Canada Launches Build Communities Strong Fund to Accelerate Local Infrastructure Projects

Event summary

  • The Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) welcomed the federal government's launch of the Build Communities Strong Fund (BCSF) on April 7, 2026.
  • BCSF is designed to deliver infrastructure funding across Canada, with a focus on shovel-ready projects this construction season.
  • FCM President Rebecca Bligh emphasized the need for dedicated infrastructure funding for rural and northern municipalities in the upcoming Spring Economic Update.
  • The community stream of BCSF, formerly the Canada Community-Building Fund, remains the primary mechanism for federal infrastructure investment in municipalities.
  • FCM is calling for the community stream to be increased and indexed to GDP to provide stable, long-term investment certainty.

The big picture

The launch of the Build Communities Strong Fund (BCSF) underscores the growing recognition of the critical role local infrastructure plays in Canada's economic backbone. This initiative highlights the importance of collaboration between federal and local governments to address infrastructure gaps and support community development. The focus on shovel-ready projects and the call for increased funding for rural and northern municipalities reflect broader trends in economic policy and municipal governance.

What we're watching

Funding Allocation
How the direct delivery stream of BCSF will accelerate shovel-ready projects this construction season.
Rural and Northern Focus
Whether the federal government will address FCM's call for dedicated infrastructure funding for rural and northern municipalities in the Spring Economic Update.
Long-Term Planning
The pace at which the community stream of BCSF will be increased and indexed to GDP to provide stable, long-term investment certainty.