The federal government’s promise in its latest budget to upgrade its buildings – with an investment of $2.1 billion over the next five years – will create significant opportunities for Ottawa’s construction industry.
This is because the National Capital Region (NCR) has about a third all of the federal government’s assets, so the amount to be spent in the region will reach $700 million, if all the funds are spent proportionately.
The funds include earmarked resource to reduce the carbon footprint and energy conservation in federal buildings. The work will include new windows, doors, and heating and cooling systems upgrades.
There are six heating and cooling plants, servicing 85 Ottawa and Gatineau buildings – and Public Services and Procurement Canada has committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions from these plants by 45 per cent.
Other federal building infrastructure funds will be applied for military infrastructure and border upgrades.
The buildings fund is only part of the picture. Other federally funded infrastructure projects include:
- $281 million to build a new collection and conservation centre for the Canada Science and Technology Museum and modernize the National Arts Centre and the National Gallery;
- $139 million for federal laboratories and other federal assets that support science, research and innovation;
- $232 million for National Defence and the Canadian Coast Guard to improve safety and security;
- $271 million for environmental remediation on contaminated federal sites.