Nature plays an integral part in a municipal infrastructure system
The condition of urban infrastructure is of universal importance in Canada. For municipalities and other levels of government, well-constructed, well-maintained infrastructure is the foundation of economic prosperity and qualilty of life and underpins effective delivery of almost all services.
However, aging infrastructure, combined with deferred maintenance and high renewal and replacement costs, has resulted in poorer asset condition and increased maintenance costs. A 2012 report card on Canada’s infrastructure, for example, found that the value of municipal water, wastewater, stormwater and road systems across the country is approximately $538 billion, $50.7 billion of which is in poor or very poor condition, and a further $121.1 billion of which is in only fair condition.”
