CIQS pushes government collaboration to speed economic delivery Federal government takes the long view to address economic slump with stimulus The early story of the COVID-19 pandemic has been the tremendous personal toll it has taken on many thousands of Canadian families. Even many who have had and recovered from COVID-19 continue to see lingering effects of the illness. In my view, there is no more fitting comparison for the toll the pandemic has also taken on the economy. Early stage shutdowns of local economies saved countless lives, while putting hundreds of thousands of businesses at risk, and putting millions of Canadians out of work. Compassion dictates that this was the right thing to do for Canadian families, but I argue it was also the right thing to do for the economy. While we will feel lingering effects for years to come, Canada will recover. Canada is in an enviable position. Compared to many other countries – especially to our friends in the US – we are coming out of the emergency phase and adjusting to life with a new set of considerations in play. By moving quickly
and early, we flattened the pandemic curve. As a result, policy makers are better positioned to plan for recovery. The pandemic has been a catalyst of enormous change throughout the economy. The prevailing notion in Ottawa is that the construction sector has been less hard hit than retail, tourism, hospitality, and other personal services sectors. Decision-makers are starting to understand that fueling an economic recovery does not just mean filling the cracks that were exposed during the pandemic. They are now considering what investments could catapult Canada’s economy forward while the public’s appetite for fiscal activism remains high. The CIQS has taken a leading role in encouraging the government to bring forward investments quickly. The organization wrote to the Prime Minister and has educated senior officials at Public Services and Procurement Canada about the ways CIQS members can ensure projects are delivered more quickly and cost-effectively.
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Over the weeks and months ahead, the CIQS will promote its pre-budget submission to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance as a path forward for the economy as a whole. When working with government, aligning with the priorities of the party in power can yield strong results. Typically, in a minority government situation, it would be more important to work with the leading opposition party but, right now, the NDP and Bloc Quebecois hold the balance of power. These parties are more aligned with the Liberals’ vision of a ‘green recovery’; it makes substantial investments in energy efficiency projects, green infrastructure, and retrofits for the built environment that would create significant economic activity over the coming years. The federal government has committed to bringing forward a stream of infrastructure projects valued at $3.3 billion to combat COVID-19. These investments will be targeted at projects with $10 million or less in eligible funding, to reach as many communities and projects as possible. To return to Table of Contents CLICK HERE
