Building better lives: Ontario’s long-term infrastructure plan 2017

Description of policy

The Ministry of Infrastructure has released Ontario’s Long-Term Infrastructure Plan 2017 (LTIP). The LTIP sets forth a vision for Ontario infrastructure planning and investment and is a key interim step in meeting the requirements for Long Term Infrastructure Plans set out in the Infrastructure for Jobs and Prosperity Act, 2015 (IJPA).

These documents can be accessed.

Purpose of policy

The LTIP builds on previous infrastructure planning efforts that have been the subject of consultation. Ontario released the Province’s first Long-Term Infrastructure Plan, Building Together, in 2011 to introduce the government’s long-term vision for infrastructure. Building Together improved the way the government approaches infrastructure planning and policy-making. In 2015, the Government of Ontario took the next step to set out important infrastructure planning principles in legislation. Through the IJPA the government set out its long-term approach to planning for improvements to Ontario’s infrastructure assets and the Ministry of Infrastructure has consulted on the development of a regulation associated with municipal asset management planning.

The IJPA requires the government by 2019 to describe the state of its assets, what it needs over the next 10 years and its strategy to meet those needs. The Government of Ontario is taking steps to meet these requirements.

The release of the LTIP 2017, with its Technical Appendix, is an important interim step and makes progress towards meeting the IJPA requirements. In particular, this plan makes substantial progress toward meeting the first requirement of the IJPA: to develop an asset inventory recording the age, condition and value of Ontario’s infrastructure assets.

This is a significant achievement, given the size and scope of Ontario’s infrastructure portfolio. Ontario is a leader in this field. The government is also making progress toward assessing Ontario’s needs and developing a strategy to meet them as it works toward fully meeting the requirements of the IJPA by the legislated deadline of May 2019.

The plan articulates the need for the Province to be able to adapt in anticipation of future changes to demographics, disruptive technology and climate. With the right preparation, Ontario will prosper from these changes by harnessing new opportunities, such as future technological innovations, green infrastructure and strategic partnerships.

The LTIP also proposes to advance infrastructure planning and delivery in relation to:

• integrating life-cycle assessment (LCA) into infrastructure planning, procurement, business case development and decision making processes.
• identifying and developing pilot projects on Community Benefits as well as developing a Community Benefits Framework.
• developing a broadband strategy that will outline a vision for broadband connectivity, identify key priorities and outline a roadmap to achieving them.
• developing a Social Purpose Real Estate Strategy that embeds community and social needs into government decision-making on surplus properties and infrastructure planning.

Public consultation

This proposal was posted for a 60 day public review and comment period starting November 28, 2017. Comments were to be received by January 27, 2018.

All comments received during the comment period are being considered as part of the decision-making process by the Ministry.

Please Note: All comments and submissions received have become part of the public record.

Other public consultation opportunities

In addition to considering comments received through this posting as we work to meet the IJPA requirements, the Ministry will consider public consultation opportunities, including through the Environmental Registry, as it advances infrastructure policy and planning.