45. GRANTS AND CONTRIBUTIONS

GRANTS AND CONTRIBUTIONS - TRANSPORT CANADA

 

INCENTIVES FOR ZERO-EMISSION VEHICLES PROGRAM

The overall objective of the iZEV Program is to contribute to a clean transportation system by increasing the adoption of zero-emission vehicles in Canada through purchase incentives, as a means to reduce air pollution and/or greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from transportation.

 

Grant to the Province of British Columbia in respect of the provision of ferry and coastal freight and passenger services

The program fulfils the federal government’s legal obligations as set out in the agreement between the Government of Canada and the province of British Columbia signed in 1977 whereby the Province would assume the sole responsibility for coastal ferry services in return for an on-going indexed grant from Canada.

 

GRANTS TO THE PORTS ASSET TRANSFER PAYMENT 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.

• Divestiture provides grant or contribution incentives to interested parties to acquire the ports.
• Grant funding at transfer is available only to provinces or municipalities.

 

Program to Advance Indigenous Reconciliation

The purpose of the Program is to advance reconciliation with Indigenous peoples by providing funding for projects and initiatives designed to:

• Encourage and support Indigenous participation in Transport Canada’s consultation and engagement processes regarding programs, policies, processes, regulations, legislation and directives;
• Build Indigenous capacity to support the development of partnership and collaborative opportunities for the purpose of administering and implementing elements of the transportation system; and 
• Create opportunities for Indigenous groups to gather information, provide their views, and collect, protect and utilize Indigenous knowledge for the purposes of implementing Transport Canada initiatives.

In addition to this grant, the program is also receiving a contribution worth $1,250,000 to support the purpose above.

 

GRANT FOR INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS CANADA

• The program helps grow Canadian small and medium sized companies and support the development and adoption of technological innovation in Canada.
• The program supports partnerships between government departments and Canadian businesses to develop early stage innovation solutions.

 

PROGRAM TO PROTECT CANADA’S COASTLINES AND WATERWAYS

The Program to Protect Canada’s Coastlines and Waterways (PPCCW) provides federal funding for projects designed to:

• Modernize and strengthen the safety of Canada’s marine transportation system;
• Protect Canada’s marine ecosystem;
• Support safer marine operations in the North and protect northern communities from marine pollution incidents; and
• Increase Canadians’ awareness of, and capacity to, participate in marine safety.

This item is part of the Oceans Protection Plan Initiative.

In addition to this grant, the program is also receiving a contribution worth $61,444,038 to support the purpose above.

 

GRANTS TO SUPPORT THE TRANSPORTATION ASSETS RISK ASSESSMENT INITIATIVE

Grants under this initiative support risk and vulnerability assessments, studies and research to investigate and understand climate impacts to federal transportation assets.  This support is done by:

• Making investment and asset management decisions to strengthen the resilience of federal transportation assets;
• Reducing future costs and disruptions from impacts associated with the changing climate; and
• Sharing of what is learned with other transportation asset owners.

In addition to this grant, the initiative is also receiving a contribution worth $307,712 (see item #41) to support the purpose above.

The Transportation Assets Risk Assessment (TARA) Initiative provides funding for projects through a combination of transfer payments and operational funding that focus on improving the understanding of climate change related-risks and vulnerabilities to federal transportation infrastructure.

The TARA Initiative supports the:

• “Adaptation and Resilience” pillar of the Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change; and
• “Low Carbon Government” and “Modern and Resilient Infrastructure” goals under the 2016-2019 Federal Sustainable Development Strategy.

 

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
• Closures of grade crossings
• Initiatives to raise awareness about rail safety issues across Canada

The Rail Safety Improvement Program has two key components:

• Infrastructure, Technology and Research (ITR)
• Public Education and Awareness (E&A)

In addition to this grant, the program is also receiving a contribution worth $20,500,000 to support the purpose above.

This program builds on Transport Canada's Grade Crossing Improvement, Grade Crossing Closure, and Operation Lifesaver Programs.

 

GRANTS TO SUPPORT CLEAN TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM

This multimodal (i.e., aviation, rail and marine) grant program supports:

• Advanced research of technologies that will reduce criteria air contaminant (CAC) and greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions from the transportation sector;
• Research and associated knowledge sharing activities related to technologies that contribute to the reduction of emissions, or the improvement of emissions measurement for the aviation, marine and/or rail sectors;
• The development, testing, deployment and/or installation of technologies that facilitate the reduction of GHG emissions and air pollutants from the aviation, marine or rail sectors; and
• The building of innovation capacity in Canadian universities.

