Details on Transfer Payment Programs of $5 million or more

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.

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 providing 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 focussed on increasing international commerce with the Asia-Pacific region.

The Program does not have repayable contributions.

The majority of the projects under the Fund have already been completed, including an additional two projects in 2020-21. There remains only one ongoing project under the Fund, which is expected to be complete by 2021-22.

The two projects completed in 2020-21 were located in the Lower Mainland of British Columbia. These projects facilitated relieving traffic congestion that hinders the free flow of goods, services and people in the region.

The purpose and objective of this program is to provide federal funding, in the form of contributions, to provincial, territorial and regional Indigenous governments to assist small air carriers in providing essential services to remote communities affected by the COVID-19, in particular:

• Supporting a focused and reliable air network for the movement of essential goods and services to remote communities;
• Ensuring a continued minimum level of essential air carrier services to remote communities.

The Program does not have repayable contributions.

This Program has never been evaluated. It is scheduled for upcoming evaluation in 2022-23.

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.

This Program was last evaluated in 2019-20. It is scheduled for upcoming evaluation in 2024-25.

• 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.

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 2020-21, the program:

• Completed one project that improved air and marine capacity and supported strategic gateways;
• Progressed four 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.

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 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 incentives of up to $5,000 per eligible new light-duty zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) leased or 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.

The Program does not have repayable contributions.

The number of Canadians and Canadians businesses adopting ZEVs continues to increase^{Footnote 2}. In calendar year 2020, 3.8% of new light-duty vehicle sales in Canada were zero-emission vehicles. This represents an increase from the 3.1% market share in 2019 and 2.3% in 2018.

The iZEV Program contributed to this trend in fiscal year 2020-21 as:

• Over 39,000 Canadians and Canadian businesses^{Footnote 3} received an iZEV incentive for an eligible new zero-emission vehicle lease or purchase; and
• Due to the strong demand for iZEV incentives, in the Fall 2020 Economic Statement, the Government of Canada announced a $287 million top-up to the iZEV Program taking total investments in the iZEV Program to $587 million.

Officials responsible for this transfer payment program consult on a daily basis with recipients through:

• The online iZEV claim application for dealerships, which in most cases is to request further information and/or a missing document for a claim submitted; and
• The Program’s generic email address to answer more general questions from the public and dealerships.

Typical engagement activities are not needed under the iZEV Program given its popularity and established networks of Canadian and Provincial/Territorial Associations that are provided with updated information when required.

The National Trade Corridors Fund provides funding to contribute to the competitiveness and productivity of Canada and its transportation system through investments 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 2020-21, TC launched and completed the Arctic and Northern call for proposals to allocate up to $400M to meritorious projects and address the transportation needs of these communities. Funding decisions are expected to be communicated in summer 2021.

TC continued to support the implementation of NTCF funded projects and continued its assessments of project proposals. In 2020-21, 7 projects were approved, representing a federal contribution of $92,053,165.

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 corridors get products reliably to market
• Transport Canada manages its assets effectively

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 2020-21, 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.

The objectives of the Program to Protect Canada’s Coastlines and Waterways (PPCCW), which is known publicly as the Oceans Protection Plan (OPP), are to strengthen the safety of Canada’s marine transportation system and protect Canada’s coastlines and waterways. This 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);
• Engage with Indigenous and other coastal communities to share marine-related local knowledge and best practices to aid in the development of future policies and regulations;
• Increase the number of Canadians in the marine sector, particularly women, Northerners, Inuit and other Indigenous Peoples; and
• Support:
  • Indigenous reconciliation efforts;
  • Research into developing recyclable boats;
  • Safer marine operations in the North and protect northern communities from marine pollution incidents; and
  • Education, awareness and outreach projects.

The Program does not have repayable contributions.

