It’s dawned on me over the last several years that water always has to take a supporting role to a new lead act every few years, and perhaps that’s okay. Ten years ago, we were barely in the cast when it came to talking about infrastructure funding. The last federal infrastructure plan committed over $30 million to water, but we had to keep in mind the bigger federal goals. No matter what your critical infrastructure need was, we advised members to place your project in a larger climate change context or in a Canadian innovation context. Throughout the pandemic, governments recognized the dedication and heroism of frontline workers – rightly so. They noted healthcare workers, grocery workers and electrical workers, but we had to argue for water and wastewater workers – the services that make hospitals and groceries possible.
Throughout this year, we have seen all levels of government becoming aware of a housing crisis (that has been looming for years). The federal government has clearly communicated that their primary focus is to address the housing crisis. We have been consulted a few times by Infrastructure Canada and the Canadian Infrastructure Bank and they have a clear directive that housing will be the priority of any new infrastructure programs and the budget.
So now our mission is to insert ourselves into the housing context. It’s common sense and should be easily understood, but you can’t have housing without safe, reliable water and wastewater services. So whether it’s new water infrastructure for growth or replacement/improvement infrastructure for intensification, we have to demonstrate that all we do is to support housing.
Merry Christmas! Happy Hanukkah! Happy Holidays!
Wishing you all the best for 2024.
Just be sure that the IWA World Water Congress & Exhibition in Toronto and our National Water & Wastewater Conferences in Winnipeg are in your budget!
Robert
Canadian Water and Wastewater Association