Engineers Canada welcomes the Government of Canada’s focus on economic development, housing and infrastructure, and national defence in Budget 2025: Canada Strong.
“This is a critical moment for Canada,” said Philip Rizcallah, P.Eng., CEO of Engineers Canada. “We are pleased to see Budget 2025 move Canada forward in key areas where engineers play an important role, from infrastructure to defence procurement and housing.”
As Engineers Canada made clear in its pre-budget submission, engineers are essential to safeguarding the public interest in defence procurement projects. Engineers Canada welcomes the funding announced for major national defence procurement initiatives, including measures to safeguard and upgrade existing equipment and infrastructure, and we urge the federal government to work with the engineering profession in these efforts.
The new Building Communities Strong Fund and the Build Canada Homes agency promise to catalyze housing construction, transportation infrastructure, and other important projects in communities across Canada. Engineers Canada commends this support for infrastructure and home construction, where engineers play an important role in protecting the public. Sustained funding for the building and renewal of local infrastructure and new housing will enhance public safety and the quality of the built environment for Canadians.
We also support the announced International Talent Attraction Strategy and Action Plan to recruit over a thousand highly qualified researchers to Canada, including significant new funding for the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council to recruit top-tier engineering researchers.
Canada’s provincial and territorial engineering regulators remain committed to improving labour mobility for engineers in Canada, including for internationally trained engineers. Engineers Canada supports the creation of the Foreign Credential Recognition Action Fund, helping internationally trained professionals enter the workforce more quickly, and other efforts that will enhance labour mobility.
We also note that the Government of Canada intends to provide $925.6 million over five years for infrastructure to support Canada’s artificial intelligence capacity. Engineers are critical to the safe adoption of AI throughout the economy. We look forward to further details on the federal government’s artificial intelligence strategy.
The government’s announced Climate Competitiveness Strategy seeks to harness investment tax credits, critical minerals projects, and other measures to further Canada’s climate change goals.
“Engineers Canada welcomes this continued focus on climate,” said Jeanette Soutwood, P.Eng., Engineers Canada’s Executive Vice President, Corporate Affairs and Strategic Partnerships. “We would also urge continued support for climate change adaptation and resilience, especially as the federal government works to drive housing construction and major infrastructure projects.”
Engineers Canada also welcomes the significant ongoing and stable funding commitment to the Department of Women and Gender Equality. WAGE supports critical work advancing diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility across Canada, including the engineering profession. Engineers Canada is committed to driving a more welcoming and inclusive profession.
As the only national voice of the engineering profession, Engineers Canada is ready to work with the federal government on critical issues related to the public interest. We were pleased to see Engineers Canada’s budget recommendations to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance and to the Government of Canada reflected in a focus on infrastructure and major projects in Canada.
