Road builders and aggregate producers are calling on the provincial government to make good on its $200-billion infrastructure strategy to get the economy moving.
June 3 is lobby day at Queen’s Park for the Ontario Road Builders' Association (ORBA) and the Ontario Stone, Sand & Gravel Association (OSSGA).
With $30 billion set aside for highway construction and $61 billion earmarked for transit, the two groups are buttonholing senior government officials and MPPs today to stress the need for “sustained, predictable investment,” faster permitting to maintain to steady pipeline of shovel-ready projects, and more harmonized construction standards to keep projects on track.
In a June 3 news release, Malcolm Croskery, president of Sudbury’s Pioneer Construction and chair of ORBA, said support is needed for Ontario’s foundational industries.
"Ontario's roads, bridges, and transit systems all begin with aggregate and end with asphalt," said Croskery.
"Today's joint advocacy is about breaking down the silos that exist between planning, permitting, and procurement. We're sending a clear message: our sectors are aligned and ready to deliver for Ontario—now we need government to keep pace."
"Our members are the foundation of Ontario's growth, but we're facing real challenges—demand is down, permitting is slow, and uncertainty is high," added John MacKay, vice president at Green Infrastructure Partners and chair of OSSGA.
"We're proud to stand shoulder to shoulder with ORBA today. The future of Ontario's infrastructure depends on the collaboration between material suppliers and builders—and the government policies that enable us."
The groups particularly want the province to fully implement the Ontario Provincial Standards System (OPSS) across all municipalities.
First developed by Ministry of Transportation and the Municipal Engineers Association in the 1970s, this is a harmonized set of standards for design and construction of road and infrastructure projects in Ontario. Based on decades of research and constantly updated, these standards are not mandatory by municipalities across Ontario, but are treated as guidelines by municipalities to be adhered to or not.