The Grants to Support Clean Transportation Program seeks to foster innovative thinking while serving a broad range of eligible recipients, including academia, industry, non-profit organizations, international organizations, foreign states, Indigenous communities and entities, and individuals.

 

COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION FUNDING PROGRAM

The Community Participation Funding Program provides federal funding, in the form of grants, to encourage effective participation of Indigenous and local communities as well as increase the capacity of those communities to engage and share their knowledge and expertise in the development and improvement of Canada’s marine transportation system.

This is part of Grants portion of greater OPP funding announced in Budget 2017 for $1.5B.

COSCAPs are cooperative agreements between countries executed by ICAO by means of a Trust Fund. It is aimed at assisting these countries (i.e. India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Maldives) in developing regulations and standards, and to improve their oversight capabilities to enhance safety of air transport.

The objective of the grant is to enhance the safety of air transport operations in parts of the world that require assistance.  It enables Canadians to travel to these Asia-Pacific countries with a higher level of confidence in aviation safety.

 

PROGRAM TO address DISTURBANCES FROM VESSEL TRAFFIC

Enhanced measures under this program will help promote the recovery of the Southern Resident killer whale in a manner that considers and accounts for legitimate concerns of First Nations, coastal communities and the fishing and transportation industries.

Grant funding of $100,000 will support the expansion of the Whale Report Alert System via Ocean Wise Coastal Ocean Research Institute grant.

• More specifically, the funding will increase the capabilities of the system to broadcast pertinent and real-time details of whale sightings. The system will alert bridge crew and pilots of large commercial vessels and allow them to implement operational measures to reduce the risk of disturbing or striking the whales.

In addition to this grant, the program is also receiving a contribution worth $1,500,000 to support the purpose above.

 

PROGRAM TO ADVANCE TRANSPORTATION INNOVATION

The PATI contributes to Canada’s transportation system competitiveness and productivity through investments in activities that promote and:

• Enable transport-sector innovation by supporting the deployment of technology innovations, including CV and AV technologies;
• Facilitate capacity building and research on transportation-related issues; and
• Contribute to TC’s green and innovative transportation core responsibility.

In addition to this grant, the program is also receiving a contribution worth $650,000 to support the purpose above.

The Program to Advance Transportation Innovation (PATI) helps Canadian provinces, territories (PTs) and municipalities prepare for the wide array of technical, regulatory and policy issues that will emerge as a result of new innovations in the transportation sector, including connected vehicles (CV) and automated vehicles (AV).  To achieve this, the Program provides federal funding to academia, PTs, and other stakeholders for projects that support CV and AV technology research.

 

MAIN ESTIMATES Contributions - TRANSPORT CANADA

 

NATIONAL TRADE CORRIDOR FUND

National Trade Corridors Fund (NTCF) aims to:

• Support Canadian trade by alleviating capacity constraints and bottlenecks, and strengthening connectivity between transport modes;
• Increase the resilience of the Canadian transportation system to a changing climate and its adaptability to new technologies and future innovation;
• Address the transportation needs of Northern territorial communities, including safety and economic development; and
• Leverage investments from multiple partners.

This is part of the Trade and Transportation Corridor Initiative (TTCI).

Announced in November 2016 and detailed in Budget 2017, the Government of Canada will invest $10.1 billion over the next 11 years in trade and transportation projects to build stronger, more efficient transportation corridors to international markets and help Canadian businesses compete, grow and create more jobs for Canada’s middle class.

National Trade Corridors Fund funding will be allocated to projects based on their individual merits, which will be assessed according to how they help to strengthen the efficiency and resilience of transportation assets that are critical for Canada’s continued success in global trade and commerce.

Eligible projects include, for example, ports, airports, roads, railways, intermodal facilities, international bridges and border crossings – assets that are the primary building blocks of the supply chains that enable the physical exchange of goods around the world and also support the critical movement of people and goods in Canada’s Northern territories.

 

PROGRAM TO PROTECT CANADA’S COASTLINES AND WATERWAYS

The program’s overall objective is to strengthen the safety of Canada’s marine transportation system and protect Canada’s coastlines and waterways, which aligns with the Department’s strategic outcomes to provide 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.
• Increase the participation of Canadians in the marine sector, particularly Indigenous, coastal and local communities.

