Prime Minister meets with ACEC about infrastructure

Officials from the Association of Consulting Engineering Companies (ACEC) met with Prime Minister Stephen Harper last week in Ottawa.

The Chair of ACEC, Herb Kuehne, P.Eng.,  along with John Gamble, ACEC President and Susie Grynol, ACEC Vice President, met the Prime Minister and thanked him and the government for starting work on a long-term infrastructure plan.

A plan was announced by the Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, Denis Lebel on November 30, indicating the government would work with ACEC, municipalities and other stakeholders on a long term infrastructure plan.

At the meeting last week ACEC also took the opportunity to congratulate the Prime Minister on the success of the recent stimulus program that created significant economic activity through investments in infrastructure.

Herb Kuehne said:  “ACEC was pleased to have the opportunity to personally thank the Prime Minister and the Government of Canada for their support of a long-term infrastructure plan for Canada.” He continued, “ACEC looks forward to continued participation in the next stages of this process in order to develop a sustainable plan that will meet the needs of Canadians.” At the meeting, ACEC also had the opportunity to meet with James Rajotte, Member of Parliament for Edmonton – Leduc and Chair of the Standing Committee on Finance. 

The commitment by the federal government is consistent with ACEC’s recent position paper on long-term infrastructure investment. ACEC says it has already begun discussions with Infrastructure Canada on the next steps, which include taking stock of what the government and its partners have accomplished to date; identifying knowledge gaps; addressing priorities; and discussing the orientation of the long-term plan with stakeholders.

To view ACEC’s position paper, “The Benefits of Infrastructure Investment,” click here.To see a video of ACEC’s activities on Parliament Hill on November 1, click here.

Left to right: John Gamble, President of ACEC, Susie Grynol, Vice-President of ACEC, Prime Minister Stephen Harper,  Herb Kuehne , Chair of ACEC, and James Rajotte, MP, Chair of the Finance Committee, at a meeting in Ottawa on February 1.