Canada took a major step toward implementing its long-awaited National Infrastructure Assessment (NIA) at the end of 2024. In December, it formally formed the Canadian Infrastructure Council. The 11-member council is an advisory body tasks with eventually delivering the NIA to the government.
The Canadian government has been planning to conduct some form of a national infrastructure assessment or “infrastructure inventory” for at least four years, but has made little progress to date. In 2021, the Ministry of Infrastructure and Communities even completed an extensive public consultation regarding a potential national assessment, and included more than $20 million in its budget request to actually complete the assessment. Little progress has been made up until the formation of the Canadian Infrastructure Council last month.