Investing in infrastructure – like bridges, highways and water supplysystems – is essential to trade, safety and public health.
The head of the Association of Consulting Engineering Companies says that the 2015 federal budget's commitment to new investments in infrastructure is good news for Canadians.
As outlined in the April 21 budget, the government is allocating $5.8-million to build and renew infrastructure assets as well as $750-million for two years – followed by $1-billion thereafter – in a new Public Transit Fund.
"It's good to see the additional investment to renew infrastructure, as well as the new Public Transit Fund," says John Gamble, president and CEO of ACEC. "Major transit infrastructure is much needed, and investments in this area will be welcomed."
Mr. Gamble points out that in the 1950s and 1960s, Canada invested six per cent of its GDP in infrastructure. That number dipped to two-and-a-half per cent in 2001-2006, but is now inching up above three per cent because of investments by various levels of government. "Do I think it's enough? No. But we are heading in the right direction."
He argues that investing in infrastructure is one of the core responsibilities of government, and that our roads, bridges, hospitals, schools, water management systems and other structures are community assets vital to our economic and social well-being.
While new funding is welcome, he says that consistent and predictable investments are needed so that consulting engineering companies and owners of assets can ensure they have the human and technical resources in place to plan, finance, design, build and maintain infrastructure.
Mr. Gamble also notes that while it's easy to see the value of building a new asset, just as important is taking steps to maintain that asset.
"The priority tends to be on getting assets built. But 90 per cent of the cost of an asset is ongoing operations and maintenance over the design life. Careful planning ahead of time and better asset management will allow us to get better value and return on these investments. It's like preventative health – the benefits are not immediately obvious, but it pays large dividends down the road."
He says that given the important role infrastructure plays in enhancing commerce, connecting communities and protecting the environment, "we need to view infrastructure with the same urgency, importance and national pride as we do health care."
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