November/December 2020 Funding Water Infrastructure Protecting the Port Lands E-permitting Solutions DISRUPTIVE EVENTS Protecting Infrastructure from the Unexpected
Contents
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2020
POLITICS INNOVATION 8 From the Throne 26 Solution Permitted? Federal government promises Understanding how resilient infrastructure initiatives infrastructure does more than in fall speech. just protect communities from By Andrew Macklin he impacts of climate change. By Richard Lyall and Arash Shahi 10 How Important is Infrastructure? 28 NextGen Paving New Brunswick has a New, permeable solutions are new majority government. helping to address resiliency What will that for infrastructure concerns for grey infrastructure. development in the province? By Mark Wessel By Catherine Lansley and Patty Toner TOP100 PROJECTS 12 30 Top100 DESIGN Projects Preview 12 Designing A look at the industry trends for Disruption impacting the development of What Canadian infrastructure infrastructure megaprojects designers need to keep in mind across Canada. when designing infrastructure By Andrew Macklin that can adapt to disasters. 32 Top100 By Andrew Macklin Projects Update Darlington reaches a ENERGY milestone, YVR scales back 16 Turning its capital project. Down the Heat DEPARTMENTS 20 Providing guidance for mitigating the impacts of wildfires on electricity 4 Editor’s Note transmission infrastructure in Canada. Andrew Macklin on why the By Justin Crewson, Dan Gent, release of an education-based and Shahrzad Simab P3 is a good sign for future infrastructure development WATER in Alberta. 20 Funding Water 5 Front Infrastructure New Patient Care Tower A closer look at the investments for Prince George, Sask. being made by the federal Transportation Investment government for community 18 Panorama water infrastructure. Powered Up By Simran Chattha 16 24 33 People & Events 24 Protecting Appointments, announcements, the Port Lands company news, and event reports. Fifteen years since the project 34 Closing Shot began, Toronto’s waterfront An excavator is changing region will soon be protected he way we communicate from growing flood risks. with communities. By Mira Shenker By Rocky the Rock Ripper
View this year’s See photos of the Key Players Top100 report at and Owners Dinner at 28 top100projects.ca top100projects.ca/celebrate renewcanada.net November/December 2020 ReNew Canada 3 Editor’s Note
The pandemic has reinforced our need to think about how resilient our infrastructure is in the wake of a disruptive P3 DEVELOPMENT event. For more on this story, turn to page 12.
BACK IN ALBERTA November/December 2020 Volume 18 Number 6
By Andrew Macklin MANAGING EDITOR Andrew Macklin
t was a welcome sign when record for delivering these types of GROUP PUBLISHER Todd Latham the Government of Alberta projects as P3s. That could also spark PUBLISHER Nick Krukowski announced on September 9th that renewed hope for the Fort McMurray I ART DIRECTOR AND a Request for Qualifications had been region, one that is still calling for a Donna Endacott SENIOR DESIGNER issued for a package of five high schools second major highway to be developed to be delivered using the P3 model. in the wake of the transportation ASSOCIATE EDITOR Simran Chattha DIGITAL MARKETING Under the previous NDP chaos that erupted during the Horse Becky Umweni government, led by Rachel Notley, River fire in May 2016. COORDINATOR public-private partnerships had been This could also be a positive sign DIGITAL EDITOR Connie Vitello
frowned upon for infrastructure for the tourism industry in the EVENT MANAGER Natasha Mawji development. The government did not province. You may recall that, in June, CONTRIBUTORS Justin Crewson, Dan Gent, cancel any of the P3 projects already a Memorandum of Understanding was Catherine Lansley, Richard Lyall, on the books from the previous signed between the Government of Arash Shahi, Mira Shenker, Shahrzad Simab, Patty Toner, Conservative government, but did not Alberta and the Canada Infrastructure Mark Wessel pursue any of their own. Bank for the completion of studies Nick Krukowski ADVERTISING When the new Conservative and due diligence for the Calgary- [email protected] government was elected in April 2019, Banff rail project. Once those studies ADVISORS Nick Reid, James Sbrolla the belief was that the province would are complete, if the rail project again embrace the use of P3s, as it had builds a successful economic and previously with such projects as the environmental case for proceeding, Calgary and Edmonton ring roads. the province could look to a P3 to Just seven months after the election, deliver the project. Infrastructure Minister Prasad Panda The biggest question now is which announced that the business case sectors will the province focus on for for the aforementioned package of the delivery of P3 projects? Will it be schools would be developed with the a case-by-case basis across all sectors, use of the P3 model. or will it be more defined than that? At a time where the province In addition to the transportation ReNew Canada is published is struggling for revenues, and projects mentioned, could we see six times a year by Actual Media Inc. cuts had previously been made to the delivery method used for the infrastructure budget pre-COVID, construction of new hospitals? We’ll 150 Eglinton Ave. E, #806, Toronto, ON M4P 1E8 this is the positive long-term signal have to wait and see. Phone: 416-444-5842 that the industry needed from Regardless of your own personal Subscription/customer services: 416-444-5842 ext. 7 Alberta. It is a signal that, as the feeling towards the public-private province works towards balancing its partnership model, it’s at least budget in difficult economic times, good to see that the Government ReNew Canada subscriptions are important infrastructure projects will of Alberta is not ruling anything available for $39.95/year or $64.95/two years and include the annual Top100 Projects report. continue to get built. out when it comes to delivering That’s not only a positive sign for major infrastructure projects in ©2020 Actual Media Inc. All rights reserved. this industry, but a few others as well. communities across the province. The contents of this publication may not be reproduced by any means in whole or in part, without For the resources market, this means prior written consent from the publisher. that significant upgrades to the rural Printed in Canada transportation necessitated by the "ReNew Canada" and "ReThink. ReBuild. ReNew" need for further movement of goods Andrew Macklin is the managing are Trademarks of Actual Media Inc. should still move forward, as previous editor of ReNew Canada. Conservative governments had a track [email protected]
Join the conversation. Search “ReNew Canada” on LinkedIn. For daily news and discussion, visit Undeliverable mail return to: 150 Eglinton Ave. E, #806, Toronto, ON M4P 1E8 @ReNewCanada /ReNewCanada Canadian Publications Mail Product Sales Agreement 40854046 ISSN 1715-6734
4 ReNew Canada November/December 2020 renewcanada.net ABOUT THE COVER Front
The pandemic has reinforced our need to think about how The new patient tower will expand health care access in Prince George. resilient our infrastructure is in the wake of a disruptive event. For more on this story, turn to page 12.
CORTELLUCCI VAUGHAN HOSPITAL REACHES SUBSTANTIAL COMPLETION Credit: Infrastructure Ontario
NEW PATIENT
Substantial completion of the new Cortellucci Vaughan Hospital, the first net new hospital to be built in Ontario in TOWER APPROVED more than 30 years, has been reached. The milestone signals the completion of the bulk of construction on the project and FOR UHNBC the start of months of work ahead to ensure the hospital is ready to provide patient care. When it opens in early 2021, he Government of British Columbia has approved the Cortellucci Vaughan Hospital will double access to care for the concept plan for a new patient care tower, including communities of Vaughan, King, and Richmond Hill, and add T a new cardiac care unit, at University Hospital of necessary capacity to the health care system. Northern British Columbia (UHNBC) in Prince George. Construction on Cortellucci Vaughan Hospital broke ground “UHNBC has needed redevelopment for years and in my in October 2016. The project was delivered by Plenary Health, visits to the community I have personally seen how out-of- along with partners PCL Constructors Canada Inc., Stantec, and date the current facility is,” said Adrian Dix, Minister of Johnson Controls. The project reached substantial completion Health. “Today’s action speaks to the future—in particular on August 26. the ability to deliver improved cardiac care services in the With construction substantially complete on Cortellucci North. This has been a goal for a long time and I am proud to Vaughan Hospital, Mackenzie Health teams will begin the task be part of making it happen. Congratulations to the Northern of turning the building into a fully functional hospital so that Health Authority, the Prince George community and the it can safely open its doors to patients. This includes installing entire region for this breakthrough.” and testing thousands of pieces of equipment, training more The current hospital is outdated and too small to safely than 3,000 staff across both sites, and developing and simulating accommodate the needs of a growing and aging regional a number of mock patient scenarios. population. Local leaders have specifically identified cardiac To date, the provincial government has invested $1.3 billion care as an important service gap for a new facility to address. for construction of the project. An additional $178 million has Northern Health submitted a concept plan to the provincial been raised from the community to date as part of Mackenzie government in December 2017, which was amended in Health Foundation’s $250 million Ultimate campaign. February 2020. The Treasury Board approved that concept plan—securing funding for the project in the government’s 10-year capital plan. NEXT ISSUE: JANUARY/FEBRUARY The business plan phase will now get underway and will finalize details, such as scope of the new facility and budget. THE TOP100 PROJECTS ISSUE This includes providing details for a variety of acute care services for the facility, including new mental health, surgical, Megaproject A Price on Lasting Change and cardiac units. This stage takes approximately 12 to 18 Landscape Transportation months. Upon approval of the business plan, the project will The long-term proceed to procurement, then construction. Where Canada’s Should cities impacts of This announcement builds on government’s investments in largest projects are start charging for COVID-19 on the North, including new and expanded hospitals in Terrace, being built. road use? construction. Fort St. James, Dawson Creek, and Quesnel, delivering public healthcare in state-of-the art centres. UHNBC was built in 1958 and was originally called Prince Advertising Deadline: November 13, 2020 George Regional Hospital. Additions were completed in 1978 To reach our influential readers in print and 2003. There are 10 additional buildings that make up the and online, contact [email protected] 216-bed UHNBC site.
renewcanada.net November/December 2020 ReNew Canada 5 Front
SASKATCHEWAN DISTRIBUTES TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT FUNDS
The Province of Saskatchewan recently The four larger centres are receiving the recovery following the pandemic. announced the distribution of $70.3 following transit allocations: Saskatoon The 50-kilometre project will be delivered million to municipal governments to is receiving $4.3 million, Regina is in two stages. The first 21-kilometre section assist with COVID-19 pandemic relief, as receiving $3.5 million, Moose Jaw is from Spiritwood to Leoville will be tendered Saskatchewan’s portion of the federal Safe receiving $161,000, and Prince Albert is this fall, while the second segment, from Restart Canada Plan. Government Relations receiving $141,000. Leoville to Chitek Lake is expected to be Minister Lori Carr announced the money This federal funding was matched by funds tendered in the spring. Construction is will begin to be distributed immediately to from Saskatchewan’s Municipal Economic scheduled to begin in 2021. all compliant Saskatchewan municipalities. Enhancement Program. Highway 24 is located west of Prince Of the amount, $62.26 million will be The Government of Saskatchewan is also Albert, and provides community access to granted in general municipal support on a rebuilding 50 kilometres of Highway 24 the village of Leoville and Pelican Lake First per capita basis, while $8.07 million will be between Spiritwood and Chitek Lake. This Nation, and access to Chitek Lake. This allocated to municipal public transit support project is part of the government’s $7.5 corridor has high vehicle and truck traffic for for the four cities with transit systems, billion two-year capital plan to build a strong a regional road with more than a thousand based on ridership. Saskatchewan and stimulate the economic vehicles per day north of Spiritwood.
