February 28, 2005

ACEC gives new budget thumbs up

By Patricia Williams

staff writer

The Association of Consulting Engineers of Canada (ACEC) has given the federal government kudos for its commitment to infrastructure and the environment in the 2005 budget.

In a report to its members, the association said it is “noteworthy” that the government has confirmed that the environment will be an ongoing priority, with Canada taking further steps over the coming years to move to a green economy and sustainable communities.

Another highlight from the industry’s perspective is confirmation of funding for municipal infrastructure from gas-tax revenues, even though the bulk of funds will be disbursed in the last two years of the five-year program.

Further good news, ACEC said, is the government’s allocation of $300 million for the green building municipal funds and the commitment to renew current infrastructure programs.

“Overall, we’re very, very happy with the budget,” ACEC president Claude Paul Boivin said in an interview. “The government is really walking the talk in terms of its commitments to the environment and infrastructure.

“For the past three years, we’ve been asking the government for a predictable, permanent and well-funded infrastructure program.We got most of that. It’s predictable, it’s permanent and the municipalities are very happy with the funding levels.

“For us, that is a big victory for municipalities and Canadians and for the construction and engineering industry because it’s what we said was missing and what is now in place. So kudos, to the government.”

In its report, distributed to its members on budget night, the association expressed disappointment, however, with the budget’s lack of support for the national highway system.

ACEC said it is “bad news” that the recommendation by industry stakeholders for establishment of a national roundtable on sustainable infrastructure has been ignored by the government.

“This roundtable would have helped the government in developing a national infrastructure plan with the participation of the private sector, including consulting engineers,” the association said.

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