Question Period Note: INVESTING IN CANADA INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAM – PROJECT SUBMISSIONS IN SASKATCHEWAN

Saskatchewan Announcement on Submission of 120 Projects under the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program

• The Government of Canada is proud to provide funding for communities across the country through the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program, and I am pleased to hear that the Government of Saskatchewan has submitted over 120 projects identified through their program intakes.

• We are committed to reviewing these projects diligently, and in fact, have already approved 14 of these projects with total project costs of over $55 million. We look forward to our ongoing work with Saskatchewan to review and announce these projects.

• We require complete applications to ensure that the projects being supported through our programs meet the needs of Canadians, including Indigenous communities throughout the country.

• On September 16, 2020 the Government of Saskatchewan released a news release noting that they had submitted over more than 120 projects for federal review. The news release linked to the list of 126 projects, all of which have been submitted by Saskatchewan to Infrastructure Canada starting in June 2020 and throughout July, August and September. Some of the projects (14) included in the background to the news release have been approved but have not been announced.

• On September 11, 2020, Premier Moe, in his capacity as Chair of the Council of the Federation, sent a letter to the Prime Minister indicating his concerns with the nature of, and speed of approvals in, the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program. Premier Moe requested a move to a transfer model for infrastructure funding and more recognition of existing provincial and territorial protocols relating to Indigenous consultation.

• Saskatchewan has a provincial election scheduled for October 26, 2020 and the writ is expected to formally drop the week of September 21, 2020. Premier Moe has been vocal in his criticism of the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program, particularly as it relates to the focus on public transit funding that he feels is not reflective of the needs of Saskatchewan. These disagreements have been longstanding and public through Twitter.

• Saskatchewan has, however, submitted over 150 projects for federal review and has allocated approximately 44% of their allocation (to approved or projects under review) under the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program.

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