CL Talk

Frédéric Duguay in conversation on the Canada Infrastructure Bank’s shifting mandate

Apr 22, 2026

In this episode of Canadian Lawyer’s podcast, Frédéric Duguay, chief legal and information officer at the Canada Infrastructure Bank, speaks with managing editor Tim Wilbur about how the CIB’s expanding $45 billion capital envelope is reshaping its mandate and risk appetite. He explains why the bank is focusing on “enabling infrastructure” for housing, deepening Indigenous ownership through dedicated equity initiatives, and using clean power investments, such as the Nova Scotia–New Brunswick high‑voltage transmission link, to balance decarbonization, affordability, and Indigenous partnership. Duguay also discusses trade-corridor projects at ports and airports, the emerging push into AI and digital infrastructure, and how transparency, impact measurement, and careful file selection are central to maintaining public trust while helping private-sector proponents find the right federal partner for their projects.