OTTAWA, November 5, 2026 — Adam Auer, President and CEO of the Cement Association of Canada releases the following statement in response to the 2026 federal budget:
“Cement and concrete are the foundation of the Build Canada agenda. Canada cannot deliver on its housing, major infrastructure projects or defence expansion goals without supporting the industries that supply the materials to achieve them. While today’s budget announcement reaffirms previously announced housing, infrastructure and major project spending, greater investment certainty and targeted support for innovation are needed to ensure Canadian cement producers remain competitive.
“Governments have come to understand that electricity isn’t just another sector. It’s a pillar of economic sovereignty, because every other part of the economy depends on it. Cement and concrete belong in that same category. You can’t build a home, a bridge, a pipeline or a nuclear reactor without them, and a country that can’t make its own cement can’t build on its own terms. Canada’s producers are ready to meet the challenge, but we need to keep attracting investment in modernization and efficiency to stay competitive in a time of real economic uncertainty.
“To secure a strong, domestically produced supply of cement, the CAC continues to call on the federal government to act on the two priorities we identified in our pre-budget submission:
- Protecting investment: Expedited Strategic Response Fund reviews for cement modernization, decarbonization and supply chain resilience projects. At least four major projects representing more than $1 billion in capital investment are at risk.
- Accelerating innovation: A dedicated $25 million fund to support workforce training, infrastructure research and faster adoption of Canadian cement and concrete technologies.
“Recent experience with U.S. tariffs exposed the sector’s vulnerability to trade disruption and showed how short-term pressures can undermine long-term domestic production.
“Our industry remains committed to helping Canada become the strongest economy in the G7, but achieving that requires a coordinated approach that supports domestic production while enabling the significant capital investments necessary to strengthen our competitiveness and support the industry’s long-term resilience.
“The CAC and its member companies look forward to working with the federal government to build on the commitments of Budget 2026 and ensure infrastructure investments support a competitive, resilient domestic cement and concrete industry.”
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About the Cement Association of Canada
The Cement Association of Canada represents the Canadian cement industry and advocates for policies that support a competitive, innovative and sustainable domestic cement and concrete sector. Cement and concrete are essential materials for Canada’s homes, buildings, transportation networks and critical infrastructure. The association works with governments, industry partners and stakeholders to advance the industry’s economic, environmental and social contributions to Canada.
Media inquiries:
Dan Valin
Director, Communications and Marketing
Cement Association of Canada
Dvalin@cement.ca
