Calgary Construction Association Calls for Industry Collaboration on Achieving Premier Smith’s School Construction Plan

Calgary, AB – September 18, 2024 — The Calgary Construction Association (CCA) welcomes Premier Danielle Smith’s ambitious School Construction Accelerator Program, aimed at addressing the increasing strain on Alberta’s education infrastructure. This $8.6 billion initiative, which seeks to create 50,000 student spaces over the next three years and 200,000 spaces over the next seven years, is an exciting opportunity to support Alberta’s growing population.

While the CCA is encouraged by the Government’s commitment to addressing school infrastructure needs, we recognize the challenges that lie ahead in ensuring the successful execution of this program. Key among these are the need for improvements in procurement practices and mitigating the ongoing labour shortage within the construction sector.

The CCA values its ongoing relationship with the Government of Alberta and is eager to collaborate in addressing these hurdles. We believe that by working together to enhance procurement processes and adopting balanced risk management frameworks, we can encourage more participation from industry stakeholders and ensure fair and competitive bidding. Without these reforms, we risk delays and under-resourced projects, which would undermine the program’s potential.

In addition to procurement, the ongoing labour shortage is a shared concern that could impact the delivery of these large-scale projects. The CCA remains committed to advocating for workforce development and urges the government to join us in investing in training and skills development programs that will attract and retain the skilled labour required to meet Alberta’s infrastructure goals.

“We acknowledge the Government of Alberta for prioritizing education infrastructure, and we are ready to collaborate on ensuring the success of the School Construction Accelerator Program,” said Bill Black, President and CEO of the Calgary Construction Association. “By working together with the Government to reform procurement practices and address the labour shortage, we can ensure these critical projects are delivered on time and to the highest standard.”

The Calgary Construction Association looks forward to continuing productive conversations with the Government of Alberta, working hand-in-hand to tackle these challenges and ensure the long-term success of the construction industry in Calgary and beyond.

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For media inquiries, please contact:

Frano Cavar, Director of Public Affairs and External Relations

Calgary Construction Association

franocavar@cgyca.com 403-291-3350