Engineers Canada has published its highlights and analysis of the federal government’s recently released budget and how it impacts the engineering profession.
Budget 2021, released on April 19, 2021, features $101.4 billion in new spending over three years and places a significant emphasis on Canada’s economic recovery post-COVID-19. It also focuses on several themes, including building a stronger, more resilient, green economy, supporting those who have been disproportionately impacted by COVID-19, and supporting the hardest-hit industries and sectors across the country.
As outlined in Engineers Canada’s analysis, over the past year Engineers Canada has advocated to the federal government on a number of issues, many of which are addressed in Budget 2021:
Equity, diversity, and inclusion, and education and training opportunities for young Canadians
Through its pre-budget submission to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance, and its submissions to the House of Commons Standing Committees on the Status of Women and Industry, Science, and Technology, Engineers Canada has been advocating at the federal level for increased supports for women and Indigenous people in the engineering profession, as well as support for women’s re-entry into the workforce following the COVID-19 pandemic.
Budget 2021 acknowledges that women, young Canadians, and Indigenous students have been disproportionately impacted by the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and makes related investments in programs and supports for post-secondary education, skills development, and work opportunities. Although these investments are timely, it is important that the government continues to build on these investments by focusing on engineering access programs for Indigenous people across Canada.
Green recovery and clean growth
In its pre-budget submission, Engineers Canada specifically called for the federal government to invest in green infrastructure as a recovery strategy to help benefit both the economy post-COVID-19, as well as to deliver on Canada’s climate commitments. Engineers Canada was happy to see this specific ask addressed, as well as significant investments towards climate change adaptation, rehabilitation, and mitigation to strengthen and protect physical infrastructure across Canadian communities.
Engineers Canada has long advocated for the federal government to increase climate resiliency, adaptation, and mitigation policies. It will be important that the federal government continue to consult and include engineers on federal climate adaptation, mitigation, and rehabilitation projects that require engineering expertise.
Physical and digital infrastructure
Also in its pre-budget submission, Engineers Canada called for increased investments in physical and digital infrastructure, including calls for the government to continue its effort to build Canada’s high-speed broadband connectivity, as it is essential for personal and professional communications, for business sustainability and growth, and for access to government services. Budget 2021 sets a goal of 98 per cent of the country having high-speed broadband internet by 2026 and 100 per cent by 2030, a goal that the engineering profession looks forward to helping the government achieve. Engineers are essential in the design, implementation, and maintenance of digital broadband infrastructure, making the engineering profession essential in connecting rural and remote communities to broadband internet in Canada.
Research, development, and innovation spending
Engineers Canada has been advocating for increased research, development, and innovation spending at the federal level and is encouraged by Budget 2021’s investments in research and development in Canada’s technology sector as it is a key driver of Canada’s economic competitiveness on the global stage. We believe that the federal government must continue to make investments into a strategic innovation agenda to support emerging national networks and engineering innovation. Licensed engineers are at the forefront of many technology companies and are key drivers of innovation.
Budget 2021 also includes targeted support for the life sciences and bio-manufacturing sector. The engineering profession has made key contributions to the evolution of the biotechnology sector. With the increasing demand for biotechnology, there has, and will continue to be, a rising demand for professional engineers working in this field. The federal government must ensure that any legislation or regulations that refer to engineering work in the development or implementation of biotechnology require the involvement of a professional engineer in accordance with provincial and territorial engineering Acts.
Read Engineers Canada’s full Budget 2021 Highlight and Analysis here.
