|

Canada and Manitoba Partner to Build Infrastructure

October 30, 2026

Building a strong Canada starts with investing in the infrastructure that people and communities rely on every day.  

To that end, the governments of Canada and Manitoba have finalized two agreements under the Provincial and Territorial stream of the Build Communities Strong Fund to build and renew infrastructure in Manitoba.  

Manitoba will receive $479.8 million to support infrastructure projects and priorities related to housing and post-secondary education over 10 years, as well as $218.4 million in health infrastructure funding over three years, which will complement existing federal health-related support. 

As part of these agreements, Manitoba has committed to encouraging housing development by not increasing any fees or taxes that hinder housing supply. 

The modern and reliable infrastructure built through these agreements will help unlock more housing, support post-secondary education, and improve health care.  

Today’s announcement includes significant federal support for the North End Wastewater Treatment Plant (NEWPCC) in Winnipeg, a project that will help accommodate the City’s future growth, support housing development, and reduce nutrients released into Manitoba waterways.

To that end, the federal government is investing $500 million to support Project 3 of NEWPCC through the Direct Delivery and Provincial and Territorial (PT) streams of the Build Communities Strong Fund. This builds on previous commitments of $116 million under the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program (ICIP) for the headworks and power supply component of Project 1 and $367 million through the Canada Housing Infrastructure Fund (CHIF) for Project 2, which includes new Biosolids Facilities.

The federal funding is the last piece needed for the final phase of the NEWPCC project. Manitoba announced $500 million for the final phase in August, roughly one-third of the estimated $1.5 billion total cost. Manitoba has been a committed partner in all stages of the NEWPCC upgrade. Manitoba was proud to sign a Build Communities Strong Fund agreement with the federal government, as a signal of both governments’ joint commitment to make this project a priority.

Manitoba will receive $82.3 million in 2026-27 through the Community stream of the Build Communities Strong Fund. This stable, predictable funding supports local infrastructure priorities identified by communities, including investments in water systems, transportation networks, and community facilities. 

The Build Communities Strong Fund is a cornerstone of the Government of Canada’s plan to build the infrastructure needed to build Canada strong – today and for generations to come. 

Quick Facts

  • The Government of Canada is investing a total of $698,294,000 as part of the housing, post-secondary, and health infrastructure agreements through the Provincial and Territorial stream of the Build Communities Strong Fund. The federal government is contributing $500,000,000 through the Direct Delivery and Provincial and Territorial streams to support the third phase (3A and 3B) of the North End Wastewater Treatment Plant (NEWPCC) upgrades in Winnipeg.
  • The Provincial and Territorial stream is an allocation-based stream that provides funding to provinces and territories to support new and renewed public infrastructure. The allocations consist of a base amount for each province and territory, combined with a per capita calculation using 2021 Statistics Canada Census data.
  • Under the Provincial and Territorial stream, a minimum of 20% of the overall funding allocations will go towards projects in rural, northern, and Indigenous communities.
  • The Build Communities Strong Fund is investing $51 billion in a wide range of infrastructure projects across the country that support economic prosperity, housing, sport, education, health, transit, and climate adaptation. Starting in 2026-27, the Build Communities Strong Fund will deliver funding through three major streams:
    • A Provincial and Territorial stream, which provides $17.2 billion over 10 years, including $5 billion in health infrastructure funding over three years;
    • A Direct Delivery stream, which provides $6 billion over 10 years, including $1 billion over 4 years as part of a Local Impact Stream that is being delivered by Canada’s Regional Development Agencies to support community infrastructure projects with local impact; and,
    • A Community stream (formerly the Canada Community-Building Fund), which provides $27.8 billion over 10 years and, is indexed at 2% to deliver $3 billion per year ongoing.
  • The North End Wastewater Treatment Plant (NEWPCC) upgrades are being delivered through three distinct projects:
    • Project 1 – Headworks – upgrades to raw sewage pumping, screening and grit removal;
    • Project 2 – Biosolids – enabling the transition of sludge (a byproduct of wastewater treatment) into biosolids, which can then be reused as nutrient dense fertilizer; and
    • Project 3 – Nutrient removal – treating and removing nutrients from wastewater and collecting and pre-treating sludge before it is sent to the biosolids facility
  • Project 3 is made up of two project components that together will:
    • Improve treatment processes that reduce the amount of nutrients released into waterways and implement wet weather flow treatment technology
  • The Buy Canadian Policy is an important part of the Build Communities Strong Fund. It will help ensure that more of every public dollar goes right into the Canadian economy – creating Canadian careers, using Canadian resources, and benefiting Canadian communities. Under the finalized Housing and Education-related infrastructure agreement, Manitoba will implement its provincial policy equivalent, the Buy Manitoban Buy Canadian Policy.
  • The Build Communities Strong Fund will be a force multiplier in infrastructure – with funding that will be matched by nearly $17 billion from provinces, and additional billions leveraged through municipal and territorial partnerships as well as private capital. The fund will also boost Canada’s GDP by $95 billion over the next decade. 
  • Federal funding is conditional on the signing of the contribution agreement, and on fulfilling all requirements related to consultation with Indigenous groups and environmental assessment obligations. 

Source

Related Articles


Latest Articles

  • Choosing the Right Electrode Boiler Configuration

    Choosing the Right Electrode Boiler Configuration

    October 30, 2026 Horizontal and vertical immersed-electrode designs, along with vertical jet-type boilers, provide different advantages depending on whether the application requires steam or hot water, the necessary output, and the physical limitations of the installation High-voltage electrode boilers are now available at outputs extending well into the tens of megawatts, placing them in major… Read More…

  • What Can be Done to Combat Copper Theft?

    What Can be Done to Combat Copper Theft?

    October 30, 2026 Patience Cathcart, Public Safety Officer, Electrical Safety Authority talks about the issues facing communities like Windsor-Essex and what residents and businesses can do to protect themselves Source Read More…

  • From Blueprint to Smart Home: Getting Integration Right

    From Blueprint to Smart Home: Getting Integration Right

    October 30, 2026 Smart home technology is becoming an increasingly important part of modern construction, but too often, automation is considered only after a project is already underway. What happens when smart technology is brought into the conversation too late, and how can builders, architects, and integrators work together to deliver better results? In this… Read More…

  • Webinar Roundtable: Supply Chain Resilience and Circularity

    Webinar Roundtable: Supply Chain Resilience and Circularity

    October 30, 2026 Copper, aluminum and polymer markets are under mounting geopolitical pressure. Join Nexans, Suez, Equans and SE Advisory Services for a live conversation on how circularity turns resource scarcity into a source of resilience. “Building resilient supply chains through circularity and innovation” A cable is a bundle of strategic commodities, and every one… Read More…


Changing Scene