Federal government hears advice on new long-term infrastructure plan

The federal government has wound up its discussions on how to shape a new long-term infrastructure plan.

Denis Lebel, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, and Steven Fletcher, Minister of State, Transport, held a series of roundtables in June and July to discuss how the government should develop a new long-term infrastructure plan to replace the Building Canada plan which expires in 2014.

The government consulted the provinces, territories, municipalities and stakeholder groups about what shape a new plan should take. Minister Level said in a press release: “We have heard that there is a need for strong and sustained federal support for infrastructure and that we need to continue to work in partnership as we move forward.” He also said they would explore long-term investment programs, including public private partnerships.

The Association of Consulting Engineering Companies (ACEC) requested seats at five roundtables in different regions. As a result, individuals representing provincial consulting engineering associations were at roundtables in P.E.I, Quebec City, Toronto, Kenora, and Edmonton.

The seven-year, $33-billion Building Canada Plan that was introduced in 2007 and expires in 2014 was Canada’s first ever long-term infrastructure plan.