CALL FOR PROPOSALS TO STUDY MOBILITY AND PUBLIC TRANSIT Catherine McKenna, Minister of integrated transit planning, and they will new information and tools so they can make Infrastructure and Communities, and Ted identify the challenges for transit services smart decisions about public transportation Hewitt, president of the Social Sciences to maintain public health and safety in a infrastructure that will meet the needs of their and Humanities Research Council post-COVID-19 world. Summary reports communities today and well into the future.” (SSHRC), announced funding for up to 10 of the research will be made available to SSHRC has opened a call for proposals Knowledge Synthesis Grants on mobility the public to assist in developing future to the Canadian research community. and public transit. The projects will focus research agendas and support evidence- Applications are due by December 17, on consolidating and reviewing existing based decision-making. 2020, and evidence briefs summarizing the research findings, knowledge and data “Public transit allows Canadians to get findings and policy implications will be to better understand transit issues at the where they need to go quickly, cheaply made available in Fall 2021. community level, leading to better, more and efficiently. Now with the impact of Infrastructure Canada is providing $300,000 strategic infrastructure investments. the COVID-19 pandemic, understanding to SSHRC for up to 10 research grants that Researchers will examine topics such as the changing transit needs of Canadian are each $30,000. SSHRC will commit up to the social and economic implications of commuters is more important than ever,” $25,000 for the organization of a Knowledge unequal access to public transit, including said McKenna. “This project with the Social Mobilization Forum in fall 2021. in rural communities, the environmental Sciences and Humanities Research Council More information can be found on the and land use considerations around will give municipal leaders across Canada SSHRC website at sshrc-crsh.gc.ca.
6 ReNew Canada November/December 2020 renewcanada.net Sponsored Content Photo credit: Andrew Oliveira
RCCAO PROPOSES SIX-POINT PLAN TO SPEED UP UTILITY LOCATES
Excavation without proper utility locates, whether in a on helping contractors deliver projects on time and road allowance or for a residential backyard, can cause deadly more cost-effectively.” incidents. As such, it is critically important for the province’s The RCCAO brief recommends that: One Call System, which generates utility locates, to keep up 1 with the demand for timely information. The board of One Call be restructured so six of the 12 members are non-utility representatives. Construction contractors lose money when they must delay work while waiting for utilities and telecommunication firms to 2 Stakeholders and One Call work to maximize the provide markings. In Ontario, hundreds of municipal and other sharing of locate responses among contractors and infrastructure projects are held up because there are long wait subcontractors working on the same site. times for utilities to provide timely and reliable locate services. 3 All utilities be encouraged to maximize the validity RCCAO has proposed a six-point plan to speed up the delivery period of their locate tickets without impairing the of locates. The plan was sent to Premier Doug Ford, and the health and safety of workers and the public. Government and Consumer Services Minister. 4 Locate service providers be prequalified to locate Our brief noted that over the years the delivery of locates has all utilities, whenever possible. been chronically late. Ontario has a deadline of five business 5 One Call and utilities be required to differentiate days for locate responses, but these often come weeks after between single-address and multi-address locates. the deadline. 6 The need for additional locates be eliminated once a “Ontario needs significant improvement in response times as stationary vertical excavation has been dug below the we are depending on construction to be a leading sector in pandemic recovery efforts,” says RCCAO executive director depth of the lowest buried utility. Andy Manahan. “Reducing wait times will have a big impact Visit rccao.com to find out more.
@_RCCAO rccao.com Politics
FROM THE THRONE
Federal government promises infrastructure initiatives in fall speech.
By Andrew Macklin
n a throne speech like no other in The focal point of the plan was a multi- energy technologies on Canadian soil, such Canadian history, with social distancing tiered approach to emissions reductions as next generation batteries, thanks to the I measures in place and two opposition across the country. natural resources found in Canada. With party leaders force to observe from home due “The Government will immediately materials and expertise already on Canadian to COVID-19 quarantine measures, the federal bring forward a plan to exceed Canada’s soil, further supports are being put in place government made significant commitments to 2030 climate goal. The Government will to encourage the growth of this emerging new infrastructure for the country. also legislate Canada’s goal of net-zero technology market: “The Government will Leading up to the speech, it was expected emissions by 2050. launch a new fund to attract investments that new spending would focus on a green As part of its plan, the Government will: in making zero-emissions products and agenda, but as the second wave of COVID- cut the corporate tax rate in half for these Create thousands of jobs retrofitting 19 hit several regions throughout the • companies to create jobs and make Canada a homes and buildings, cutting energy country, this message was toned down to world leader in clean technology.” costs for Canadian families and focus on economic and health priorities. But A keen focus on continuing the drive businesses; there was no lack of public infrastructure towards clean energy was also demonstrated investment as part of the tweaked fall • Invest in reducing the impact of in the speech, as the government looks to government agenda. climate-related disasters, like floods and continue to transition all provinces and Here are some of the details of the key wildfires, to make communities safer territories away from carbon-emitting power investments, programs, and commitments as and more resilient; generation. This includes transforming “how presented in the Throne Speech, delivered in • Help deliver more transit and active we power our economy and communities by the Senate on September 23. transit options; moving forward with the Clean Power Fund, including with projects like the Atlantic And make zero-emissions vehicles Taking action on climate change • Loop that will connect surplus clean power more affordable while investing in more As expected, a section of the Throne to regions transitioning away from coal; and Speech was committed to addressing charging stations across the country.” support investments in renewable energy issues surrounding green priorities for The federal government cited exciting and next-generation clean energy and the government. opportunities in the development of new technology solutions.”
8 ReNew Canada November/December 2020 renewcanada.net Politics
Adding green space in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. A lack of access to clean water, medical Another vulnerability exposed during the services and supplies, food stocks, and pandemic was the lack of green space in some broadband services were among the key of Canada’s urban centres, as people flocked problems that continue to go under- to parks during the warm weather to escape addressed, and became even worse in the being behind closed doors for the majority early weeks of the pandemic. It led to some of the week. The speech included a note shutting down access to their communities about expanding public spaces, stating that: and having to make do with the limited “This pandemic has reminded Canadians of supplies they had in an effort just to keep the importance of nature. The Government themselves safe. will work with municipalities as part of a Broadband and health care issues were new commitment to expand urban parks, addressed within the speech, which also so that everyone has access to green space. included a few separate notes about With the importance of nature demonstrated This will be done while protecting a quarter infrastructure, with the government during the pandemic. Prime Minister Justin of Canada’s land and a quarter of Canada’s stating its commitment to “continuing to Trudeau (inset) used the Throne Speech to oceans in five years, and using nature-based announce a plan to expand urban green space. close the infrastructure gap in Indigenous solutions to fight climate change, including communities, working on a distinctions- by planting two billion trees.” basis with First Nations, Inuit, and the How this will manifest will be key as Métis Nation to accelerate the government’s development picks up again in the months 10-year commitment. The Government will ahead. The call to “expand urban parks” also make additional resiliency investments could take on many forms, from provisions to meet the clean drinking water in the national building code for the creation commitment in First Nations communities.” or maintenance of green space, to federal The government’s self-imposed deadline for investment in municipal greening initiatives. ensuring all First Nations communities have access to clean drinking water is coming fast, New approach to water and the need for new infrastructure solutions to In the past few months, we have heard some meet current demand could be on the horizon. new language around the federal government commitment to water infrastructure, and Fixing the national supply chain that language continued in the plans for the It was a fleeting note in the speech, but one Expanding broadband access fall agenda. that will be very important for infrastructure One of the clearest vulnerabilities exposed “The Government will create a new development in the weeks and months ahead. during the COVID-19 pandemic was Canada Water Agency to keep our water safe, As companies look for access to resources the lack of consistent, or any, access to clean, and well-managed. The Government and skilled personnel to meet the demands broadband services in communities across will also identify opportunities to build more of increasing infrastructure investment, the country. This wasn’t just an issue in resilient water and irrigation infrastructure. barriers that will slow construction need to rural communities, but in pockets scattered At the same time, the Government will be eliminated. throughout the urban landscape. Recognizing look at continuing to grow Canada’s ocean That’s why it will be important to observe this, the Government of Canada announced economy to create opportunities for fishers how the government keeps a notable it will take action. and coastal communities, while advancing commitment made in the speech: “Now, more than ever, Canadians must work together—including by eliminating The Government will work with municipalities remaining barriers between provinces to full, free internal trade—to get the economy back as part of a new commitment to expand urban parks, up and running and Canadians back to work.” Being able to share resources across so that everyone has access to green space. provincial lines, rather than relying on shipments and personnel from other jurisdictions, could go a long way in keeping “The Government will accelerate the reconciliation and conservation objectives. infrastructure projects on track. connectivity timelines and ambitions of the Investing in the Blue Economy will help With a throne speech dedicated to keeping Universal Broadband Fund to ensure that all Canada prosper.” Canadians healthy and attempting to keep Canadians, no matter where they live, have How the government chooses to define the economy rolling, it will be important to access to high-speed internet.” its spending priorities for “more resilient watch how the government does in executing The Universal Broadband Fund calls for water and irrigation infrastructure” will its new commitments to infrastructure every Canadian to have access to high-speed be important for municipalities who have development across the country. internet at minimum speeds of 50/10 Mbps suffered from recent flood events. (Megabytes per second), with a plan to invest up to $6 billion over 10 years. The fund was Bridging the Indigenous gap originally introduced in the government’s A multitude of issues have been exposed in Andrew Macklin is the managing budget presented in March 2019. Indigenous communities across the country editor of ReNew Canada. renewcanada.net November/December 2020 ReNew Canada 9 Politics Inset credit: of New Brunswick Government HOW IMPORTANT IS INFRASTRUCTURE?
Nuclear power remains the focus on energy development in the province, and the new government will continue to invest in the development of small modular nuclear technology. Inset: New Brunswick Premier, Blaine Higgs.
How the sector could be impacted by New Brunswick’s majority government.
