(Selected highlights from April 1, 2024 - March 31, 2025)
ACEC made significant progress in its advocacy work throughout fiscal year 2024-25, notably in campaigning for a long-term infrastructure policy for Canada. Guided by our strategic priorities, we championed industry impact, helped strengthen member firms, and promoted smart policies that support our members in doing what they do best: create the infrastructure that forms the backbone of our communities. We also began preparations for the celebration of our centennial year, which began in May 2025. Here are just some of the highlights of ACEC’s accomplishments.
On several fronts, the Association’s ongoing advocacy efforts contributed significantly to long-term government policy on infrastructure and climate resilience.
In the wake of several high-profile infrastructure failures and extreme weather events through the summer of 2024, ACEC President and CEO John Gamble did numerous interviews with mainstream media to underscore the need for long-term infrastructure assessment and planning. The launch of the Canadian Infrastructure Council (CIC) in December was an important step in establishing just such a long-term, robust, and data-driven plan for infrastructure investments in Canada. The Council is an expert advisory body tasked with providing impartial advice and delivering an evidence-based National Infrastructure Assessment (NIA).
The Association was pleased to see that our three-year campaign for an NIA was yielding results. ACEC was one of the first stakeholders to meet with the Council to discuss how our industry, with its extensive knowledge and expertise, can support the NIA’s development. We look forward to collaborating with the Council in the months ahead.
As a trusted partner of the federal government, ACEC was gratified that several of the recommendations we made in our August 2024 pre-budget submission to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance directly aligned with the recommendations that appeared in its 2025 report on pre-budget consultations. These recommendations included creating a long-term strategy for addressing infrastructure needs across Canada; facilitating funding for municipalities under the Canada Housing Infrastructure Fund; and significantly increasing investment in the Disaster and Mitigation Adaptation Fund to accelerate the deployment of climate-resilient infrastructure.
While the spring election dissolved Parliament and no budget was tabled, the alignment of the Committee’s recommendations with our own was nonetheless positive and showed that the government is listening.
Budget 2024 included a plan to increase the capital gains inclusion rate, which would have impacted employee-owned member firms and their succession plans. ACEC conducted numerous advocacy efforts to express our criticism of this decision, including letter-writing and meeting with the Minister of National Revenue alongside several representatives from member firms to share concerns, particularly about how this would affect small, locally owned businesses. Thanks to our ongoing advocacy, ACEC member Montana Wilson, President and Founder of GRIT Engineering, was invited to testify at the Standing Committee on Finance. Ms. Wilson summarized ACEC’s key recommendations while amplifying the voices of consulting engineering companies across Canada. Again, our voices were heard. The changes were cancelled when Prime Minister Carney came into office.
The ongoing revisions to PN-48, mandating translation of all procurement documents posted on federal government websites – including sealed design documents prepared by consultants – remained a central issue for ACEC. This policy, while intended to align with Canada’s bilingualism goals, poses significant capacity and financial challenges for both the government and our industry, especially for smaller firms. (For more information on our position, view ACEC’s formal submission to the federal government’s consultation on PN-48R2 here.)
With the support of Nanos Research, ACEC conducted a survey that was instrumental in educating civil servants, politicians, and industry leaders about the real-world implications of PN-48R2.
Further, we collaborated with Public Services and Procurement Canada staff to deliver a town hall meeting that provided a comprehensive presentation of the policy and its implications for the delivery of federal projects.
While ACEC waits for PSPC to issue the next iteration of the policy – PN-48R3 – we continue to have ongoing dialogue with PSPC and other relevant government and industry partners to find solutions that align with both public policy goals and the operational realities of consulting engineering.
Given that the government was increasing its focus on housing affordability, ACEC emphasized the need for critical infrastructure investments to support housing in our 2025 pre-budget submission. We supported the government’s announcement of a $6 billion Canada Housing Infrastructure Fund to enhance critical housing-related infrastructure such as water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure. However, there were concerns about the conditions municipalities had to meet to be eligible.
We partnered with the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) to ensure municipalities could access the necessary resources to align housing projects with infrastructure needs.
Our partnership with FCM also extended to our common goal of long-term, predictable infrastructure investments based on good data and strategic needs. As one of their key stakeholders, we were invited by FCM to participate in the creation of a new Municipal Growth Framework, which they have since presented to the federal government. Elements of the framework pertaining to infrastructure are consistent with ACEC’s longstanding advocacy and will help reinforce our messages to the government.
