RC116 JanFeb 2025 - Magazine - Page 25
DEALING WITH FAILURE
The path to strengthening Canada’s
municipal infrastructure by Charlie Evans
HE RECENT FAILURE of a critical water transmission line in
Calgary, which severely impacted the supply in city’s
reservoirs and its ability to move water across the city,
highlighted the dire state of municipal infrastructure
in Canada and has renewed calls for governments to
provide sustained funding to 昀椀x the issue.
The impacts of these failures go beyond water rationing,
extending far into the construction industry, slowing many
important infrastructure projects to a crawl, and some to an
abrupt halt.
During a recent webinar hosted by ReNew Canada and its
sister publication Water Canada, a panel of experts discussed
the lessons learned from Calgary’s experience and how
the industry can be an integral part of the solution moving
forward.
T
What were the most significant challenges faced during
the failure and repair of Calgary’s water main transmission
line?
FRANO CAVAR (CALGARY CONSTRUCTION ASSOCIATION): When the pipe
broke in Calgary, there was signi昀椀cant economic impact on
the construction industry. For example, after the initial state
of restrictions, there was a hot works ban and a 昀椀re ban. An
industry that was adjacent to the issue was suddenly a昀昀ected
and people didn’t realize the impact that would have when
restrictions were put in. One piece of infrastructure broke
down, but it a昀昀ected so many di昀昀erent subsections, in
particular the construction industry.
METRO VANCOUVER
Charlie Evans is the
associate editor of
Water Canada.
OUR PANEL:
STEPHANIE BELLOTTO, Manager
JOHN GAMBLE, President
of Government Relations,
Ontario Sewer and Watermain
Construction Association
& CEO, Association of
Consulting Engineering
Companies—Canada
FRANO CAVAR, Director,
OWEN JAMES, National Leader,
Public Affairs and External
Relations, Calgary
Construction Association
Strategic Advisory Services,
Associated Engineering
We asked recent ReNew Canada Webinar Series attendees about the state of Canada’s
municipal infrastructure. Here’s what they had to say:
Which level of
government
(municipal/
provincial/
federal)
should bear
responsibility
for the funding
of municipal
infrastructure?
ALL LEVELS
100%
Repair or maintenance—or a
combination of the two—which
method should be used to
improve the state of municipal
water infrastructure?
Who should pay for new
water infrastructure required
to service new housing,
governments or developers?
DEVELOPERS
25%
BOTH
75%
COMBINATION OF THE TWO
100%
RENEWCANADA.NET
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2025 – RENEW CANADA 25
