are responsive to the needs of municipali- ties across the country. “As the federal Minister responsible for the overall coordination and reporting on results of the Plan, I am also working closely with other federal departments and agencies such as Natu- ral Resources Canada, the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, Employment and Social Development Canada, and Transport Canada. “We believe Canadians should know what in- vestments we are making in their communities. In keeping with our whole of government commit- ment to open and publicly accessible information, my Department publishes detailed program data and information through the Open Government website.  The Open Data Portal allows interested parties to access detailed data sets on all projects funded by INFC. The projects listed in the charts can be sorted by any category, including funding program, location, or region.” THE MINISTRY OF INFRASTRUCTURE AND COMMUNITIES OF CANADA