Communities Component

Through Canada’s Economic Action Plan, the federal government topped up the Building Canada Fund’s Communities Component to accelerate infrastructure projects in small communities. An additional $500 million was committed for projects that will be completed by March 31, 2011.

About the Program

The Communities Component of the Building Canada Fund recognizes that smaller communities have unique infrastructure needs, and therefore targets projects in communities with populations of less than 100,000. Projects were selected through an application-based process.

Projects are cost-shared on a one-third basis among federal, provincial and municipal counterparts. Projects related to safe drinking water, disaster mitigation, brownfield redevelopment, and local roads and bridges are funded through the Communities Component.

How it Works

Projects are eligible under the existing seventeen categories of the Communities Component. Through the extra $500 million, work funded must be completed by March 31, 2011. The existing Communities Component allocation for a province had to be fully committed to projects before municipalities in that province could access the $500 million top-up.

Who is Eligible?

Canadian municipalities with a population of less than 100,000, as determined by the Statistics Canada’s Final 2006 Census, as well as a private sector body or non-profit organization whose application was supported by a Council resolution from the local municipality may receive funding.