A significant amount of Canada’s infrastructure needs repair in the next five to ten years if it is to remain viable. That was the key message delivered by eight partners (among them the Canadian Construction Association (CCA) and the Association of Consulting Engineering Companies - Canada (ACEC)) in the latest edition of the Canadian Infrastructure Report Card.

The report, which was last released in 2016, is a survey of approximately 1,800 jurisdictions—federal, provincial, territorial, municipal governments and other agencies—from across the country that manage, own or maintain infrastructure.

Among its key findings:

• Nearly 40 percent of roads and bridges are in fair, poor or very poor condition, with roughly 80 percent being more than 20 years old.
• Between 30 and 35 percent of recreational and cultural facilities are in fair, poor or very poor condition. In some categories (such as pools, libraries and community centres), more than 60 percent are at least 20 years old. 
• 30 percent of water infrastructure (such as watermains and sewers) are in fair, poor or very poor condition.

“Data from the report revealed that Canada’s public infrastructure is at serious risk,” said CCA president Mary Van Buren. “It will require rehabilitation and replacement in the next few decades to ensure services provided continue to meet the needs of communities.” 

The partner groups that authored the report are using its findings in conjunction with their respective election strategies to advance their messaging.

“CCA has made infrastructure a cornerstone of its #Construction4CDNs advocacy campaign,” said Van Buren. “Today’s release of the CIRC only strengthens our resolve in calling for a long-term 25-year blueprint for infrastructure spending in this country to ensure assets are routinely monitored and restored, preventing them from falling into such serious states of disrepair.”

ACEC, meanwhile, has placed the value of infrastructure at the top of its list of pre-election priorities.

“While successive federal governments have responded with significant commitments to infrastructure, there is still much more to do,” said ACEC president and CEO John Gamble.

Large share of assets in very poor to fair conditions

According to the report, “a concerning amount of municipal infrastructure is in poor or very poor condition. Infrastructure in this condition represents an immediate need for action, as the rehabilitation or replacement of these assets is required in the next 5-10 years to ensure that the services it provides continue to meet the community’s expectations.”

Specifically, the report shows that between 10 and 15 percent of the country’s roads, bridges and public transit assets such as tracks are in this near-failing category. Indeed, more than 146,000 kilometres of Canada’s public roads in such condition—enough track to build a road halfway to the moon.

Also concerning is the state of linear assets, such as potable water, wastewater and storm water systems. Of those, 30 percent are in fair or worse condition, meaning that if they are not rehabilitated over the next ten years, they could well require immediate repairs. The report further suggests that climate change will accelerate the degradation of these assets. Harder frosts and severe storms will only further strain underground infrastructure.

“This report shows the critical importance of long-term investments in renewing our existing infrastructure,” said Gamble. “Without urgent action, the services Canadians rely on today will be at risk in the next decade.” 

The report further shows that an even-greater proportion of municipal infrastructure is in “fair condition.” This means that these assets, “will continue to deteriorate over the next decade, falling into poor and very poor condition if rehabilitation or replacement actions are not taken.”

Examples of assets with such pending challenges include public transit, in which 30 percent of tracks will require investment in the next ten years, and culture and recreation facilities, a third of which need investments over the same period of time.