November 10, 2008

Canadian Construction Association

Recent cabinet shuffle bodes well for Canadian construction industry, CCA president says

VINCE VERSACE

staff writer

The new cabinet assembled by Prime Minister Stephen Harper has received a “thumbs-up” from two construction industry stakeholders.

“It is a cabinet we are excited about working with,” said Michael Atkinson, president of the Canadian Construction Association (CCA).

“We are pleased to see that in the infrastructure portfolio there is a minister who knows our industry well.”

Harper announced John Baird as the new infrastructure minister after moving Lawrence Cannon to minister of foreign affairs.

Atkinson said that having Baird as infrastructure minister is encouraging because he has stature and since he is an Ottawa-area MP, he is also familiar with CCA’s push for additional funding for colleges.

Baird is now in charge of the Tories $33 billion Building Canada infrastructure plan and will be responsible for helping tackle the federal infrastructure deficit. >

Jeff Morrison, president and chief operating officer of the Association of Canadian Engineering Companies (ACEC), also believes that Baird’s profile is a bonus for the issue of Canada’s infrastructure.

“It shows this government does take seriously questions about infrastructure renewal,” said Morrison.

The return of Jim Flaherty as finance minister is also reassuring, said Atkinson, because it allows for continuity and continued dialogue with that ministry.

“Minister Flaherty is aware of some of CCA’s priority issues,” said Atkinson.

The combination of Jason Kenney as immigration minister and Diane Finley as minister of human resources also indicates that those areas are important as well to the current government, said Atkinson.

The appointment of Jim Prentice as the new environment minister was widely regarded by Parliament Hill pundits as the big surprise of the new cabinet lineup.

The Tories suffered heavy criticism in their previous term and during the federal election campaign over their environmental platform.

Handing over that portfolio to Prentice is a proactive development, said Morrison.

“Having Prentice as environment minister shows this government is going to get serious on issues of sustainability and the environment,” said Morrison.

Print | Email | Comment