Budget 2022 misses the mark to deliver on government’s build back better objectives
The federal government failed to prioritize infrastructure in its 2022 Federal Budget despite the serious public need to update critical assets and create conditions for economic growth, says Canada’s construction industry.
“An investment in infrastructure is an investment in Canada’s growth economy and in the well-being of Canadians,” said Mary Van Buren, president of the Canadian Construction Association (CCA). “Infrastructure builds schools for our kids and the hospitals that care for us, keeps our water clean and our homes heated, and maintains the roads, bridges and trade corridors that connect our communities not only to each other but also to the global marketplace.”
While there were some gains for the sector, including news of a $183.2 million investment over seven years for the development of innovative construction materials and revitalizing building standards as well as some modest investments to improve supply chain infrastructure and support the existing National Trade Corridors Fund, the federal government stopped short of providing a plan to address our aging infrastructure and future needs.
With reports that Canada has fallen from 10th to 32nd in terms of global trade infrastructure, it is vital that we scale up our trade infrastructure to build supply chain capacity, support green innovation and emerging technologies, create transformational jobs, and fuel our global competitiveness.
The Federal Budget needed to focus on public policies that would increase Canada’s economic resilience to ongoing and future threats. This includes a consistent and long-term infrastructure investment plan that benefits all Canadians and is aligned with the current and future needs of the provinces; contracting that supports fair competition, innovation and shared risk; and developing a pipeline of skilled and talented workers.
Read CCA’s pre-budget submission for more information on our recommendations to government.
CCA plans to address what the industry sees as missed opportunities to spur economic growth at our semi-annual Meech Lake meeting with senior government officials in May.