Canada launches $51B fund and details first cohort of 13 projects

The Government of Canada has officially launched the Build Communities Strong Fund and detailed its first projects, totalling $300 million in construction spending.

This is the complete list of those projects:

• Cornwall, Prince Edward Island: Launching Phase 1 of the Cornwall Road Extension of Water and Wastewater project, extending water and wastewater mains to support growing residential and commercial development.
• Bridgewater, Nova Scotia: Upgrading sewer lines to improve wastewater service and unlock future residential housing construction in the community.
• Halifax, Nova Scotia: Extending water and wastewater infrastructure on Windsor Street to support residential growth.
• Iqaluit, Nunavut: Enhancing trucked and utilidor infrastructure to support the development of 2,000 to 2,500 new housing units by 2031, addressing the city’s housing shortage and accommodating population growth.
• Quispamsis, New Brunswick: Expanding the Hampton Road water distribution system to enable the development of up to 1,055 housing units by extending the watermain network by 1.5 kilometres.
• Hay River, Northwest Territories: Building a new water treatment facility to replace the aging system currently serving the town of Hay River and its surrounding communities, including the Hamlet of Enterprise, K’atl’odeeche First Nation, and Ka’a’gee Tu First Nation.
• Laval, Québec: Redesigning Labelle, d’Orly, and St-Hubert streets, and developing Labelle East Street in preparation for the redevelopment of the Cartier sector.
• Brampton, Ontario: Funding towards the Embleton Community Centre, a state-of-the-art, multi-use facility. The centre will become southwest Brampton’s hub for recreation programs and lessons, with ​an 8-lane competitive lap pool, a gymnasium, a fitness centre, and outdoor, seasonal recreational amenities.
• Headingley, Manitoba: Building a water reservoir and pumping station in the municipality of Headingley, adding 3,600 cubic metres of water storage and 65 litres per second of pumping capacity, while supporting the development of 1,771 additional housing units.
• Regina, Saskatchewan: Upgrading the South Trunk sewer to address existing capacity limitations, reduce the risk of basement flooding and untreated discharges into Wascana Creek, and support future growth in the city’s southeast and southwest areas.
• St. Albert, Alberta: Expanding wastewater, stormwater, and water systems in northeast St. Albert.
• Vancouver, British Columbia: Investing inthe new Marpole Community Centre, a fully electric, zero‑carbon, and highly energy‑efficient facility that will include childcare, after‑school care, a gym, a sensory room, and multipurpose spaces.
• Whitehorse, Yukon: Constructing the Whistle Bend Active Transportation Corridor, connecting Whistle Bend to downtown Whitehorse to improve active transportation infrastructure in the community.

The fund’s $51 billion investment over 10 years aims to accelerate infrastructure projects across the country. The government said the fund will be matched by nearly $17 billion from provinces and additional billions from municipal, territorial, and private capital partnerships. Combined with provincial matching, the projects are expected to support an average of 42,000 jobs per year across engineering and skilled trades, and boost Canada’s GDP by $95 billion over the next decade, the government said.

The fund operates through three streams: a $17.2 billion provincial and territorial stream over 10 years for critical public infrastructure through bilateral agreements; a $6 billion direct delivery stream for regionally significant projects and climate adaptation infrastructure; and a $27.8 billion community stream for local roads, bridges, water systems, and community centres.

Within the provincial and territorial stream, $5 billion over three years is dedicated to health infrastructure, including hospitals, urgent care centres, and facilities for palliative care, mental health, and long-term care. Provinces receiving funding must cost-match federal investments and reduce development charges where they pose barriers to housing construction.

Ontario will receive $6 billion under the provincial stream, followed by Québec ($3.6 billion), B.C. ($2.2 billion), and Alberta ($1.9 billion). Smaller allocations go to Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Atlantic and territorial jurisdictions.

“Canada’s new government is on a mission to build big things, including the local infrastructure that brings Canadians together,” Prime Minister Carney said in a statement. “With the Build Communities Strong Fund, we are partnering with provinces and territories to move projects forward, reduce barriers to building, and deliver the housing and infrastructure Canadians need.”

Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown said the Embleton Centre represents a $64 million federal commitment combined with $148 million already approved by council. “This is investing in Canada,” he said.

The fund requires provinces and territories to dedicate a minimum of 20% of allocations to rural, Northern, and Indigenous communities. At least 10 per cent of direct delivery stream funding will support Indigenous-led projects.

Eligible project proponents can submit proposals for the direct delivery stream starting immediately. The fund applies Canada’s Buy Canadian Policy to ensure public dollars are reinvested domestically.