With many Canadians distressed about the housing crisis, high cost of living and economic uncertainty impacting their daily lives, the Canadian Construction Association (CCA) is launching an industry call-to-action urging the federal government to partner with the construction industry on building a strong foundation for a stronger Canada.
Estimates by the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation reveal that Canada needs to build 3.5 million additional homes above and beyond what is currently projected to be built by 2030. With the current construction workforce shortage, the industry does not have the workers required to meet the projected building needs. Add to that inflation, rising interest rates and affordability, and Canada’s deteriorating foundational infrastructure and it becomes clear that Canada is in dire need of a holistic and long-term strategy to get on track.
Through its online advocacy platform, the Construction Action Network, CCA is urging its 18,000 members and the public to send a letter to their local MPs reminding them of the importance of partnering with the industry to make the following strategic changes:
Commit to a comprehensive, long-term infrastructure investment strategy that includes a 25-year plan for housing and trade-enabling infrastructure.
Address the workforce shortage by modernizing the existing immigration policy and points system to better reflect the workforce needs of the Canadian economy.
Modernize procurement to ensure practices better balance risk-sharing between public contracts and the private sector, reduce red tape, and accelerate approvals for critical projects.
While the federal government has launched various programs, such as the Express Entry program to target immigrants with high-demand skills as well as several initiatives under the National Housing Strategy to fast track the building of new homes, these measures are short-term solutions to problems that require consultation, partnership and long-term planning.
In addition to the campaign, CCA will be hosting its annual Hill Day event on Nov. 7, 2023, where industry representatives will meet with parliamentarians to discuss the construction sector’s essential role in creating and maintaining the infrastructure Canadians use daily. This includes the foundational infrastructure at the heart of new homes and communities.
With construction as its partner, the federal government can build a stronger Canada through comprehensive infrastructure investment, workforce development and procurement modernization.
A progressive, innovative and sustainable construction industry
By Mary Van Buren, Canadian Construction Association
Representing 20,000-plus member firms, the Canadian Construction Association (CCA) is proud of our mission to inspire a progressive, innovative and sustainable construction industry.
The key to our success is working with valued partner associations like the Saskatchewan Heavy Construction Association (SHCA). We are powered by your engagement. Together, we are driving change on key issues that make a real impact, not only for the industry but for all Canadians.
Workforce an urgent priority
We achieved some headway with the federal government on our collective cornerstone issue to rebuild Canada’s workforce through immigration reform. The Department of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship recently announced a new process under the Express Entry program to welcome skilled newcomers with work experience in occupations considered a priority in Canada. Ten occupations in construction, including carpenters, plumbers, welders and electricians, are included in the list of nearly 83 jobs.
Our collective efforts to make the workforce shortage issue a priority for the Government of Canada – bringing the message locally, provincially and federally through our Hill Day and semi-annual Meech Lake meetings – has also generated government support for investing in promotion of the trades and increasing immigration targets to help ease the shortfall.
Conversations will continue, as the government needs to create a more supportive environment to alleviate the labour choke points that risk crippling Canada’s economic growth. This includes changing an outdated immigration point system and working with provinces to ensure better skills matching.
The urgent need for skilled trade workers is also receiving nationwide attention as we work to build the number of apprentices, through our partnership with the Canadian Apprenticeship Service (CAS), and turn construction into a first-choice career, through our industry-wide Talent Fits Here campaign. Within the first six months of the CAS program, over $2 million in funds have been dispersed to eligible employers and 47 per cent of the apprentices self-identified as being from an equity-deserving group.
To build the infrastructure needed across the country and recruit the workforce of the future, federal procurement strategies need to adapt to encourage innovation, include contractors earlier in the process, account for long-term value and sustainability, promote the use of alternative delivery models and support shared risk.
