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CBTU and NCLRA welcome introduction of Bill C-227

April 7, 2016 – Canada’s Building Trades Unions (CBTU) and the National Construction Labour Relations Alliance (NCLRA) welcome the introduction of an Act to amend the Department of Public Works and Government Services Act (community benefit)   by MP Ahmed Hussen (York- South Weston).   Measures to improve the economic benefits of government spending are welcomed by industry stakeholders in construction.  The inclusion of apprenticeship and training requirements in federal infrastructure procurement shows the Government of Canada is serious about leadership in building the workforce of tomorrow.   

Robert Blakely, CBTU’s Chief Operating Officer says “this legislation is an important step in making sure the upcoming infrastructure investment in Canadagets maximum value for the economy. Apprenticeship is a solid career pathway and if every publicly funded project requires apprentices we will produce the generation of skilled trades professionals that will replace an aging workforce.”

Tim Flood outgoing Chairperson of NCLRA and President of Flood Construction says “we need skilled people to do the sort of work we do, there aren’t enough of them.  If local infrastructure projects were guaranteed to produce apprentices and get young people to progress in the skilled trades we will have a pool of talent to choose from and to rely on across the industry in the future.”  

Tony Fanelli incoming chairman of the NCLRA and Vice President at Bantrel Constructors says “as a contractor we support apprenticeship and we train people. The inclusion of training requirements on infrastructure projects is a good thing and it will be equally beneficial to communities where the work is done.”   

Canada’s Building Trades Unions is an alliance of 14 building and construction unions that represent a membership of more than 500,000 skilled tradespeople across Canada.

For more information
www.buildingtrades.ca