Representing more than 18,000 member firms, the Canadian Construction Association (CCA) is proud of its mission to inspire a progressive, innovative and sustainable construction industry. The key to CCA’s collective success is working with its valued partner associations like the Saskatchewan Heavy Construction Association (SHCA).
With an ongoing national housing crisis, the government’s prioritization of a low-carbon economy and mounting workforce shortage, CCA is capitalizing on the political attention to advocate for strategic investment and policies that will support our efforts to build a stronger Canada.
Investment in corresponding infrastructure for every new home built
A long-term plan to fill the gap in our trade-enabling infrastructure
Modernization of procurement strategies to support shared risk
Meaningful collaboration with provinces, municipalities and industry
Estimates indicate that each new housing unit requires up to $107,000 in public infrastructure dollars, so a significant investment is needed to build, support and connect these homes to essential vital services and amenities, like roadways, safe water and the energy grid. This represents a major shortfall in investment. Canada’s existing, not to mention aging, infrastructure is not prepared for the additional stress. One infrastructure failure can have many consequences.
CCA voiced these concerns at its Meech Lake meeting on Nov. 5, 2024. This meeting is a chance for industry experts from across Canada to connect with senior federal government officials to discuss critical issues affecting the industry. The second touchpoint for discussions was CCA’s annual Hill Day on Nov. 19, where close to 100 construction leaders from across Canada had over 75 meetings with parliamentarians and key decision-makers to discuss issues and opportunities facing the construction industry, including the need for improved infrastructure investment, support for workforce development and modernized procurement. It’s not promises that build the economy – it’s construction.
Awareness to action: Construction’s progress on net zero objectives
CCA expects this report will serve as a springboard for discussions with government on the need for greater investment and supportive policies to not only achieve net zero objectives, but also protect Canadians and the infrastructure they depend on daily from the escalating threats of extreme climate events.
Rebuilding Canada’s workforce
With an estimated 266,000 construction workers set to retire in the next decade and growing construction demands, there is a real need to partner with the federal government on workforce development strategies. The government’s recent decision to reduce immigration levels will come with challenges for the Canadian construction industry. CCA will continue to advocate for a balanced plan. Skilled workers are vital to meet the growing demand for infrastructure and housing. A well-balanced immigration policy that includes a re-evaluation of the current points system and considers the unique needs of our provinces can help ensure Saskatchewan fills the labour gaps in our sector and keep building Canada’s future.
It’s not promises that build the economy – it’s construction.
Member services at CCA
Through Best Practices Services, and the work of CCA’s National Advisory Councils, CCA has published its “Bid Go or No Go” guide and a reference document on mastering risk management in construction contracts. Look out for CCA’s most recent “Construction Playbook: Public Procurement Risk Allocation,” which outlines the fundamental principles of risk management in construction, highlights recent examples of risk transfer and offers practical mitigation strategies. These important documents reinforce CCA’s role as a thought leader and provide significant value back to its members.
CCA has launched its CONtact mentorship program for 2025, which will see an increase in mentees from three to five and an expanded presentation experience at the Annual Conference, demonstrating CCA’s continued commitment to innovation in construction. The CCA National Awards continue to celebrate excellence in the industry. The number of nominations received have consistently increased year over year, and staff are excited to begin the adjudication process for the 2024 Awards.
Simplifying contracts and guides
CCA is striving to make contract management simpler and more transparent for its members with its new contract management platform, SignaSurTM. SignaSur offers secure, digital CCA and CCDC contracts through its integrated partner associations. Many of CCA’s integrated partner associations have had a briefing on the service and are at various stages of adoption and launch.
Stay in touch!
Count on CCA to be a collaborative partner to SHCA, providing helpful tools, sharing best practices across the country and being a voice with the federal government.
The Government of Saskatchewan has proclaimed Sept. 23 to 27 as Saskatchewan Construction Week. The week has been proclaimed to celebrate the extensive economic and social contributions made by the province’s dynamic construction industry.
