2019-20 Details on Transfer Payment Programs of $5 million or more

Airports Capital Assistance Program

Ongoing

Contribution

Appropriated annually through the Estimates

Transportation Infrastructure Program

The Airports Capital Assistance Program assists eligible applicants in financing safety-related capital projects to ensure the continued safety of the Canadian travelling public.

The Program does not have repayable contributions.

A total of 29 contribution agreements were signed in 2019-20 to fund safety-related projects at airports across the country.

An audit was not completed during the reporting year.

Last evaluation completed April 2015. Next evaluation planned for 2021-22.

Program details are posted on our website and an information brochure for applicants is sent to all eligible airports.

Asia-Pacific Gateway and Corridor Transportation Infrastructure Fund

Ongoing

Contribution

Appropriated annually through the Estimates

National Trade Corridors

The Asia-Pacific Gateway and Corridor Transportation Infrastructure Fund aims to address capacity challenges facing Canada’s Asia-Pacific Gateway and Corridor transportation system by 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 focused on increasing international commerce with the Asia-Pacific region.

The Program does not have repayable contributions.

Most of the projects under the Fund have already been completed, including an additional three projects in 2019-20. There remains three ongoing projects under the Fund, which are expected to be complete by 2021-22.

The three projects completed in 2019-20 were located in the Lower Mainland, BC. These projects facilitated relieving traffic congestion that hinders the free flow of goods, services and people in the region.

An audit was not completed during the reporting year.

Last evaluation completed in September 2017. Next evaluation planned for 2022-23.

There are no further engagements activities with applicants and recipients planned for this Program.

Ferry Services Contribution Program

1941

Contribution

Appropriated annually through Estimates

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:

• 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 does not have repayable contributions.

• Made sure that safe, efficient and reliable ferry services were available 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.

An audit of each recipient was completed in 2019-20.

In all material respects, all recipients were found to be in compliance with the audit criteria.

Most recent evaluation completed in July 2019. Planned date of next evaluation is 2024-25.

The 2019 evaluation found that the funding contribution for the Îles-de-la-Madeleine-Souris ferry services is aligned with the National Marine Policy, but the contributions for the Wood Islands-Caribou and Digby-Saint John services remain inconsistent. On the whole, however, the program is in line with government priorities to support services that are important to communities and regional economies.

The delivery of safe and reliable services meets the performance targets set in the contribution agreements and are to the satisfaction of users.

In general, public ferry services operate with some degree of subsidy due to the high costs of operating vessels in a marine environment, and the increasing maintenance and repair costs associated with aging vessels.

• Discussed and provided recipients with clear template-based contribution agreements, leases and charter party agreements;
• Reviewed and negotiated the performance objectives and budget required to deliver the ferry services as per the terms of the agreements;
• Informed recipients of service standards and reporting requirements based on each recipient’s risk profile;
• Maintained an ongoing dialogue with recipients to assess change and progress via monthly conference calls;
• Followed-up with recipients as required on project activities, funding requirements and reporting requirements; and
• Notified recipients of the requirement to conduct audits and inform Transport Canada of the audit findings.

Gateways and Border Crossings Fund

Ongoing

Contribution

Appropriated annually through the Estimates

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 Program does not have repayable contributions.

In 2019-20, the program:

• Completed three projects that improved air and marine capacity and supported strategic gateways;
• Progressed six projects that will improve highway capacity, intermodal links and connectors, technology, and border crossing integrity to increase efficiency;
• Improved the integration of the transportation system to reduce transit times for international trade volumes; and
• Improved economic competitiveness and productivity.

An audit was not completed during the reporting year.

Most recent evaluation completed in April 2014. Planned date of next evaluation is 2022-23.

Engagement initiatives included meetings with partners and stakeholders to oversee the federal contributions to projects funded under the Gateways and Border Crossings Fund.

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

Ongoing

Grant

Appropriated annually through the Estimates

Transportation Infrastructure Program

Transport Canada provides an annual grant to the Province of British Columbia to support coastal ferry services. The program fulfills 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.