In 2020-21, the COVID-19 global pandemic impacted most PPCCW grant and contribution programs and initiatives to varying degrees. For the:

• Marine Training Program, which provides federal funding to expand traditional learning, e-learning, and blended learning programs at Canada’s marine training schools and raise public awareness of, and access to, training and job opportunities for underrepresented groups, was severely impacted by the pandemic. For the two southern projects, while some courses could be switched to online training, others requiring in-person, hands-on learning were either delayed or cancelled until 2021-22. For the northern project, training had to be suspended completely. Nevertheless, in 2020-21, there were 74 graduates under the Program, as well as over 100 Transport Canada-issued certificates earned;
• Indigenous and Local Communities Engagement and Partnership Program, which provides funding for capacity building among Indigenous and local communities/entities as they contribute their knowledge towards OPP initiatives, we provided:
  • Ongoing funding for 19 out of the original 21 projects (two projects were completed in 2019-20) with Indigenous groups across the country. This funding supports their ongoing, long-term engagement and partnership on Oceans Protection Plan measures. Due to COVID-19, funding for some projects needed to be delayed until 2021-22; and
  • Funding to two additional Northern British Columbia Indigenous coastal communities under the Reconciliation Framework Agreement (RFA) that promotes a more coordinated and efficient approach to the governance, management, and protection of oceans in the Pacific North Coast, including marine ecosystems, marine resources and marine use activities. To date (since June 2018), the Government of Canada has funded 16 RFAs;
• Program to Enhance Maritime Situational Awareness (PEMSA), we funded three new consultation projects. These projects are Trans Mountain Pipeline expansion accommodation measures in relation to strengthening the Enhanced Maritime Situational Awareness system. The system helps Indigenous partners, coastal communities and stakeholders make evidence-based decisions by promoting collaboration and providing near real-time information about the marine environment. Local data available through the EMSA system includes vessel traffic, weather, hydrography, sensitive ecological areas and local historical knowledge of the waterways. COVID-19 had some impacts on PEMSA projects. This resulted in amendments to several of the contribution agreements in place, most notably transfers of unspent funds to 2021-22;
• Safety Equipment and Basic Marine Infrastructure in Northern Communities Initiative (SEBMINC), which provides funding to improve the safety of sealift and resupply operations in remote northern communities, selected 15 new projects to receive $64.9M in funding under the second call for proposals. In total, 18 projects will receive $89.1M in funding.

COVID-19 has had minor impacts on certain SEBMINC projects, such as costs increases and delays.

• Abandoned Boats Program (ABP), we:
  • Funded 44 assessment and 51 removal projects to assess and/or remove and dispose of boats that have posed as hazards to navigation and the marine environment in our waters across the country (funded over 300 projects since the inception of the Program); and
  • Announced^{Footnote 1} $200,000 in additional ABP Research funding to Innovation Maritime for the design of a recyclable boat project that includes a functioning prototype.

COVID-19 had a minor impact on the ABP as a few projects were delayed due to COVID-19.

Officials responsible for this transfer payment program consult with applicants and recipients regarding the funding of PPCCW grant and contribution programs through:

• Calls for proposals;
• Information sessions;
• Various meetings and committees; and
• Progress/yearly reports.

Applicants and recipients also have access to a Program email inbox and Project Advisors are in place to ensure project implementation, monitoring and progress reporting functions are available.

Consultations are also provided by the Oceans Protection Plan team within Transport Canada for subject matter expert-related information.

The differences between actual activities undertaken and planned activities outlined in the 2020-21 Departmental Plan are that activities, consultations/training and infrastructure investments in the North have been reduced/delayed due to COVID-19 restrictions.

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 2020-21, 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 approximately $22 million for 161 projects that focus on infrastructure, technology and research, including 146 grade-crossing improvements, three technology and research projects, and 12 grade crossing closures across the country.

As well, four rail safety education and awareness initiatives that focus on reducing injuries and fatalities in communities across Canada were provided funding.

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.

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.

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 2020-21, the following results for this Program were achieved:

• Provided federal funding to the Provinces, Territories, the Canadian Council of Motor Transport Administrators, and to various non-governmental organizations for road safety projects;
• 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; and
• Distributed $6.6M to 25 projects to support the delivery of projects across Canada which contributed to improving road safety.

Engagement initiatives included:

• Completed a call for project proposals.
• Held webinars and conference calls with partners and stakeholders.
• Followed up with recipients as required on project activities, funding requirements and reporting requirements.