A smart infrastructure plan backed by investment
Over the past two years, CCA has been actively pursuing more investment in key trade gateways and corridors across the country. This included partnering with the Western Canada Roadbuilders & Heavy Construction Association and bringing in national partners, like Export Development Canada, the Business Council of Canada and the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, to build the support we need among politicians and Canadians. CCA helped fund the report, From shovel ready to shovel worthy, to strengthen our case.
We are gaining traction, with some modest investments proposed in the 2023 Federal Budget to strengthen Canada’s transportation systems and supply chain infrastructure. Real growth, though, will not come from Band-aid solutions. It will come from a long-term initiative, coordinated with the provinces, to develop a National Trade Corridor.
CCA has always maintained that one size does not fit all. Every region and municipality, including our Indigenous communities, have different needs and priorities. The National Infrastructure Assessment would have helped create an integrated, apolitical strategy on how Canada would prioritize, finance and deliver critical infrastructure projects, but there has been no movement on this promised 2021 federal initiative. We cannot afford to wait. As the industry’s national advocate, CCA will continue its outreach on this issue so policymakers understand the risks of their inaction – aging infrastructure, damage to our reputation as a trading partner and inadequate supply chains, to name a few.
Fair procurement
The value of involving contractors earlier in a project is gaining steam. CCA obtained a commitment from government leaders at its semi-annual Meech Lake meeting to establish a working group on procurement and project delivery methods. To build the infrastructure needed across the country and recruit the workforce of the future, federal procurement strategies need to adapt to encourage innovation, include contractors earlier in the process, account for long-term value and sustainability, promote the use of alternative delivery models and support shared risk.
CCA will be continuing its summer Standard Practices Tour to learn first-hand from members about their challenges with current procurement practices. There will be more information on this topic over the next few months.
CCA’s Best Practices Services is delivering new resources – some of which are being developed through the work of our National Advisory Councils. We are also increasing our outreach to buyers of construction so we can educate them on the benefits of sharing risk and involving contractors early in the project.
Action-backed policies to support green infrastructure
Canada’s construction industry is ready to become a leader in the transition to a net-zero economy. We submitted detailed recommendations on developing a buy clean policy, mandating change, enabling investment decisions, growing Canada’s advantage in building practices, technology and building materials as well as training and incentivizing the future workforce. Following the submission, CCA has been invited to participate in a working group on Canada’s Green Buildings Strategy. CCA and our partners are also aligning on our message that governments must update building codes, provide incentives for businesses, share climate data and create a list of approved “green” materials.
Budget 2023’s proposed tax credits in clean technologies and hydrogen are a missed opportunity that we plan to address. Tying restrictive labour conditions to these incentives effectively discriminates against an important segment of the Canadian workforce and, in particular, small and medium-sized companies. Over the next few months, CCA will be reinforcing our budget asks in support of a strong economy through meetings with senior government leaders, a robust outreach strategy leading into the summer recess, and Hill Day 2023 where the industry will convene to make our message heard in Ottawa.
Mary Van Buren is the president of the Canadian Construction Association.
STAY IN TOUCH! You can count on CCA to be a collaborative partner to the Saskatchewan Heavy Construction Association, providing helpful tools, sharing best practices across the country and being your voice with the federal government. Stay in the loop by subscribing to CCA’s newsletter at bit.ly/ccasubscribe, by following @ConstructionCAN on Twitter, or by looking up Canadian Construction Association on LinkedIn.
Representing over 20,000 member firms, the Canadian Construction Association (CCA) is proud of our mission to inspire a progressive, innovative and sustainable construction industry.
The key to our success is working with valued partner associations like SHCA. We are powered by your engagement. Together, we are driving change on key issues that make a real impact, not only for the industry but for all Canadians.
Smart infrastructure plan backed by investment
As the industry’s national advocate, CCA has been working to help shape a long-term plan for sustainable infrastructure investment. CCA understands that one size does not fit all. Every region and municipality, including our Indigenous communities, have different needs and priorities.