By Catherine Lansley and Patty Toner
n September 14th New Brunswick snap election on August 17 citing the need for philosophies for dealing with the economic went to the polls and delivered stability in a difficult time for the province. fallout of the pandemic. The PCs looked O Premier Blaine Higgs a majority When the election campaign began, to get the province’s financial house in Progressive Conservative government in Higgs was enjoying high approval levels order, and the Liberals saw infrastructure Canada’s first election since the beginning and, throughout the campaign, COVID-19 investment as a tool for recovery. of the COVID-19 pandemic. Higgs took and health care were top concerns. Higgs’ The PC’s emphasized fiscal prudence, advantage of the popularity boost most majority election win is the first re-election with digital transformation of public premiers have experienced as a result of the of a provincial government in the province services featuring high on the agenda. pandemic to secure the majority, successfully since 2003 and gives the PCs a mandate to Enhanced connectivity was also a priority making the point that stability was needed continue to execute COVID-related programs with a pledge to expand rural broadband given the pandemic-induced climate of without needing to rely on the support of and setting a goal of province-wide 5G. uncertainty. The snap election may be a trend other parties. The PC platform pointed to a $62 million copied by other provinces, but the approach Premier Higgs had been in his role since commitment for housing in the first three to economic recovery looks to be an outlier 2018 having narrowly won the most seats, years of a 10-year program agreed with the when it comes to infrastructure spending. but failing to win an outright majority and federal government, including new builds also losing the popular vote to the incumbent and repairs, and exceeding National Building Stability on the east coast Liberals. This election saw the Progressive Code requirements on energy consumption August was a tumultuous month for politics Conservatives win 27 of the province’s and greenhouse gas emissions. They also in Atlantic Canada. Stephen McNeil, the 49 ridings, two more seats than the 25 point to their investments in building Premier of Nova Scotia, announced he would required for a majority government. The retrofits and recycling, with expansions of step down once a replacement is selected. Liberals took 17 seats, 4 fewer than in 2018, the glass recycling program, a ban on single Andrew Furey was sworn in as the new the Green Party kept their three seats and use plastics, and a shift towards extended Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador the People’s Alliance won two seats. producer responsibility to divert more waste after his predecessor Dwight Ball announced from landfill. he would stand down in February. New Spending versus saving In their first capital budget in 2018, the Brunswick’s Premier Blaine Higgs called the The election was fought on two different PCs cut planned infrastructure spending by
10 ReNew Canada November/December 2020 renewcanada.net Politics a third on the level promised by the previous government. In a December 2019 capital Surprisingly, infrastructure was not a key budget update, Premier Higgs trimmed again issue during the election campaign in New Brunswick, which resulted in Premier Blaine reducing capital spending to just under $600 Higgs capturing a majority government. million, a small reduction on the previous year. This came after Premier Higgs had cancelled a number of infrastructure projects early in his first mandate. These projects included Route 11 upgrades, refurbishing Fredericton’s Centennial Building and constructing a new courthouse attached to it, replacing the New Brunswick Museum in Saint John, and road work in the Perth- Andover. This came with a price tag of $31 million in cancellation costs. On the campaign trail Liberal Leader Kevin Vickers had promised to leverage more federal money to pay for infrastructure projects and criticizing Higgs’ project cancellations. Highlighting that of the $673 million set aside in the federal Investing in Canada plan for New Brunswick, 78 per from nuclear reactors, New Brunswick has infrastructure projects in recent years as part cent remained unallocated. The Liberals hitched its wagon to the technology going of their economic development plans. Under also committed to implementing a 10-year forward. Higgs has thrown his support Premier Higgs, New Brunswick remains agreement with the federal government, behind the development of small modular focused on belt tightening. signed under the former Liberal Premier, nuclear reactor (SMR) technology. The The province is projected to run one to renew and expand social and community province has one of the more eclectic energy the lowest budget deficits in 2020-21, and housing and to continue to develop mixes in Canada with nuclear generating although the debt to GDP stands at around the five scenic drives and the signature 30 per cent, renewables including hydro 38 per cent it sits in the middle of the pack trails program. around 50 per cent, and coal still being used compared to other provinces. Premier Higgs points to the work done prior to the pandemic as being critical in putting the Enhanced connectivity was also a priority province on a sound footing to cope with the economic fallout. with a pledge to expand rural broadband and A trendsetter? Where New Brunswick may stand alone setting a goal of province-wide 5G. on cutting capital budgets, it could become a trendsetter for snap elections amongst jurisdictions with minority governments. Premier Higgs argued for the need for for 20 per cent on electricity generation. British Columbia already followed suit, greater flexibility on federal infrastructure New Brunswick’s only nuclear plant at and the federal government will look on in funding, claiming the program was designed Point Lepreau started operations in 1983 envy at Premier Higgs’ majority mandate. for larger cities. Prior to the election the and underwent a refurbishment that was There is a word of caution though. Although Premier was under fire for opting out of completed in 2012 to extend its life by an Premier Higgs’ managed to convert his discussions with the federal government expected 25 to 30 years. Looking to the upswing in popularity, the optics of throwing related to COVID-relief funding for transit future the province signed a Memorandum an election in larger provinces struggling systems. His response was that he had not of Understanding with Ontario and to manage growing COVID-case levels been made aware of details of a federal Saskatchewan, and more recently Alberta, may backfire as a dangerous move and transit relief program following discussions to develop the technology and produced its political opportunism. with the provinces, believing it to be designed own SMR Action Plan. for larger transit systems which would not apply to New Brunswick. The federal offer Island on the mainland was to compensate all transit systems across Although New Brunswick is firmly Canada for pandemic-related revenue losses anchored on the Canadian mainland it has and enhanced cleaning and other expenses, been an island in its approach to economic if host provinces would share half the cost. recovery. Conservative governments in Saskatchewan and Manitoba made The nuclear option substantial additional commitments to While infrastructure commitments in the infrastructure. Alberta accelerated projects Catherine Lansley is a research analyst PC platform were thin on the ground, one and spending, and Ontario largely held the with Global Public Affairs in Ottawa. area of promise is in energy. As one of two line on commitments made. Neighbouring Patty Toner is a senior consultant with provinces that currently generates electricity provinces have also ramped up ambitions on Global Public Affairs in Ottawa. renewcanada.net November/December 2020 ReNew Canada 11 Design
DESIGNING FOR DISRUPTION
Infrastructure solutions that will ready Canada for whatever comes next.
By Andrew Macklin
hen the COVID-19 pandemic hit Vulnerabilities exposed pointed to the security of our assets as Canada in March, it was clear an issue that was encountered early on. The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic made that we weren’t ready. Even in “We are not as cyber secure as we thought W it abundantly clear just how unprepared the industries that did their due diligence to we might be,” said Baksh, who pointed to Canada was for a nationwide disruptive plan for a disruptive event, the widespread the cyberattack on Zoom early on in the event of this nature. All three panellists impact of the pandemic was greater than pandemic as an example of the vulnerability agreed that while we weren’t ready for it, expected. Governments, industries, and the that was exposed in our online security. we did react well to what happened, but general public had to move quickly to react He noted that, if the infrastructure sector vulnerabilities were certainly exposed. continues to work towards automation to what had happened, and vulnerabilities “An obvious one was our infrastructure,” and remote-control operation in the sector, were exposed. explained Martin Bureau, vice president significantly increased cyber security will ReNew Canada, in collaboration with of innovation at Logistec. “One concrete also have to be introduced. Logistec, gathered industry leaders for a example is our streets. Sidewalks are not built conversation to analyze how the country in a way that we can avoid social contact.” For Heather Morgan, the sustainability and was caught off guard by the impact of the Bureau went on to mention that travel risk management lead for AECOM based in pandemic. The lived experience has provided logistics was also an immediate concern, New York City, the vulnerability that was a plethora of lessons that can now be learned as physical distancing was near impossible exposed wasn’t entirely clear without looking from, but only if Canada is prepared to invest with everyone travelling to work, and being at the life cycle of the pandemic. It started with the money and resources to do so. Is the at work, at the same time as everyone else the worst-case scenario and played its way investment in a proactive approach a better in the company, making it near impossible back, showing a number of vulnerabilities expense than the money saved from doing to keep a reasonable distance away from that needed to be immediately addressed: very little or nothing to protect the country commuters and colleagues alike. • Where do you put the bodies when the from whatever comes next? Rory Baksh, a partner at Dillon Consulting, morgue is full?
12 ReNew Canada November/December 2020 renewcanada.net Design
Emergency response protocols can be developed for disruptive events of all kinds, not just natural disasters such as forest fires and severe weather events.
The development of resilient infrastructure can be beneficial during all kinds of disruptive events, such as developing stronger broadband that would allow work and school to be conducted from home in the event of a weather event like a snowstorm.
Disruptive events must be considered as part of land use planning, ensuring capacity is available for such things as mobile hospital units within a community.
