Alberta law could change capital project planning

CALGARY, ALTA.—New legislation proposed in Alberta would allow the province make decisions to deliver infrastructure projects, such as schools and hospitals, based on legislated criteria and long-term planning.

If passed, the Infrastructure Accountability Act would create a governance framework, including criteria to guide how capital project decisions and spending are prioritized. Officials say the act will increase transparency, accountability and remove politics from the process of building Alberta’s public infrastructure supporting Alberta’s Recovery Plan.

The act also includes requirements for the development and regular review of a 20-year strategic capital plan.

Capital projects would be evaluated using six criteria:

• Health and safety
• Government priorities and strategies
• Economic activity and job creation
• Improving program delivery and services
• ROI after life-cycle costs
• Building community resiliency

The act would also require the 20-year strategic capital plan to published within one year of the act coming into force.

“Alberta’s government is taking the politics out of building public infrastructure,” said Prasad Panda, infrastructure minister, in a statement. “The Infrastructure Accountability Act gives Alberta taxpayers certainty that their money is being spent on the critical public infrastructure projects that our province most needs.”