Infrastructure Funding and Asset Management

Infrastructure Funding Phase 2: Investing in Canada Plan

The Government of Canada recently entered into bi-lateral infrastructure investment agreements with each Canadian Province, through the Investing in Canada plan, which will provide more than $180 billion in infrastructure funding over 12 years focusing on 5 key areas: public transit; green infrastructure; social infrastructure; trade & transportation; and infrastructure in rural and northern communities. In order to be eligible for these funds, municipalities are required to have a 3 year forward looking infrastructure management plan in place by March of 2018.

Keynote Speakers:

Kelly Gillis, Deputy Minister, Infrastructure and Communities Canada
Bob Delaney, MPP, Parliamentary Assistant to the Ontario Ministry of Infrastructure

Funding and Financing Infrastructure: Tips and Traps

Panelists will discuss the various financing and funding options available for infrastructure projects. Financing and funding application dos and don’ts, and what funding agencies are looking for in a successful grant application. What are eligible expenses? What are the reporting requirements and obligations of municipalities for accessing funds? What are the pros and cons of using Internal expertise vs using a grant writing consultant?

Panelists

• Michael Leong, Vice President, Commercial Underwriting, Infrastructure Ontario

• Mayor John McCharles, Town of Petrolia

• Katherine Fleming, Project Director, Municipal Asset Management Program, Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM)

Asset Management 

Using Asset Management Plans Enterprise-Wide for Better Decisions in Infrastructure Investment

• Asset Management in comparative perspective: Where are other provinces with respect to asset management? Panelists will offer a province-wide perspective on progress in asset management, including the challenges, successes, lessons learned, and discuss their local area community of practice.

• Theory: Best Practices of integrating Asset Management Plans. What common municipal processes should shape the asset management plan (e.g. defining levels of service), and how can municipalities integrate the asset management plan into a long term financial plan and into the budget process.

• Continuous improvement: How can finance officers leverage their local asset management community of practice for better integration and the continuous improvement of asset management into their day-to-day activities?

Panelists

• Wally Wells, Executive Director, Asset Management BC

• Daisy Foster, Managing Director Atlantic Infrastructure Management Institute (AIM)

• Curtis Ching, Chair, Asset Management Ontario, Manager, Infrastructure Asset Planning and Management

Afternoon Keynote Speaker
Michael Fenn, Researcher and Consultant

Communicating To Rate Payers and Elected Officials To Get Buy-in For Infrastructure Investment

Panelists will share proven strategies on how to communicate the asset management plan so the rate payers get the full picture, and to council (especially ones who ran on a 0% budget) to get internal buy in so that infrastructure investment is prioritized.

Panelists

• Daryush Esmaili, M.A.Sc, PMP | Manager of Corporate Asset Management, Engineering and Capital Infrastructure Services | Infrastructure, Development and Enterprise, City of Guelph

• Rob Adams Hons. BA, MPA, Chief Administrative Officer, The Municipality of Grey Highlands

• Roberto Rossini, Retired, the Deputy City Manager & Chief Financial Officer, City of Toronto

The 2017 Municipal Finance Forum will also incorporate 3 Facilitated break-out sessions where participants will be able to participate in group discussions in areas of interest.

2017 Municipal Finance Forum - Break-Out Sessions Topics/Questions:
1. Developing a Financial Strategy for Your Asset Management Plans:

• Facilitator: Colin MacDonald, Senior Policy Advisor, MFOA

2. What Barriers Prevent You from Developing and Leveraging Your Asset Management Plans?

• Facilitators: Tammy Carruthers, Principal & CEO, WSCS Consulting Inc. and Mike Mayes, Director, Financial Services/Treasurer, Town of Newmarket

3. What Does Good Asset Management Governance Look Like?

• Facilitators: William Dakin, Director of Finance/Treasurer, Municipality of Strathroy-Caradoc and Rick Charlebois, Director, Corporate Services/Treasurer, Town of Petrolia