Canada Healthy Communities Initiative

The Canada Healthy Communities Initiative will provide up to 31 million in existing federal funding to support communities over the next 2 years as they respond to COVID-19. Two of the three priority areas support active and public transportation: "Creating safe and vibrant public spaces", for projects that create new or adapt existing public places, and "Improving mobility options", for projects that permit physical distancing through permanent or temporary changes that make it easier for people to walk, bike, access public and private transit, or meet with other people. It is not currently clear what portion of funds will be spent on green mobility measures.

 

The third priority area is to deliver digital solutions, through innovative infrastructure-related projects that address changing community needs through the use of data and connected technologies. This also has the potential to support digitalisation and clean energy transitions (but not explicitly linked to clean energy and digitalisation).

 

Funding for the Initiative is being repurposed from existing funding for a second Smart Cities Challenge competition to support communities in dealing with the immediate and ongoing challenges posed by COVID-19.

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