“Saskatchewan’s construction industry is not only a major contributor to jobs in the province, but [it] also plays a crucial role in building the infrastructure necessary for a growing economy,” Trade and Export Development Minister Jeremy Harrison said. “As we work toward achieving and surpassing our Growth Plan goals of growing the provincial population to 1.4 million people and creating 100,000 new jobs, the construction industry will further excel this growth by building the offices, facilities, housing and more, which contribute to our strong and vibrant communities.”
The construction industry in Saskatchewan is a key driver of economic growth. Last year, real GDP for the sector grew by 13.6 per cent, with the sector’s real GDP reaching $6 billion. Currently, there are over 43,000 (seasonally adjusted) people employed in the province’s construction industry, making it one of the most important economic sectors in Saskatchewan in terms of job creation.
“During Saskatchewan Construction Week, we celebrate the dedicated professionals who form the backbone of our province’s economy,” Construction Associations of Saskatchewan co-CEO Shannon Friesen said. “These skilled workers, often behind the scenes, build the infrastructure that drives our communities forward.”
“Their contributions are vital, not just in constructing roads, schools and hospitals, but in shaping the very foundation of our future,” Construction Associations of Saskatchewan co-CEO Kevin Dureau said. “This week, we honour their commitment, resilience and the essential role they play in ensuring Saskatchewan remains strong and prosperous.”
The growth the construction industry has experienced recently has had an overall positive impact on Saskatchewan’s economy, with Statistics Canada’s latest GDP numbers indicating that the province’s 2023 real GDP reached an all-time high of $77.9 billion, increasing by $1.2 billion, or 1.6 per cent. This places Saskatchewan second in the nation for real GDP growth, and above the national average of 1.2 per cent.
Private capital investment is projected to reach $14.2 billion in 2024, an increase of 14.4 per cent over 2023. This is the highest anticipated percentage increase in Canada.
The Government of Saskatchewan also recently unveiled its new Securing the Next Decade of Growth – Saskatchewan’s Investment Attraction Strategy. This strategy, combined with Saskatchewan’s trade and investment website, InvestSK.ca, contains helpful information for potential investors and solidifies the province as the best place to do business in Canada.
Survey tool proves effective in predicting injuries and improving safety performance
maxxasatori/123rf
The Saskatchewan Construction Safety Association (SCSA) and EHS Analytics are proud to share the success of an innovative Safety Culture Survey tool, designed to predict injuries and enhance Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) performance. With the participation of almost 800 construction companies, making it the largest survey of its kind administered at an industry scale, the tool has proven to be an effective leading indicator for safety performance.
The survey tool uses the Institute for Work & Health Organizational Performance Metric (IWH-OPM), an eight-item questionnaire developed by IWH to assess values and beliefs around safety within workplace culture. The large-scale participation of the Saskatchewan construction industry provided data collected over three years, through six rounds of the survey. EHS analyzed the data to gain insights and further support the industry’s safety efforts.
Key findings include:
A strong correlation between high survey scores and lower future lost time injury rates.
Identification of areas where safety improvements can significantly reduce injury risks.
Enhanced ability for firms to benchmark their safety performance against industry standards and peers. Confirmation of the effectiveness of COR® certification.
Shortcomings in Canadian OHS performance are not highly related to a lack of tools or equipment.
“Our analysis has proven that the Safety Culture Survey is a true leading indicator of safety performance,” said Mohammad Khalkhali, data science team lead at EHS Analytics. “Finding easy-to-measure, effective leading indicators in safety is incredibly challenging, and the Safety Culture Survey provides companies with the ability to foresee and mitigate potential hazards before they result in incidents. Leading indicators are often considered the ‘Holy Grail’ in safety for predicting risk, and this tool achieves that goal.”
Every SCSA member company is invited to participate in the survey and view their results in a custom analytics dashboard. Companies can see how their score compares to peers, find follow-up questions to make proactive adjustments to their safety program and monitor their performance over time.
