People, hands and outdoor stacked for support
by Rodrigue Gilbert Rodrigue Gilbert

Power in Unity

People, hands and outdoor stacked for support

In a year marked by political change and economic uncertainty, Canada’s construction industry is not standing still – we’re shaping the future, and at the core of that momentum is partnership. Thanks to the unwavering support and collaboration of partner association members, such as SHCA, CCA is not only elevating our industry’s national voice. We are turning that voice into action, influence and results.

Advocacy that delivers

When economic uncertainty hit and Canada-U.S. trade tensions escalated, CCA quickly recalibrated. We identified key issues affecting your business, including trade-enabling infrastructure, fair and transparent procurement and strengthening Canada-U.S. relations. We took those priorities straight to Finance Canada, Public Services and Procurement Canada, Canada’s U.S. ambassador and national business leaders. We joined the Canada-U.S. Trade Council to ensure construction has a seat at the table and a say in shaping continental trade. We also strengthened ties with groups like the Canadian American Business Council, forging alliances to tackle common challenges.

Thanks to the unwavering support and collaboration of partner association members like SHCA, CCA is not only elevating our industry’s national voice. We are turning that voice into action, influence and results.

Our national election campaign, Construction for Canadians, brought the industry’s voice to the national stage, with 74 candidate testimonials, 84 pledges of support, four billion media impressions and 165 national media hits. We put construction at the centre of critical policy debates around economic resilience, infrastructure investment and workforce development – exactly what Canada needs in this next chapter of nation-building.

These efforts are already making waves. Our priorities were reflected in the federal mandate letters, the speech from the throne and plans for a new Major Federal Project Office – a sign that the federal government is hearing our message loud and clear. CCA is already building relationships with newly elected MPs and ministers, laying the foundation for a powerful Hill Day and Meech Lake meeting in the fall. Together, we’ll advocate for the investments, policies and tools that Canada’s construction industry needs to drive our economic prosperity.

The road ahead

CCA is moving full speed ahead to ensure the momentum it built is not lost. The construction sector, backed by partners like SHCA, will continue pushing for the policies and investments that will move the industry forward. With strong partnerships, a united voice and a clear vision, we can build a more resilient supply chain, a stronger workforce and the modern infrastructure Canadians need. CCA is committed to advocating for the tools, policies and investments that will allow our industry to thrive – not just for today, but for generations to come. 

Crack between America and Canada flags. political relationship concept
by Rodrigue Gilbert Rodrigue Gilbert

Standing Strong Against Tariffs

Crack between America and Canada flags. political relationship concept
nkdrop/123rf

In construction, where everything depends on long-term planning and tight cost forecasts, even a small disruption in the supply chain can throw things off in a big way. Lately, the rise in protectionist talk and new trade barriers, such as the 25 per cent tariff the U.S. placed on Canadian steel and aluminum, are causing significant turbulence across the industry.

The U.S. remains Canada’s largest trading partner, and our construction industry is deeply integrated with cross-border supply chains. Tariffs disrupt those chains, driving up costs, creating uncertainty, and delaying essential public and private sector projects.

For Saskatchewan’s heavy construction contractors, many of whom rely on imported steel and key materials for large-scale public and private projects, the potential impacts are stark:

  • Skyrocketing material costs that could make projects financially unviable.
  • Delays in project delivery due to supply chain disruptions.
  • Increased uncertainty that discourages investment and long-term planning.

These impacts extend far beyond the construction yard. When projects are delayed or cancelled, Saskatchewan’s communities are left waiting for the services, jobs and growth those investments were meant to deliver.

CCA has been actively working with federal and provincial leaders to ensure the construction industry’s voice is heard in trade and economic policy discussions.

What CCA is doing to fight for the industry

The Canadian Construction Association (CCA), representing over 18,000 member firms, is proud of our mission to inspire a progressive, innovative and sustainable construction industry. With partners like SHCA, we’re committed to shaping a stronger, more resilient Canada through the power of construction.