Working with our partners at the WCR&HCA, we released a report, From Shovel Ready to Shovel Worthy, to strengthen our case for a national trade-enabling infrastructure plan. It identifies key trade gateways and corridors across the country, including Western Canada, that will link resources to industry, people to jobs and products to market. We are also supporting a media and government relations outreach campaign to create more momentum and support for this initiative.
Workforce an urgent priority
Members from across Canada have told us they need a skilled workforce to deliver on the many infrastructure projects underway or in the pipeline.
Even the best laid plans can be derailed without the workers we need to keep us on track. There are over 81,000 open jobs in construction that the industry is struggling to fill nationwide because of baby boomer retirements, pandemic aftershocks and, quite simply, a public misconception about careers in construction.
CCA has been very public about the need for an overhaul of the current immigration points system – one that does not value skilled trades, or many civil sector workers who are skilled, but not considered trade workers. The Temporary Foreign Worker program could also be utilized to address the need for seasonal labourers.
The Canadian construction industry recognizes the benefits of a diverse, inclusive and equitable work culture. In 2020, we launched our Talent Fits Here initiative, a national public awareness campaign designed to attract workers by positioning construction as a career of choice. Afterall, “[construction] is the foundation of our world.”
We are also thrilled to be partnering with the Canadian Apprenticeship Forum on a federal government initiative offering financial incentives to employers who hire first-year apprentices in 39 Red Seal trades. This program will provide support to employers wanting to hire apprentices and promote the skilled trades as a first-choice career for youth, women, Indigenous peoples, LGBTQ+, immigrants and foreign workers.
Fair procurement
CCA’s semi-annual Meech Lake meeting with government leaders resulted in a commitment to establish a working group on procurement and project delivery methods. We also embarked on a fact-finding mission last summer to learn first-hand from members about their challenges with current procurement practices. Dubbed the Standard Practices Tour, CCA visited Vancouver, Edmonton, Winnipeg, St. John’s and Montreal in June 2022.
As outlined in our report, we intend to educate owners on the challenges identified by our members. Procurement needs to adapt to encourage innovation, account for long-term value and sustainability, promote the use of alternative delivery models and support shared risk. Too often contractors take on the risk of project costs and delays due to the shortage of workers, materials and supply chain disruptions.
Action-backed policies to support green infrastructure
As a result of the united advocacy of CCA and our integrated partner associations, federal procurement strategies are on the agenda. We all know that construction has a major role to play in achieving Canada’s net zero targets, and the federal government must act now to support businesses’ decarbonization efforts over the coming decade.
This includes updating building codes, providing incentives for businesses, sharing climate data and creating a list of approved “green” materials.
CCA priorities include strategic investment in infrastructure, workforce development and changes to procurement
There is no debate. The infrastructure we design, build and maintain must anticipate a rapidly changing world, where future climate, technologies and social needs will be very different from today. But to achieve this, we need a considered and co-ordinated plan backed by a long-term investment strategy. Infrastructure enables trade, powers businesses, connects workers to their jobs, creates opportunities for communities and protects the nation from an increasingly unpredictable natural environment. It also supports workers, providing millions of jobs each year in building, design and maintenance, accounting for over 1.4 million jobs in Canada.
As the industry’s national advocate, the Canadian Construction Association (CCA) has been working to ensure the federal government understands the importance of fair and transparent procurement, consistent and sufficient investment in infrastructure, and attracting a skilled workforce.
These issues are CCA priorities for 2022. They were already raised with key elected parliamentarians during our annual Hill Day on Nov. 30, and in our response to the federal government’s National Infrastructure Assessment. Our united industry reinforced the need to develop a long-term infrastructure investment strategy, secure the right skills for the industry now and in the future by attracting a diverse and inclusive workforce, and expand project delivery models that support fair procurement.
