Details on transfer payment programs of $5 million or more

Transportation Infrastructure Program

Airports that meet the program's eligibility criteria, which stipulate that they:

• Are not owned or operated by the federal government;
• Meet certification requirements; and
• Have at least 1,000 regularly scheduled commercial passengers per year.

The primary objective of the Asia-Pacific Gateway and Corridor Transportation Infrastructure Fund is to address capacity challenges facing Canada’s Asia-Pacific Gateway and Corridor transportation system. The Asia-Pacific Gateway and Corridor Transportation Infrastructure Fund provides funding for strategic infrastructure projects in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba that:

• Improve the competitiveness, efficiency and capacity of Canada’s multimodal transportation network; and
• Are focussed on increasing international commerce with the Asia-Pacific region.

The Asia-Pacific Gateway and Corridor Transportation Infrastructure Fund is expected to achieve the following:

• Improve end-to-end transit time of containerized freight arriving from ports in Asia; and
• Improve end-to-end transit time of a select grouping of commodities, such as grains, departing from Canada to Asia.

The targeted recipients are:

• Provinces and territories, including provincial and territorially-owned transportation entities;
• Municipalities, including municipally-owned transportation entities;
• Public sector organizations, including transit agencies, commissions and boards, but excluding federal Crown corporations;
• Not-for-profit organizations; and
• Industry-related organizations, including for-profit organizations and Canada Port Authorities (subject to Canada Marine Act amendments).

Engagement initiatives include:

• Calls for project proposals; and
• Consultations and meetings with partners and stakeholders.

Agreement management committees are responsible for the management and administration of contribution agreements between Transport Canada and Asia-Pacific Gateway and Corridor Transportation Infrastructure Fund recipients.

Transportation Infrastructure Program

The Ferry Services Contribution Program provides financial assistance to maintain three inter-provincial ferry services in Atlantic Canada and Eastern Quebec. More specifically, the contributions are for the following services:

• Across the Northumberland Strait between Wood Islands, Prince Edward Island and Caribou, Nova Scotia operated by Northumberland Ferries Ltd.;
• Between Cap-aux-Meules, Îles de la Madeleine, Quebec and Souris, Prince Edward Island operated by CTMA Traversier Ltée; and
• Between Saint John, New Brunswick and Digby, Nova Scotia operated by Bay Ferries Ltd..

The Program is expected to yield the following results:

• Ferry services in Atlantic Canada and Eastern Quebec will continue to be operational;
• Certain remote communities will have access to regional transportation options; and
• Safe, efficient and reliable ferry services will be provided between Cap-aux-Meules, Îles de la Madeleine and Souris, Prince Edward Island; Wood Islands, Prince Edward Island and Caribou, Nova Scotia; and Saint John, New Brunswick and Digby, Nova Scotia.

Industry-related - This program is developed for three ferry services operated by the following recipients:

• CTMA Traversier Ltée;
• Northumberland Ferries Ltd.; and
• Bay Ferries Ltd.

All three recipients are private companies.

We:

• Discuss and provide recipients with clear template-based contribution agreements, leases and charter party agreements;
• Annually review and negotiate the performance objectives and budget required to deliver the ferry services as per the terms of the agreements;
• Inform recipients of service standards and reporting requirements based on each recipient’s risk profile;
• Maintain an an ongoing dialogue with recipients to assess change and progress via monthly conference calls;
• Follow-up with recipients as required on project activities, funding requirements and reporting requirements; and
• Notify recipients of the requirement to conduct audits and inform us of the audit findings.

National Trade Corridors Program

The Gateways and Border Crossings Fund (GBCF) is a merit-based program that funds transportation infrastructure and other related initiatives to:

• Develop and exploit Canada's strategic gateways, trade corridors and border crossings; and
• Better integrate the national transportation system.

The Gateways and Border Crossings Fund is expected to achieve the following:

• Reduce the end-to-end transit time of containerized freight arriving from ports in Asia; and
• Reduce the end-to-end transit time of a select grouping of commodities, such as grains, departing from Canada to Asia.

The Gateways and Border Crossings Fund targets:

• Provinces and Territories;
• Municipalities and local organizations;
• Non-profit organizations;
• Industry-related entities; and
• Others including:
  • Regional/provincial/national/international associations and committees; and
  • Federal Crown corporations that own international bridges.

Engagement initiatives include consultations and meetings with partners and stakeholders.

Several “Agreement Management Committees” are responsible for the management and administration of contribution agreements between Transport Canada and Gateways and Border Crossings Fund recipients.

Rail Safety Improvement Program

The Rail Safety Improvement Program (RSIP)provides grant and contribution funding to improve rail safety and reduce injuries and fatalities related to rail transportation.

The Program funds:

• Safety improvements to existing rail lines;
• The use of innovative technologies;
• Research and studies to improve safety;
• Closures of grade crossings; and
• Initiatives to raise awareness about rail safety issues across Canada.

The RSIP consists of two key components:

• Infrastructure, Technology and Research; and
• Public Education and Awareness.

The RSIP is expected to achieve the following over a ten-year period: reduce rail-related accident and fatality rates.