“Having insights into one’s own company in a way that can predict incidents is a game changer,” said SCSA president Collin Pullar. “We encourage all of our members to utilize this simple, but insightful culture survey to better understand where they are doing well, but also better recognize and address weakness in their culture to prevent potential injuries. This is a powerful Canadian-built tool, and we would love to see as many companies as possible use it and learn from it to prevent accidents within their workforces.”
“At the Institute for Work & Health, our mission is to conduct and mobilize research that supports policy-makers, employers and workers in creating healthy, safe and inclusive work environments,” said Peter Smith, president of IWH. “To that end, it is heartening to see health and safety organizations such as the SCSA use the IWH-OPM to both understand organizational health and safety practices over time, and to better understand the relationships between these practices and safety outcomes in Saskatchewan.”
The survey is delivered twice a year to SCSA members, each fall and spring.
Saskatchewan, Alberta and Manitoba continue collaboration on the joint memorandum of understanding
ronniechua/123rf
Ministers for highways and transportation in Saskatchewan, Alberta and Manitoba in Saskatoon to continue work to strengthen economic corridors that support Canada’s supply chains. It has been a year since a memorandum of understanding (MOU) was signed by the three provinces.
The MOU commits the partners to jointly working to improve the shared transportation system, to ensure the strength and competitiveness of the Prairie provinces.
Over the past year, the focus has been on regulatory harmonization, advocacy and regional planning. These priorities will continue with additional work on improving multi-modal transport infrastructure for the efficient movement of exports and imports.
The provinces are working on co-ordinated improvements that benefit the entire region, and they link producers more efficiently to markets across the globe. They are creating a prairie regional economic corridor to guide strategic investments in transportation.
The MOU commits the partners to jointly working to improve the shared transportation system, to ensure the strength and competitiveness of the Prairie provinces.
“By keeping the momentum of the Prairies’ MOU going, we can continue to improve western economic corridors that will enable the efficient movement of Prairie exports and imports to and from markets around the world,” Alberta Minister of Transportation and Economic Corridors Devin Dreeshen said.
“For Saskatchewan people, improving transportation efficiency with initiatives like these supports our strong and growing export-based economy,” Saskatchewan Highways Minister Lori Carr said. “A strategic approach helps the province invest in key services and helps build and protect our quality of life.”
Saskatchewan has already achieved its Growth Plan pledge to increase exports by 50 per cent. The province continues to expand export infrastructure to increase the mobility of Saskatchewan’s products to international markets over the next decade. Exports support a vibrant business community and ensure an improving quality of life for Saskatchewan people.
Seventy per cent of Saskatchewan’s economy is dependent on exports. In 2023, Saskatchewan exported $49.3 billion in goods. Saskatchewan goods reached 163 countries, with 32 of those countries receiving over $100 million in provincial exports.
Canada’s construction industry unveils critical report on climate resilience
smshoot/123rf
On Sept. 9, 2024, the Canadian Construction Association (CCA) released a report emphasizing the urgent need for increased investment and stronger policies to protect Canadians and their critical infrastructure from the increasing threats of climate change.
The report, titled Climate resilience in construction: Building for a sustainable future, stresses the importance of building resilient infrastructure that can withstand extreme weather events, protect lives and support community well-being. Recent incidents, like the flooding in Toronto and wildfires in Jasper, show these threats are real and disrupt the everyday lives of Canadians. Calgary’s broken water main signals even deeper problems with Canada’s aging infrastructure.
“Canada’s infrastructure is the backbone of our communities, but it’s under threats from climate-related disasters,” said Rodrigue Gilbert, CCA president. “With much of our infrastructure aging or in poor condition, we must act now to future-proof our infrastructure and meet our environmental goals.”
The construction industry is already working to build sustainably, but it cannot do it alone. Significant investment, strategic planning and collaboration are needed to build infrastructure that is both resilient and sustainable.