CCA has been actively working with federal and provincial leaders to ensure the construction industry’s voice is heard in trade and economic policy discussions. As part of our strategy, we have:

  • Participated in government consultations to highlight the specific risks tariffs pose to Canadian construction.
  • Engaged with policymakers to promote tariff exemptions or mitigation measures for essential materials.
    Published economic analyses showing how tariffs lead to higher costs and stalled progress on infrastructure.
  • Construction for Canadians: A call to action

We’re not just reacting, we’re pushing for proactive policies that protect our industry and the broader Canadian economy.

The 2025 federal election presented a pivotal opportunity for us to rally support for the construction sector. Through our Construction for Canadians campaign, CCA worked to ensure that construction remained a key issue in the national conversation, championing policies that promote growth, sustainability and resilience in our industry.

While the election may be behind us, the work continues. Our campaign wasn’t just about influencing platforms, it was about building long-term awareness and support for construction as a pillar of Canada’s economic future. Now, as the newly elected government begins its mandate, CCA remains focused on turning these conversations into real, lasting progress.

Turning advocacy into action

Now more than ever, Canada needs investment in resilient infrastructure that will support growth and meet the demands of a changing world. We must grow the construction workforce, modernize procurement processes and cut the red tape that hampers project delivery.

Canada has slipped from 10th to 26th in global trade infrastructure rankings. This is troubling for a country whose economy depends on the import and export of goods. Our ports, railways and highways, the arteries of our supply chains, are stretched thin and ill-equipped to handle growing demand and the mounting need to diversity our markets. Saskatchewan’s key export sectors are particularly vulnerable to bottlenecks at ports, rail terminals and highways.

CCA has been working in partnership with other stakeholders to secure a Canada Trade Infrastructure Plan that prioritizes strategic, long-term investments. A cornerstone of this plan is the creation of the Canadian Infrastructure Council, a significant milestone in pushing forward the National Infrastructure Assessment, which is a priority for CCA. This council will play a key role in prioritizing strategic infrastructure projects critical to Canada’s future.

With strong partnerships, a united voice and a clear vision, we can build a more resilient supply chain, a stronger workforce and the modern infrastructure Canadians need. CCA is committed to advocating for the tools, policies and investments that will allow our industry to thrive, not just for today, but for generations to come.

by SHCA SHCA

Canada’s Construction Industry Congratulates the New Liberal Government, Reiterates the Importance of Construction for all Canadians

Canadian Construction Association

The Canadian Construction Association (CCA) congratulates Prime Minister Mark Carney and his new members of Parliament from across the country for winning the confidence of Canadians. 

“For Mark Carney and his administration, now is the time for action,” said Rodrigue Gilbert, president of CCA. “A strong, sustainable and resilient Canada needs a strong, sustainable and resilient construction industry. To support Canadians, the next federal government must support construction.” 

During the federal election, CCA launched Construction for Canadians, a campaign supported by Canada’s national, provincial and regional construction associations to emphasize the importance of construction to building the strong Canada that Canadians deserve.  

“Beyond the economic impact, the construction industry builds the critical infrastructure Canadians rely on every day,” said Gilbert. “We build the schools where our children learn; the hospitals that care for us; the roads and highways that connect our communities and economies; and the housing that becomes our homes.” 

Over the course of the campaign, Construction for Canadians received an outpouring of support from dozens of candidates across Canada and was featured in hundreds of media publications, discussing the priorities of the Canadian construction industry.  

“This campaign has never been just about our industry – it’s about Canada and Canadians,” said Gilbert. “We cannot grow our economy or develop the infrastructure we need to compete globally and respond to political and economic challenges without construction.”  

During this election, Carney and his candidates made various commitments which involve the construction industry. These commitments include:

  • Investing in critical, community-enabling infrastructure to connect Canadians and grow regional, provincial and economic economies. 
  • Investing $5 billion for the new Trade Diversification Corridors Fund to support the development of trade infrastructure, including, but not limited to, ports, railways, airports and highways. 
  • Deploying a made-in-Canada procurement strategy that prioritizes Canadian suppliers and supply chains. 
  • Increasing labour mobility for skilled trades people between provinces and territories to address labour shortages. 

 “CCA will continue its work in close collaboration with the new government to ensure that Prime Minister Carney and his new administration keep their promises to the construction industry,” said Gilbert. “Only together can we build a strong foundation for Canada’s future.”