This Program is part of the Oceans Protection Plan Initiative

In addition to this contribution, the program is also receiving a grant worth $1,200,000 to support the purpose above.

The Program to Protect Canada’s Coastlines and Waterways provides federal funding, in the form of grants or contributions, for projects designed to modernize and enhance the safety of Canada’s marine transportation system, protect Canada’s marine ecosystem and increase Canadian’s awareness of, and capacity to participate in, marine safety.

 

SUPPORT FOR REMOTE COMMUNITIES

The COVID-19 pandemic has created an unprecedented crisis in the aviation industry’s ability to service communities, which is having a significant impact on the remote communities that depend on small air carriers for essential goods, services, and access in and out of the community.

The Government of Canada is collaboratively working with provinces and territories and Indigenous partners to ensure minimum levels of essential transportation services to remote communities, to avoid the disruptions that a sudden loss in these services would cause.

 

FERRY SERVICES CONTRIBUTION PROGRAM

The Ferry Services Contribution program provides operating funding for the requirements for three regional ferry services:

• Between Cap-aux-Meules, Îles-de la Madeleine, Quebec and Souris, Prince Edward Island;
• Between Caribou, Nova Scotia and Wood Islands, Prince Edward Island; and
• Between Saint John, New Brunswick and Digby, Nova Scotia.

 

AIRPORTS CAPITAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

The Airports Capital Assistance Program was established in 1995 to assist eligible airports in financing capital projects related to safety.

The Airports Capital Assistance Program is part of the National Airports Policy. The Program was established to assist regional/local airport owners with safety-related capital infrastructure and to ensure the continued safety of the Canadian traveling public.

 

RAIL SAFETY IMPROVEMENT CONTRIBUTION 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
• Closures of grade crossings
• Initiatives to raise awareness about rail safety issues across Canada

The Rail Safety Improvement Program has two key components:

• Infrastructure, Technology and Research (ITR)
• Public Education and Awareness (E&A)

In addition to this contribution, the program is also receiving a grant worth $800,000 to support the purpose above.

 

ROAD SAFETY TRANSFER PAYMENT PROGRAM

The Road Safety Transfer Payments Program (RSTPP) contributes to improving the safety of roadways, road users, and motor vehicles in Canada.

It would also help deliver on Transportation 2030’s key goal of “supporting the development of policy and regulatory frameworks for new transportation technologies, including AV/CV”, as well as Transport Canada (TC)’s pledge to Canada’s Road Safety Strategy 2025.

Since RSTPP began in 1987, Transport Canada has provided $4.44 million per year in federal contributions to provinces, territories (P/Ts) and more recently the CCMTA to improve the safety of roadways, road users and motor vehicles in Canada.

 

OUTAOUAIS ROAD DEVELOPMEMT AGREEMENT (ORDA)

The Outaouais Road Development Agreement (ORDA) is a cost sharing arrangement with the Province of Quebec for the improvement of the road system on the Outaouais side of the National Capital Region.

Signed in 1972 between the National Capital Commission (NCC) and the Québec government, it comprises of 13 projects, of which 7 have been completed to date. Canada contributes up to 50% of the overall cost of the work. The agreement ends when all projects are completed.

 

MAJOR REHABILITATION WORK ON THE VICTORIA BRIDGE

The Victoria Bridge, located in Montreal (Quebec), is in need of major rehabilitation works in order to keep it safe and secure.

The purpose of this class contribution program is to provide funding to eligible recipients for projects that support Transport Canada’s mandate to promote safety in the marine sector and advance safety among waterway users through education and awareness.

The overall objective of the Program is to reduce incidents, injuries, property damage and loss of life due to boating accidents in Canada. 

 

AIRPORTS OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE SUBSIDY PROGRAM

The Program finances operations and maintenance deficits at four designated TC-owned airports, by subsidizing shortfalls between revenues and operating costs.

These airports include:

• Chevery - Municipality of Côte-Nord du Golfe du St-Laurent;
• Natashquan Municipality of Canton Natashquan;
• Schefferville - Société aéroportuaire de Schefferville; and
• Kuujjuaq - Kativik Regional Government (KRG).

 

PROGRAM TO ADDRESS DISTURBANCES OF VESSEL TRAFFIC

Enhanced measures under this program will help to promote the recovery of the Southern Resident killer whale in a manner that considers and accounts for legitimate concerns of First Nations, coastal communities and the fishing and transportation industries.

