May 21, 2009

RAIC urges Ottawa to reconsider ‘unrealistic’ deadline

PATRICIA WILLIAMS

staff writer

Citing an “unrealistic” schedule, the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (RAIC) has urged Ottawa to reconsider the deadline for completion of projects under the $4 billion infrastructure stimulus fund.

“We understand the importance of ensuring an economic stimulus as soon as possible,” president Paule Boutin said in a letter to John Baird, minister of transport, infrastructure and communities.

“However, unrealistic deadlines will not allow architects and engineers and other professionals who have already laid off staff to participate significantly in this program.

“Furthermore, a rushed program may end up focusing on projects of little or no long-term value that are not sustainable, or even worse, poorly designed and constructed.”

Projects being financed under the fund, and also reportedly, a $2 billion program aimed at improving infrastructure at universities and colleges, must be completed by March 31, 2011.

“We urge you to reconsider the deadline and extend it until March 31, 2012 or review larger-scale building projects’ time frames on an individual process,” Boutin said.

In calling for reconsideration of the deadline, RAIC has joined the ranks of such organizations as the Association of Canadian Engineering Companies (ACEC). That organization has proposed that the deadline be extended by at least a year.

The issue was expected to be raised in an ACEC-organized conference call with Baird and John Forster, assistant deputy minister, policy and communications, at Infrastructure Canada. For details, see Federal government won’t budge on two-year infrastructure deadline.

At the provincial level, the Ontario General Contractors Association has also expressed concern about the matter, contending that imposing arbitrary deadlines for completion of projects is a recipe for disaster.

In her letter, Boutin said the current deadline to build and complete projects is unrealistic, particularly given the fact that municipalities will need to seek approvals, select and engage design professionals, prepare design and construction documentation, issue the construction documents “and then actually build the projects.”

The infrastructure stimulus fund provides $2 billion in the current fiscal year and another $2 billion in 2010-11 for projects that can begin construction quickly. Infrastructure Canada has said that construction readiness will be a key project selection factor.

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