Good morning, and thank you for inviting me to speak before you today about Infrastructure Canada's supplementary estimates (B) and interim estimates.
To support the Government of Canada's priorities, Infrastructure Canada is seeking $150,000 in contribution funding to support research knowledge-sharing activities in innovative projects. These projects help strengthen the evidence base around the role that infrastructure can play in addressing economic, social and environmental issues.
We are also seeking to transfer $2.2 million from our operating vote to our capital vote to cover the development program for management tools that will support the delivery of programs under our bilateral agreements and accommodate requirements related to workplace 2.0.
We are also requesting $1.8 billion of cash to allow for prompt payment of contributions and amounts owing to the department until June 2019.
I would like now to provide a brief update of progress under the investing in Canada plan, the plan designed to help grow the economy, build inclusive communities and support a low-carbon green economy. The plan rolled out in two phases.
Under the Investing in Canada plan, Infrastructure Canada alone has approved over 4,700 projects worth over $18 billion. The department also continues to implement new processes to advance payments to our partners as construction takes place. The pilot project is currently underway with Nova Scotia, Saskatchewan, and Alberta.
Progress billing means that we will make payments to provinces and territories based on project progress information provided to the department. It will result in payments that better align the flow of funds to construction activities.
This will result in the department reimbursing costs incurred in the year, rather than waiting until the end of the project or until provinces and territories decide to submit their claims to the department.
I would like to conclude by highlighting Infrastructure Canada's ongoing commitment to transparency and openness in the delivery of our investments.
The department is committed to regularly updating Canadians on the results of our investments. We do this in several ways: our online geomap provides information on all projects that have been announced and have a longitude and latitude component across the federal government under the Investing in Canada plan.
Our database tables show by department, by program, by funding base, by the number of projects approved, projects started and funds reimbursed to our partners to date.
The open data portal provides information on the progress of projects that Infrastructure Canada supported through our programs. We have posted a dashboard that tracks our progress being made on projects approved under our bilateral agreements. These tools are all updated regularly and provide Canadians with easy access to information about our investments.
Looking ahead to the new fiscal year, we will also be releasing a progress report which will contain further information on the details of the results achieved through our infrastructure investments under the plan.
We would be happy to answer any questions you may have.
We would be happy to answer any questions that you have.