Mr. Chair, I would like to talk about the work of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada, and specifically, about how this work is helping to build complete communities for Canadians across the country, including in my riding.
Besides my experience and background in electronics and engineering over two decades, I have also been involved in the housing industry as a licensed professional for a decade, which gives me a personal understanding of the importance of creating inclusive, livable and sustainable communities for families.
Public transit is a key component of connected communities. It provides Canadians with affordable and accessible options in both urban and rural communities. By investing in the public transit that Canadians rely on, the department is helping Canadians get to where they need to go, whether it be work, school or simply to be active in their communities. Through the investing in Canada infrastructure program, the federal government has invested in more than 900 public transit projects. This includes supporting the purchase of more than 6,600 new buses, including over 1,600 zero-emission buses.
Announced in 2024, the Canada public transit fund would provide municipalities, transit authorities and other groups with the resources to plan and implement key public transit projects over the long term. Active transportation is another key component of building well-connected communities. By foot or by bike, it gives residents convenient access to multi-use pathways, trails and sidewalks. The federal government has already invested in approximately 1,350 kilometres of bikeways, pathways and sidewalks across Canada.
As Oakville residents, we know, first-hand, the value of this work. With over 260 kilometres of bikeways, 46 kilometres of beautiful trails and more than 1,000 kilometres of sidewalks right here in our town, my family and I, like so many others in Oakville, enjoy every step we take along these trails, making memories together, while staying active and connected to nature.
The investments being made not only get Canadians from A to B, but also support the buildings and facilities that house culture, recreation and sport, the heart of vibrant communities. The federal government has invested in more than 2,000 inclusive and accessible cultural and recreational spaces.
In Oakville, these investments have helped enhance local cultural and recreational facilities, making them more accessible to people of all ages and abilities. Such investments not only enrich the quality of life in communities, such as my beautiful riding of Oakville West, but also contribute to local economic growth by attracting visitors and supporting local businesses tied to tourism and recreation.
In the face of growing climate events, there is a critical importance in building resilient infrastructure for both safety and good economic sense. To better protect Canadians in the face of extreme weather events, the government has invested more than $3.78 billion through the disaster mitigation and adaption fund and the investing in Canada infrastructure fund to strengthen the resilience of communities against climate change and to keep Canadians, their businesses and their homes safe.
Increasing the housing supply in Canada requires building up the essential water and solid waste infrastructure. This is why the government is investing in infrastructure to enable housing through the Canada housing infrastructure fund.
Through the Canada housing infrastructure fund's direct delivery stream, as well as agreements with provinces and territories, we are helping communities build the drinking water, stormwater and waste-water infrastructure that literally forms the foundation for more homes. To date, Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada programs have supported more than 2,500 kilometres of drinking water, waste-water and stormwater assets, and close to 6,600 facilities. By helping deliver drinking water to communities and building waste-water treatment infrastructure, Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada is helping to provide residents with access to safe and clean water.
The federal government is continuing to leverage its investments in community infrastructure to cut red tape and incentivize housing. Funding provided through the national housing strategy and Canada's housing plan is helping to improve housing outcomes and restore affordability for Canadians, particularly among vulnerable populations, including seniors, students and indigenous communities.
The government is working together to build more homes by investing in Canada's home-building industry. To date, funding through national housing strategy programs has reduced or eliminated housing needs for more than 660,000 households. Additionally, over 166,000 new housing units have been created or committed. Over 322,000 units are currently under construction or have been repaired or built.
While the federal government is investing in housing supply for the longer term, it is also working to prevent and reduce homelessness in our communities through Reaching Home, Canada's homelessness strategy. To date, Reaching Home has supported over 9,500 projects. The program has helped more than 94,000 people find more stable housing and has provided over 170,000 with prevention services, such as short-term rental assistance or landlord mediation and much more.
The federal government will continue to work alongside all its partners to build strong and safe Canadian communities. I especially look forward to the impact this will have in my community and for my constituents.
I would like to ask the minister, how are funding allotments decided between provinces and territories?