Ottawa plans to spend more than a half-billion dollars to fix supply chain issues, but experts say it falls far short of the kind of comprehensive strategy needed to address longstanding problems.<\/p>\n
Last week’s federal budget commits $603 million over five years to support transportation network upgrades, such as port or rail expansions, on top of the $4.2 billion allocated to the National Trade Corridors Fund since 2017.<\/p>\n
But large-scale infrastructure projects are pricey. A proposed container terminal at a Port of Vancouver site, for example, is estimated at $3 billion.<\/p>\n
Ottawa last year announced a national infrastructure assessment that aims to lay out a long-term vision and boost co-ordination among infrastructure owners and funders over the next three decades. Experts say that can’t come soon enough.<\/p>\n
The extra money laid out in the budget is sure to help. But on top of more cash, what’s needed most is a cohesive approach to the overall flow of goods into and out of the country, says Carlo Dade, director of the Canada West Foundation’s trade and investment centre.<\/p>\n