CCA is very pleased to see the federal government follow through on the second year of the infrastructure stimulus measures from the Economic Action Plan. The infrastructure programs in Budget 2009 have been instrumental in the rise of employment in Canada's construction industry since August. These important investments made by federal, provincial and municipal governments have not only been a necessary source of stimulus, but are long-overdue investments in the modernization of our Nation's infrastructure which will be critical to our future global competitiveness.

However, the industry is concerned with the impact an abrupt withdrawal of funding from these stimulus programs would have on construction employment and economic activity. Canada's construction industry employs close to 1.2 million men and women, and accounts for approximately 6 per cent of Canada's annual GDP. It buys goods and services in every region of the country and in every sector of the economy. As such, any significant increase in construction activity produces thousands of spin-off jobs in other sectors - steel, engineering, forestry, autos, banking, and retail - which is why it remains the barometer of economic health.

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Posted by mopeng at March 4, 2010 6:47 PM