“The construction industry is making progress in reducing our environmental impact,” Gilbert said. “But to reach our net-zero objectives and protect our infrastructure, we need support from both stakeholders and all levels of government.”
Key points from the report include:
Urgent need for investment: To protect infrastructure assets and address the rising strain from increasing population and housing developments, substantial investment is essential.
Industry progress and challenges: The construction sector is actively working to reduce its environmental impact, but long-term sustainability requires broader support and collaboration. Incentives to pilot new processes and technologies are also needed.
Policy environment: We need effective policies to ensure infrastructure is built to last. This includes addressing issues like labour shortages, procurement, alternative delivery models and supply chain challenges.
“Too often, infrastructure investment decisions are based on what’s politically expedient, not what’s genuinely needed in a given region of Canada,” said Gilbert. “We need to focus on projects that are ‘shovel-worthy,’ not just ‘shovel-ready’ to ensure Canadians have the infrastructure they depend on.”
Highway Hotline introduces new highway condition terminology
fierylily/123rf
Saskatchewan’s Highway Hotline has updated the terminology it uses to describe winter driving conditions.
The new terminology offers more clear and concise messaging that will help drivers make decisions about winter travel. The updated language is also more consistent with neighbouring provinces, which will make using the Hotline easier for people travelling across Western Canada.
“The construction industry is making progress in reducing our environmental impact. But to reach our net-zero objectives and protect our infrastructure, we need support from both stakeholders and all levels of government.”
– Rodrigue Gilbert, CCA president
“The Highway Hotline is used millions of times throughout the year to help travellers plan ahead,” Highways Minister Lori Carr said. “These changes will help drivers make an informed decision while having better consistency with our neighbouring provinces and national standards.”
The new primary conditions include:
Bare: Road appears black, meaning all wheels of a passenger vehicle are on a bare surface.
Partly Covered: Road appears yellow, meaning two wheels of a passenger vehicle are on a snow or ice-covered surface.
Covered: Road appears pink, meaning all wheels of the vehicle are on snow or ice.
Travel Not Recommended: Road appears blue, meaning that visibility is less than 250 metres and could become impassable.
Closed: Road appears red, meaning the highway is impassable.
The colour white was removed because it did not show up well on the digital maps. The maps will continue to indicate poor visibility using a dotted line.
During the winter driving season, road conditions are updated a minimum of four times daily or whenever there are known changes that affect drivers.
The Highway Hotline has existed for more than 50 years. It provides information on highway conditions, road closures, construction zones, ferries and border crossings. As of February 2024, it now allows users to track the progress of plows involved in snow removal and ice treatment. This real-time information helps drivers make informed decisions to protect their safety.
Company Charged, Fined $100,000 for Serious Worker Injury
Adler Firestopping Ltd. was charged for contravening subsection 12-5 (2) (a) of the regulations (being an employer failed to ensure that every scaffold is designed, constructed, erected, used and maintained so as to perform safely any task that the scaffold is required to perform, resulting in the serious injury of a worker).
Three other charges were withdrawn.
As a result of this charge, the court imposed a fine of $71,428.57, with a surcharge of $28,571.43, for a total amount of $100,000.
The charge stemmed from a worksite incident that took place on Nov. 28, 2022, on the Thunderchild First Nation in Saskatchewan. A worker was seriously injured as a result of a fall from a work platform.
SHCA expands education to tackle industry challenges
Being prepared to learn is an important quality for those working in the heavy construction industry. Creating more learning opportunities is something the Saskatchewan Heavy Construction Association (SHCA) has been working on, alongside Darlene South of Darlene South Consulting Solutions and Jason Tratch of Proteus Waters.
Now, the SHCA is excited to announce its education portfolio for fall 2024, another way the association is providing services to members and stakeholders. The association views these education and training opportunities as essential in helping members build a sustainable workforce through improved recruitment and retention strategies.
