Canada reveals details of 10-year infrastructure plan

Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper yesterday unveiled details of the country's historic 10-year infrastructure plan known as New Building Canada, which includes strategies to ensure that small communities have long-term "unprecedented access" to funds for vital projects.

The plans also addresses provincial-territorial allocations, project categories eligible for support, cost-sharing thresholds, and public-private partnership screening requirements, government officials said in a press release.

The new plan will provide municipalities, provinces and territories with the information they need to plan public infrastructure projects in their jurisdictions, they said.

New Building Canada is expected to launch in spring. The plan will support projects that focus on economic growth, job creation and productivity, including infrastructure work involving subways, commuter railroads, bridges and roads.

Federal government officials expect the plan to build on the success of the original Building Canada Plan, which was launched in 2007 and provided billions of dollars in funding for infrastructure across the country.

"World-class infrastructure is the backbone of our country's economic productivity. It helps to get goods to the market place more efficiently, and connects Canadians and our businesses to the world, generating jobs and growth," Harper said in a prepared statement.