Report outlines gaps that could slow the country's housing push
The Canadian Construction Association (CCA) is calling for immediate workforce and procurement reforms following the federal government’s release of the National Infrastructure Assessment (NIA), which identified more than $126 billion in infrastructure rated in poor or very poor condition.
The assessment, released Thursday, found 11% of water and wastewater assets and more than 13% of public transit assets at risk, with solid waste infrastructure nearing capacity limits. The CCA noted that the findings validate long-standing industry warnings that Canada cannot expand housing without corresponding infrastructure improvements.
“We are pleased to see the NIA clearly recognize that housing cannot accelerate without major improvements to water and wastewater capacity, solid waste management, and public transit access,” CCA President Rodrigue Gilbert said. “These are the foundational systems that determine whether communities can grow.”
The association, representing more than 18,000 member firms across 57 local and provincial partner associations, said the assessment provides a roadmap but requires supporting policy frameworks to achieve results.
Gilbert outlined four priority areas requiring government action: workforce development that addresses construction trades and apprenticeships beyond engineering students; establishment of regularly updated infrastructure data systems using information beyond the current 2022–23 snapshot; annual publication of assessments developed with stakeholder engagement; and expansion of future assessments to include transport and trade-enabling infrastructure.
“The assessment provides a clear national vision, but delivery depends on coherent policy frameworks that support it,” Gilbert said. “To turn these findings into action, we need a workforce strategy that reflects real labour-market needs, fair, open, and transparent procurement policies, supply chains that remain resilient under new domestic sourcing rules, and internal trade policies that break down barriers between provinces.”
Gilbert warned that infrastructure plans risk implementation failures without comprehensive reforms. “Without these elements, even the strongest infrastructure plan risks stalling on implementation,” he said.
The CCA said it will work with the federal government to translate assessment findings into measurable improvements in project delivery and economic growth.
