A coalition of construction sector associations says there have been lots of announcements of infrastructure funding to help the economy recover, but so far very little of the funding has come through.
The President and CEO of the Association of Consulting Engineering Companies-Canada, John Gamble, says of the nearly 17,000 approved infrastructure projects listed on the federal government’s website, fewer than 900 have received funding.
The President of the Saskatchewan Construction Association says $887-million has been designated to be spent in Saskatchewan, but 64 per cent is still unallocated.
Mark Cooper notes that economists believe that for every dollar invested in public infrastructure, governments can see a return of anywhere between $2.50 and $4.00.
That would mean the approximately $570-million in unallocated funds is worth $1.4-billion to $2.2-billion in economic growth in Saskatchewan.
Cooper says the responsibility rests with the federal government to stop the bureaucratic delays.