Investing in infrastructure will secure Canada’s growth economy
Setting national goals around building sustainability into our infrastructure is key to our future economy. The economy needs reliable infrastructure to connect supply chains and efficiently move goods and services across borders. The funds must be predictable, flow quickly and be aligned with provincial, municipal and Indigenous needs. The creation of an independent advisory body can align governments at the provincial and municipal level to address infrastructure deficits across Canada. The stability of having multi-year project pipelines, based on evidence and independent expert advice, would also enable the development of the necessary skilled workforce and encourage private sector investment.
Supporting value and innovation through fair and transparent procurement
With productivity and sustainability issues on the rise, including net zero carbon targets and shortages in material and labour affecting profit margins, now is the time to modernize procurement practices. To build the infrastructure needed across the country and recruit the workforce of the future, federal procurement strategies need to adapt to encourage innovation, account for long-term value and sustainability, promote the use of alternative delivery models and support shared risk.
Setting national goals around building sustainability into our infrastructure is key to our future economy.
Building the workforce of the future
The construction industry is facing a serious workforce shortage that will impact our progress on building for the future. Skilled tradespeople cannot be created overnight. Now is the time to focus on building workforce capacity and boosting skilled training programs.
A strong federal partner is also needed to help the industry recruit, train and retain tomorrow’s workforce. Applying quotas when the workforce simply does not exist will not solve the root issues. Instead, the industry must be seen as a career of choice, particularly among underrepresented groups. This can be achieved through partnership between industry and government, including funding for CCA’s Talent Fits Here campaign and programs that support building workforce capacity.
Stay in touch!
Canada will be counting on the construction industry to build back better. You can count on CCA to be a collaborative partner to the Saskatchewan Heavy Construction Association, providing helpful tools, sharing best practices across the country and being your voice with the federal government.
The Canadian Construction Association (CCA) is hosting their annual conference virtually for 2021. From March 23 to 25, CCA will bring industry members together to share best practices, network, stay current on industry trends and celebrate member accomplishments through its National Awards program. The virtual event will feature flexible scheduling with a mix of live stream and pre-recorded/on demand programming.
With COVID-19 cases on the rise, new strains cropping up and a slower than hoped rollout of vaccines, it is essential to remain vigilant and follow worksite health and safety protocols as well as general public health measures, says the Canadian Construction Association (CCA).
The health, safety and wellbeing of our workers and the communities in which we operate has always been the top priority of the more than 20,000 member firms of CCA.
“We are proud of our industry and the firms of all sizes who quickly adapted and consistently implemented health protocols across Canada,” said Mary Van Buren, CCA president. “This pandemic highlighted the value of past infrastructure investments, including maintenance, that ensured that the increased volume of goods, food and medical supplies moved efficiently across our roads and bridges, that we could work from home because of broadband connectivity, that we have clean water to drink and for hygiene and that we have hospitals where we receive excellent care.”
The Canadian construction industry already has in place and implements highly disciplined health and safety protocols on construction sites and at manufacturing facilities. Companies have significantly amplified these by adhering to CCA’s COVID-19 Standardized Protocols for All Canadian Construction Sites. CCA and our partner associations have a wealth of resources available to member firms to assist them during the pandemic.
“It is vital to Canada’s health and economy that our strong track record of safety in the first wave continues into this second and potentially more challenging wave,” said Van Buren. “I know many of us are frustrated by this long road, are experiencing pandemic fatigue, and making personal sacrifices. Together, we can stay the course so that Canadians continue to benefit from the essential work and services provided by construction. There is light at the end of the tunnel.”
With cases steeply rising and ICU units reaching full capacity in some locations throughout Canada, there is also a growing urgency around following general health guidelines and other government measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19, such as eliminating all non-essential travel, wearing a mask in public, getting a flu shot, limiting your contacts and washing your hands frequently.
The construction sector is one of Canada’s largest employers. The industry, 70 per cent of which are small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), employs more than 1.4 million Canadians and contributes 7.5 per cent of Canada’s Gross Domestic Product. The risk is high if we do not maintain our vigilance in the fight against COVID-19.
