Athusa Puvanendra

MODERNIZE PUBLIC PROCUREMENT: The federal government’s procurement strategy is outdated, leaving little room for creative solutions and fair risk sharing. Contactors shouldering the majority of project risk is becoming an untenable model for many smaller companies who already navigate a long list of red tape and challenges. The reluctance to bid on federal projects because of this heightened risk is becoming a real issue and is impacting progress on public projects. With productivity issues on the rise, now is the time to modernize procurement practices. Innovative procurement and delivery methods can improve productivity, enable cost savings, and shorten the timeline for construction projects. To build the infrastructure needed across the country, federal procurement strategies need to adapt to account for long-term value and sustainability, promote the use of alternative delivery models, and support shared risk. BUILD THE WORKFORCE OF THE FUTURE: The federal government has an ambitious growth plan – one that includes repairing, maintaining and retrofitting aging infrastructure while also building for future climate resilience. Construction now employs more people than ever before, yet our industry will need to fill hundreds of thousands of jobs in the next decade brought on by shifting demographics and a spate of retirements. The situation is even more acute as the construction sector is already dealing with decades of chronic challenges in recruiting qualified workers. Our industry is struggling to fill indispensable jobs nationwide that are essential to build the infrastructure needed to support Canada’s future growth. To achieve Canada’s infrastructure goals, the construction industry requires an equal partner in government to grow the labour force. INCREASE INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT: CCA has been working to help shape a long-term plan for sustainable infrastructure investment. We need to move from quick fixes to a strategy that focuses on long-term solutions. More consultation and early engagement need to happen. The funds must be predictable, flow quickly, and be aligned with provincial, municipal, and Indigenous needs. Setting national goals around building sustainability into our infrastructure and promoting investments in trade-enabling infrastructure are just two of the significant opportunities for Canada. An investment in infrastructure is an investment in Canada’s growth economy and the health, safety and well-being of Canadians.

Encouraging the public to submit written correspondences such as letters to federal leaders and MPs urging them to implement a Youth Climate Corps (supporting motion M-105) and a Just Transition Transfer. Advocating for more ambitious climate emergency laws, policies and programs. Advocate for the creation of new programs and economic institutions to expedite greenhouse gas reductions, such as new climate-oriented crown corporations, a Youth Climate Corps and a new federal just transition transfer program. Advocate for regulations to expedite greenhouse gas reductions, such as a zero-emission vehicle mandate and zero-emission building mandate. Advocate for new communications programs to increase climate awareness and the need for ambitious action, such as a climate emergency funding stream for the Canada Council for the Arts, a new Climate Emergency Information Board, and the banning of fossil fuel advertising (Bill C-372). Advocate for increased federal spending on climate action and infrastructure. We are advocating for the federal government to boost its climate spending to 2% of GDP, including increased transfers to provinces/territories/municipalities/Indigenous nations for climate infrastructure (public transit, renewable energy, zero-emission housing), and to fund a Youth Climate Corps.

Encouraging the public to submit written correspondences such as letters to federal leaders and MPs urging them to implement a Youth Climate Corps (supporting motion M-105) and a Just Transition Transfer. Advocating for more ambitious climate emergency laws, policies and programs. Advocate for the creation of new programs and economic institutions to expedite greenhouse gas reductions, such as new climate-oriented crown corporations, a Youth Climate Corps and a new federal just transition transfer program. Advocate for increased federal spending on climate action and infrastructure. We are advocating for the federal government to boost its climate spending to 2% of GDP, including increased transfers to provinces/territories/municipalities/Indigenous nations for climate infrastructure (public transit, renewable energy, zero-emission housing), and to fund a Youth Climate Corps.