• Does that location have refrigeration? needed to support the disruptive event? sector, that need to play the scenario out • How do you safely transport them? needs also to be applied to the way people Land planning for disruption move within the community. There is the Do you need onsite crematoriums to • The demands on the health care sector were aforementioned issue regarding sidewalks, eliminate the concern? exposed not just from a capacity issue, but which don’t allow for people to walk past • What do you do with the contaminated from the perspective of the planning and each other while still keeping six feet apart. human waste as it enters the flexibility of the space at facilities. This issue can, in part, be eliminated by the wastewater system? From an exterior perspective, few addition of bicycle lanes on major streets, • How do you protect the workers hospitals found themselves in a position to giving pedestrians the extra space to move involved in the process, especially add temporary facilities to meet the increase around each other while walking. if they have to be quarantined away needs for beds, isolation, and/or testing The issues hampering pedestrian from their families? capacity. In terms of interior capacity, movement also includes green space, an increasing issue in major urban centres. Toronto became the epicentre The need to accelerate the installation of of this issue in the early weeks on the pandemic, as people flocked outside in the reliable IT and broadband infrastructure is a nice weather, but failing to keep proper physical distance in the process. The lack key lesson learned from the pandemic. of green spaces in populous urban centres, places where people can get outside to maintain a high quality of life, is another It’s a morbid way of examining the having the ability to quarantine a portion of the vulnerabilities exposed during situation, but it does demonstrate where of the hospital or health care centre to just the pandemic. some of the unexpected infrastructure address the demands of the pandemic, was Baksh also pointed to under-utilized demands were exposed. Without playing demonstrated as a necessity. But few health community facilities, and how long they out such a scenario, understanding the care systems had a plan for this in place, or sat idle during the pandemic. He suggested entire life cycle of the pandemic, how can lacked the flexibility to create such a space. that communities should take a closer you understand what infrastructure is Outside of the demands on the health care look at these centres and re-imagine renewcanada.net November/December 2020 ReNew Canada 13 Design
inaccurate information that can be pushed in part, through such solutions. out through social media platforms, but Bureau suggested that a change to the THE IMPACT OF also to give residents the opportunity to do current system of project procurement in DISRUPTION something about the situation at hand. “You Canada would create stronger assets that want people to feel that they’ve been given could lessen the impact of a disruptive information that empowers them, that they event. He believes that the entire life cycle Do you think COVID-19 can do something about what is happening,” of the asset needs to be considered during exposed vulnerabilities in said Morgan. the procurement process, from the materials Canadian infrastructure? Baksh noted that this communication is used to build the project to the allocation Yes 93.5% also the opportunity to get the community and flexibility of space allocated. to look at infrastructure differently. He From Baksh’s point of view, the need to No 6.5% noted that citizens need to understand accelerate the installation of reliable IT and how infrastructure functioned during broadband infrastructure is a key lesson What type of disruptive events the pandemic, such as water, energy, and learned from the pandemic. Communities are cities LEAST prepared for? recreation, and engage the community that couldn’t get online suffered in their on how this gets funded This can help the ability to properly react to the pandemic, Disease 53.1% community grasp a greater appreciation for giving people the necessary resource that Flood 15.6% both the physical and human cost of keeping would allow them to work from home, stay Power Outage 9.4% the lights on, the water flowing, and parks in their bubble, and keep their distance Other 21.9% functioning, as well as how the reduction from others. And with the emergence of of transit revenues impacts the municipal e-medicine over the past several months, bottom line. the need for broadband access was What type of adaptive Bureau followed by focusing on streets, further demonstrated. public infrastructure is in and the fact that the pandemic provides an Sensor innovations in the water sector greatest need in Canada? opportunity to fully appreciate how they have proven to be a valuable asset for taking Mobile medical facilities 53.3% do, and should, function. By engaging the a proactive approach to disruption response. community, they can provide their own The evolving technology has the ability to Mobile water purification 26.7% solutions about what they think is necessary read elevated levels of chemicals and strains Mobile power centres 10% to reduce exposure but still be able to get in drinking water and wastewater, helping Other 10% around the city, regardless of the mode of to pinpoint the source of, in this case, transportation used. COVID-19 in the water. This application was used in Arizona, where COVID-19 A proactive approach detected in the wastewater from a university these locations from the perspective of an These are the types of conversations that residence helped prevent an outbreak that emergency; how could they be used to meet need to be had in the fallout from the could have impacted thousands of students. the local needs during a disruptive event? pandemic, and communities of all sizes There is also consideration to be given due their diligence to prepare for the next to the development a set of government Transparent communication disruptive event. protocols that can dictate some of He used the example of a library in his Morgan explained that greater storing the actions taken during a disruptive neighbourhood, one he frequents with his and staging for a disruptive event will be an event. During the COVID-19 pandemic, daughter, and wondered how it could have outcome of the pandemic. Among those will the provincial, territorial and federal been used for the benefit of the community. be green space, as cities ensure that quality governments decided on actions to take as One of those purposes is the clear of life, and the well-being of its residents, is things progressed, rather than referring to communication of local information related seen as a priority. This also includes smaller an action plan already in place. This is the system in place for floods and storm surges in the United States, Morgan noted, and Few hospitals found themselves in a position to add would be a valuable approach to all forms of disruptive events. temporary facilities to meet the increase needs With a trans-disciplinary, collaborative approach that involves all stakeholders, for beds, isolation, and/or testing capacity. public and private, a proactive approach to disruptive events can be designed. The actions taken to build infrastructure to the ongoing emergency. A centre can be cities, where even greater opportunities for that is flexible, considers the entire life used as a gathering spot for the distribution nature-based solutions are present. cycle, and explores the needs of a future of information, as well as any emergency “In second and third tier cities where disruptive event, can create more resilient resources. You can also circle back to the there’s more natural systems still intact and communities that can withstand what health care capacity issue, and wonder there is still green space, I think we need to comes next. if such a flexible multi-use facility could look really hard at what are those landscape become a testing centre or quarantine area. typologies and we can evolve them into Up front, clear communication is putting in nature-based features.” She important during the disruptive event. Not cited stormwater and residential flooding Andrew Macklin is the managing only because of the confusing and sometimes as something that can be addressed, editor of ReNew Canada.
14 ReNew Canada November/December 2020 renewcanada.net TOP100 PROJECTS DINNER: FEBRUARY 16, 2021
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As wildfires emerge in new regions of the Canadian landscape, the industry needs to understand how best to protect energy assets that are threatened as a result, ensuring communities have consistent access to power.
TURNING DOWN THE HEAT Electricity infrastructure wildfire mitigation and climate change adaptation.
By Justin Crewson, Dan Gent, and Shahrzad Simab
f you ask an electric utility professional including experts from Natural Resources an inventory of best practices for Canadian about what is top of mind for them Canada (NRCan), identifying a significant electric utilities, with the goal of reducing I day-to-day, you will likely hear increase in the geographical area burned by or eliminating ignitions from electricity some combination of safety, security, wildfires between 1959 and 2015 in Canada, infrastructure and promoting the sector’s sustainability, reliability and affordability and observed a doubling in the number resilience to wildfires, all while maintaining in response. If you ask around enough, you of large fires across the country. They also a safe and reliable service to customers. will start to notice that this list will almost found that the country’s fire season got two Utilities world-wide have become all too always begin with the word Safety is core to weeks longer over this period, with fires now aware of what is at stake. For instance, the how the electricity sector operates. The well-being of others is core to how the electricity sector operates. We go to great The sector’s mitigation concerns do not end lengths to ensure that safety awareness is engrained in the culture of our workforce. As a part of this drive, Canadian Electricity with wildfires. Climate change is also creating Association (CEA) member companies strive to be global leaders in infrastructure other threats to grid safety and reliability. maintenance, and the sector continues to search for ways to improve. In fact, best practice sharing is one of the key functions beginning approximately one week earlier 2018 Camp Fire in California was linked to that CEA provides stakeholders. and ending one week later. Since 1990 these Pacific Gas & Electric owned transmission Wildfire risks have long been a concern changes have become particularly acute. lines. Tragically, the fire resulted in over for electric utilities. However, as climate In response to this trend, and with safety 80 deaths and destroyed nearly 19,000 change intensifies, the risk and severity of as the focus, CEA recently led developed the properties. The Camp Fire reaffirmed the wildfires has been increasing. Researchers, Utility Wildfire Mitigation Guide. It provides criticality of developing strategies to mitigate
16 ReNew Canada November/December 2020 renewcanada.net Energy Source: CEA Fire Intensity from 1990-2019 (hectares per fire) indicating the clear against this heightened risk environment. upwards trendline in the intensity of fires since 1990. However, the sector’s mitigation concerns do not end with wildfires. Climate change is also creating other threats to grid safety and reliability. For instance, floods and other severe weather events have been on the rise in Canada. Large events such as these—which are outside of the control of a utility—are classified as significant events (i.e. events deemed catastrophic in nature). In 2018, Significant Events exceeded 50,000,000 Customer-Hours of Interruptions (CHI), the accumulated duration of outage events. Again in 2019, Canada was hit with 50,000,000 CHI. This marked the first time since CEA started capturing ME data in 2003 that CHIs recorded over 50 million in consecutive years.
While Canada’s over 80 per cent non- Source: CEA emitting generation capacity holds great Major and Significant Event Customer Hours of Interruptions (2015-2019) promise in terms of enabling the clean electrification of the Canadian economy, ensuring that the infrastructure required to deliver this energy is adapted for the increasing effects of climate change introduces some significant challenges. Governments, regulators, industry, and other stakeholders must work together to ensure that while we move towards the grid of the future, we are also implementing the safety and climate mitigation measures that this future requires. One clear role that CEA will play on behalf of the sector during this transition is to build upon and encourage strong partnerships with the federal government. Some important work has already been done towards this end. In 2017, NRCan partnered with CEA on a three-year project to develop climate adaptation planning guidelines for electricity the increased costs associated with that can work with the electricity sector companies in Canada. These guidelines are mitigation and adaptation practices such to identify such opportunities. Together intended to serve as recommended processes as burying power lines and reinforcing we can help to build the grid of the future, for utilities to follow when developing electricity structures. all while ensuring that SAFETY, security, company-specific climate adaptation plans. We can also look towards international sustainability, reliability and affordability Official publication of the climate adaptation jurisdictions facing similar issues. For remain top of mind. guidelines is planned for fall 2020, and as instance, the Florida Public Service part of this project, CEA has also held a Commission (PSC) has moved to fast-track series of workshops for electricity companies regulatory approval for storm-protection across Canada. These workshops facilitated projects to prepare our grids as quickly as hands-on understanding, interpretation, and possible for the new risk environment. application of the proposed guidelines. The American National Oceanic and However, more should be done to help Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) ensure we are prepared for the future. now shares satellite data and assets with Climate adaptation and mitigation will U.S. utilities during fire season to provide entail increased costs over current business advanced warning of potential new fires. Justin Crewson is the director of transmission and distribution policy practices, and governments and regulators Such information and asset sharing at the Canadian Electricity Association. should partner with industry to address this agreements represent low-hanging fruit for Dan Gent is the director of analytics reality. In its 2020 pre-budget submission, wildfire mitigation and climate adaption at the Canadian Electricity Association. CEA called for a Federal Climate Adaptation in Canada. Shahrzad Simab is the manager of climate Fund for electricity infrastructure. Such CEA urges the federal government to change and clean energy at the Canadian a fund could prove critical in offsetting consider developing a national task group Electricity Association. renewcanada.net November/December 2020 ReNew Canada 17 renewcanada.net
for details. November/December 2020 November/December ReNew Canada 18 ReNew and you may see it featured here. Email Managing Editor Andrew Macklin at [email protected] Send us your best infrastructure image,
Credit: Nalcor Energy Panorama
Powered Up Electricity flows from the Muskrat Falls project to the Labrador grid.. — Staff
renewcanada.net November/December 2020 ReNew Canada 19 Water FUNDING WATER INFRASTRUCTURE
Many federal programs are available to support municipal water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure.