Budget 2019 provided a total contribution funding of $7,500,000 over 5 years.  This funding will address the threat of acoustic disturbance from vessel traffic by reducing economic impacts associated with an expanded vessel slowdown.

The purpose of the Asia-Pacific Gateway and Corridor Transportation Infrastructure Fund is to address capacity challenges facing Canada’s Asia-Pacific Gateway. A number of projects are proposed to enhance the competitiveness, efficiency and capacity of Canada’s multi-modal transportation network focused on the movement of international commerce within the Asia-North America Pacific region. The main eligible recipients include other levels of government, regional transportation authorities, and transportation services providers from the private sector.

 

PROGRAM TO ADVANCE INDIGENOUS RECONCILIATION

The purpose of the Program is to advance reconciliation with Indigenous peoples by providing funding for projects and initiatives designed to:

• Encourage and support Indigenous participation in Transport Canada’s consultation and engagement processes regarding programs, policies, processes, regulations, legislation and directives;
• Build Indigenous capacity to support the development of partnership and collaborative opportunities for the purpose of administering and implementing elements of the transportation system; and 
• Create opportunities for Indigenous groups to gather information, provide their views, and collect, protect and utilize Indigenous knowledge for the purposes of implementing Transport Canada initiatives.

In addition to this contribution, the program is also receiving a grant worth $5,836,000 to support the purpose above.

 

QUIET VESSEL INITIATIVE

The program’s goal is to support the use of safe, environmentally-responsible, and effective low-noise technologies and operational practices through research and testing while: 

• Engaging with Indigenous communities about quiet vessel solutions on the Salish Sea and their participation in the initiative; as well as
• Funding the development of technologies to improve marine mammal detection, such as the Southern Resident Killer Whale, and reduce the risks of vessel strikes.

 

LABRADOR COASTAL AIRSTRIPS RESTORATION PROGRAM

The purpose of the Labrador Coastal Airstrips Restoration Program is to provide ongoing financial capital assistance to restore airstrips along the Labrador Coast to ensure the original operational capability of these airstrips is maintained – fulfilling Transport Canada’s commitment under the 1982 Labrador Air/Marine Service Agreement with the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador.

These investments help to ensure the original operational capability of these airstrips is maintained – fulfilling Transport Canada’s commitment under the 1982 Labrador Air/Marine Service Agreement with the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador.

 

CONTRIBUTION TO ADVANCE TRANSPORTATION INNOVATION

The PATI contributes to Canada’s transportation system competitiveness and productivity through investments in activities that promote and:

• Enable transport-sector innovation by supporting the deployment of technology innovations, including CV and AV technologies;
• Facilitate capacity building and research on transportation-related issues; and
• Contribute to TC’s green and innovative transportation core responsibility.

In addition to this contribution, the program is also receiving a grant worth $75,000 to support the purpose above.

The Program to Advance Transportation Innovation (PATI) helps Canadian provinces, territories and municipalities prepare for the array of technical, regulatory and policy issues that will emerge as a result of new innovations in the transportation sector, including connected vehicles (CV) and automated vehicles (AV). To achieve this, the Program provides federal funding, in the form of grants and contributions to academia, P/T, and other stakeholders for projects that support capacity building on CV and AV technologies.

 

TRANSPORTATION ASSOCIATION OF CANADA

The contribution to the Transportation Association of Canada program represents an ongoing commitment by the Government of Canada to support road and highway infrastructure and urban transportation. Specifically, Transport Canada contributes to improved roads, safety, environmental protection and a more efficient transportation system by:

• Identifying common interests;
• Developing and harmonizing best practices among jurisdictions; and
• Improving the knowledge base to produce better decisions and policies.

The purpose of the contribution program is to provide funding to support transportation-related projects and programs managed by the Transportation Association of Canada (TAC). The multi-year funding program reflects an amalgamation of all Transport Canada activities with TAC under a single, five-year umbrella agreement. The TAC contribution agreement was signed on December 22, 2017.

 

CONTRIBUTIONS TO SUPPORT THE TRANSPORTATION ASSETS RISK ASSESSMENT INITIATIVE

The Transportation Assets Risk Assessment (TARA) initiative supports investment and asset management decisions to strengthen the resilience of federal transportation assets and reduce future costs and disruptions from impacts associated with the changing climate. It will also support the sharing of what is learned with other transportation asset owners.

