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EDMONTON • CALGARY • GRANDE PRAIRIE • LANGLEY
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C E O ’ S M E S S A G E
Proposing solutions to the financial challenges faced by
government and contractors
The uncertainty of the government’s financial commitment
to planning increases risk to contractors. Other sectors of the
economy provide market signals to businesses that make
calculated decisions based on many sources of information.
Roads are a government monopoly and the only market sig-nal
that contractors have access to is the annual provincial
budget. Even then, budgets are often changed mid-year for
political reasons. I have said before that this roller coaster
budgeting is bad for contractors and bad for taxpayers. We
can do better.
A highway systems operator with a contractual commit-ment
to a plan and commensurate performance objectives
would provide Albertans with the transparency they deserve
about the condition of their assets, and the performance of
their asset manager in getting superior long-term results.
Albertans do not have to look to others for an excellent
model. In fact, the Alberta Electric System Operator (AESO)
develops a long-term plan, contracts with private companies
who invest, build and maintain equipment to generate and
distribute electricity back to AESO, which operates that sys-tem
to deliver reliable electricity.
Good long-term plans account for adaptation necessary
in a constantly changing world
The role of infrastructure as an economic catalyst is just as
important. Expansion to the system needs to be responsive to
the development industry that competes with international
destinations for investment and trends. The intent for greater
rigour must not create barriers to swift government attention,
and ought to allow government or its agencies to be innova-tive,
take calculated risks and be opportunistic when private
investment partners approach government with novel ideas.
Final thoughts
ARHCA offered these thoughts with the best interests of the
province in mind, and with our perspective as the trusted
partner of the Alberta Government. We have offered to
provide our time and experience to create solutions that
benefit our industry and our client. Stay tuned for more
updates this fall. n
Roads are a
government
monopoly and the
only market signal
that contractors have
access to is the annual
provincial budget.
6 www.albertaheavy.ca
/MoreThanAuctions
/www.albertaheavy.ca
/
