Construction Industry's Stance On Canada's Road Infrastructure

Mar 26, 2024 - 2 years ago

The Canadian Construction Association, on behalf of its members, is demanding clarity from the Prime Minister on future investment in new road infrastructure after comments made in early February by Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault.

Construction Industry's Stance On Canada's Road Infrastructure — *Photo: Josh Olalde / Unsplash*

For more information, read our recommendations to government in advance of its 2024 Federal Budget.

While Guilbeault explained that support to provinces for maintenance will continue, existing road infrastructure, “is perfectly adequate to respond to the needs we have.”

Canadians are dealing with an acute housing crisis. The government is asking the construction industry to build 5.8 million new homes, but is overlooking the investment needed to support these homes and communities.

A report by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) estimates that it will require $107,000 in public investments per new housing unit. This amounts to a total of $620 billion in public funding needed – an additional $375 billion beyond the current planned budget.

“These new communities need new roads. People need to be connected to their jobs, their schools, and their hospitals,” says Mary Van Buren, President of the Canadian Construction Association. “A growing population has growing demands. We not only need the road networks to support their movement; we also need to shore up our trade infrastructure, which includes roads, bridges and highways.”

Canada has been under-investing in trade-enabling infrastructure for 15 years, as evidenced by the drop from 10th to 32nd in terms of the World Economic Forum’s global trade infrastructure ranking. Without continued investment in critical infrastructure, as recommended by the National Supply Chain Task Force, including trade-enabling infrastructure, Canada will fail to harness trade with its international partners for its economic success.

Industry needs the federal government to partner with industry and work with municipal and provincial governments to build a strong foundation for a stronger Canada.

The Canadian construction industry will continue to partner with government to build a strong foundation for a stronger Canada.

Source: Canadian Construction Association