The Program does not have repayable contributions.

The grant supported transportation links to the national surface transportation system from various regions and isolated areas of British Columbia.

An audit was not completed during the reporting year.

Most recent evaluation completed in 2016-17. Planned date of next evaluation is 2022-23.

We engage the Province to discuss and confirm the annual payment.

Grant and Contribution

Appropriated annually through Estimates

Climate Change and Clean Air

The Incentives for Zero-Emission Vehicles Program (iZEV) is an initiative under the Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change. It provides Canadians and Canadian businesses with point-of-sale rebates of up to $5,000 per eligible new light-duty zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) purchased^{Footnote 1}. The iZEV Program’s objectives are to:

• Make it more affordable for Canadians to adopt this clean technology;
• Reduce air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions from transportation; and
• Increase the adoption of these vehicles in support of meeting our ZEV sales targets, including reaching 10% of new light-duty vehicle sales by 2025.

The Program does not have repayable contributions.

The iZEV Program was announced in Budget 2019 as a three-year, $300 million program, and the Program launched on May 1, 2019. In 2019-20:

• Over 43,000 Canadians and Canadian businesses benefited from the iZEV Program; and
• The ZEV market share of light-duty vehicles increased to 3.3%, up from 2.4% in 2018-19.

National Trade Corridors Fund

Ongoing

Grant and Contribution

Appropriated annually through the Estimates

National Trade Corridors

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 Program does not have repayable contributions.

In 2019-20, this program:

• Delivered projects on time, in scope, and on budget
• Provided value for every dollar of contribution funding invested in trade corridor projects
• Completed the Northern call for project proposals committing $234 million to 11 projects in Canada’s territories to address the transportation needs of Northern communities, including safety and economic development
• Continued the delivery of the Continuous call for trade diversification projects committing over $700M to 35 projects across the country; contributing to improving the fluidity of Canada’s transportation system and the flow of goods to overseas markets

An Audit of the National Trade Corridors Fund is planned to begin in 2020-2021 and is expected to be completed in early 2021-2022. The preliminary objective is to examine governance, risk management and the management control framework of the contribution program.

This program is new as of 2017-18 and has never been evaluated. Planned date of next evaluation is 2022-23.

Engagement initiatives include:

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

Program details are posted on our website and disseminated through outreach activities, such as information sessions. 

Northumberland Strait Crossing Subsidy Payment under the Northumberland Strait Crossing Act (S.C., 1993, c. 43)

Contribution

Northumberland Strait Crossing Subsidy Payment under the Northumberland Strait Crossing Act (S.C., 1993, c. 43)

Not applicable

The terms and conditions have not been reviewed since the commencement of the Program, as there is a contractual agreement between the Government of Canada and Strait Crossing Development Inc.

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.

The Program does not have repayable contributions.

In 2019-20, this program:

• Provided federal funding 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.

No audit was completed during the reporting period, based on the contract between the Government of Canada and Strait Crossing Inc.

No evaluation was completed during the reporting year, as an evaluation is not required for statutory payments.

Not applicable

Port Asset Transfer Program

Grant and Contribution

Appropriated annually through the Estimates

Transportation Infrastructure Program

The Ports Asset Transfer Program was developed to facilitate the transfer of the remaining Transport Canada administered local port facilities. Ports can be acquired through sales or divestiture of the facility. Divestitures can include grant or contribution funding for acquiring parties. As of March 30, 2020 there will be 35 ports remaining in Transport Canada’s inventory.

The Program does not have repayable contributions.

In 2019-20, this program:

• Transferred 7 ports (Kingston Coal Dock, ON; Quatsino, BC; Kingcome Inlet, BC; Gaspé, QC; Gros-Cacouna, QC; Matane, QC; and Rimouski, QC)
• Advanced negotiations with parties for the ports of Baie-Comeau, QC, Les Mechins, QC and Pelee Island, ON.

An audit was not completed during the reporting year.

