Public-sector partners should be working with their provincial ministry and agency partners and PIR to identify strategic infrastructure investment priorities. To identify such priorities, a needs assessment is required to match service delivery requirements to the type of infrastructure investment needed (e.g., maintenance, deferred maintenance, rehabilitation and refurbishment, or renewal and new infrastructure assets). A needs assessment must consider and provide an analysis of the:
• factors driving need;
• state of existing asset base; and
• future infrastructure asset needs, including maintenance costs, and the funding options available to meet these needs.
Once an initiative has been identified as a priority through the infrastructure planning process, a business case must be developed for delivering the initiative.
A broad range of factors can affect infrastructure needs. The factors driving infrastructure needs should be clearly outlined and articulated by a public-sector entity to the provincial line ministry or agency it reports to and PIR. Some of the most common factors include those listed below.
Figure 3.1 Factors Driving Infrastructure Needs
Factors | Description |
Demographics | Entities should consider both current and future indicators, such as population change by age cohort; impacts of births, deaths, immigration and emigration; and issues specific to program areas. |
Program Changes | These include new initiatives, program terminations or changes in program parameters. |
Technological Changes | Examples include the impact of Web-based technologies on distance learning, new medical technologies on the delivery of health care or e-business opportunities. |
Economic or Business Changes | These include current and projected financial or economic/market trends and opportunities-in general or specific to the service sector. |
Environmental Factors | These include the impact of any potential changes to environmental standards. |
Social Changes | Entities should consider any trends that could affect service delivery needs, including the changing needs of consumers of public services. |
Legislation | Factors to consider here include any new statutory requirements affecting the entity. |