Advocacy to Support Future Generations

As the new year begins, Ottawa’s politicians and bureaucrats will be returning to the office as the clouds of economic woe gather on the horizon. Tasked with a growing list of challenges such as health care funding, climate change, inflation supply chain constraints and labour shortages, the year ahead will be a demanding one for the government. Coupled with an expected economic slowdown and possible recession, the Liberal government will use Budget 2023 to prove to Canadians that they are competent and in control of Canada’s economy.

Canada’s construction sector is an impressive engine of economic growth. Investments in infrastructure create lasting community assets, support business growth and improve the quality of life for all Canadians. In the lead-up to the budget, Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland has already signaled key goals that confirm health care and green energy will be at the forefront of the government’s agenda. This has been promised all while ensuring that their plan remains fiscally sustainable. While the budget is still being crafted, industry experts agree that green infrastructure will remain a core tenet as they push towards net zero by 2050.

With these goals in mind, key players in the industry, including the Canadian Institute of Quantity Surveyors (CIQS), are well-positioned to continue shaping the green and sustainable future of tomorrow. As the national organization committed to continuing the economic efficiency of construction projects, CIQS members will continue to play a vital role in the future of Canada’s infrastructure development for years to come. The benefits of involving industry professionals in project delivery teams are clear, as we help to ensure every dollar invested in a project is properly allocated. Now, more than ever, Canadians need to see value for their tax dollars, especially when it comes to large-scale public infrastructure projects. Where policymakers may forgo long-term benefits in favour of short-term goals, industry leaders support sustainability by ensuring infrastructure spending helps future generations.

The CIQS membership is comprised of designated Professional Quantity Surveyors (PQS) and Construction Estimators Certified (CEC) professionals. Our members counsel building owners, developers, financial institutions, government bodies, designers and contractors at every stage of design, procurement, construction and ongoing maintenance. Professional Quantity Surveyors and Construction Estimators Certified are an increasingly valuable consulting asset as federally funded infrastructure projects continue to be delivered from coast to coast to coast. Industry-leading PQSs and CECs continue to take advantage of their time, funding and resources to support these infrastructure projects. Ensuring that value for money and cost assurance is delivered throughout the lifecycle of a development project will reassure Canadians that their tax dollars are being spent efficiently and wisely by their government. This is why our engagement and advocacy work is so important to our industry. Being experts in our field enables us to enlighten policymakers on precise and efficient spending and strengthen the government’s reputation for sound economic management.

Throughout the year, the CIQS has been at the forefront of engagement and advocacy work as it met with government officials at all levels to help shape this future. In November 2022, the CIQS was in Ottawa to meet with Members of Parliament to build relationships and meet with policymakers. These meetings were coordinated with over 20 Members of Parliament from both the government and opposition parties, including Members from the Ministries and House Committees of Finance and Industry. Meetings with MPs and bureaucratic policy advisors allowed the CIQS to emphasize the importance of advocacy and awareness of government actions by industry members. Notably, the focus of discussions was utilizing PushPolitics as a resource to inform members of ongoing government work, while ensuring legislators are held accountable for these actions.

The purpose of advocacy is to make our voices heard by governments. Together we can show that our help on infrastructure projects makes their dollar go further and that we can anticipate challenges before they become problems. Through our advocacy, the CIQS is working to ensure that our PQSs and CECs have a place at the table when discussing Canada’s long-term infrastructure needs. Through the use of online advocacy tools, such as PushPolitics, the CIQS is able to communicate a common message to our representatives and ensure that our voice is being heard.

Over the coming months, the CIQS will continue its advocacy and reach a plan to engage politicians and stakeholders at all levels of government. In the spring, IMPACT Public Affairs President, Huw Williams, will host a webinar discussing the state of play in Canadian politics and how industry professionals can become further involved in helping with our advocacy work. Whether it is federal or provincial, PushPolitics can be used to engage general membership with advocacy and ensure that your voice and our industry are heard by our representatives. At a time of economic uncertainty while working to revolutionize our infrastructure, it is imperative that we are deriving the greatest return from our public investments. The CIQS believes that construction economists can work with the government to make this possible through entrenching improved analysis, risk assessments and cost planning into our federal planning and procurement model.

The CIQS remains committed to elevating construction economics across Canada and contributing to a vibrant and sustainable Canadian construction industry. CIQS members are ready and willing to work with the federal government to ensure the next generation of Canadian infrastructure is modern, green and cost-effective.

CIQS – British Columbia

Dingying Tang, CEC

Dylan Joseph Hoogveld, CEC

Jamie Steven Hummelman, CEC

Jared Vandergaag, CEC

Lam Yiu Hing, PQS

Moiz Mohammed, CEC

Tim Ik Hyun Kim, CEC

Trishna Mae Duran, CEC

CIQS – Maritimes

Ahmed Eid, CEC

Christopher Noye, CEC

Kirk Sutherland, CEC

Ryan William Duncan, PQS

CIQS – Members at Large

Abiodun Emmanuel Ayinde, CEC

Chakrawarthige Danika Mithuranga

Fernando, PQS

David Louis Mugabe, CEC

Hallinna Lokuge Niroshan

Rangajeewa Perera, PQS

Huiyuan Li, PQS

Jian Zhao, PQS

John Parakatt Oommen, CEC

Joseph Lupupa Chikonde, PQS

Matthew John Bergstrom, CEC

Prasanna Samarasinghe, CEC

Sachin Raosaheb Phunde, CEC Said Diab, CEC

CIQS – Ontario

Ahmed M. Bahgat Elsayed, PQS

Aidin Shirahmadi Ghalebaghi, CEC

Alex Paul, PQS

Ariadne Marques De Mendonça,

PQS

Bijal M. Dalal, PQS

Brian Paul Maillet, CEC

Chaminda Ruchira Jayamini

Kulatilaka, PQS

Don Smail, CEC

Firdaus Subeya Sode, PQS

Juan Trujillo, CEC

Jun Rey B. Lupina, CEC

Kiran Kumar Giri Babu, CEC

Lawrence Martin, CEC

Marc Vincent Oosthuizen, CEC

Mary Ann C. Lupina, CEC

Mary France Navarro Luyun, CEC

Michael Montroy, CEC

Mohammad Aldaaja, CEC

Nicole Bi, CEC

Obinna John Okoli, CEC

Poon Ying Chi, PQS

Russi Rohitbhai Modi, CEC

Samih Abdellatif Eldaw Yousif, CEC

Sarvesh Patel, CEC

About the Author

Brandon Vieira is a Public Affairs Associate with IMPACT Public Affairs in Ottawa, Ont. Brandon works with a variety of clients to engage the government on Canadian infrastructure issues, including the Canadian Institute of Quantity Surveyors.

Tanya Mead, CEC

Vinayak Bhardwaj, CEC

Yagnavel Paramanandam, CEC

Yang Shi, CEC

Yuk Chi Wong, CEC

CIQS – Prairies and NWT

Ayodeji Temitope Ogundari, PQS

Bernadette Andrea Konwat, CEC

Bernard B. Catacutan, CEC

Eduard Langemann, CEC

Field Marshall M. Manzano, CEC

Harkiran Sohal, CEC

Lisa Roche, PQS

Thomas Morawiec, CEC

Tsz Ming Tsang, CEC

Vincent Byrne, PQS

Zoran Jovanovic, CEC

CIQS – Québec

Adam Ajg Drouin, ECC

Amin Jahanshahi, PQS

Bodoseheno Albertine

Ramiadantsalama, CEC

Jaime Jimenez, CEC

Meena Hamati, CEC

Moatassem Moussa, CEC