John Gamble took part in the webinar The Path to Strengthening Canada’s Municipal Infrastructure hosted by ReNew Magazine and Water Canada. With an audience of more than 200 participants from across ACEC’s stakeholder community – including members, clients, associations, regulators and policymakers – this was another opportunity to showcase our industry’s critical role in the delivery of infrastructure and reiterate ACEC’s advocacy messages around the NIA and the need for consistent infrastructure funding. The webinar can be viewed here.
A cornerstone of our advocacy activities, Parliament Hill Day in October 2024 saw more than 45 ACEC member firm representatives take part in meetings with Members of Parliament, Senators, and key government staff to discuss the vital role our industry plays in building resilient communities and how consulting engineering firms contribute to a strong economy.
Over the course of 25 meetings throughout the day, ACEC members engaged with influential leaders, including eight Conservative MPs, four Liberal MPs, two Bloc Québécois MPs, and one NDP MP. Notable participants included the Conservative Shadow Minister for Housing and Diversity and Inclusion, the Shadow Critic for the Environment and Climate Change, and the Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities. Representatives also connected with civil servants, including the Deputy Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities, as well as three Senators.
Discussions highlighted the vital role consulting engineering firms play in enhancing Canadian infrastructure and communities. Members also presented ACEC’s recommendations from the 2025 pre-Budget submission to the Standing Committee on Finance, which included implementing the NIA, renewing the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program (ICIP) or launching a successor initiative, and further studying the impacts of changes to the capital gains inclusion rate on employee-owned businesses.
We supported the bipartisan passage of Bill C-317, establishing a national strategy for flood and drought forecasting. By emphasizing the importance of data-driven infrastructure planning, this bill not only set a new standard for climate resilience and environmental policy, but it aligned with ACEC’s vision of a proactive approach to infrastructure challenges.
We were thrilled to present MP Francis Scarpaleggia with the 2024 Chair’s Award in recognition of his leadership in championing this private member bill, which reflects his unwavering commitment to advancing data-based climate resilience and environmental policy.
ACEC again took part in the Canadian Public Procurement Forum hosted by the Canadian Public Procurement Council (CPPC), gaining an unparallelled occasion to engage with and influence the public procurement community in Canada. As both a private sector member and sponsor of the event, our ongoing involvement has been a worthwhile opportunity to not only advocate for procurement reform, but to also gather intelligence on procurement trends in the public sector.
Our participation on the Canadian Construction Documents Committee (CCDC) – a national joint committee that includes representation from across the Canadian construction industry – allows ACEC to actively participate in the development and review of standard construction contracts, forms, and guides used by public and private sector clients and owners. Our participation helps ensure the commercial and legal interests of consulting engineering firms of all sizes are protected. We wish to express our thanks to Tom Montgomery of CIMA+, Sylvia Jungkind of WSP, and Owen Hall of GHD for their tireless work as ACEC representatives on the committee.
As a proud member of the International Federation of Consulting Engineers (FIDIC), ACEC is part of a global network spanning some 88 countries. This influential organization was recently chaired by a Canadian, Catherine Karakatsanis, a Senior Vice-President at Stantec. Canada had a strong presence at the fall 2024 FIDIC Global Infrastructure Conference, with 15 Canadians attending. The closing Awards Gala was a highlight, where Rahim Ahmad of Associated Engineering, the 2024 Allen D. Williams Scholarship recipient, received a “Highly Commended” Award as one of three Future Leaders recognized globally. It was also a landmark evening for Canadian excellence, as CIMA+ and Hatch won the prestigious “Project of the Year (Megaprojects)” award for their work on the Réseau Express Métropolitain (REM) – South Shore segment in Montreal. This achievement marked the first time a Canadian firm claimed victory in this category, underscoring the global impact of Canada’s consulting engineering sector.
This fiscal year marked the success of several initiatives aimed at strengthening our member firms and supporting emerging leaders in the industry.
Our Future Leader Management Program and Forum continues to draw strong participation. A cohort of 40 next-generation leaders completed the program in January 2025, and we expanded the offering with the launch of a follow-up level 200 program.
Member engagement reached new heights with the sold-out ACEC Executive Forum in June, which offered an invaluable platform for industry leaders to connect, share, and learn.
The inaugural Small Firm Forum, which took place in November, reflects our commitment to addressing the unique challenges faced by smaller firms. By fostering dialogue and sharing best practices, this forum will empower small firms to thrive in a competitive landscape.
We are dedicated to supporting an industry where everyone feels valued, respected, and empowered to succeed.
To this end, ACEC is proud to have launched a digital DEI Resource Centre, a go-to source for curated resources of practical tools, expert insights, and actionable strategies specific to the engineering industry to build a more diverse, equitable and inclusive workplace.