What federal programs are available to help municipalities
fund water infrastructure? By Simran Chattha
ll levels of government in Canada tackling the municipal financial crisis (FCM) and crown corporations like the have been affected by the COVID- first, and the Prime Minister has created Canada Infrastructure Bank (CIB) have also A 19 pandemic in some way, shape, an opening to do that. Now all orders of been supporting projects. or form since March 2020. This is especially government need to seize this opportunity To explore current federal funding true for municipalities across the country. As to get support to the front lines where it’s so opportunities for municipal water reported by Water Canada, the Federation of urgently needed.” infrastructure, Water Canada and the Canadian Municipalities (FCM) was calling As conversations about a safe economic Canadian Water and Wastewater Association for emergency funding for municipalities restart have taken place, funding municipal (CWWA), with support from Logistec, hosted as early as April 2020 due to the economic infrastructure projects has been seen as the Window on Infrastructure webinar on impacts of COVID-19. a way to support the economic recovery September 16, 2020. “From turning arenas into safe shelters to deferring property taxes, municipal leaders are working flat-out to support Canadians through this pandemic,” said Beyond the direct funding that is available, FCM also FCM President Bill Karsten. “But with new expenses, staggering drops in revenue and no supports knowledge-sharing between municipalities. freedom to run deficits, municipalities need emergency funding to keep essential services going strong.” In June 2019, conversations started to take in communities across Canada. The A number of industry leaders joined the place about what would be needed to support federal government has made a number webinar including: a safe economic restart across the country. of announcements about investments Carl Bodimeade from Hatch “We need to work together to pull in drinking water, wastewater, and • Infrastructure. Canadians out of this pandemic and come stormwater (more information is available back even stronger,” said Karsten. “There’ll on watercanada.net). Organizations like • John Cuddihy, Natasha Faruqui, and be no full economic recovery without the Federation of Canadian Municipalities Katie Hogan from Infrastructure Canada.
20 ReNew Canada November/December 2020 renewcanada.net Water
• Patrick Kehoe and Matt Gemmell from program under the Investing in Canada “Under a traditional asset-based eligibility the Federation of Canadian Municipalities Plan and it is divided into four streams: model, we would be looking for water and (FCM). 1 Public transit stream, which wastewater investments,” added Hogan. “We would be looking at the standard pipes, pumps, Sashen Guneratna from the Canada has $20.1-billion allocated for • treatment stations, and things like that. Under Infrastructure Bank (CIB). projects. an outcomes-based eligibility model, we’ve • Hiran Sandanayake from the City of 2 Green infrastructure stream, identified the outcomes as being increased Ottawa. which has $9.2-billion allocated capacity to treat and manage wastewater for projects. • Indra Maharjan from the Ontario Clean and stormwater, and increased access to Water Agency (OCWA). 3 Community, culture, and potable water.” recreation stream, which has “Thinking about the outcomes-based model, if Government of Canada’s $1.3-billion allocated for projects. that’s the overall outcome we want to achieve, Investing in Canada the federal government is not being prescriptive 4 Rural and northern communities’ Infrastructure Program (ICIP) about how you achieve that,” noted Hogan. “We stream, which has $2.4-billion John Cuddihy, Natasha Faruqui, and could really be looking at innovative types of allocated towards for projects. Katie Hogan from Infrastructure Canada solutions for water purification and stormwater kicked off the Window on Infrastructure “The Investing in Canada management that would not have otherwise fit by providing some information about the Infrastructure program is an in a very restricted asset class-based model.” Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program outcomes-based eligibility model,” In March 2020, the federal government (ICIP) and how it has been adapted as a noted Hogan. “It basically moves started thinking about how it could help result of COVID-19. the vessel away from a traditional communities respond to the COVID- Hogan provided an overview of the asset-based model. The water and 19 pandemic. The Investing in Canada Investing in Canada Plan. According to wastewater context is the perfect Infrastructure Program was adapted in two Hogan, over $180-billion is expected to example to think about how that ways: a fifth funding stream (COVID-19 be invested into the program 12 years. outcomes-based approach can help Resilience Infrastructure) was created and She noted that the Investing in Canada identify more innovative projects to eligibility was temporarily expanded for three Infrastructure Program (ICIP) is the flagship do in your local communities.” of the four existing streams.
renewcanada.net November/December 2020 ReNew Canada 21 Water
According to a poll during the Window on Infrastructure webinar, many municipalities and companies have benefitted from the Federation of Canadian Municipalities’ Green Municipal Fund.
Federation of Canadian a small scale. This again is grant-based NEED FOR Municipalities’ (FCM) and is up to $500,000. Typically, [we ADDITIONAL FEDERAL Green Municipal Fund cover] about 50 per cent of eligible costs. FUNDING SUPPORT Patrick Kehoe, an advisor at FCM, provided However, municipalities under 20,000, so an update on the support that is available smaller municipalities, can request up to What type of water to municipalities through the well-known 80 per cent funding.” Green Municipal Fund. “Finally, we do have our capital infrastructure is in the greatest “The support comes in two ways: there is project financing,” added Kehoe. “The need of additional federal the direct funding aspect of it and there is a capital projects financing is based on funding support? resource end to it,” said Kehoe. “[There are] combination of low-interest loans and Wastewater 56.7% tools, instances for providing peer-to-peer grants. Typically, we are able to cover Drinking Water 26.7% support, and learning from others around up to 80 per cent of project costs up to the country to spur their projects.” a maximum of $10 million. However, we Stormwater 13.3% The funding has been targeted to do consider larger amounts so don’t let Water Conservation 3.3% environmental sustainability projects and most that be a barrier.”
Has your municipality/company has benefited from funding Under an outcomes-based eligibility model, we’ve available through the Green Municipal Fund? identified the outcomes as being increased capacity Yes 58.8% No 41.2% to treat and manage wastewater and stormwater
Would you consider approaching of these have been infrastructure projects, Beyond the direct funding that the Canada Infrastructure Bank according to Kehoe. This has helped inform is available, FCM also supports to secure funding for a water the funding streams (energy, water, land use/ knowledge-sharing between infrastructure project? brownfields, waste, and transportation) that municipalities. Best practices and have been offered by FCM. lessons learned can be accessed at Yes 35% “We like to fund projects at different fcm.ca/resources No 5% stages,” said Kehoe. “We start out by providing Individuals can also access the funded I don’t know enough grant funding for feasibility studies. This will projects database, which has information about the bank 60% cover up to 50 per cent of eligible costs to a maximum of $175,000. […] Next up are pilot about projects FCM has funded over the projects that test out real-world solutions on last 20 years, on FCM’s website.
22 ReNew Canada November/December 2020 renewcanada.net Water
Opportunities to advance water SHOVEL-READY infrastructure through the Canada Infrastructure Bank (CIB) The CIB is a federal crown corporation that has three core functions, according to Sashen Guneratna. These core functions include: investing, advising, and knowledge. The CIB has the ability to “invest in new, revenue-generating infrastructure using project-specific structures that attract private capital and appropriately allocate risks,” according to Guneratna. In addition to this, the CIB is able to “advise public sector DESIGN CONSTRUCT sponsors about project development, effective project structuring options, private sector, and CIPP PROVIDES A CIB investment options.” The CIB is also able to “collect and develop data and knowledge, SAFE AND EFFICIENT SOLUTION facilitate evidence-based decision making.” Guneratna noted that the CIB has played WITHIN A YEAR an active advisory role in water infrastructure projects. “We’ve had a lot of conversations with municipalities,” said Guneratna. “We can assess projects at no-cost and evaluate these projects at no-cost. We’re also able to help with structuring debt equity, help look Watch our videos and learn more at financial models, and provide advice to municipalities on their projects.” about us and our projects at In the context of municipal water and ferpalinfrastructure.com wastewater projects, Guneratna spoke about two challenges municipalities face and how the CIB can help address those challenges. One challenge Guneratna noted was that “municipalities are often close to SAVE THE DATE: MAY 10-14, 2021 reaching existing debt limits, restricting their ability to invest the significant capital required for replacement, growth, or compliance.” Also, municipalities with a “small tax and/or rate base cannot absorb increases caused by large investments.” In order to help address these challenges, the CIB can work with the municipality to attract private investment that provides “flexible terms to accommodate longer duration and complex projects that would not otherwise be commercially available.” The CIB can also London, Ontario help municipalities attract private investment that provides “access to direct debt financing rates to help contribute to both the financial Building on our very successful CNAM Virtual Conference on May 12-14, and environmental sustainability of water 2020, we have begun planning for a hybrid virtual and in-person event to be and wastewater networks.” While there is no held next year at the DoubleTree Hilton Hotel in beautiful London, Ontario. opportunity that will guarantee federal funding for a project, the government has provided a Get your presentation and workshop ideas ready! The CNAM Conference plethora of options for municipalities to Planning Committee is developing a program that will have both in-person and obtain the support needed for all types of virtual sessions of interest to asset management professionals across the country. new and rehabilitated community water Join us live in London or remotely attend from the comfort of your home or office. infrastructure assets. Save the dates in Simran Chattha is your calendar now and the associate editor of ReNew Canada. stay connected at cnam.ca for updates.
renewcanada.net November/December 2020 ReNew Canada 23 Water All photos: Waterfront Toronto
After years of community consultation, the final design of the Port Lands was released, with commercial and residential opportunities and new public parkland.
An aerial view of the Lower Don Lands in 2008, near the start of the flood protection project. PROTECTING THE PORT LANDS Keeping the Don Lands above water in the wake of increasing flood risk.
