Infrastructure deficit

01/25/24 • 86 min

As Canada’s population grew by a record 1.1 million people in the last year the push to build housing gained new urgency.

New housing requires expanded infrastructure capacity – not just municipal roads, sewer and water lines but also new electrical grid capacity all the way down to transformers on utility poles, gas lines, schools, and more transit. Existing infrastructure is already straining under increased demand. Water shortages are prompting more serious restrictions in summer, in some cases even total bans on agricultural irrigation. Regional parks are having to implement new policies managing parking and visitor numbers. BC Ferries is carrying a record number of passengers and regularly suggesting people walk on during busy weekends. Schools are adding even more portables to house classes – struggling to get them all insulated and up to standards in time for winter. For the first time, some BC hospitals are also adding portables to expand waiting room capacity.

Major infrastructure and resource projects essential to the Canadian economy and vitally important to First Nations are bogged down.

Billions of dollars of investment is needed across numerous sectors simply to catch up to the infrastructure needs of Canada today, never mind tomorrow. That work would require years – if contractors can be sourced.

Join us 7 p.m. January 23 as we dig into the challenges and solutions of our infrastructure deficit.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As Canada’s population grew by a record 1.1 million people in the last year the push to build housing gained new urgency.

Major infrastructure and resource projects essential to the Canadian economy and vitally important to First Nations are bogged down.

Join us 7 p.m. January 23 as we dig into the challenges and solutions of our infrastructure deficit.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Previous Episode

Asia Pacific - Canada’s opportunities and challenges in the region

44 per cent of BC exports go to markets in the Asia Pacific. 20 per cent of Canadians have family ties to the region. According to Global Affairs Canada the “Indo-Pacific region will play a critical role in shaping Canada’s future over the next half-century.”

The region has 40 economies including China and India, almost two-thirds of the world’s population, and $47.19-trillion in economic activity. It is home to half of Canada’s top trading partners.

The opportunities are tremendous. So are the challenges.

Canada’s relationship with India hit a new low this year when Prime Minister Justin Trudeau suggested the country may have been involved in the murder of a Sikh separatist leader in BC. India retaliated by halting the issuance of travel visas to Canadians and threatening to revoke the protections accorded to Canadian diplomats in that country, prompting Canada to withdraw 41 staff.

China is BC’s second largest trading partner after the USA. It’s not a comfortable relationship – Canada has recently criticized the Chinese government for unfair trade practices and human rights abuses. China has been accused of espionage and operating a shadowy network of unofficial police stations in Canada engaged in intimidation of Canadians with Chinese heritage and their families – including Canadian MP Michael Chong. Military tensions are rising in the region.

The panel:

Sukesh Kumar, Audit Partner and National Leader of KPMG’s India Practice in Canada
Duncan Wilson, Port of Vancouver Vice President, Environment and External Affairs
Jeff Nankivell, President & CEO, Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada
Brenda Bailey, BC Minister of Jobs, Economic Development & Investment

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.