We continued our collaboration with Engineers Canada on their 30 by 30 initiative, which aims to raise the percentage of newly licensed engineers who are women to 30 per cent by the year 2030. Sabrina Martineau of AtkinsRéalis – who is on the ACEC Board of Directors – was our representative on the 30 by 30 Champions network, which facilitates data collection and distribution on the composition of the profession and advocates to the federal government on issues relevant to women in engineering. We had strong representation from ACEC and several member firms at the 30 by 30 conference in Winnipeg in May 2024, including our then-Chair Allyson Desgroseilliers of WSP Canada.
We also emphasized education and inclusivity through partnerships with other initiatives, such as the EngiQueers Canada conference.
As a federation, ACEC and the provincial and territorial Member Organizations work together to ensure our industry has a strong voice at the federal, provincial, and municipal levels. A collaborative federation ensures the consulting engineering industry remains strong and vibrant. To this end, we hosted the inaugural ACEC Association Day in fall 2024, which brought together the leadership of the national and provincial associations for a day of engaging discussions on industry challenges and the roles of our associations in addressing them. The event focused on critical advocacy and governance topics, fostering collaboration and shared understanding among the leadership of the consulting engineering industry. ACEC Association Day proved to be a valuable opportunity to strengthen relationships and drive meaningful progress for our associations and the industry.
We continued our successful partnership with the Canadian Federation of Engineering Students (CFES), enhancing engagement with student leaders and securing exclusive recognition as a legacy supporter. Our team participated in some of their key events –like the Canadian Engineering Leadership Conference (CELC) and the Canadian Engineering Competition (CEC) – serving as speakers and judges, and fostering meaningful connections with future industry leaders. This collaboration provides valuable opportunities for student engagement, including career fairs, presentations, and networking at ACEC-Canada’s fall events. Learn more about CFES and its student programs here.
ACEC celebrated excellence in consulting engineering at its awards gala in late October, honouring remarkable achievements from across Canada and beyond. The evening featured the presentation of 20 Awards of Excellence, with five projects receiving Special Awards from the jury for their extraordinary impact. The evening also paid tribute to two exceptional individuals for their contributions to the industry. Negin Tousi of David Nairne & Associates in British Columbia was awarded the Allen D. Williams Scholarship, recognizing her as an outstanding young professional. The prestigious Beaubien Award, presented by the Past Chair’s Council, honoured Claude Décary of BPA for his distinguished career and lasting contributions to the consulting engineering sector.
The gala also marked the launch of the ACEC National Awards, a brand-new program debuting in 2025, our centennial. At the heart of this new awards program is a bold shift in focus, showcasing outcomes, impacts, and the tangible long-term benefits of projects. With updated categories and a streamlined submission process, the program is designed to be accessible to firms of all sizes. Don’t miss the opportunity to showcase your firm’s exceptional work – click here to learn more.
We launched a new initiative in 2024 to better fulfill our priority to be a resource centre for industry trends, data, and best practices: our 2024 Economic Assessment and 5-Year Forecast, which provides critical insights into our industry’s contributions to the Canadian economy. These findings not only helped inform our own advocacy work, but also that of the provincial associations and decision-makers across the sector.
In addition to this economic assessment, we started conducting Engineering Business Sentiment surveys, which track perspectives from firm executives and leaders. The surveys, conducted twice a year, provide colour commentary on the economic data to create a more detailed picture of our industry and where it is headed. They have been extremely well received by the ACEC membership, with close to a 30% participation rate.
The revamped 2024 National Leadership Conference brought together over 100 current and future industry leaders for a one-day journey of knowledge, networking, and inspiration. Designed by the industry for the industry, this flagship event featured a carefully curated program of expert speakers, panels, and keynote sessions addressing key business, regulatory, and economic issues. Participants engaged in thought-provoking discussions on opportunities, challenges, emerging technologies, and best practices in consulting engineering, gaining practical tools and insights to elevate their firms and shape the future of the sector. We look forward to hosting this flagship event again in 2025.
As we celebrate ACEC-Canada’s 100th anniversary, we look to build on the milestones achieved this past fiscal year.
We will continue to advocate on behalf of our industry for a long-term infrastructure strategy that will benefit all Canadians.
We will continue to encourage the next generation to join consulting engineering, an industry that not only has an enormous impact on society but presents many interesting opportunities for innovation and technical achievement.
And we will continue to support our member organizations and firms in advocacy, communications, and governance, as we are stronger together.
Here’s to another year of shared success!
A message from Jérôme Pelletier, P.Eng., Chair of ACEC-Canada Board 2024-2025.
A message from John D. Gamble, CET, P.Eng., President and CEO of ACEC-Canada.
Overview and summaries of the association's financial statements and reports.
