Debates of June 11th, 2025

Main Estimates and Supplementary Estimates (A), 2025-26

[Brad Vis, Conservative, Mission—Matsqui—Abbotsford, BC]

Mr. Chair, in table 176, $440 million is allocated to the disaster mitigation and adaptation fund. How much will British Columbia receive?

[Gregor Robertson, Liberal, Vancouver Fraserview—South Burnaby, BC]

Mr. Chair, the disaster mitigation and adaptation fund has already provided almost $3 billion in support across Canada to—

[The Chair, Conservative, Tom Kmiec]

The hon. member has the floor.

[Brad Vis, Conservative, Mission—Matsqui—Abbotsford, BC]

Mr. Chair, what portion of the $16 million of the supporting climate resilient infrastructure initiative will British Columbia receive?

[Gregor Robertson, Liberal, Vancouver Fraserview—South Burnaby, BC]

Mr. Chair, the typical coverage across the country is per capita, but there are variations in that depending on the province and certainly the issues, the disasters.

[Brad Vis, Conservative, Mission—Matsqui—Abbotsford, BC]

Mr. Chair, the Liberal Party's platform promised additional funding for disaster mitigation and recovery. What is the total, and how much will B.C. receive?

[Gregor Robertson, Liberal, Vancouver Fraserview—South Burnaby, BC]

Mr. Chair, for this time period, $643.8 million is the amount that is put forward for the disaster mitigation and adaptation fund.

[Brad Vis, Conservative, Mission—Matsqui—Abbotsford, BC]

Mr. Chair, does the minister agree that the federal government has a responsibility in aiding communities that have suffered from a natural disaster and need additional infrastructure funding?

[Gregor Robertson, Liberal, Vancouver Fraserview—South Burnaby, BC]

Mr. Chair, certainly the government is committed to supporting communities. That is why the fund exists: to be able to make the infrastructure more resilient and to support communities—

[The Chair, Conservative, Tom Kmiec]

The hon. member has the floor.

[Brad Vis, Conservative, Mission—Matsqui—Abbotsford, BC]

Mr. Chair, does the minister agree that Abbotsford plays a critical role in B.C.'s food security?

[Gregor Robertson, Liberal, Vancouver Fraserview—South Burnaby, BC]

Mr. Chair, I used to farm very close to Abbotsford, so I am keenly aware of the challenges in the Fraser Valley and the disasters that have affected the region.

[Brad Vis, Conservative, Mission—Matsqui—Abbotsford, BC]

Mr. Chair, does the minister acknowledge that CN Rail, CP Rail, an international airport, Southern Railway, a border crossing and Highway 1 are all present in Abbotsford and are critical to Canada's natural interests and the operation of our supply chains?

[Gregor Robertson, Liberal, Vancouver Fraserview—South Burnaby, BC]

Mr. Chair, I appreciate the member's pointing out the critical importance of the infrastructure in the Fraser Valley on the south coast of B.C. and how important it is to the rest of Canada.

[Brad Vis, Conservative, Mission—Matsqui—Abbotsford, BC]

Mr. Chair, is the minister aware that Abbotsford was impacted by floods in 2021, one of the most costly disasters in the history of Canada? Is the minister aware that in the fall economic statement of the previous Parliament, over $5 billion was allocated to disaster recovery efforts in the province of British Columbia?

[Gregor Robertson, Liberal, Vancouver Fraserview—South Burnaby, BC]

Mr. Chair, I am aware there has been funding allocated for disaster mitigation and adaptation in the Fraser Valley, which has obviously been through some tough disasters in recent years.

[Brad Vis, Conservative, Mission—Matsqui—Abbotsford, BC]

Mr. Chair, would the minister agree that Abbotsford should be aided by the federal government to rebuild its infrastructure to account for natural disasters and climate change?

[Gregor Robertson, Liberal, Vancouver Fraserview—South Burnaby, BC]

Mr. Chair, I think we can all agree that communities affected across Canada, including Abbotsford and the Fraser Valley—

[The Chair, Conservative, Tom Kmiec]

The hon. member.

[Brad Vis, Conservative, Mission—Matsqui—Abbotsford, BC]

Mr. Chair, can the minister please outline to the House which government program Abbotsford should apply to to receive its portion of the main estimates being debated here tonight?

[Gregor Robertson, Liberal, Vancouver Fraserview—South Burnaby, BC]

Mr. Chair, I just outlined that the disaster mitigation and adaptation fund is for the prevention of these disasters and there is more resilient infrastructure to prevent future problems.

[Sima Acan, Liberal, Oakville West, ON]

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?

[Gregor Robertson, Liberal, Minister of Housing and Infrastructure and Minister responsible for Pacific Economic Development Canada]

Mr. Chair, Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada utilizes different funding models to meet specific goals and outcomes. While, in some cases, there are allocations that are based on population, the department also deploys competitive and merit-based models, or even combined funding models, depending on what outcomes are sought.

Needs for the different types of infrastructure vary across the country. Obviously, the cost of infrastructure is different in some locations, particularly in the north. There is no individual jurisdiction receiving a direct share of our department's available funding that aligns with their share of national population, but instead the funding is based on an approach that best meets the needs of the desired outcomes on housing and infrastructure.

[Sima Acan, Liberal, Oakville West, ON]

Mr. Chair, could the minister let us know why the federal government invests in infrastructure and does not always give the money to the provinces and territories to invest themselves.

[Gregor Robertson, Liberal, Vancouver Fraserview—South Burnaby, BC]

Mr. Chair, I neglected to congratulate the member on her election and her constituents for electing her here to do the good work on behalf of Oakville. As with me, she is new in the House.

The federal government has a responsibility to taxpayers to ensure that their money produces results, and that means we work with the provinces, territories, local governments and third parties directly, depending on the program, whether it is supporting building a new subway station or creating a firebreak to protect against wildfires. In all cases, we work with our partners to ensure that the funding is going to the purpose intended and is achieving the results that Canadians expect.