The next edition of the Ottawa Report is scheduled to be sent at the end of February.
Latest News
CPWA Meets with Infrastructure Parliamentary Secretary Desrochers
In January, CPWA board members met with Caroline Desrochers, Member of Parliament for Trois-Rivières and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Housing and Infrastructure. The discussion focused on federal infrastructure priorities, with particular attention to the newly announced Build Communities Strong Fund and its implications for municipalities across Canada. CPWA highlighted its role in supporting municipalities and shared perspectives on infrastructure needs.
MP Desrochers emphasized the federal government’s significant investment in municipal infrastructure and acknowledged the challenge of prioritizing projects given the scale of needs across the country. She noted that the Build Communities Strong Fund will include cost-shared federal-provincial components and stressed the importance of ensuring the program works effectively for municipalities of all sizes. A particular focus of the discussion was Quebec’s unique context, including the application of M-30 requirements and the need to ensure smaller and rural municipalities—often with more limited capacity—are not disadvantaged in accessing federal funding.
CPWA board members raised the importance of direct municipal access to funding where possible and shared concerns regarding delays associated with provincial approval processes. The discussion also touched on the potential role of associations in supporting municipal capacity, as well as the federal government’s interest in simplifying program criteria to facilitate project delivery. MP Desrochers expressed openness to continued engagement with CPWA and confirmed her willingness to meet again during CPWA’s upcoming 2026 Hill Day in Ottawa. She also noted that CPWA should consider her an ally on issues affecting rural and remote communities and offered to help facilitate discussions with relevant federal departments as programs continue to take shape.
Carney Highlights Canada’s Economic Strategy at the World Economic Forum
Prime Minister Mark Carney delivered a speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, where he warned that the rules-based international order is beginning to erode. Carney pointed directly to the growing use of economic power by the United States as a central driver of this shift. Prime Minister Carney highlighted the steps Canada is taking to strengthen its economic security, including significantly increasing defence spending and diversifying trade partnerships, with a deliberate pivot toward closer alignment with the European Union. He also underscored Canada’s role as a stable and reliable partner that values long-term relationships, an attribute he noted is increasingly sought after by global trading partners. The speech captured global attention among political and business leaders, earning Carney a rare standing ovation and praise across Canada, with partisan lines largely set aside in recognition of his message. Though it comes as no surprise, it is now clearer than ever that the government’s primary focus is economic growth, signaling to industries that government engagement will be centered on driving and supporting that growth.
Parliamentary Business
Environment Committee Studies Extreme Weather Events
The Standing Committee on Environment & Sustainable Development (ENVI) held a meeting focused on the growing risks Canadians face from increasingly severe extreme weather and the urgent need for stronger climate adaptation measures. Witnesses from the insurance sector emphasized rising climate‑related losses and the pressure placed on homeowners and insurers, noting that extreme weather is no longer exceptional but expected. Research experts from the Institute for Catastrophic Loss Reduction and the Intact Centre on Climate Adaptation highlighted evidence‑based solutions such as resilient building practices, improved stormwater systems, and community‑level preparedness that could significantly reduce future damages. Overall, participants stressed that Canada must accelerate practical, research‑supported adaptation efforts to better protect residents, homes, and infrastructure from the escalating impacts of climate change.
Federal Funding Awarded
Government of Canada Makes Significant Investments in Climate Resilience
The Government of Canada is investing $7.1 million through the Green Municipal Fund’s Local Leadership for Climate Adaptation initiative to support 80 climate adaptation projects nationwide. These projects will help communities strengthen climate resilience through adaptation planning, climate focused asset management, and community-wide climate risk assessments. Working with the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, this investment equips local governments with funding and technical support to implement proactive, long term climate adaptation measures aligned with Canada’s National Adaptation Strategy, helping keep communities safer and more resilient in the face of worsening climate impacts.
Government of Canada Invests in Clean Transportation Options
The Government of Canada, in collaboration with the Canadian Urban Transit Research & Innovation Consortium (CUTRIC) and the Association de l’industrie électrique du Québec (AIEQ), has announced a joint investment of over $1.2 million to advance research on battery electric buses across the country. By supporting research and data sharing, this investment aims to accelerate the shift toward low‑emission public transportation, helping reduce greenhouse gas emissions while providing communities with quieter, more efficient transit options.
Government of Canada Invests in Sault St. Marie Infrastructure
The Government of Canada is investing $233,100 through FedNor to help Sault Ste. Marie develop a public access marine port. The funding will support technical studies and a port development plan needed to expand and modernize the facility. The project aims to boost regional economic growth by improving transportation capacity for key sectors such as critical minerals, biofuels, and advanced manufacturing. By enhancing infrastructure and planning for long‑term operations, the initiative will strengthen supply chains and position Sault Ste. Marie as an important economic hub in Northern Ontario.
Government of Canada Partners with Local Governments to Support Water Infrastructure
A joint investment of over $1.7 million from federal, provincial, and municipal partners will upgrade critical water infrastructure in Upper Island Cove and Carbonear. The project includes replacing 210 metres of aging water lines to maintain reliable service. In Carbonear, 303 metres of watermain and sewer infrastructure on Garlands Lane will be renewed, improving service for 13 existing homes and supporting future residential development. The support is funded by federal, provincial and municipal governments, highlighting the shared commitment to improving essential community infrastructure.
