CCA publishes response to federal National Infrastructure Assessment
The Canadian Construction Association (CCA) has outlined its vision for future infrastructure planning, funding and delivery in response to the federal government’s proposed National Infrastructure Assessment.
The vision focuses on the need for a longer-term infrastructure planning and investment strategy—something that has been a central focus for the national association for some time.
CCA’s submission makes a series of recommendations aimed at securing a stable, long-term infrastructure pipeline powered by a well-trained and diverse workforce.
The first suggests the government develop a long-term vision guided by an independent, apolitical strategic infrastructure council. The proposed organization, says CCA, would create and publish a national infrastructure plan that would work with other levels of government to expedite decision making, and be a centre of expertise to help provinces, municipalities and Indigenous communities prepare asset-management plans.
CCA’s second recommendation is for the federal government to shift its existing infrastructure-funding allocation model from a focus on one-off projects to a much longer-term plan that is guided by objectives described by the proposed strategic infrastructure council.
The report says that chronic underinvestment in public infrastructure has cost the Canadian economy a third of its real GDP growth potential. Indeed, even the Investing in Canada Plan is failing to swiftly approve projects that address infrastructure needs in communities. A recent report from the office of the Auditor General found that just $50 billion had been spent out of $180 billion allocated by the plan between 2015 and 2019.
Predictable year-over-year funding, says CCA, can help the industry can align other necessary resources—including a recruitment and training strategy to attract the next generation of workers, and a robust and responsive supply chain.
Finally, CCA also calls for a new, collaborative and agile approach to public procurement that would accelerate any benefits gained from infrastructure investment. Specifically, the report recommends the federal government fund provincial and municipal asset plans in line with recommendations from the advisory council. Additionally, it says the federal government should research new collaborative models that go beyond traditional low-bid awards or even public-private partnerships.
The report cautions that the long-standing practice of low-bid awards overlooks the value of innovation and long-term resilience. As such, it says, the construction industry faces a critical barrier to the deployment of more sustainable materials and to invest in technology that could improve productivity, lifecycle value and reduced carbon footprint.
“Infrastructure investment can be transformational: a catalyst for nation-building and achieving the aspirations of all Canadians,” says CCA president Mary Van Buren. “These recommendations would accelerate the flow of much needed infrastructure investment to communities, with the federal government focusing on a national vision, guided by evidence-based and independent expert advice.”
The CCA submission is the result of an industry-wide consultation with its board, partner construction associations, National Advisory Councils, members and other stakeholders.
The association worked with Nanos Research to help conduct focus groups, an online survey, one-on-one interviews, several national workshops and a literature review. The consultation was also informed by independent and evidence-based analysis, from the Canadian Centre for Economic Analysis.
CCA’s detailed submission is available on its website.