Canada is investing $150 million to improve ventilation in public buildings

OTTAWA, ON, April 14, 2021 – Today, Catherine McKenna, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities, announced $150 million for better ventilation in public buildings to help reduce the risk of aerosol transmission of COVID-19.

These investments are being made to help reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission by funding projects to assess, monitor, and improve indoor air quality and ventilation, including upgrades or conversions of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems, as well as community-based solutions in Indigenous communities.

Indigenous Services Canada and Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada will deliver $30 million of the funds to projects that directly benefit First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities to help address the unique challenges they face. The balance of the funding, $120 million, will be available to provincial, territorial, municipal and local governments (and Indigenous communities via respective provincial and territorial governments) as a top-up to the Government of Canada’s COVID-19 Resilience stream of the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program.  

“Everyone deserves to feel confident that the air they are breathing in is safe. This investment will support Indigenous communities and their leadership to implement community-based solutions to respond to the spread of COVID-19,” said Carolyn Bennett, Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations. “From coast-to-coast-to-coast, First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities are working hard to keep their citizens and Elders safe – we thank them for their leadership as we continue to work together to fight the Covid-19 pandemic,” said Bennett.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has had a major impact on the well-being of people right across the country. All Canadians, from students to seniors, need clear air where they gather—in schools, health facilities, shelters and emergency services buildings. That’s why the Government of Canada is investing an additional $150 million with provinces, territories and Indigenous communities in ventilation projects to improve air quality in public buildings,” said Catherine McKenna, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities. “This funding will support the federal government’s effort to help Canadians get through the pandemic safely, create good jobs across the country, and build stronger, more resilient communities,” said McKenna.

The COVID-19 Resilience Infrastructure stream, announced in August 2020, was introduced to help flow more funding to provinces and territories faster so that work could begin quickly and safely, protecting jobs and supporting communities across Canada. Under this stream, the federal government is investing up to 80% for projects located in provinces and up to 100% for projects located in territories or with Indigenous recipients.

The COVID-19 Resilience Infrastructure stream is being extended by two years to allow more time for provinces and territories to benefit from an increased federal cost-sharing. This will allow for a broader range of vital infrastructure projects, such as health facilities, shelters and emergency services buildings. Projects must start construction by September 30, 2023.

Infrastructure Canada is working with its provincial and territorial government partners to amend Integrated Bilateral Agreements to ensure that funds flow quickly and help protect the health of Canadians.

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