In addition to this contribution, the initiative is also receiving a grant worth $1,049,880 to support the purpose above.

This investment supports the adaptation and resilience pillar of the Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change, as well as the Low Carbon Government and Modern and Resilient Infrastructure goals under the 2016-2019 Federal Sustainable Development Strategy.

Contributions under this initiative support risk and vulnerability assessments, studies and research to investigate and understand climate impacts to federal transportation assets. For example, peak rainfall in certain areas of Canada have changed substantially. This is affecting the hydrology charts engineers use to design water control structures, culverts and bridges. Assessment would look at the risk of current designs based on changing peak rainfall and proposed options.

On behalf of the Government of Canada, Transport Canada (TC) has the statutory obligation to assume the responsibility for the payment of supplemental pension benefits to former Newfoundland (NFLD) Railway employees, who were transferred to Canadian National (CN) Rail subsequent to the union of NFLD with Canada in 1949.

The Program continues to serve as the most cost effective instrument to satisfy the Government of Canada’s obligations to support pension payments to former Newfoundland Railway employees. CN administers Canada’s payments as part of its current pension arrangements with these employees

This program has existed since June 22, 1954.

 

CONTRIBUTION TO SUPPORT CLEAN TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM

As part of the Pan Canadian Framework, Transport Canada is entering into grants and contribution agreements with academia to seed innovative, blue sky thinking research and development (R&D) in the aviation, marine and rail sectors.

Funding supports research and associated knowledge sharing activities related to technologies that contribute to the reduction of emissions, or the improvement of emissions measurement for the aviation, marine and/or rail sectors.

This investment will serve to complement the existing Clean Rail Academic Grant Program and provide a platform for innovative multimodal transportation R&D within Canada. As innovative thinking occurs across types of organizations, the program will also serve a broader range of eligible recipients, including academia, industry, non-profit organizations, international organizations, foreign states, indigenous communities and entities, and individuals.

Starting in 2018-19, the new Multi-Modal Clean Transportation Program will offer both grants and contributions to support:

• Advanced research of technologies that will reduce criteria air contaminant (CAC) and greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions from the transportation sector
• Research and associated knowledge sharing activities related to technologies that contribute to the reduction of emissions, or the improvement of emissions measurement for the aviation, marine and/or rail sectors.
• The development, testing, deployment and/or installation of technologies that facilitate the reduction of GHG emissions and air pollutants from the aviation, marine or rail sectors.
• Build innovation capacity in Canadian universities

 

PAYMENTS TO OTHER GOVERNMENTS OR INTERNATIONAL AGENCIES FOR THE OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE OF AIRPORTS, AIR NAVIGATION AND AIRWAYS FACILITIES

This program’s objective is to enhance the safety of air transport operations by ensuring that funds are available to cover the operation and financing of facilities and services for the safety of international air traffic provided by Denmark and Iceland for civil aircraft flying across the North Atlantic.

This program has been in existence since 1956 and funding is ongoing.

 

GATEWAYS AND BORDER CROSSINGS FUND

The purpose of the contribution program is to provide funding to support transportation infrastructure and other related initiatives to develop and exploit Canada’s strategic gateways, trade corridors and border crossings focusing on nationally significant projects supporting international trade and efficient and integrated supply chains.

 

CANADIAN TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH FORUM’S SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

The purpose of the contribution program to the Canadian Transportation Research Forum is to provide funding assistance to the scholarship program in an effort to promote and encourage transportation research in Canada, as well as and support capacity building in the sector.

TRANSPORT CANADA MAIN ESTIMATES STATUTORY CONTRIBUTIONS

The Statutory Contribution total of $73,299,777 is for 2 items:

 

NORTHUMBERLAND STRAIT CROSSING SUBSIDY PAYMENT UNDER THE NORTHUMBERLAND STRAIT CROSSING ACT

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

 

PAYMENTS TO THE CANADIAN NATIONAL RAILWAY COMPANY IN RESPECT OF THE TERMINATION OF THE COLLECTION OF TOLLS ON THE VICTORIA BRIDGE, MONTREAL AND FOR REHABILITATION WORK ON THE ROADWAY PORTION OF THE BRIDGE

Since 1963, CN has made the roadway facilities on the Victoria Bridge available for public use in return for compensation received from Transport Canada towards the operation, maintenance and repairs of the roadway portion of the bridge and the approaches.