Eligible recipients for both components of this program include:

• Provinces, territories, municipalities and local governments;
• Road/transit authorities and Crown corporations;
• For-profit and not-for-profit organizations;
• Indigenous groups, communities, and organizations; and
• Individuals.

These include:

• Quarterly meetings / conference calls with key recipients;
• Transport Canada’s website and RSIP outreach activities;
• Publicity during Rail Safety Week; and
• Community outreach through electronic communications, social media and targeted presentations.

Transportation Infrastructure Program

The grant to the Province of British Columbia gives financial assistance to provide ferry services in the waters of the province as part of a federal obligation to provide transportation links to the national transportation system from various regions and isolated areas of British Columbia.

The grant is expected to result in transportation links to the national surface transportation system from various regions and isolated areas of British Columbia.

Provinces and Territories - Province of British Columbia

There are no provisions that require the recipient to provide financial or performance information to federal government as per the terms of the agreement.

Transportation Infrastructure Program

The Northumberland Strait Crossing subsidy payments are made to the bridge operator to honour a constitutional obligation to provide a transportation link between Prince Edward Island and the mainland.

Federal funding is provided for continuous and efficient year-round transportation of people and goods between Prince Edward Island and the mainland to support an efficient, integrated and accessible transportation system.

Industry-related (The contractual agreement is between the Government of Canada and Strait Crossing Development Inc., a private company).

Not applicable

Transportation Infrastructure Program

The Ports Asset Transfer Program was developed to facilitate the transfer of the remaining Transport Canada administered port facilities. Ports can be acquired through sales or divestiture of the facility. Divestitures can include grant or contribution funding for acquiring parties. There are currently 47 ports remaining in Transport Canada’s inventory.

We expected to reduce:

• The number ports from our inventory; and
• Our role as port owner and operator.

This Program is open for public and private entities to acquire a port. It is expected that most interest will come from municipalities or current users of the ports.

As part of the engagement phase, we:

• Sent letters and/or held meetings with federal, provincial and municipal counterparts, Indigenous groups and other interested parties;
• Issued news releases and public notices; and
• Posted information on the internet.

Engagement with stakeholders is ongoing throughout the Program’s lifecycle, with a particular emphasis on keeping Indigenous groups informed on the status of ports in their areas.

National Trade Corridors Program

The National Trade Corridors Fund provides funding to help infrastructure owners and users invest in strategic projects that:

• Support the flow of goods and passengers by reducing bottlenecks and address capacity issues;
• Help the transportation system withstand the effects of climate change and make sure it is able to support new technologies and innovation;
• Address the unique transportation needs in Canada's North to improve safety and facilitate economic and social development; and
• Build on investments made by a variety of public and private sector partners.

The National Trade Corridors Program is expected to achieve the following:

• Deliver planned projects on time, on scope (i.e., in accordance with the original contribution agreement) and on budget; and
• Provide Canadians with value for every grant and contribution dollar of funding we invest into a trade corridors project.

Eligible recipients for this program include:

• All provinces, territories, municipalities and local, regional, provincial and territorial entities;
• Indigenous governments, tribal councils and other forms of regional government, national or regional Indigenous organizations or development corporations;
• Public sector organizations;
• Federal crown corporations or agencies;
• For-profit and not-for-profit private sector organizations;
• Canada port authorities;
• National Airport System airport authorities; and
• Universities and colleges.

Program details are posted on our website and through public outreach activities, including roundtable discussions and webinars.

Protecting Oceans and Waterways Program

The Program’s objective is to strengthen the safety of Canada’s marine transportation system and protect Canada’s coastlines and waterways, which aligns with our strategic outcome of providing Canada with a clean marine transportation system. More specifically, it aims to:

• Protect Canada’s coasts and waterways from hazards;
• Support safer marine operations in the North and protect northern communities from marine pollution incidents; and
• Increase the participation of Canadians in the marine sector, particularly Indigenous, coastal and local communities.

We expect that this Program will:

• Increase:
  • The number of marine training schools offering marine training targeted to Indigenous and other underrepresented groups;
  • The availability, accessibility and reliability of marine traffic information shared with non-federal entities (e.g., Indigenous and coastal communities, provinces);
  • The number of Northern communities deploying new safety equipment and basic marine infrastructure obtained through the program; and
  • Awareness of vessel owner responsibilities and research supporting environmentally responsible vessel end of life management; and
• Strengthen the prevention and response to marine safety and pollution incidents by:
  • Engaging with Indigenous groups and other communities that participate in Canada’s marine safety system;
  • Reducing the number and negative impact resulting from marine incidents and spills; and
  • Reducing the number of abandoned, derelict and wrecked vessels present in Canadian waters.

This includes:

• Provinces and territories, including provincial- and territorially-owned entities;
• Municipalities, including municipally-owned entities, and local and regional governments;
• Indigenous communities and entities;
• Canada Port authorities;
• For-profit private organizations;
• Not-for-profit private organizations (e.g., St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation);
• Public sector organizations;
• Academia; and
• Individuals.

Notably:

• The Program is posted on our website;
• Information sessions were held to promote the Program and engage with potential recipients;
• A number of calls for proposals were issued during the initial year of the program and more are planned in future years.