Advocating for Sustainable Federal Funding
s the federal government is developing new, long term funding programs for Canadian infrastructure, they have turned to the CWWA to provide input from the perspective of Canada’s water, wastewater and stormwater utilities. CWWA representatives have met directly with senior policy staff within Infrastructure Canada, the Canada Infrastructure Bank, Public Safety Canada, Environment and Climate Change Canada and appeared before the Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Environment and Sustainability. We have also assisted in arranging for senior Infrastructure Canada staff to meet directly with Utility Managers across Canada, to hear firsthand the challenges we are facing and the critical need for federal funding.
CWWA’s Utility Leadership Committee has been hard at work preparing a full written submission to Infrastructure Canada that will outline our concerns and highlight the elements we would hope for in a new program. Meanwhile, we were invited to provide a brief submission to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Environment and Sustainability as they prepare their own submission to the government.
Of course we always start off by explaining why our water and wastewater sector is the most important – how critical it is to the health and economy of the country. Recognizing that critical importance, we then called for a dedicated funding envelope for water – where we don’t need to compete against the resources and the popularity of other infrastructure like transit, roads or telecommunications.
We then asked that any funding programs be longer term and predictable so that a municipal utility can reasonably plan their infrastructure renewal and growth programs and have a degree of reliable federal support. To that effect, we asked that funding programs not be announced with short warning and with short application timelines that support only those with “shovel-ready” projects on short notice – this is usually just the largest and richest communities that can afford to have shovel-ready projects prepared. Rather, we ask that the timelines be longer to allow all communities to invest properly in the advanced planning and engineering to support efficient and sustainable renewal. We also suggested that a dedicated advance fund supports the development of these shovel-ready projects as most communities cannot afford the luxury of preparing all the advanced engineering without a solid commitment of the fund required for such projects.
Are we missing some critical points you think we should make? Let me know. The final submission has not gone in yet. But don’t just rant at me – you have to give it to me in a few clear and concise sentences that we can include in a 2-3 page letter.
The World Water Congress and Exhibition
This is the last time I’ll tell you this, but you don’t want to miss this rare opportunity! The whole world is coming to Canada and all you have to do is get down to the CN Tower (we’re in the MetroToronto Convention Centre next door). It’s not too late to register as a delegate and attend the Utility Leaders Forum and networking, but you can visit the Exhibition for FREE. But sign up here: IWA World Water Congress & Exhibition – Visitor Registration (iwa-exhibitions.com). You can see hundreds of companies from around the world, including over 40 companies from Canada. Visit me in the Canada Pavilion. Tuesday, August 13th is Canada Day!! Join us in the Canada Pavilion 4:30-6:00 for poutine and beer…then enjoy a great evening of laughter at the Second City Comedy Club for the Water Canada Awards Home – Water Canada Summit (watersummit.ca). As a CWWA member, follow this link for a 15% discount! www.eventbrite.ca/e/730763101107/?discount=CWWAmembers24
See you all in Toronto!!