Most recent evaluation completed in 2011-2012. An evaluation was not completed during this reporting year. The next evaluation is expected to be completed by March 2021.

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.

Program to Protect Canada’s Coastlines and Waterways

Ongoing

Grants and Contributions

Appropriated annually through the Estimates

 Protecting Oceans and Waterways

The objectives of the Program to Protect Canada’s Coastlines and Waterways are to strengthen the safety of Canada’s marine transportation system and protect Canada’s coastlines and waterways. These objectives aligns with our Department’s core responsibility of providing Canada with a green and efficient marine transportation system. More specifically, the Program aims to:

• Protect Canada’s coasts and waterways from hazards (e.g., by removing wrecked and abandoned boats);
• Support safer marine operations in the North and protect northern communities from marine pollution incidents; and
• Increase the number of Canadians in the marine sector, particularly women, Northerners, Inuit and other Indigenous Peoples.

The Program does not have repayable contributions.

In 2019-20, achievements under the Program to Protect Canada’s Coastlines and Waterways included:

• Improving, in partnership with Indigenous partners, the availability, accessibility and reliability of marine traffic information shared with non-federal entities (such as Indigenous and coastal communities, provinces) by launching live the ten pilot projects under the Enhanced Maritime Situational Awareness Initiative in May 2019. Partners are regularly testing the system and collaborating with us to prioritize improvements to ensure the system meets varying community and user needs;
• Increasing the number of Northern communities that directly benefit from new safety equipment and basic marine infrastructure
• Launching a program to help support the recovery of the endangered Southern Resident killer whale population, which consisted of:
  • Entering into a contribution agreement with the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority to help reduce participation barriers and extend excess pilotage costs incurred by shippers participating in an extended voluntary vessel slowdown in Southern Resident killer whale critical habitat. An overall average participation rate of 82% (1,279 participating vessels) was achieved over the 15 weeks of the slowdown in 2019; and
  • Entering into a four-year grant agreement with the Ocean Wise Conservation Association for the expansion of the Whale Report Alert System that broadcasts whale sightings in real-time to reduce the risk of large commercial vessels disturbing or striking whales;
• Finalizing contribution agreements with 21 organizations under the Indigenous and Local Communities Engagement and Partnership Program, which provides funding for recipients to:
  • Support and encourage participation in longer-term engagement work on Oceans Protection Plan initiatives; and
  • Support capacity and relationship building for ongoing participation in the marine safety system; and
• Strengthening the prevention and response to marine safety and pollution incidents by providing funding:
  • For over 100 Community Participation Funding Program grants for Indigenous groups and other communities to participate in Canada’s marine safety system;
  • Through the Safety Equipment and Basic Marine Infrastructure in Northern Communities Initiative to reduce the likelihood of marine incidents and spills related to marine resupply operations; and
  • Through the Abandoned Boats Program to address 89 additional abandoned, derelict and wrecked vessels in Canadian waters;
  • For raising awareness of vessel owner responsibilities and for research supporting environmentally responsible vessel end-of-life management, including to date^{Footnote 2}:
    • Four agreements to support education and awareness initiatives; and
    • Two agreements for research related to the recycling of boat materials, including fibreglass; and
  • Under the Marine Training Program (MTP) to raise public awareness of, and access to, training and job opportunities, and provide infrastructure, equipment and new technology to improve marine training in Canada for underrepresented groups in the marine sector (including women, Northerners, Inuit and other Indigenous Peoples). We have contribution agreements under the MTP with the:
    • Nunavut Fisheries and Marine Training Consortium;
    • Nova Scotia Community College; and
    • British Columbia Institute of Technology, in partnership with Camosun College.
    2019-20 saw the first MTP graduates and several individuals were offered employment in the marine sector.

In Winter 2020, some challenges were encountered due to the Covid-19 pandemic which affected some of the above-noted programs. For example under the MTP, all in-class training was suspended.

An audit was not completed during the reporting year.

This is a new program as of 2017-18 and has never been evaluated. The evaluation is planned for 2022-23.

