CONCLUSION
The Government of Canada, in its 2016 and 2017 Budgets, announced the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program (ICIP), which consists of $180 billion over 11 years to support sustainable and inclusive communities, while driving economic growth.
Overall, Saskatchewan will receive $896.32 million through the ICIP, as follows: (1) Public Transit - $307.87 million; (2) Green Infrastructure - $416.33 million; (3) Community, Culture and Recreation Infrastructure (Social) - $56.21 million; and, (4) Rural and Northern Communities - $115.91 million. At this point in time, it is not known whether municipalities will receive a specific allocation, or whether all applications will be assessed through a competitive process.
On October 3, 2018, the federal and provincial governments officially signed the Canada-Saskatchewan Integrated Bilateral Agreement (IBA) for the ICIP. The Government of Saskatchewan has requested a list of priority projects and estimated costs under each stream for funding consideration.
Infrastructure funding from other levels of government allows the City of Regina (City) to leverage additional sources of funding to support the City’s major infrastructure needs. While accessing funding from alternative sources reduces the initial cost of the assets, care must be taken to determine what the highest priority needs are, as well as the City’s ability to fund the required portion of the costs.
The projects described below constitute a prioritized list of projects which may be eligible for funding under the ICIP. Council’s endorsement of the prioritized list will allow the Administration to forward projects through the application process as the details of the ICIP are finished and funding become available.
BACKGROUND
Public Transit:
Specific to the ICIP Public Transit stream, the goal is to improve the capacity, quality, safety and accessibility of public transit infrastructure. Investments will support the transition to a low-carbon economy and reduce air pollution and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, as well as contribute to the social life of communities.
The funding will address the construction, expansion and improvement of public transit infrastructure projects that integrate first-mile, last-mile connectivity (the first portion and last portion of a trip taken using public transit, such as the walk or cycle to the transit station, and from the station to the final destination). A national cap of 15 per cent is placed on investments allocated to rehabilitation projects.
Green Infrastructure:
The ICIP has made it a priority to address climate change and move Canada to a prosperous, clean growth, resilient and low-carbon economy. The Plan seeks to make communities more resilient to climate change, and to address persistent challenges to air, water and soil quality.
Increasing the capacity to treat and manage water, wastewater and storm water and reduce or remediate soil and air pollution will lead to reductions in GHG emissions, cleaner water, air and soil. As per the terms of the ICIP IBA, the Government of Saskatchewan has agreed to commit 45 per cent of the green funding to projects under the climate change mitigation sub-stream.
Social (Community, Culture and Recreation) Infrastructure:
The Social Infrastructure stream addresses key areas of concern, particularly housing and early learning and child care. Community infrastructure is defined as publicly accessible, multi-
purpose spaces that bring together a variety of different services, programs and/or social and cultural activities to address local needs.
These investments will fund the construction, expansion or rehabilitation of new community, culture, sports and recreation facilities. However, a professional or semi-professional sport facility that is primarily a commercial operation, such as those that serve major junior hockey leagues are deemed ineligible.
DISCUSSION
The Administration recommends, for Council consideration, the following projects in order of priority for potential funding under the ICIP:
Public Transit:
1. Downtown Transit Enhancements - $40 million;
2. Transit Hub South East Neighbourhood Plan - $15 million;
3. Connecting Transit Stops (First Mile, Last Mile) 62 kilometres (kms) of sidewalks at $2 million to $3 million per year for five years - $15 million;
4. New Fare System and Paratransit Dispatch and Trip Booking Software - $11.5 million;
5. Transit Accessibility Improvements - $6.75 million.
The total high level estimated costs for the above projects are $88.25 million.
Green:
1. Buffalo Pound Regional Water Treatment Plant Renewal - $150 million;
2. Implementation of Residential Organics Collection and Processing - $5.6 million;
3. Wastewater Capacity Upgrades - $200 million;
4. Twinning South Wastewater Trunk - $40 million;
5. Landfill Gas to Energy Engine / Landfill Gas Well Field - $6.5 million;
6. Drainage Upgrades - $85 million.
The total high level estimated costs for the above projects are $487.1 million.
Social (Community, Culture and Recreation):
1. Lawson Aquatic Centre and Addition of Indoor Recreational Centre - $80 million;
2. Outdoor Aquatic Facility Renewal – Wascana and Maple Leaf pools - $20 million;
3. Regina Revitalization Initiative (RRI) Public Use Facility - $30 million;
4. Globe Theatre - $25 million.
The total high level estimated costs for the above projects are $155 million.
The total projected costs for the projects in all funding streams is $730.35 million.
Please see attached Appendix A for an overview of each project.
RECOMMENDATION IMPLICATIONS
Financial Implications
Infrastructure funding from other levels of government allows the City of Regina (City) to leverage additional sources of funding to support the City’s major infrastructure needs. While accessing funding from alternative sources reduces the initial cost of the assets, care must be taken to determine what the highest priority needs are, as well as the City’s ability to fund the required portion of the costs, including understanding the full life cycle costs of any new assets.
Environmental Implications
No environmental impacts associated with this report. However, any potential environmental impacts associated with the individual projects will be outlined and detailed through the federal and provincial Environmental Impact Assessment process.
Policy and/or Strategic Implications
Both the Financial Policies section in Design Regina: the Official Community Plan and the objectives and outcomes of the strategic plan, Making Choices Today to Secure Tomorrow: Advancing the Official Community Plan, have been used to develop the options for consideration in this report. Each element presented is consistent and aligned to these documents.
In addition, infrastructure funding from other levels of government allows the City to leverage additional sources of funding to support the City’s major infrastructure needs.
Other Implications
None with respect to this report.
Accessibility Implications
None with respect to this report. However, any potential accessibility implications associated with the individual projects will be outlined and detailed through the federal and provincial application and approval process.
COMMUNICATIONS
No communication activities with respect to this report. The ICIP Agreement outlines the Communications Protocol, which will be adhered to when an individual project(s) receives approval.
DELEGATED AUTHORITY
The recommendation contained in this report is within the delegated authority of the Executive Committee.
Respectfully submitted, 
| Respectfully submitted, 
|
Sheila Harmatiuk, Senior Advisor Government and Indigenous Relations | Chris Holden, City Manager |