Feds launch Infrastructure Statistics Hub

The Government of Canada has announced the launch of Infrastructure Statistics Hub, an interactive tool that allows users to view data on the investment, stock, and contribution of infrastructure to the Canadian economy from the recently launched Infrastructure Economic Account (INFEA).

INFEA was developed by Statistics Canada and launched in September as part of a commitment made in Budget 2017 to support a more evidence and results based approach to public infrastructure policies, programs and investment decisions.

According to the government, for the first time, users will be able to understand the data linkages between infrastructure investment, value added, number of jobs and other variables for both the public and private sectors. Information for the period 2009 to 2017 can be viewed on a map, table and graph and is presented for three main subject areas: investment, stock and economic contribution.

“The Government is committed to an evidence-based approach to decision-making and new approaches to measure the impact of infrastructure investment,” said François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities in a media release. “Through the Infrastructure Statistics Hub and other data and research initiatives, we will help all orders of government and the private sector in making effective and more strategic investment decisions.”

Statistics Canada plans to add new data and content to INFEA to measure the investment, stock, and economic contribution of infrastructure over time. These future iterations will also help monitor and assess investments made under the Investing in Canada long-term infrastructure plan.