South is an advocate for helping people understand and appreciate the career opportunities available in the construction industry. “The ability to attract, recruit and retain qualified staff has been an issue for years,” said South. “That is difficult to understand given the career opportunities, the financial rewards and limitless possibilities attainable in the industry. It is possible, regardless of education, experience or background, to be successful.
“There is no other industry where people are trained so well on the job,” said South. “There is no other industry where employees can build a prosperous career through on-the-job training without the encumbrance of student loan debt. There is no other industry that offers so many career options to such a variety of people.”
South has been an educator for over 40 years. She owned two private vocational colleges, co-ordinated post-graduate courses in information technology at the University of Regina and worked as director of governance, education and special projects at the Regina Construction Association (RCA).
While with the RCA, South developed an education program that delivered relevant and diverse in-person courses. It was through her work on the Construction 101 course that she gained a deeper appreciation for the construction industry and its importance to Saskatchewan.
wera52/123RF
“Construction 101 is a course that outlines the entire construction industry,” said South. “I think everyone in the industry, including administrative staff, should take this course. It provides a comprehensive overview of the industry and its value.”
One participant in the RCA’s Construction 101 course said they particularly appreciated “the broad coverage of how construction occurs from start to finish.” Another participant noted the course helped them understand “the different types of contracts – tenders versus requests for proposals.” Others valued learning more about bonds, risk management and pre- and post-completion processes.
The opportunities to learn don’t stop there. The SHCA course list also includes Supervisor, Leadership, Professionalism, Conflict Resolution, Working Well, Construction Documents, Procurement and Contractors, Contract Law, Project Management Fundamentals, Project Management Advanced, Work Breakdown and Scheduling, Change and Risk Management and Waste Water Operator and Management Program.
South leads some of those courses, while Tratch handles others. He has business and project management expertise in small start-ups and large multinational blue chips. He is a leading expert in multiple globally-recognized management systems and project management methodologies.
By working with South and Tratch, the SHCA is aiming to change perceptions of the construction industry by offering a range of courses that address both hard and soft skills training. The hard skills training will build on the on-the-job learning employees already receive. The soft skills courses focus on personal qualities that influence workplace performance. For example, the Project Management Advanced course helps employees understand how to handle interactions with others to get a beneficial outcome.
This combination of soft and hard skills training will help move work in construction from being perceived as just a job to an opportunity to join an industry that offers promising and fulfilling careers.
South emphasized the difference between education and training, and the value of offering both. “Education provides a foundation for further learning, while training focuses more on building hard skills,” said South. “The construction industry does an exceptional job in training hard skills.
“There is no other industry that offers so many career options to such a variety of people.”
– Darlene South, Darlene South Consulting Solutions
“One of the keys to building a better construction industry is to supplement the hard skills acquired through training on the job with education courses to support those skills,” said South. “When employees are offered the opportunity to participate in education, they feel valued and respected, and they will advocate for the industry and present a positive image to encourage recruitment and retention.”
Participants in previous courses noted they valued reflecting on their own experiences and becoming more open to others’ perspectives. This blend of soft and hard skills training aims to transform construction work from being seen as just a job to a fulfilling career path.
South said today’s workers want jobs that provide opportunities for learning and advancement. The 2024 LinkedIn Workplace Learning Report highlighted several key findings:
94 per cent of workers said they would stay at a company longer if they had more access to employee education and learning opportunities.
70 per cent would be less likely to leave their current jobs to work for an organization known for investing in employee development and learning.
34 per cent of employees who left jobs were motivated to do so by more employee development. 86 per cent of millennials would stay in their current position if training and development were offered by their employer.
Over 70 per cent of high-retention-risk employees will leave their company in order to advance their career.
Retention rates rise 30 to 50 per cent for companies with strong learning cultures.
In addition to learning from South and Tratch, course participants also have the opportunity to learn from each other, with classes limited to six to 12 people. South noted that interactions among participants is often one of the most valuable aspects of the courses.
