The Canadian Council for Public-Private Partnerships has announced that federal Infrastructure Minister Catherine McKenna will deliver the keynote address at its P3 2020 virtual conference.

The council is hosting its annual national conference between November 17 and 19, and will stream 30 sessions live over those days to participants.

In her keynote address, McKenna will discuss the federal government's infrastructure vision and how the pandemic is leading to more innovative ways of building critical projects for Canadians.

Over the past few months, the minister has announced adjustments to the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program to enable provinces and territories to access federal funding to act quickly on a wider range of more pandemic-resilient infrastructure projects.

Other sessions planned for the event include: a discussion on the resiliency of cities and the role the private sector can help to play to ensure they are pandemic-proof; a look at the design and construction of transit facilities, and partnerships between the private- and public sectors to deliver such projects; a catch-up with several of the provincial infrastructure ministers for updates on their respective spending plans and priorities in light of the COVID-19 pandemic; and a look at the trend of smart mobility, where zero emission buses, autonomous buses, shuttles and other passenger vehicles can be deployed from local transit hubs to commuters’ homes.

The CCPPP is promising more speakers and panel discussion topics to be announced in the coming weeks.