Ottawa Report – May 13, 2024

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The next edition of the Ottawa Report is scheduled to be sent Monday, May 27.

Latest News

Government Updates on 2024 Wildfire Season

Government of Canada officials convened on May 9 to provide an update on the 2024 wildfire season and the state of federal preparedness.

The Department of Environment is predicting drought conditions in high-risk regions in May, including the southern regions of the prairie and western provinces, and continued above-normal temperatures nationwide for the spring and summer months.

The Minister of Emergency Preparedness highlighted efforts to bolster response capabilities under the Humanitarian Workforce Program, which will test and strengthen the capabilities of non-governmental organizations (NGOs)—including the Canadian Red Cross, St. John Ambulance, The Salvation Army, and the Search and Rescue Volunteer Association of Canada (SARVAC)—to ensure they can mobilize and rapidly deploy emergency responders and relief supplies to support Canadians in times of need.

Natural Resources Canada announced up to $1.2 million for the Canadian Interagency Forest Centre to expand the Centre’s wildfire prevention and mitigation capacity. This investment will also enhance and expand the adoption of FireSmart Canada, a program funded through the Wildfire Resilient Futures Initiative.

Health Canada and the Public Health Agency will provide technical guidance, air quality monitoring, delivery of medical equipment and supplies through the National Emergency Strategic Stockpile (NESS), and public health-related assistance during evacuations.

Indigenous Services Canada will support First Nations’ health, safety, and well-being of communities as announced in the Budget 2024. The department proposes to allocate $57.2 million over five years to renew and expand the FireSmart program.

Parliamentary Business

Bill C-317 on Flood and Drought Forecasting Clears Committee

On May 7, the House of Commons Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development presented its report on Bill C-317, An Act to establish a national strategy respecting flood and drought forecasting, with three amendments.

One amendment will require the Minister of Infrastructure, the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, and the Minister of Natural Resources to be consulted in developing the National Strategy on Flood and Drought Forecasting. Further, the scope of the strategy will include a proposal to establish a national hydrological and water resources forecasting services and system based on the federal-provincial distributed model of the National Hydrological Services. The Bill will also require that the responsible department table a report that sets out the strategy within two years after the day this bill comes into effect and will require the report to be published on the Government of Canada website within 10 days of the report being tabled.

The Bill is waiting to be read a third time, after which it will go to the Senate for further consideration.

Federal Funding Awarded

$6.25 Million for Infrastructure in Timiskaming

The federal government is investing in green and inclusive retrofits for Indigenous education facilities in Kirkland Lake and Temiskaming Shores to convert land in Kirkland Lake into a food forest. The district is receiving $6 million through the Green and Inclusive Community Buildings Program and $250,000 through the Natural Infrastructure Fund.

The funding will help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve air quality. New HVAC systems, lighting, roofs, doors, and windows will be received. Accessibility ramps will be repaved, and a navigation application for phones will also be available. These improvements are expected to reduce the Kirkland Lake facility’s energy consumption by 108% and greenhouse gas emissions by 45.40 tonnes annually.

$365k Investment at Belvedere Heights

The Hon. Sean Fraser, Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities; the Hon. Stan Cho, Ontario Minister of Long-Term Care; and Kami Johnston, Administrator of Belvedere Heights, announced a combined federal-provincial investment of over $365k to improve ventilation at the Belvedere Heights long-term care home.

The federal government is investing $292,579 through the COVID-19 Resilience Infrastructure Stream of the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program. The Government of Ontario is investing $73,145.

Over $45 Million from Infrastructure’s DMAF

The government is investing over $45 million in Whitehorse Escarpment and Robert Service Way to mitigate the effects of groundwater seepage, which has caused landslides. This investment will help protect the land beneath the Erik Neilson Whitehorse International Airport and the Robert Service Way at the base.

The federal government is investing $45,882,633 in this project through the Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund.

$9 Million Federal Investment in Bridge Construction in Toronto

A $9 million federal funding from the Active Transportation Fund was announced toward the design and construction of the Keating Channel pedestrian bridge. Waterfront Toronto (the Toronto Waterfront Revitalization Corporation) is leading the design and delivery of the bridge with the City of Toronto in collaboration with the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation. It was also announced that Wilkinson Eyre’s Equinox Bridge concept was selected by the project partners through a design competition.

The new bridge will connect “Villiers Island” to Quayside, on Toronto’s mainland. These new communities will contain thousands of new homes, including affordable housing. The bridge will be a crucial link for residents of these emerging communities and beyond to access the city and the waterfront while expanding connections to Toronto’s park network.

Expanding Electric School Bus Fleet in Canada

Canada Infrastructure Bank is leasing up to $50 million to Highland Electric to expand its electric school bus fleet in Canada. This loan will help finance the purchase of hundreds of zero-emission school buses to replace their aging diesel vehicles.

The CIB’s loan will work in conjunction with Infrastructure Canada’s funding for zero-emission transit. Highland Electric will be responsible for the procurement of ZEBs, design and installation of charging infrastructure, and charge management. CIB will cover the higher upfront capital costs of ZEBs, helping to accelerate the electrification of the bus fleets.