“If there are 10 people in the class, it’s just amazing the information that gets shared among them. They also gain from learning about the experiences of others,” said South, who explained that breakfast and lunch is provided as part of the registration. “We have breakfast and lunch breaks, but no one ever leaves during them. They just want to stay and interact with one another. Part of the value of the training is the networking opportunities.”
Participants in South’s courses frequently cited the value of these discussions in their evaluations.
“[My] favourite part of the course [was] all the colourful discussion,” said one. “[My favourite part was] how easy it was to ask questions and talk with everyone,” said another. “[South] made the course very easy to interact in [and there was] lots of opportunity to discuss,” said yet another.
The courses vary in length, with some completed in a single day, while others take up to three days. South said some of the courses are eligible for the Canada-Saskatchewan Job Grant, which reimburses two-thirds of the tuition for a three-day course. These opportunities will be available to SHCA members as well as employees in the Ministry of Highways and municipal officials. Most courses will take place at the SHCA’s Regina office, but they can also be held in other locations across the province by request.
Construction sector taking bold steps toward net-zero emissions
smshoot/123RF
With a growing need to combat climate change, Canada’s construction sector is embracing ambitious goals to lower its carbon emissions. This transformation isn’t merely a trend, but a necessary evolution toward sustainability. As construction stakeholders innovate and adapt, the role of government support is even more significant.
Rodrigue Gilbert
The shift toward sustainability
The Canadian Construction Association’s (CCA) Q4 2023 ICIC Construction Sector Quarterly Insights report observed that the industry is making significant gains in sustainability. Despite its history as a contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, the sector is swiftly embracing measures to curb its environmental impact. There has been a notable decrease in emissions intensity across various infrastructure assets, and investments in clean technologies and materials are rising.
Key players, from developers to contractors, are integrating sustainable strategies into their projects. Green building materials are being employed to not only reduce the emissions associated with construction, but also improve energy efficiency over the project’s entire life cycle. Renewable energy sources like solar panels and wind turbines are also increasingly being integrated into building designs. Moreover, the availability of AI and big data analytics will offer unprecedented opportunities to monitor building performance, providing insights that lead to more effective energy management strategies.
Government support: The catalyst for change
While industry leaders are driving change from within, the Canadian government plays a pivotal role in accelerating the transition to net-zero. Financial incentives are essential tools to encourage sustainable practices across the construction sector. Tax credits for green building certifications, grants for research and development of sustainable technologies and subsidies for energy-efficient retrofits are examples of the type of government interventions needed.
Sustainability is not just a goal; it is a necessity.
Updated building codes and regulatory standards that mandate higher energy efficiency and stricter emissions targets for new construction and renovations are crucial. By setting clear and ambitious benchmarks, the government can ensure that the entire industry moves toward a sustainable future collectively. These standards not only guide current projects, but also inspire innovation in building design and construction methods.
Challenges and opportunities
Despite progress, challenges remain. The upfront costs of sustainable building practices and materials can be higher, posing a barrier to widespread adoption particularly for the small and medium-sized construction company.
The construction industry requires financial support and incentives to offset these initial investments. The timing is also ripe to update outdated procurement strategies. Engaging with contractors earlier and moving away from the lowest bid model will encourage the use of new processes, better practices, alternative energy and more sustainable materials. Moreover, the industry needs a long-term plan for infrastructure investment – one that will provide confidence to CCA members to invest in new technology, convert to low carbon materials and hire and train staff.
CCA released an update to its 2021 Strength, resilience, sustainability white paper in September. This broader report highlights the progress made by industry, explores the linkages between climate risk and infrastructure decisions and discusses the path forward in confronting the climate crisis. It also serves as a springboard for discussions with government on the need for greater investment and supportive policies to not only achieve net zero objectives, but also protect Canadians and the infrastructure they depend on daily from the escalating threats of extreme climate events.
