As I write this, Canada is still in the middle of a federal election, so I have my fingers crossed that I’m
not jinxing myself by assuming I will still be your MP.
Prior to the election, I had the honour to serve on the House of Commons Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities. In the aftermath of the election, I hope that I will continue to be able to serve in that capacity, since infrastructure will be an increasingly important aspect of how Canada rebuilds its economy in the post- pandemic world.
All the major parties made significant commitments to the infrastructure sector in their party platforms. For their part, the Liberals continued to re-announce and-re-promise action through their failed Canada Infrastructure Bank institution. This bureaucratic sloth consistently succeeded in generating more red tape than shovels in the ground.
In four years, the Infrastructure Bank completed precisely zero projects and left tens of billions in job creation dollars unspent while the economy stagnated.
During the campaign, the Conservatives’ plan for economic recovery included an aggressive approach to revamp how our country invests in infrastructure. This plan would include:
Immediately investing in critical projects that will put hundreds of thousands of Canadians to work, cut commute time and reduce emissions;
Providing more flexibility to municipalities and First Nations by removing onerous requirements to receive federal infrastructure funding;
Scrapping the failed Canada Infrastructure Bank and committing the money sitting unused on its books to infrastructure projects that can strengthen our economy;
Reprioritizing the Investing in Canada Plan towards infrastructure projects that would have the maximum benefit for economic recovery; and
Building digital infrastructure to connect all of Canada to high-speed internet by 2025.
No matter the outcome of the election, the Conservatives will employ all the leverage they have in Parliament to drive this plan forward. It is time to get Canada working again and the members of the Saskatchewan Heavy Construction Association will have a vital role to play.
It won’t be good enough to simply go back to pre-pandemic business as usual. The past year-and-a-half has shown that, in too many ways, our country has stagnated over the last few years from lack of investment.
As we move forward, we must ensure that we build in a way that is stronger and more secure for generations to come. Better vaccine production, manufacturing and supply chains are part of that, but an equally important part is to make sure we have shovels in the ground to build world-class roads, transportation, dams, power plants and pipelines to support our economy.
I look forward to continuing to work with the Saskatchewan Heavy Construction Association as we work together to build this better future.
It is time to get Canada working again and the members of the Saskatchewan Heavy Construction Association will have a vital role to play.