By Mira Schenker
t’s been 15 years since the Port Lands urban context. Flood protection was core to land at risk. This represents nearly one third Flood Protection project officially began, Waterfront Toronto’s mandate from the time of the 800-hectare area Waterfront Toronto I with an Environmental Assessment it was created by three orders of government is tasked with revitalizing. Neighbourhoods (EA) to study how best to restore the natural in 2001. The first phase of flood protection like the Canary District in the West Don mouth of the Don River. But that’s just a blip stemmed from an environmental assessment Lands are envisioned for the Port Lands once in the life of this 38-kilometre river. Going for the West Don Lands completed in 2005 in flood protection is complete in 2024. back as far as 7,000 years, this river was a partnership with TRCA and City of Toronto. gathering place for Indigenous peoples, and By building a flood protection landform How did we get here? a source of food and water. under Corktown Common and lengthening In 1912, the Board of the Toronto Harbour Waterfront Toronto’s role in this story of the Metrolinx railway crossing over Commission completed a plan to transform officially started 2005 with the Don Mouth the Don River, Waterfront Toronto and Ashbridges Bay Marsh into a massive Naturalization and Port Lands Flood its partners protected a large swath of industrial district. By 1922, the marsh Protection EA. A joint study with Toronto downtown Toronto from riverine flooding, had been filled in to create more than 200 and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA), allowing a master planned community in hectares of land, with another 200 hectares the goal was to renaturalize the river mouth West Don Lands to take shape. soon to follow. The Keating Channel was and protect the Port Lands and surrounding The next stage of flood protection was in built along the northern edge of the former neighbourhoods from flooding in the event the Port Lands, where flooding from the Don marsh in the late 1890s. The mouth of the of a Regulatory Storm—all within an River puts approximately 290 hectares of Don River was redirected into the concrete
24 ReNew Canada November/December 2020 renewcanada.net Water
lining of the Keating Channel, sending the Port Lands project rendering. river out into the inner harbour through a 90-degree turn. Over 100 years, the area was filled in to create what we now know as the Port Lands. This transformation from a large coastal wetland to a hard, channelized river and low-lying in-fill has left the Port Lands and surrounding area vulnerable to flooding from the Don River. Starting in the 1950s, a second wave of development began. The Leslie Spit was built, as well as the Hearn Generating Station and the Commissioners Incinerator. The Gardiner Expressway was built in the 1950s over the mouth of the Don River. The opening of the St. Lawrence Seaway ignited a renewed effort to turn the Port Lands into a major shipping hub and industrial district. These aspirations never materialized and by the 1980s, the Port Lands remained underutilized but contaminated by a legacy of historical industrial activities. The area had become home primarily to civic and city- serving uses such as salt storage, as well as light industrial uses. In 1989, a citizen-led task force began integrated in a comprehensive plan for In May 2015, work began on the Due pushing for a re-naturalization of the Don addressing urban design, transportation, Diligence Report for Port Lands Flood River. The Task Force to Bring Back the naturalization, sustainability, and other Protection. Don sketched out the first vision of how the ecological issues. This involved an extensive In October 2016, the Due Diligence Report river could be revived. This recommendation public consultation process and a week-long for the Port Lands Flood Protection Project from the Task Force was reinforced in public exhibition. The winning design is by was completed, providing governments 1992 with the release of Regeneration: Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates. This with additional assurance on the cost of Royal Commission on the Future of the provided the framework for what would this project, ways to mitigate the risks, and Toronto Waterfront, which included become the preferred alternative through the a strategy and schedule for executing the recommendations for environmental DMNP EA. project. The first piece of work as part of enhancements and flood protection at the In 2011, Toronto City Council adopted Port Lands Flood Protection, Cherry Street Don River mouth. what would later be called the Port Lands Lakefilling, received tri-government funding Acceleration Initiative (PLAI). The goal of in 2016 through the Clean Water and A 15-year timeline the initiative was to retain the core ideas Wastewater Fund In 2005, we began the process to establish behind the DMNP EA while developing In June 2017, $1.25 billion in municipal, the Terms of Reference process for the strategies for accelerating revitalization provincial and federal funding was awarded Don Mouth Naturalization and Port in the Port Lands. This plan was refined to the Port Lands Flood Protection Project. Lands Flood Protection Environmental in 2012 and became known as PLAI 2, In October 2017, the Port Lands Planning Assessment (DMNP EA). This set the which included the Port Lands Planning Framework and Villiers Island Precinct Plan conditions of the EA. Framework, Villiers Island Precinct Plan were adopted by Toronto City Council. Construction on the full Port Lands Flood Protection project began in December 2017. By the 1980s, the Port Lands remained This ambitious undertaking is slated for completion in 2024. Cherry Street Lakefilling underutilized but contaminated by a was completed in 2019. And with excavation on the river valley well underway and the first legacy of historical industrial activities. of four new bridges slated to be installed in October 2020, this project is on track.
In September 2006, the Ontario Ministry and Port Lands, and South of Eastern of Environment and Climate Change Transportation and Servicing Master Plan approved the Terms of Reference for the Environmental Assessment. DMNP EA and the study formally began. In 2014, the Lower Don Lands Master Plan Mira Schenker is the senior In 2007, Waterfront Toronto launched Environmental Assessment was approved. manager, communications and public engagement, at an international design competition to In 2015, the Don Mouth Naturalization Waterfront Toronto and create a concept design that included and Port Lands Flood Protection a former editor of this habitat creation and flood protection fully Environmental Assessment was approved. publication. renewcanada.net November/December 2020 ReNew Canada 25 Innovation
The introduction of a universal permitting system would allow for contractors and municipalities to remove time and frustration from the process.
SOLUTION PERMITTED?
Fixing an issue impacting contractor relations with municipalities.
By Richard Lyall and Arash Shahi
n innovative new initiative supply of housing. It would link with approval the value of setting the stage for a common has been launched to develop agencies, thereby improving the workflow. framework to be used across Ontario. A guidelines for a uniform Such a framework is better for We are breaking new ground with this e-permitting system that can be used municipalities and provincial agencies venture, as there are presently no common by municipal planning and building because it will lead to lower costs and more standards to govern the flow of information departments across Ontario. efficiencies, improve regulatory compliance, and data transfer among stakeholders of The project, called One Ontario, is and result in higher-quality applications permit applications. In the absence of such important because e-permitting solutions results, additional and more affordable standards, permitting systems used by used by municipalities are often fragmented housing as data harmonization reduces municipalities can vary greatly between and varied, which poses communication regulatory delays, and increased municipal jurisdictions, causing communication issues issues for builders and agencies. tax revenues as projects move more quickly for provincial agencies that must deal with AECO Innovation Lab and the Residential from design to construction. them and other approval bodies such as Construction Council of Ontario, which For the AEC industry, it will allow conservation authorities and source water represents builders across the province, are meaningful input into the permitting and protection officials. working with other influential groups in the approval process, faster development and To their credit, some municipalities are industry on the venture. building approvals, increased visibility and gradually adopting e-permitting systems, The Ontario Building Officials Association, certainty around permitting, and approval but there are still numerous challenges and which represents building officials from more processes, and improved industry productivity. missed opportunities due to inadequate than 400 municipalities, is also part of the This is an exciting venture as delays in frameworks for data and information coalition, as is the Toronto BIM Community obtaining permits can increase house prices exchange, incompatible software systems, (tBIMc). We expect more organizations to by adding tens of thousands of dollars in and lack of digitally skilled talent with sign on as the project progresses. costs to a building. There is also tremendous municipal expertise. In a nutshell, we are seeking to change the tax revenue lost due to delays in construction We feel there is a need for a unified data industry by focusing on digital technology, of homes, especially high-density buildings. exchange standard that would harmonize specifically e-permitting. That alone is a good reason for the initiative. the entire development approval process and A common, streamlined digital The partnership between AECO, which significantly reduce the cost of redundant framework will reduce the cost of redundant consists of seasoned engineers, finance and customization in every municipality. customization in every municipality and business development consultants, with A harmonized and transparent platform result in faster building approvals and a more residential builders, building officials, and will ensure that everybody is singing off efficient system that would increase the the BIM community, is ideal, as we all realize the same song sheet, which will enable
26 ReNew Canada November/December 2020 renewcanada.net Innovation municipalities, builders and provincial fully integrated e-permitting framework. The up to three years and residential site plan agencies to move projects along much quicker. standards would be aligned with regulatory approvals can take an additional two years Specifically, such a platform will enable requirements in the province and be informed in the permitting process, so it’s clear the creation of universal standards for by the technological tools and advancements improvements are needed. data exchange, information sharing and within the AEC industries, including web-based The work being done by this coalition will e-permitting, connect with Building GIS applications, BIM tools, and automated take a lot of time and effort. It’s a big task and Information Modelling (BIM) and code compliance checking algorithms. will entail assembling chief building officials Geographic Information System (GIS) COVID-19 has shown us how digitization from municipalities across the province to mapping to streamline paper-based processes, can help improve our lives, so the timing of participate in the research and development and create a roadmap to help municipalities this initiative couldn’t be better. It also comes effort. However, the rewards will be well transition from traditional permitting into a at a critical time, as there is a dire need to worth the effort. fully integrated e-permitting system. speed-up the approval process because the The initiative will provide a long-overdue This will allow designers, permit supply of new homes being built across boost to the productivity of the building applicants, and plans examiners to be Ontario just isn’t keeping up with demand. industry. Instead of a patchwork of systems, connected through an electronic platform. A research report done by RESCON municipalities across the province will have Builders will be able to complete site reviews indicated a big reason for the housing a blueprint for a fully integrated e-permitting remotely using technology applications and shortage is that the supply chain in the GTA framework that will reduce redundancies and digital inspection resources, making for a is mired in red tape. The report recommended inefficiencies and lead to a better future. smoother permitting process. Vendors and that Ontario’s 444 municipalities move out developers will benefit because the data of the world of pen and paper and adopt exchange framework will be the same in an interconnected, state-of-the-art digital every municipality. Standardized data will e-permitting platform. also provide useful information to support The fact of the matter is that Ontario evidence-based land-use planning. needs to build 75,000 new homes per year In the end, the research will enable us to over the next 24 years just to keep up with create specifying standards that can be used expected population growth. However, by all municipalities along with a roadmap the supply chain is short 12,000 units per Richard Lyall is the president of RESCON. to help Ontario municipalities move to a year on average. Zoning delays can take Arash Shahi is CEO of AECO Innovation Lab.
renewcanada.net November/December 2020 ReNew Canada 27 Innovation All photos: PurePave
In the lab at the University of Ottawa for testing of new permeable pavement technology.
