Calgary/Ottawa — The Pembina Institute report Building One Canadian Economy: Accelerating adoption of lower-carbon concrete in Ontario and Alberta, outlines strategies for Ontario and Alberta to accelerate the use of lower-carbon concrete in major infrastructure projects. The report shows how Canada can unlock a new era of prosperity and spur long-term investments in Canadian industry by accelerating our use of lower-carbon concrete through harmonizing and modernizing standards and procurement methods, integrating performance-based approaches, and equipping workers with the right tools.
The report recommends provinces align concrete procurement with the federal Standard on Embodied Carbon in Construction — which targets a 10% reduction in embodied carbon for concrete — and move codes, standards, and specifications to a performance-based approach harmonized across jurisdictions. It finds that supporting domestic production, demand-side incentives, and workforce readiness enhances competitiveness and drives private-sector innovation and investment, while coordinated provincial adoption signals leadership, harmonizes markets, and positions Canada as a global clean construction leader.
Report Recommendations
To expand the use of lower-carbon concrete, support Canadian innovation, and build local jobs, provinces should:
- Modernize codes and standards by shifting from prescriptive to performance-based requirements and improving alignment across provinces and municipalities.
- Leverage public procurement — including adoption of the federal Standard on Embodied Carbon in Construction — to provide predictable, technology-agnostic demand signals aligning with “One Canadian Economy.”
- Align private-sector procurement by leveraging carbon-pricing revenues and other fiscal tools to fund incentives that lower costs and accelerate the commercialization of lower-carbon concrete.
- Strengthen workforce readiness by consolidating guidance, expanding training and developing a practical lower-carbon concrete toolkit for designers, engineers and municipal decision-makers.
Quotes
“Canada can build better and smarter with lower-carbon concrete — helping create “One Canadian Economy” that strengthens communities, supports high-quality jobs, and secures a competitive, future-ready economy. By modernizing specifications, adopting Buy Clean procurement, and investing in workforce readiness, provinces can strengthen infrastructure, create durable, high-quality Canadian jobs, and demonstrate national clean construction leadership.”
— Kari Hyde, Manager, Utility Integration and Demand-Side Management, Pembina Institute
"The current nation-building moment is the right time for a coordinated effort to position Canada as a global leader in clean construction. It is critical that we shape the Canadian regulatory landscape and procurement processes to enable and support the production and adoption of lower-carbon concrete. We must use this opportunity to build better and strengthen our economy."
— Eduard Cubi, Associate Principal, Introba
Quick facts
- Cement, the critical binding agent in concrete, represents 7% of global GHG emissions and 1.5% of Canada’s emissions.
- Concrete production supports over 166,000 jobs and contributes $76 billion annually to Canada’s economy.
- In Alberta, the cement and concrete industry generates $16 billion annually and supports 39,000 jobs across manufacturing, construction, transportation and engineering sectors.
- In Ontario, the cement and concrete industry generates $26 billion annually and supports 62,000 jobs across the mining, manufacturing, construction and engineering sectors.
- Nearly 1/3 of concrete in Canada is purchased by governments.
- The Federal Treasury Board's Standard on Embodied Carbon requires a 10% reduction in emissions from ready-mix concrete used in government projects.
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Visit the Pembina Institute’s website to download a copy of Building One Canadian Economy: Accelerating adoption of lower-carbon concrete in Ontario and Alberta
Background
Report: The Opportunity to Lead on Clean Concrete
Contact
Sarah Snowdon
Senior Comms Lead, Pembina Institute
647-797-9329 ext. 121
