The impact of megatrends on Ontario’s future infrastructure
Infrastructure is an important topic across Canada boosted by a hotly contested federal election campaign, the Ontario government’s commitment to invest $130-billion in infrastructure over 10-years and the municipal sector’s demand for access to more funding sources to pay for roads, bridges, transit and other infrastructure.
When Toronto’s monumental Bloor Viaduct over the Don Valley was built in 1918, it was decided to add a lower level for a transit line that was then only a dream. But when the Bloor subway was built nearly 50 years later, it was completed sooner and at far less expense because of that foresight. This teaches us two lessons: today’s infrastructure seems expensive, but yesterday’s infrastructure seems like a prudent investment. And foresight, not just meeting current demands, should guide our infrastructure decision-making.