Canada’s decline in infrastructure rankings can be attributed to several key factors:
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Impulsive ‘Shovel Ready’ Projects: The lack of strategic planning leads to the start of large infrastructure projects without considering long-term implications. These projects are often initiated due to funding availability rather than a comprehensive plan, resulting in suboptimal outcomes.
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Lack of Private Sector Involvement: Unlike competitors, Canada underutilizes the private sector’s expertise and knowledge in infrastructure development. This oversight can diminish the quality and effectiveness of infrastructure projects.
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Inadequate Planning and Coordination: The absence of coherent national plans for large-scale projects means that efforts are not systematically aligned, leading to inefficiencies and missed opportunities for improvement.
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Need for Long-Term Strategies: Drawing insights from Canada West Foundation’s report, effective strategies involve long-term planning akin to shovel-worthy approaches, which prioritize investment optimization, supply chain competitiveness, and inclusive growth.
Conclusion: To address the decline, Canada must prioritize developing shovel-worthy national infrastructure plans, actively engage the private sector, ensure coordinated efforts across government levels, and focus on sustainable economic growth.
