The Canadian Construction Association (CCA) has expressed strong support for the newly released National Infrastructure Assessment (NIA), which reinforces the association’s long-standing call for coordinated, long-term infrastructure planning to support Canada’s housing and economic growth objectives.

According to CCA President Rodrigue Gilbert, the report validates the industry’s position that housing development cannot advance without foundational infrastructure, such as water and wastewater systems, solid waste management, and public transit access. These critical systems are essential for enabling community growth and addressing Canada’s housing affordability crisis.

The NIA highlights that over $126 billion of infrastructure is in poor or very poor condition. Alarmingly, 11% of water and wastewater assets and over 13% of public transit infrastructure are at risk, while solid waste infrastructure is nearing capacity. This underscores the urgent need for coordinated investment to ensure that communities are safe, resilient, and equipped to expand sustainably.

While CCA welcomes the clarity and national vision provided by the NIA, it emphasizes the need for further action in four key areas:

• Addressing Workforce Gaps: The assessment focuses narrowly on engineering students and lacks attention to the broader skilled trades and apprenticeship programs essential for delivering infrastructure projects.
• Improved Data Collection: The report relies on outdated 2022–2023 data. CCA urges a more dynamic approach with regularly updated infrastructure metrics to guide decision-making.
• Annual Reporting with Stakeholder Input: CCA advocates for an annual NIA release that incorporates insights from industry stakeholders and integrates data on infrastructure, economics, and population growth.
• Expanded Scope: Future assessments should include trade and transport-enabling infrastructure to enhance economic resilience and support supply chains across Canada.

To turn the NIA’s findings into actionable policy, CCA stresses the importance of a coordinated strategy that includes labour market alignment, modern procurement practices, resilient supply chains, and harmonized interprovincial trade regulations. Without these pillars, implementation risks stalling, regardless of the quality of planning.

CCA stands ready to work with the federal government to translate the NIA’s insights into measurable improvements in infrastructure delivery, housing supply, and long-term economic growth.

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