Looking ahead
Sustainability is not just a goal; it is a necessity. Industry leaders are already demonstrating their commitment through innovative practices and technologies. Continued collaboration with the federal government will accelerate this transformation. By aligning policies with ambitious climate targets and providing the necessary financial incentives and regulatory frameworks, the government can empower the industry to achieve net-zero emissions.
Stay in touch!
Count on CCA to be a collaborative partner to the SHCA, providing helpful tools, sharing best practices across the country and being a voice with the federal government.
Spotlighting current and potential issues in the industry
prykhodov/123RF
With an ongoing national housing crisis, the government’s prioritization of a low-carbon economy and the mounting workforce shortage, Canada’s construction industry is in the spotlight.
Representing more than 18,000 member firms, the Canadian Construction Association (CCA) is capitalizing on the political attention to advocate for strategic investment and policies that will support rather than hinder efforts to build a stronger Canada.
Next steps for the National Infrastructure Assessment
Investment in corresponding infrastructure for every new home built
A long-term plan to fill the gap in trade-enabling infrastructure
Modernization of procurement strategies to support shared risk
Meaningful collaboration with provinces, municipalities and industry
Estimates by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities indicate that each new housing unit requires $107,000 in public infrastructure investment, which means an additional $128 billion is needed to build, support and connect these homes to essential housing-enabling infrastructure. This represents a major shortfall in investment. The focus on measures to ease lending for homebuying and rezoning may only serve to exacerbate demand in the long-term with no real vision on how to increase supply.
Rodrigue Gilbert
CCA voiced these concerns at its Meech Lake meeting in May. This meeting is a chance for industry experts from across Canada to connect with senior federal government officials to discuss critical issues affecting the industry. By working together with the Government of Canada, the construction industry can continue building resilient and sustainable infrastructure for the benefit of all Canadians.
The second of these biannual meetings is scheduled for the fall to provide another touchpoint ahead of CCA’s annual Hill Day in November. Last year’s Hill Day was CCA’s most successful yet, with close to 100 industry experts meeting with parliamentarians from all parties and regions to champion construction, and reaffirm the value of the industry to Canada’s economic growth.
Awareness to action: construction’s progress on net zero objectives
CCA released an update to its 2021 Strength, resilience, sustainability white paper in June. This broader report highlights the progress made by industry, explores the links between climate risk and infrastructure decisions and discusses the path forward in confronting the climate crisis. It also serves as a springboard for discussions with government on the need for greater investment and supportive policies to not only achieve net zero objectives, but also protect Canadians and the infrastructure they depend on daily from the escalating threats of extreme climate events.
CCA’s recently published ICIC Construction Sector Quarterly Insights Report observed that the industry is making significant gains in sustainability practices. Despite its history as a contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, the sector is swiftly embracing measures to curb its environmental impact. There has been a notable decrease in emissions intensity across various infrastructure assets, and investments in clean technologies and materials are rising.
Continued work on trade-enabling infrastructure
The industry is gaining traction in its pursuit of a trade-enabling infrastructure investment strategy. Canada’s premiers called on the federal government to convene a First Ministers’ meeting dedicated to discussing the priorities of a strategic trade corridor infrastructure federal program, and its link to Canada’s economic growth and competitiveness.
With an estimated 300,000 workers set to retire in the next decade and increasing construction demands, there is a real need to partner with the federal government on workforce development strategies. While progress has been made, there’s still much work to be done.
CCA achieved some headway with the federal government on rebuilding Canada’s workforce through immigration reform. Immigration targets were increased, and a new process was announced under the Express Entry program to welcome skilled newcomers with work experience in occupations considered a priority in Canada, including construction.
However, ongoing dialogue will continue as the government needs to create a more supportive environment to alleviate the labour choke points. This includes changing an outdated immigration point system and working with provinces to ensure better skills matching.
Stay in touch!
Count on CCA to be a collaborative partner to the SHCA, providing helpful tools, sharing best practices across the country and being a voice with the federal government.
