Chair's Message

Jérôme Pelletier, P.Eng.
Chair, Board of Directors 2024-2025

It has been a great honour to serve as Chair of ACEC’s Board of Directors during what has been an exciting year for our industry as well as a year of much political change.

As I travelled throughout the country in my role as ACEC Chair, I had many opportunities to see member firms and Member Organizations in action. This reaffirmed my belief that the consulting engineering industry is well-equipped to meet the challenges we face today and those still to come. We can build a stronger, more prosperous Canada.

Our members are at the forefront of addressing many of the challenges and opportunities of our time, including building climate resilience into our daily lives, incorporating AI and other technical innovations into our work, attracting the next generation of talent into our industry, and navigating periods of political change. Our industry has an enormous impact on people’s lives, ensuring they have the infrastructure they need to live and work safely and productively. ACEC continues to strongly advocate for public policy that enhances our ability to improve Canadians’ quality of life.

The 2024-25 fiscal year was marked by major political changes in Canada and abroad, including a federal election and a trade relationship with the United States that has been put to the test. As a champion for our industry as well as for the public good, ACEC launched its non-partisan Invest in Growth campaign ahead of the election to urge all parties to make infrastructure a core part of their platforms. ACEC and its member firms also advocated for the government to reconsider increasing the capital gains inclusion rate. Both of these efforts proved successful.

Following the change in leadership in March 2025, with Prime Minister Carney taking office, we look ahead with optimism, with major legislation to ease cross-province trade barriers and help the construction of nation-building projects. Now is the time to be bold and make the most of the opportunities we have in Canada.

As an organization, ACEC has continued to promote a long-term strategy on infrastructure, including a National Infrastructure Assessment (NIA) and a National Infrastructure Corridor. We are making progress. In December 2024, the government established the Canadian Infrastructure Council. ACEC had been heavily involved in the consultations from the beginning. Now, the CIC is working towards delivering the NIA. This is a key moment to bring together infrastructure experts and stakeholders such as ACEC to guide informed policies and effective investments.

We have also remained committed to the goal of a National Infrastructure Corridor, which would streamline the development of energy, transportation, and trade networks along a designated pathway, connecting communities and ensuring Canada’s long-term economic independence and prosperity. We commend the federal government for its vision and leadership in committing to a national trade and energy corridor. They have recognized that, to reach its full potential, it must integrate transportation and other infrastructure through close collaboration among all levels of government, Indigenous rights holders, and industry stakeholders. The Association and its member firms possess the expertise and capacity to play a vital role in this process – a message we promote at every opportunity, including events such as Parliament Hill Day in October.

Last August, ACEC was pleased to see that the House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance made recommendations that directly aligned with our key messages in its 2025 report on pre-budget consultations. These recommendations included creating a long-term strategy for addressing infrastructure needs across Canada and significantly increasing investment in the Disaster and Mitigation Adaptation Fund to accelerate the deployment of climate-resilient infrastructure. Although the spring election dissolved Parliament and no budget was tabled, the alignment of the Committee’s recommendations with ACEC’s is a sign that our voice is being heard.

Our industry continues to harness our expertise and ability to solve the many challenges, such as climate change, that present themselves in our daily lives.

Consulting engineering has an important role to play in transitioning to clean energy by prioritizing low-carbon solutions and integrating renewable energy projects (e.g., hydro, solar, and wind power). By adopting a balanced approach, we can reduce emissions, protect economic stability, and ensure Canadians have reliable access to energy. We can also leverage technology to responsibly maximize how we use available resources along the entire value chain.

Technological innovation is happening at an unprecedented pace, and Canada’s largest cities are establishing themselves as tech hubs, excelling in fields such as artificial intelligence, biotechnology, and digital services. Our industry needs to find ways to take advantage of these advancements while also addressing the ethical and societal challenges posed by emerging technologies.

The next generation of consulting engineers can help us make the most of innovation, which is another reason why we need to continue to work at bringing a diverse group of young people into the industry. ACEC is expanding its efforts to promote consulting engineering to students in Canada as well as to support initiatives that would encourage international students to come to Canada and not only stay, but thrive, here once they have graduated.

Canada must also work in partnership with Indigenous peoples to create meaningful economic opportunities while respecting their connection to the land. This entails not only supporting Indigenous-led businesses but fostering a respectful and equitable approach to the land and its resources. The Association is a strong supporter of the First Nations Major Projects Coalition, which provides its First Nations members with access to tools, knowledge, and advice when they are exploring equity ownership of major energy and infrastructure projects across Canada.

It is by working together that we can achieve great things.

As an organization, ACEC has achieved so much this year because we have dedicated people working together.

First, I would like to thank our outstanding Board of Directors, who offer their time and invaluable expertise in the service of consulting engineering. I would also like to thank the volunteers and staff members within our member organizations, who provide such a strong foundation of support to our industry.

I am deeply grateful to John Gamble, President and CEO of ACEC, and his entire team for their professionalism and dedication to advocacy work at the national level.

I would also like to congratulate the incoming Chair of our Board of Directors, Douglas Coles, and welcome the newly appointed members of the Board. I have every confidence that you will seize the moment and excel in championing our industry at this exciting time.

Sincerely,

Jérôme Pelletier, P.Eng.
Chair, Board of Directors 2024-2025