A STRATEGIC APPROACH TO TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE FUNDING IN CANADA

Prepared by: Conference Board of Canada

May 15, 2015

ABSTRACT:

The purpose of this study was to consider whether there are more effective and strategic ways to prioritize public investments in key transportation infrastructure. The report commences with an in-depth summary of Canada’s approaches to funding transportation infrastructure over the past two decades, including the Canada Infrastructure Works Program (1994-1999), Canada’s Infrastructure Programs (2000-2006), Building Canada Plan (2007-2014) and the New Building Canada Plan (2015-present). The author then briefly explores various approaches to funding transportation infrastructure used by other jurisdictions, and looks in particular at the strengths and weaknesses of the European Union’s Common Transportation Strategy, the United Kingdom’s National Infrastructure Plan, Infrastructure Australia’s National Plan, and the United States’ proposal for a National Infrastructure Bank. Based on this analysis, the report identifies various innovative strategies that Canada may utilize moving forward to strengthen the link between economic and productive benefits and investment in transportation infrastructure projects.

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