An Open Letter to Minister Peter Guthrie on Behalf of Calgary's Construction Industry

Dear Minister Peter Guthrie :

On behalf of the Calgary Construction Association, we extend our sincere congratulations on your recent appointment as the Government of Alberta’s Minister of Infrastructure. We are confident that under your capable stewardship, our province's infrastructure will thrive, enabling sustainable growth and development in Calgary and the Southern Alberta region.

Formed in 1944, the Calgary Construction Association (CCA) is a professional association of over 850 member companies throughout the Calgary region. Through our partnerships with the residential and commercial construction industry, we represent over 80,000 Calgarians and their families. As advocates for the construction industry, our mission is to help our members thrive now and into the future. Our goal is to provide our members with leading-edge services and opportunities to advance the industry’s development, advocate for the industry, provide professional development, and develop industry relationships.

In light of this, we would like to bring to your attention some key priorities and concerns from Calgary's construction industry that we believe warrant attention and collaborative action. These priorities formed the basis of our Building a Better Calgary Provincial Election platform and include:

1. Supporting a Strong Construction Workforce in Alberta. The shortage of skilled construction workers is causing concerns about potential delays and increased costs in the industry. We call on your government to protect and increase funding for apprentice enrollment and post-secondary institutions, build and expand on the Alberta is Calling campaign to attract new skilled workers to Alberta, and work with the Government of Canada to expand the Provincial Nominee Program.
2. Issues and Public Procurement and Risk: Existing procurement practices have resulted in costly interruptions to capital projects and the adoption of increasingly untenable risk profiles for the industry. We call on your Government to improve alignment between IA, AT, AHS and Alberta Education procurement practices, and to appoint a ministerial task force on risk assessment with representation from the Calgary and Edmonton Construction Associations.
3. Supporting Calgary Through Strong Infrastructure: The City of Calgary is growing at a rapid rate and will do so throughout this decade. Whether it be roads, public transportation or civic amenities, there is a role for the Government of Alberta to play in procuring construction projects that will improve the quality of life for Calgarians.

Given the significance of these issues, we kindly request an opportunity to meet with you and your team at your earliest convenience. A meeting would allow us to further discuss our industry's perspectives, share specific recommendations, and explore potential avenues for collaboration. We believe that an open and ongoing dialogue between the Government of Alberta and the Calgary Construction industry is vital for the successful implementation of infrastructure initiatives and achieving the desired outcomes for our province and its residents.

Please let us know of a suitable date and time for the meeting, and we will make the necessary arrangements to accommodate your schedule. We look forward to the opportunity to collaborate with you, leveraging our industry expertise to contribute to the prosperity and sustainability of our province's urban areas.

Once again, congratulations on your appointment as the Provincial Minister of Infrastructure. We have every confidence in your ability to lead our province's infrastructure efforts and look forward to working closely with you.