This enactment amends the Department of Public Works and Government Services Act to provide the Minister with the authority to require an assessment of the benefits that a community derives from a construction, maintenance or repair project.

1996, c. 16

Her Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate and House of Commons of Canada, enacts as follows:

Definition of community benefit

20.‍1 (1) For the purpose of this section, community benefit means a social or economic benefit that a community derives from a construction, maintenance or repair project, and includes local job creation and training opportunities, improvement of public space within the community and any other specific benefit identified by the community.

Community benefit — requirement

(2) The Minister may, before awarding a contract for the construction, maintenance or repair of public works, federal real property or federal immovables, require bidders on the proposal to provide information on the community benefits that the project will provide.

Report to Minister

(3) A contracting party shall, upon request by the Minister, provide the Minister with an assessment as to whether the project has provided community benefits.

Report to Parliament

(4) The Minister shall cause to be tabled before each House of Parliament, within 15 days after the end of each fiscal  year  or,  if  Parliament  is not then sitting, on any ofthe first 15 days next thereafter that Parliament is sitting, a report assessing whether construction, maintenance or repair projects have provided community benefits.