Question Period Note: 2022-23 Supplementary Estimates (B)

What is Infrastructure Canada (INFC) seeking in Supplementary Estimates (B)?

• Infrastructure Canada remains committed to delivering $9.3 billion of funding for an unprecedented level of programming for public transit, green, rural and northern infrastructure projects across the country.

• Infrastructure Canada is seeking a net increase of $5.6 million in the 2022-23 Supplementary Estimates B, representing an increase of less than 1%.

• This net increase stems primarily from a realignment of unused funds from 2021-22 and made available in 2022-23 for the Samuel De Champlain Bridge Corridor project to meet contractual obligations.

Supplementary Estimates B is seeking a net increase in funding of $5.6 million for the following:

• $7.8 million for the Samuel De Champlain Bridge Corridor project
  o Unused funds of $7.8 million from 2021-22 were made available in 2022-23 to meet contractual obligations which include:
   the cost increase tied to inflation and insurance; and
   the cost related to public activities on the bridge, such as year-round use of the multipurpose path.

  o The Samuel De Champlain Bridge Corridor includes the 3.4 km Samuel De Champlain Bridge crossing the St. Lawrence, 500 m Île-des-Sœurs Bridge, reconstruction and widening of the federal portion of Highway 15 over 3 km, and realignment of over 1 km of Highway 10.

  o The project is being delivered as part of a public-private partnership (P3) between the Government of Canada and Signature on the Saint-Laurent Group (SSL). The P3 includes the design, construction, financing, operation, maintenance and rehabilitation of the Project over a 34-year period (2015-2049) at a cost of $4.212 billion.

  o The Samuel De Champlain Bridge was open to traffic in 2019 and the final of three major construction milestone payments was made in 2019-20.

• Decrease of $2.2 million for transfers to other government departments
  o Operating funding of $2.2 million is being transferred to the Department of Industry as a result of the Order in Council (2021-0918), dated October 26, 2021, which mandated the transfer of the Rural Economic Development secretariat.

  o Funding of $15,000 is being transferred to the Treasury Board Secretariat to support the Capacity Accelerator Project to ensure internal audit community services and initiatives sustainability.

• Nil impact for a contribution to grant funding transfer
  o Contribution funding of $2 million is being transferred to Active Transportation Grants for the Permanent Public Transit Program to allow the program to support additional Indigenous planning projects received during the intake which was open from January to March 2022.

None