Ontario Construction News staff writer
The Canadian Construction Association (CCA) has launched an industry call to action urging the federal government to partner with the construction industry to tackle the housing crisis.
Through an online advocacy platform, CCA is asking 18,000 members and the public to send letters to MPs “reminding them of the importance of partnering with the industry” to make the following strategic changes:
- Commit to a comprehensive, long-term infrastructure investment strategy that includes a 25-year plan for housing and trade-enabling infrastructure.
- Address the workforce shortage by modernizing the existing immigration policy and points system to better reflect the workforce needs of the Canadian economy.
- Modernize procurement to ensure practices better balance risk-sharing between public contracts and the private sector, reduce red tape, and accelerate approvals for critical projects.
While the federal government has launched various programs, such as the Express Entry program to target immigrants with high-demand skills as well as several initiatives under the National Housing Strategy to fast track the building of new homes, the CCA says measures are short-term solutions to problems that require consultation, partnership and long-term planning.
CCA will be hosting its annual Hill Day event Nov. 7, for industry representatives to meet with parliamentarians to discuss the construction sector’s essential role in creating and maintaining the infrastructure Canadians use daily. This includes the foundational infrastructure at the heart of new homes and communities.
“With construction as its partner, the federal government can build a stronger Canada through comprehensive infrastructure investment, workforce development and procurement modernization,” the CCA said in a statement.
