Liberals to double federal infrastructure investment, creating joy in Canada’s design and construction community Canadian Design and Construction Report staff writer The new Liberal government’s plans for a massive increase in federal infra- structure spending has generated much enthusiasm within Canada’s design and construction industry community. The scale of the investment – na- tionwide doubling infrastructure ex- penses to nearly $125 billion over 10 years from $65 billion – will create mammoth sized opportunities for the industry, especially in the Liberal’s pri- ority areas of transit, green projects, and social infrastructure (including sen- ior and low income housing, and recre- ational and learning facilities.) The Liberals don’t break down how much will be spent in specific provinces and territories. Notably, when the Conservatives introduced a major infrastructure stimulus program after the late 2008/9 financial crash much of the money found its way to the National Capital Region, though the longer-range plans appear to be in- tended to distribute the wealth more widely across the province and coun- try. In the election campaign, the Liberal Party promised: “Each year over the next decade, we will steadily increase federal infrastructure investment.” The party platform – which can be implemented without hindrance with a Liberal parliamentary majority – says New infrastructure spending ($ Billions) Year Public Transit Social 2016-17 1.7 1.7 2017-18 1.7 1.7 2018-19 1.2 1.2 2019-20 1.2 1.2 2020-21 1.5 1.5 2021-22 1.8 1.8 2022-23 2.2 2.2 2023-24 2.5 2.5 2024-25 2.8 2.8 2025-26 3.2 3.2 10-year total 19.7 19.7 4 – November 2015 — The Canadian Design and Construction Report Green 1.7 1.7 1.2 1.2 1.5 1.8 2.2 2.5 2.8 3.2 19.7 the added additional investment will be $9.5 billion a year. “This will almost double federal infrastructure invest- ment to nearly $125 billion – from $65 billion – over 10 years, which will be the largest new investment in infra- structure in Canadian history.” The Liberals also promised to de- velop bilateral agreements with the provinces (including Ontario) and terri- tories, “similar to those created for the successful gas tax transfer to cities and communities.” “We will not only significantly in- crease the sale of federal infrastructure investment; our plan will provide provinces, territories and municipalities with an unprecedented level of long- term predictability in funding as well. This will be done in full respect of provincial jurisdiction.” To add to more immediate stimulus, the government plans to double fed- eral infrastructure investment in the next two years to $10 billion per year from $5 billion.