ACEC Supports Regional Roundtables for Development of Long-Term Infrastructure Plan

KENORA, ON, July 26, 2012 /CNW/ - Today, the Association of Consulting Engineering Companies-Canada (ACEC) is stating its support for regional roundtables organized by the federal government to inform the development of a long-term infrastructure plan.

On June 1, 2012, the Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities announced that a series of regional roundtables would be hosted by the federal government over the summer of 2012 to gather first-hand input on a new long-term infrastructure plan. This plan will set the stage to replace nearly $2 billion in annual infrastructure funding that is due to expire in 2014.

"As a leading industry stakeholder, we are very pleased to have the opportunity to participate in these important discussions," said ACEC President, John Gamble. "This opportunity will allow ACEC and the consulting engineering sector across Canada a leadership role in the development of the long-term infrastructure plan, a process that ACEC has long advocated for."

ACEC believes that infrastructure is an investment - not an expense. Through proper preparation and a strategic approach to infrastructure planning, Canadians will receive the best return on that investment.

ACEC requested seats at five roundtables held in different regions of the country. Representatives of ACEC's Member Organizations participated in the following locations:

June 29 - Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island: Mr. Darrell Fisher of ACEC-Prince Edward Island
July 5 -   Québec City, Québec: Mr. François Plourde of l'Association des ingénieurs-conseils du Québec
July 13 - Toronto, Ontario: Mr. Barry Steinberg of Consulting Engineers of Ontario
July 16 - Edmonton, Alberta: Mr. Sheldon Hudson of Consulting Engineers of Alberta
July 26 - Kenora, Ontario: Mr. Bruce Wilton of ACEC-Manitoba

"ACEC looks forward to participating in the national roundtable in the fall and to continuing to work with the federal government towards the implementation of the long-term infrastructure plan," added Gamble. "Our industry members have direct knowledge and expertise on the benefits of infrastructure investment and it is essential that our recommendations be considered in the drafting of a new plan for Canada."

For additional background information, the association's position paper titled "The Benefits of Infrastructure Investment" is attached.

The Association of Consulting Engineering Companies - Canada represents companies in Canada that provide professional engineering services to both public and private-sector clients. These services include the planning, design and execution of all types of engineering projects, as well as providing independent advice and expertise in a wide range of engineering and engineering-related fields. For more information about ACEC, please visit www.acec.ca.

SOURCE: Association of Consulting Engineering Companies

Randi Goddard, Project Manager, Events and Communications
E-mail: [email protected]
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