Speaking to Our Elected Officials

Again this year, the Association of Consulting Engineers of Canada (ACEC) will present a brief to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance. With a minority government in power and the increased influence of the Opposition, it is important for us to continue to be visible with our key issues, which are:

Infrastructure — We are delighted that the government is moving forward on the gas tax. However, highways seem to be the poor cousin of cities and have not been mentioned during the ongoing infrastructure debate. Now that the government has decided to sell its remaining PetroCanada shares, ACEC would like to see the $2.5 to $3 billion profits of the sale going to motorists through improved highways on which to drive.

Qualifications-based Selection (QBS) — With the Gomery inquiry into the sponsorship scandal in full swing, ACEC is increasingly concerned about the potential for backlash against QBS. We will be promoting the concepts of accountability and transparency through procurement based on qualifications, and the increased longevity achievable through a negotiated price rather than a price-based competition.

International Development — CIDA has in recent years begun to scale back both funding for infrastructure programs and direct country-to-country assistance (in favour of bilateral or multilateral arrangements). ACEC is convinced of the importance of infrastructure projects, without which the communities would have no clean water or roads on which to travel to work and school.