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The Missing Middle with Mike Moffatt and Cara Stern
Canada Has a Soft Corruption Problem - Eric Lombardi of More Neighbours Toronto
Oct 30, 2024
Eric Lombardi, founder of More Neighbours Toronto and an expert on infrastructure, delves into Canada’s soft corruption issue. He explains how convoluted processes are inflating infrastructure costs, causing projects to exceed budgets dramatically. Lombardi compares Canada’s approach to European methods, advocating for improved governance and standardization. He addresses the long delays in housing approvals, critiquing 'process parasites' that stifle development. Ultimately, he shares innovative solutions to create a more accountable and efficient system that better serves taxpayers.
25:55
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Quick takeaways
- Eric Lombardi highlights that Canada’s soft corruption in infrastructure leads to inflated costs and diminished outcomes due to convoluted processes and lack of transparency.
- The podcast emphasizes the need for simplified and standardized procurement processes, as demonstrated by more efficient international practices, to maximize taxpayer value in Canadian projects.
Deep dives
Understanding Soft Corruption in Infrastructure
Soft corruption in Canada’s infrastructure projects is characterized by ethical dilemmas rather than legal violations, affecting the cost and scope of such projects. For instance, the Calgary Green Line LRT project was initially designed as a 46-kilometer route with a $44.5 billion budget, which has since been reduced to just 20 kilometers while costs have ballooned to over $5.5 billion. This situation reflects a broader trend across the country where lack of transparency in procurement processes allows various stakeholders to benefit financially, contributing to inflated project costs. Ultimately, as taxpayers, there is a pressing need to ensure that these projects deliver real value for the money invested by the public.
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Discover
highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode