A.W. Hooker & Infrastructure Projects at a Glance
In the 2025 the Canadian Federal Government budget dedicates a total of $115.2 billion over the next five years on federal infrastructure investment, which anticipates over $1 trillion in total investment (when accounting for private investment sources). The budget focuses on a “plan to build major infrastructure, homes and industries that grow our economy and create lasting prosperity.” The key sectors we anticipate the Federal Government will be focusing on are:
- The Arctic Infrastructure Fund that focuses on transportation airports, all season roads and highways in Northern Canada.
- Transportation projects with a focus on Trade corridors.
- Housing and Built Environment
- Indigenous Community, Energy and Climate
With our aging infrastructure we need to invest not only in renewing existing infrastructure but also new infrastructure to accommodate population increases, environmental needs and evolving technologies.
On one side, we have infrastructure deficit and on the other side we have budget deficit. So, what is the solution? Should we stop investing money in infrastructure or increase taxes? These are both poor choices and, in reality, will create more issues down the road. The best thing to do to meet the increasing demands of renewing and expanding infrastructure is spending in the most cost effective way possible.
There are three levels of government in Canada - Federal, Provincial and Municipal. All three levels work hard to spend their money on infrastructure wisely. Meanwhile, engineering and design consultants are putting more focus on keeping their projects within budget to provide the best value for the money spent.
So, what is the role of Professional Quantity Surveyor (PQS) in this picture?
Over the 50-year history of Professional Quantity Surveyors (PQS) in Canada, our professional contribution to the construction industry has been well recognized by various parties such as government agencies, architects, investors, and bankers among many others. However, there is progress to be made in terms of introducing our skills, capabilities and contributions to engineering companies and agencies which do not yet recognize the value of a PQS on their project teams.
The majority of government agencies recognize the positive role a PQS plays in infrastructure projects. Over the last few years, we have increasingly seen that RFP’s and RQQ’s require an third party PQS as a member of the design team. We have seen a steady increase in major infrastructure projects over the last few years and have, in turn, been steadily accumulating valuable experience providing cost management services on these infrastructure projects.
We are grateful to have had the opportunity to contribute to past and current infrastructure projects as Quantity Surveyors, Independent Certifiers and Project Managers. We’ve been fortunate to achieve on-budget tender results and to hear positive feedback from clients and engineering firms about the support we’ve provided.
So the question is: “What added value do we, as Quantity Surveyors, bring to the table for agencies and engineering companies?”
- Independent Perspective – No Conflict of Interest as an unbiased third party
- Professional Budget Planning and Cost Control
- Risk Analysis and Management
- Value Analysis / Value Engineering
- Parallel Estimating / Peer Review
- Life Cycle Costing
- Tender Support including Tender Addendum Support and Tender Analysis
- Project Monitoring, Change Order Review, and Claims Review
- Dispute / Litigation Resolution
- Fewer headaches for Consulting Engineers and client Agencies
We are currently involved in a wide range of major infrastructure projects, including station upgrades, train storage and maintenance facilities, rail corridor expansions, bridge construction, and critical water, sewer, stormwater, and treatment infrastructure. Our approach is defined by our in-house civil, mechanical, and electrical PQS teams, whose expertise supports the successful delivery of our infrastructure projects.
For more information on our services, please contact us.