NEXTGEN PAVING
New permeable paving solutions helping to mitigate
issues surrounding grey infrastructure. By Mark Wessel
n North American cities, roads take up “if current mitigation efforts don’t change.” says municipalities need to reduce the a staggering 80 percent of public space. longstanding incidence of water sheeting I Hard surfaces (with roads and rooftops Designing for the Future over hard surfaces. “So when we’re looking combined) account for over 50 percent of the Reading between the lines: we can no longer at laneways and roads, the question we urban footprint, reaching up to 70 percent take the same approach to climate change, should ask is how can we use permeable in industrial areas. Meanwhile last year while expecting different results. It’s a paving to allow water to quickly percolate Environment Minister Catherine Mckenna mindset that Craig Applegath, an architect through the surface?” made the observation that 100-year storms and founding principal of Dialogue Design One solution Applegath sees as a fit are now happening as frequently as every wholeheartedly embraces. “As someone for a community college campus his firm five years; and as often as every two years in who is focussed on sustainable architecture, is helping to design, is a new generation some parts of the country. I believe what we need to be thinking about of permeable paving from Ottawa-based That toxic combination of surfaces and is how to deal with a greater frequency of PurePave Technologies, which could be used storms is contributing to unprecedented storms that are more severe. Whatever we onsite for such surfaces as parking spaces, flooding. So much so that according to the design has to have greater resilience, meeting walkways, and public spaces in order to World Resources Institute (as reported in our needs not just now, but five, 10, 20 years ensure any rainfall filters through to the an April 2020 Globe and Mail article) while down the road.” adjacent trees and plants. flood damage to urban areas, including Applegath says we should make extensive homes, businesses and public infrastructure use of landscaping to reclaim green space Creating a Sponge City totalled a whopping US$2.4-billion in 2010, for cities—with more plants and trees Apart from trees and vegetation, Mark it could get closer to US$6.6-billion by 2030 that can capture the water. But he also Palmer, the executive director of Collingwood-
28 ReNew Canada November/December 2020 renewcanada.net Innovation
based Greenland Group of Companies, sees incorporating a combination of permeable surfaces and green roof technology to lessen the impact of flooding. “When you look at the whole premise of creating a sponge city from a design standpoint, permeable surfaces (including pavement systems), makes sense for large parking lots at schools, transportation hubs and commercial developments. We should also look at these systems in tandem with building stormwater controls, such as green roof technologies and retaining stormwater on-site for as long as possible.” This strategy of trying to absorb rainfall rather than convey it somewhere else is also a strategy shared by Kristina Hausmanis, the project manager for Green Streets at the City of Toronto. Her group is studying how various permeable surfaces can help reduce the impact of flooding and stormwater runoff. “We’re no longer looking at quickly Advancements in permeable getting rid of water downstream, but instead pavements have made it a viable material to use to pave pool decks, trying to capitalize on absorbing it where parking lots, driveways, and trails. it falls. Which means you have to have the right construction for infiltration or ways of holding the water so that it can be used by trees or other vegetation.” From the Green Streets Toronto perspective, rainwater isn’t just perceived as an obstacle, but rather a natural resource that should be harvested in support of the city’s ambitious plan to grow its tree canopy to 40 per cent by 2050. As part of ongoing efforts to both plant new trees and improve the survival rate of existing ones, they’re investigating permeable surface options for such applications as tree pits and walkways. so that instead of rainwater pooling and were first placed in a freezer at -40° for creating a hazard for pedestrians it is an hour, before transferring them into The Case for Canopies absorbed and redistributed to local trees an isolated room with a temperature of The catalyst for Toronto’s canopy growth and vegetation. 30° for an hour: the surfaces retained a program and other cities such as Melbourne, Strength and related maintenance costs flexural strength of 6.1 MPa (62.2 kg/cm²) which has an even more aggressive goal of are another key consideration and this helps or six times the strength of asphalt at room achieving a 40 per cent canopy by 2040, to explain why permeable paving solutions temperature. It’s the first time the university can be directly attributed to the heat island have flown below the radar of infrastructure has tested a surface in this manner, without effect major cities around the world are professionals in North America up until observing any degradation in flexural now experiencing, in which downtown now. Thirty years ago, UK-based Addagrip strength. It’s an important advancement temperatures are spiking during the warmer helped to pioneer an entirely new permeable in the use of permeable pavements in cold- months. Spikes that are contributing to paving solution, mixing a blend of aggregates weather climates. heat strokes and heat-related deaths that (finely crushed stones) with a resin, to This combination of strength and porosity disproportionately affect the most vulnerable produce a porous surface. But it wasn’t opens up a whole new range of possibilities city residents. Unsurprisingly, asphalt and ideal for North America’s northern climes for infrastructure professionals interested concrete roads amplify this problem. because the bonding agent couldn’t support in finding new ways to keep water in place Recognizing the unique cooling effect vehicular traffic and withstand the harsh while greening and cooling our cities. of trees, urban forest maintenance and freeze thaws that are all too common here. preservation is top of mind with cities Similarly, asphalt, concrete, permeable such as Calgary, which has over 4,000 paving, or permeable concrete have always trees in the downtown core alone. Calgary been prone to deterioration in the face of Mark Wessel is an urban recently embarked on a tree pit project using wild weather swings as well. journalist based in permeable pavements and Gatineau has gone Earlier this year, the University of Ottawa Collingwood, Ont. a step further, using the technology both determined that even after a rigorous, for tree pits and for the adjacent sidewalk, 40-cycle freeze-thaw test in which samples renewcanada.net November/December 2020 ReNew Canada 29 Top100 Projects
Government investments are rolling out to cities across Canada. Don’t forget to watch for the But how much of that funding with focus on some of Canada’s largest infrastructure projects that need to get built? January/February edition of ReNew Canada for the 2021 Top100 Projects report.
Before the pandemic, several provinces were already committing record investments to health care infrastructure. The emergence
of COVID-19 has Credit: B.C. Ministry of Health only increased the desire for some provinces to invest. TOP100 PROJECTS PREVIEW The biggest trends impacting megaproject development in Canada.
By Andrew Macklin
ach year, we take two pages in our COVID-19 pandemic hit, would have been present, how long will these projects be delayed? November/December edition to talk completed and off of our 2021 report list. about some of the particular notes to Spending more on health care E The real cost of the pandemic take under advisement ahead of the release Six provinces had health care projects of the annual Top100 Projects report. We The pandemic did more than increase included in last year’s report, as record usually focus on a handful of individual the length of time some infrastructure national investment in the sector reached projects that are straddling the fine line megaprojects will take to get built, it also new heights. between inclusion and exclusion. impacted the cost of the projects. With B.C., Alberta, Ontario, and Quebec all But this year we want to take a slightly increased costs for sanitization, Personal had health care projects in the early stages different approach. After all, this hasn’t Protective Equipment (PPE), and jobsite of design and development when our 2020 exactly been a typical year, so why would we spacing requirements for workers, no report landed last January, and progress follow a typical approach? project’s budget will stay the same. has continued despite the financial realities Instead, we wanted to break this down into The question will be when those true faced during the pandemic. themes, appreciating the key drivers that are costs can be appreciated. We may not see With health care an even greater priority impacting the development of infrastructure any costs go up in the 2021 edition of the across the country as a result of the outbreak megaprojects. report, but the numbers could change in the of COVID-19, how quickly will government years ahead. It will depend on how much get these projects to market to provide The impact of COVID-19 work project owners have done to calculate greater support for the system? The pandemic caused a blip in the timeline these new costs over the course of the project for the construction of infrastructure construction. Accelerating timelines megaprojects. Some more than other of Speaking of getting projects to market quicker, course, as projects were either shut down or Are cities still spending? that’s exactly what the Government of Ontario had staffing reductions for days, weeks, or The devastating financial impact of the has committed to doing as part of its fall months depending on the given project. pandemic on Canadian municipalities legislative agenda. In a release from September Ultimately, we will not know the has been well documented. Federal and 14, the provide stated it’s a priority to accelerate true impact of the delays until we reach provincial funding is starting to reach those “the construction of critical highway, transit substantial completion on these projects, communities, allowing most cities to start and broadband infrastructure projects to and compare the original date set to the planning again for the future. create jobs and boost the local economies of actual date of completion. Not to mention Many of Canada’s major cities have at least communities across Ontario.” that contractors across Canada have taken one or two infrastructure megaprojects in In the months to follow, it will become significant steps to reduce or eliminate any the design or procurement phase. But if the clear which infrastructure megaprojects will delays cause by COVID-19. However, we do municipal funding can no longer be afforded, be accelerated and how that will impact the expect to see at least projects that, had the even when provincial and federal funding is project pipeline in the province.
30 ReNew Canada November/December 2020 renewcanada.net Top100 Projects
Fall government agendas its due diligence on a number of infrastructure Roads to resources projects throughout 2020, and investment As federal funding rolls out to help support We’ve seen resource companies step up to announcements could land at any moment. infrastructure development across Canada, provide financial support for transportation Now that project owners are beginning to we can expect to see a dearth of new project projects that help bring Canadian metals to better appreciate the opportunities provided commitments from the provinces and territories market, and we can expect to see more of by the Bank, how many infrastructure as part of their fall legislative agendas. Every it. Primarily this has happened in Northern megaprojects will have its support in order province and territory, with the exception of Canada with such projects as the Yukon to begin construction in the near term? PEI, has at least one infrastructure megaproject Resource Gateway Project and the Tlicho in the planning stages, one that could be elevated Private investment in energy All-Season Road. But with the Ring of Fire to the forefront of the infrastructure agenda development in Ontario and the Plan Nord The lack of a federal strategy for the should funding be available and it provide in Quebec moving forward, several more electrification of the economy is slowing support to help rebuild the economy. transportation infrastructure megaprojects down large-scale investment in the energy In particular, it’s worth paying even that provide routes for resources could sector, but not grinding it to a halt. Nuclear closed attention to what gets announced in quickly progress towards construction. refurbishments, large-scale renewables Saskatchewan and British Columbia. Both of and new and rehabilitated hydropower those provinces head to the polls in 2021. projects continue to drive tens of billions in Andrew Macklin is the managing Support from the bank investments in the Canadian market. editor of ReNew Canada. The question is: how much will that change For those projects missing the additional once a commitment is made to build the robust funding needed to move forward with electricity market that includes a national EV What other key industry trends procurement, the Canada Infrastructure network and remove all communities off of do you think are impacting Bank (CIB) provides an alternative for diesel generation? It will certainly change infrastructure megaproject securing the remaining dollars. the hydropower landscape, as refurbishment development in Canada? We have seen the impact that CIB can projects will look to add further capacity Let us know your thoughts have in pushing projects towards the start where available, and a further uptick in large- by dropping me an email to of construction, as illustrated with what scale renewables in remote regions help meet [email protected] happened with REM project in Montreal. It the demand for clean power. is also widely known that the CIB has been doing
DIGITAL CONVERSATIONS WITH INDUSTRY LEADERS
EXPERT INSIGHTS INTO THE FUTURE OF INFRASTRUCTURE WITHOUT THE CONFERENCE FEE
To suggest a topic or speaker for an To learn about sponsorship opportunities upcoming discussion, contact Andrew Macklin for future events, contact Nick Krukowski at [email protected]. at [email protected].
renewcanada.net/infraintelligence-events
renewcanada.net November/December 2020 ReNew Canada 31 Top100 Projects Credit: OPG For additional details on this year’s Top100 report, visit top100projects.ca
Major Milestone Reached for Darlington Refurbishment Project
2020 Top100 Projects Rank: 3 Value: $12.8 billion
Ontario Power Generation (OPG) has three years of work on Unit 2, the project critical in the province’s efforts to combat reached a significant milestone with work team successfully completed the unit’s climate change. An independent report now underway on refurbishing Unit 3 of refurbishment and returned it to commercial prepared by Intrinsik Environmental the Darlington Nuclear Generating Station service in June 2020, amid the unexpected Sciences noted the continued operation of following the unit’s safe shutdown. challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. the refurbished station to 2055 will equal “This enormous clean energy project In response to the pandemic, OPG removing two million cars per year from will play a significant role in Ontario’s postponed the commencement of the Unit 3 Ontario’s roads by avoiding significant fight against climate change by providing refurbishment from its scheduled start in May greenhouse gas emissions. 30-plus years of clean, low-cost and reliable 2020. Now that the Unit 3 reactor was safely The 10-year project is expected to power for Ontarians,” said Ken Hartwick, shut down on July 30, and disconnected from generate a total of nearly $90 billion in president and CEO of OPG. “The start of Ontario’s electricity grid, workers will use economic benefits for Ontario and increase Unit 3 refurbishment reflects the Province’s remote-controlled tooling to remove 6,240 employment by an average of 14,200 jobs confidence in our project team’s ability to fuel bundles from the unit over the next three annually across the province. The four-unit build on its success to date and complete this months and place them in water-filled fuel station currently generates over 20 per cent next phase of the project.” bays for up to 10 years of safe storage. of Ontario’s electricity, or enough energy to In October 2016, OPG and project Refurbishing the Darlington Nuclear power two million homes. partners began execution of the Darlington Generating Station, one of Canada’s largest The project is scheduled for completion by refurbishment project. Following more than clean energy infrastructure projects, is the end of 2026.
