Page 10 - Canadian Industry Online

10 |CANADIAN INDUSTRY ONLINE - DECEMBER 2015Minister Sohiinfrastructure when it comes to Aborig- inal communities?My department and our govern- ment understand that working nation to nation with Indigenous partners is essential to delivering our mandate.We have been engaging with In- digenous communities to understand the gaps in social, environmental and economic outcomes and see how infra- structure investment can be part of the solution. These discussions will contin- ue to guide the federal investment ap- proach. Our Indigenous partners know their priorities and understand how in- frastructure investments can contrib- ute to the improved well-being of their communities, not only through the proj- ects themselves, but through participa- tion in the planning, construction and ongoing operation and maintenance of these projects.Budget 2016 makes historic in- vestments of $4.6 billion over ve years to support infrastructure in First Nation and Inuit communities. It also invests over $1.8 billion to strengthen on-re- serve water infrastructure, including funding to address health and safety needs, ensure proper facility operation and maintenance, enhancing the train- ing and certi cation of water system operators to increase capacity, and to ending long-term boil water advisories on reserve in 5 years.These investments will help meet the needs of those communities, while protecting health, safety and the envi- ronment, and bringing jobs and inclu- sive growth. They will lay the founda- tion for a long-term investment strategy in First Nation and in Inuit and north- ern community infrastructure, in order to build healthy, safe and prosperous communities. It’s about a new partner- ship, about reconciliation, and about working together for a brighter future for Indigenous peoples and a stronger Canada.What are the criteria that need to be met in order to consider and ap- prove infrastructure improvements un- der the public transit umbrella?As outlined in Budget 2016, Phase 1 of our public transit infrastructure in- vestments includes $3.4 billion over three years for a Public Transit Infrastruc- ture Fund (PTIF), which focuses mostly on rehabilitation and recapitalization of existing transit infrastructure, as well as planning and design of new proj- ects. This allows public transit systems to bene t from the necessary mainte- nance that may have been deferred for many years while also allowing them to effectively plan for the longer term.We are in the process of nalizing the bilateral agreements that will allow funding from our new programs, in- cluding the Public Transit InfrastructureCanadian Industry Online | May, 2017