In 2019-20 we conducted an anonymous feedback survey with Abandoned Boats Program recipients to gauge program performance and to identify areas of potential improvement.

There are no future plans to engage with applicants and recipients on the design, delivery, and evaluation of the Program at this time.

Rail Safety Improvement Program

Ongoing

Grant and Contribution

Appropriated annually through the Estimates

Rail Safety Improvement Program

The Rail Safety Improvement Program (RSIP) provides grants and contributions 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 across Canada.

The RSIP consists of two key components:

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

The Program does not have repayable contributions.

In 2019-20, the following results for this Program were achieved:

• Increased awareness of grade crossing and trespassing hazards.
• Adoption of new technology to improve rail safety.
• Adoption of safe practices at road/railway grade crossings and on railway property.
• Safer railway grade crossings, rail lines and rail property.
• Funding of more than $18.1 million for 140 projects that focus on infrastructure, technology and research, including 104 grade-crossing improvements across the country, 4 technology and research projects; 4 rail safety education and awareness initiatives that focus on reducing injuries and fatalities in communities across Canada.

An audit was not completed during the reporting year.

This evaluation was completed in May 2020.

The 2020 evaluation found that:

1. To examine funding options, to identify if there is a need to allocate a portion of funding for all types of applicants
2. To examine the extent to which the cost-sharing ratio defined in the RSIP Terms and Conditions remains relevant for all types of recipients,
3. To develop a costing model that comprehensively accounts for all of the costs required to deliver the Program

These include:

• Quarterly meetings / conference calls with key recipients;
• Regular Canada-wide webinars engaging key stakeholders, e.g. provinces, municipalities, for and not-for profit organizations; and
• Community outreach through electronic communications, social media and targeted presentations.

Remote Passenger Rail Program

Ongoing

Contribution

Appropriated annually through the Estimates.

A safe transportation system

This program provides funding to ensure that safe, reliable, viable and sustainable passenger rail services are provided to certain areas of the country where these services are the only means of surface transportation for remote communities. Funding for both operating and capital projects is provided.

The Program does not have repayable contributions.

In 2019-20, the program:

Supported two passenger rail services to make sure that remote communities can access to the national transportation system, medical services, education, and employment opportunities.

An audit was not completed during the reporting year.

Most recent evaluation was completed in May 2018. The next planned evaluation is for 2024-25.

Engagement activities included ongoing communication with recipients. As per the agreements, the parties establish a Committee, which meets on an annual basis. There are also discussions with the recipients on the renewal of the Program.

Road Safety Transfer Payment Program

Ongoing

Contribution

Appropriated annually through the Estimates

Motor Vehicle Safety Oversight Program

To establish nationally-consistent road use frameworks, standards, policies, programs and outreach activities to reduce collisions, injuries and fatalities on the road, while also encouraging the safe and effective use of innovative technologies, encouraging harmonization, and economic growth.

The Program does not have repayable contributions.

In 2019-20, this program:

• Provided federal funding to the Provinces, Territories, and the Canadian Council of Motor Transport Administrators to support the implementation and delivery of the Motor Carrier Safety - National Safety Code project;
• Distributed $5.2M to support the delivery of the project across Canada which contributed to improving the enforcement of safety standards and frameworks for extra-provincial commercial motor carriers (heavy trucks and buses);
• Supported the delivery of national uniform training for commercial motor vehicle drivers and inspectors;
• Continued to ensure that all Provinces and Territories comply with uniform safety standards for commercial motor vehicles. This was enhanced by the signing of an agreement with the Province of Alberta under the National Safety Code project component of the program; and
• Contributed to the overall improvement of the safety of Canada’s roads.

An audit was not completed during the reporting year.

Most recent evaluation was completed in June 2015. The next evaluation is planned for 2021-22.

Engagement of provinces, territories and the Canadian Council of Motor Transport Administrators occurs at CCMTA and Transportation Association of Canada meetings, and at one on one meetings with provinces, territories and other stakeholders. The input from participants provides advice to Transport Canada for future updates to the program.