YVR Core Program Halted at Vancouver Airport
2020 Top100 Projects Rank: 37 Value: $1.7 billion
Vancouver Airport Authority announced a ground transportation centre including a projects that support the recovery and in September its intention to terminate new parkade. Due to the ongoing decline of restart of aviation, including trials for health the CORE Program, part of the multi-year air travel, YVR no longer has the immediate screening and testing. Additionally, it will capital program to modernize the airport. need for the additional capacity in utilities or improve data and technology infrastructure, This decision is a direct result of the parking. YVR’s current systems will support enhance cargo facilities, and pursue projects unprecedented effect that the global the parking and utility needs of passengers that are best completed while the airport is COVID-19 pandemic has had on the for the foreseeable future. less busy, such as airfield infrastructure. aviation industry and further evidence of The adjustment of the capital program Vrooman reached out to Geoff Smith, CEO the Airport Authority’s commitment to is the latest in a number of steps taken by of EllisDon Corporation yesterday to give fiscal responsibility. Vancouver Airport Vancouver Airport Authority to reduce notice of the Airport Authority’s intention Authority is prioritizing its resources on operating and capital costs to protect the to terminate the CORE program. Vancouver more immediate infrastructure and health long-term financial health of the airport. Airport Authority and EllisDon will work and safety needs. The airport authority entered the pandemic together to finalize wind down arrangements The CORE Program was designed when on strong financial footing and continues to with the intent that all work will be concluded YVR was experiencing double digit growth have one of the highest credit ratings of any on the site by November 30, 2020. The project and included a new central utilities building, airport in North America. The organization will be halted in its current state and can be geo-thermal heating and cooling system and will now focus its financial resources on restarted when the need arises.
32 ReNew Canada November/December 2020 renewcanada.net People & Events
APPOINTED he will be integral to the development and of Assembly (MHA) for the riding Fogo deployment of new contracting models that Islands-Cape Freels. Following his re-election Infrastructure Ontario (IO) limit the risk associated with managing in the 2019 general election, Bragg was has named Michael Lindsay and delivering major projects. named Minister of Municipal Affairs and as its new president and chief Environment by then-Premier Dwight Ball. executive officer. The First Nations Major Deputy Minister of Transportation and Lindsay is currently in the Projects Coalition Infrastructure, Cory Grandy, brings to his new Michael midst of his second tenure (FNMPC) of the Coast role more than two decades of public service. Lindsay with IO. Lindsay served as Salish Territory in In 2012, he was appointed as the Assistant president of project delivery before taking on Vancouver, British Deputy Minister of the works branch in the his new role. He had previously served as the JP Gladu Columbia announced the Department of Transportation and Works. senior vice president of commercial projects appointment of JP Gladu Following a departmental reorganization in at IO from 2014-2016. Before re-joining IO in as a strategic advisor. 2017, he became the Assistant Deputy Minister 2019, Lindsay served as the head of strategic Gladu is a member of the Sand Point First of the new infrastructure branch leading the partnerships and government at the Investment Nation in Ontario and was the former CEO province’s infrastructure portfolio including Management Corporation of Ontario. He has of the Canadian Council for Aboriginal the planning, design and construction of held senior positions at Hatch, McKinsey and Business. His role within FNMPC will education, health and justice facilities as well Co. and Queen’s University. focus on expanding the organization’s as infrastructure in support of the provincial Lindsay succeeds Ehren Cory, who is First Nation membership outside of British transportation system. leaving IO after more eight years, including Columbia and will assist in broadening over three years as president and CEO. connections between FNMPC and members Janet Gonzalez Tudor has of the business community in Canada accepted a new role as HDR’s SNC-Lavalin Group Inc. has where common interests align. Transportation Operational announced the appointment “I’ve always been a fan and supporter Resiliency director. Gonzalez of Robert (Bob) E. Alger, of the First Nations Major Project Tudor’s responsibilities former CEO of U.S. Coalition. This leadership group is setting Janet Gonzalez include working closely with transportation contractor a higher standard in Canada in building Tudor clients and cross-functional Bob The Lane Construction infrastructure with Indigenous people teams in the development and implementation Alger Corporation, as President, and communities,” said newly appointed of new programs to support infrastructure Infrastructure Projects. Gladu. “I couldn’t be prouder to step in resiliency planning and long term Alger brings extensive experience in the the role as a strategic advisor, it truly aligns organizational health. U.S. transportation and infrastructure sector, with my values.” She will partner with the company’s one of SNC-Lavalin’s core markets, and key market and technical leaders to offer services growth areas. During his 40-year tenure Andrew Furey, the new that cover enterprise-wide needs including at The Lane Construction Corporation, Premier of Newfoundland business and financial management, including 18 years as president and CEO, he and Labrador, has named a infrastructure planning and design, asset successfully delivered multiple $1-billion- new minister and deputy management and operation, stakeholder plus mega projects as part of the company’s minister for the engagement, and more. The goal is to help successful expansion from a regional Derrick transportation and clients prepare for and address threats from contractor to a nationwide provider. During Bragg infrastructure portfolio. natural disasters as well as potential impacts his leadership, annual revenues increased Derrick Bragg is due to disruptor events like the current six-fold to over US$2 billion. the new Minister of pandemic and evolving social justice issues. As President of Infrastructure Projects, Transportation and With over 15 years of diverse experience— Alger will be responsible for continuing the Infrastructure, succeeding including a dozen with HDR—Gonzalez run-down of the Company’s LSTK projects, Steve Crocker, who shifts Tudor offers a wide range of expertise which are focused on several major Canadian Cory to the role of Minister of in transportation infrastructure program transportation projects, and continuing Grandy Justice and Government management and early project planning and to build SNC-Lavalin’s pipeline of new House Leader. Bragg was first elected design oversight from her work on major business in the U.S. As part of that effort, in 2015 as the Member of the House transport programs.
IN COLLABORATION WITH JUNE 9-11 12th Annual 2021 Window OTTAWA, ONTARIO on Ottawa
@CdnWaterSummit #CdnWaterSummit #CanadianWaterSummit watersummit.ca renewcanada.net November/December 2020 ReNew Canada 33 Closing Shot Credit: Waterfront Toronto/Vid Ingelevics/Ryan Walker
Telling your story to the community is vital. But it doesn’t always take the same standard approach to community engagement. For the Port Lands project, Waterfront Toronto turned to Rocky the Ripper for social media interaction with the community.
A NEW WAY TO ENGAGE By Rocky the Rock Ripper
i there. My name is Rocky the Lands too but they mix it in with all their about is how construction is progressing. I Rock Ripper, and I was just an other fancy projects, so I guess I’m your share #RockyRadar on a regular basis to H ordinary rock-ripping excavator one-stop shop for the details on dirt. I’m show people how much we’ve excavated in bucket when I was asked to start tweeting also more fun to interact with (no offense, the future river valley. By early September about Waterfront Toronto’s Port Lands @WaterfrontTO) so people who are usually 2020 we had excavated more than 185,800 Flood Protection Project last March. It not interested in projects like this are more cubic metres of soil, and were more than seemed like a fun side project to show people likely to follow me. 70% finished the first section south of behind the scenes of one of Canada’s biggest It’s been a real wild ride so far. I met the Commissioners St. between Munition St. infrastructure projects, so I figured out how Mayor of Toronto almost as soon as I started and Cherry St. That’s more than 74 Olympic- to type. I tweet about how construction is tweeting and I’ve met all kinds of interesting sized swimming pools of dirt. progressing, the other machines on site, what people on Twitter since. I haven’t gone viral We’re also expecting to install the first we’re building, and my random thoughts – yet, but some of my posts have reached bridge this fall. It will be pretty cool to have a all in between mouthfuls of delicious Port almost 10,000 people – some of them have front seat for that – the bridge is arriving by Lands soil and rocks. I don’t mean to sound never heard of the Port Lands, so I think that barge on the St. Lawrence Seaway and then arrogant, but I’ve become a vital asset for means I’m doing a good job. they’ll use a crane to place it on the bridge building advocates and public support for I’ve faced some trolls too, and it’s hard not foundations. Hey, maybe I’ll live-tweet it! this huge project. to take it personally when some of my best (No promises though, we’re still going to Now you’re probably wondering why a ideas don’t get very many likes; it’s tricky have digging to do that day). Make sure to sophisticated organization like Waterfront to keep content fresh when I’m doing the follow me, @TheRockRipper, just in case. Toronto would stick googly eyes on a piece same thing every day! I’m still figuring out of heavy machinery and let it loose on what people want to hear about. Sometimes Twitter. I’m not entirely sure either – I’m they have technical questions about the definitely too sarcastic to be an effective water column depth of the new mouth of Rocky is a professional rock corporate spokes-bucket. I also don’t do the Don River, or how much soil weighs, ripping bucket at Waterfront Toronto, digging the new mouth anything except dig, and I never leave the but sometimes they just want to help me of the Don River. Nature-lover. Port Lands, so that’s all I ever tweet about. brainstorm names for my band. Rock-collector. Vegetarian. Waterfront Toronto talks about the Port One thing that people always like hearing Never skips leg day.
34 ReNew Canada November/December 2020 renewcanada.net