The dream of a booming housing market across the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) could be jeopardized by critical infrastructure gaps, according to a recent report. The Canadian Construction Association (CCA) is sounding the alarm, urging immediate workforce and procurement reforms to address over $126 billion in infrastructure rated in poor or very poor condition across the country.
This warning comes on the heels of the federal government’s National Infrastructure Assessment (NIA), which paints a concerning picture of Canada’s essential services. The report highlights that 11% of water and wastewater assets and over 13% of public transit assets are at risk, with solid waste infrastructure nearing its breaking point. These findings directly impact the GTA, where rapid population growth is already straining existing systems.
Rodrigue Gilbert, President of the CCA, representing over 18,000 member firms, emphasized the critical link between housing development and robust infrastructure. “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,” Gilbert stated. This means that the ambitious housing targets set for the GTA may be unattainable without significant investment and upgrades to these foundational systems.
The CCA has outlined four priority areas that require immediate government action to avoid potential implementation failures. These include: workforce development focused on construction trades and apprenticeships, regularly updated infrastructure data systems, annual publication of assessments with stakeholder engagement, and expansion of assessments to include transport and trade-enabling infrastructure.
For GTA residents and investors, this news underscores the importance of considering the long-term sustainability of housing developments. While new condos and homes are being built at a rapid pace, are the underlying systems in place to support them? Without addressing these crucial infrastructure needs, the GTA’s housing boom could face significant challenges, potentially impacting property values and the overall quality of life for residents.
The CCA has pledged to collaborate with the federal government to translate these assessment findings into tangible improvements in project delivery and economic growth. The future of the GTA’s housing market hinges on the success of these efforts.
