Sustainability in construction took centre stage at the semi-annual joint meeting between the Canadian Construction Association (CCA) and the federal government on November 5. With a focus on climate resilient infrastructure, the discussions underscored the industry’s critical role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions while driving economic growth – aligning with both CCA’s priorities and the federal government’s goals.

This fall’s meeting was particularly timely, continuing a 57-year-old tradition of dialogue between CCA and various government departments. Senior decision-makers in attendance this fall were from Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC), Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat (TBS), Defence Construction Canada (DCC), Department of National Defence (DND), Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada (HICC), Natural Resources Canada (NRCan), Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC), and Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC).

Discussions focused on exploring the most effective approaches to incorporate climate resilience into both new and existing infrastructure, methods to modernize procurement, and how to achieve sustainability in housing and workforce sectors. CCA values these opportunities for dialogue, where we can collaborate and share insights on how existing policies can be updated to better meet the needs of the construction sector in achieving climate mitigation goals.

Senior leadership was receptive to the industry’s ideas and demonstrated a willingness to support and amplify the shift towards innovative materials and collaborative project delivery models.

Following the meeting, CCA will continue to track progress on the National Infrastructure Assessment, developments in procurement best practices, and further promote sustainable initiatives related to construction.