Ontario Construction News staff writer
More than 80 representatives of Canada’s construction industry will meet with parliamentarians in Ottawa on November 17 to discuss workforce shortages, project delivery and the industry’s capacity to deliver the country’s housing and infrastructure priorities.
The Canadian Construction Association (CCA) is bringing delegates from across the country to Parliament Hill for its annual Hill Day, where discussions will focus on the challenges facing the industry and opportunities to work with the federal government to address them.
The upcoming meeting follows the release of Budget 2026, which includes additional funding for housing, community infrastructure, Indigenous infrastructure and major projects.
The CCA welcomed several measures in the budget, including an additional $13 billion for Build Canada Homes, continued implementation of the Build Communities Strong Fund to help reduce development charges and barriers to construction, and investments in First Nations on-reserve infrastructure.
However, the association said more action is needed to address persistent labour shortages and rising construction costs.
“Canada needs to build, and this budget recognizes the important role construction plays in delivering on that ambition,” said Rodrigue Gilbert, president of the CCA. “We appreciate the government’s action on housing supply, strengthening communities, and advancing projects of national importance. The next priority must be ensuring the conditions are in place to turn these commitments into completed projects.”
The CCA said the government’s proposed transition of up to 200,000 temporary residents already in Canada to permanent residency by the end of 2027, including 100,000 workers eligible for Express Entry or the Provincial Nominee Program, could provide greater flexibility to address labour market pressures.
However, it noted there were few new measures in Budget 2026 to address construction workforce shortages.
The association welcomed last month’s announcement of $430 million over five years for apprenticeship training but said a broader approach is needed to recognize the full range of employers and training pathways in the industry.
It is calling for equitable access to federal workforce development funding and programs for both unionized and open-shop employers, as well as recognition of experience, qualifications and training pathways beyond the Red Seal program.
Construction costs, including those associated with tariffs and ongoing trade disruptions, will also be a focus of the association’s discussions with parliamentarians.
“Construction costs have a direct impact on Canada’s ability to build,” said Gilbert. “Supporting the competitiveness of Canadian contractors and the broader construction supply chain is essential to delivering projects efficiently and affordably.”
The CCA is also calling for more predictable and transparent procurement processes, fair competition, appropriate risk allocation and timely project approvals.
Modernizing federal tendering practices, expanding the use of collaborative project delivery models and adopting industry-standard contract documents could help improve project delivery and ensure public spending provides value for taxpayers, the association said.
As the government moves forward with Budget 2026 commitments, the CCA said it will continue working with federal officials to address the industry’s challenges and strengthen Canada’s construction capacity.
