Ontario Construction News staff writer
Canada’s Building Trades Unions (CBTU) has unveiled an Indigenous Reconciliation Action Plan (IRAP), to increase Indigenous participation, leadership and economic opportunity in the unionized construction sector.
The framework provides CBTU affiliates and provincial councils with tools, measurable goals and commitments to strengthen relationships with Indigenous communities and improve access to careers in the skilled trades.
It builds on CBTU’s 2017 adoption of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s Call to Action No. 92, which calls on the corporate sector to “promote meaningful consultation, equitable access to jobs and training, and education on Indigenous history, rights and cultures.”
“We stand at a defining moment for Canada’s skilled trades,” said Sean Strickland, Executive Director of CBTU, calling the plan a “unified national voice. “With unprecedented investment in infrastructure, we have a responsibility to ensure Indigenous engagement and partnership are embedded across every jobsite and community.”
The IRAP is structured around four strategic pillars:
- expanding Indigenous entry into the trades through training pathways and outreach programs
- enhancing cultural awareness and education across the CBTU network
- increasing Indigenous participation in procurement and project supply chains
- strengthening Indigenous leadership and governance within the organization
Pillars outline 41 commitments to be completed by 2029 including development of culturally relevant pre-employment programs, Indigenous procurement policies, establishment of an Indigenous Advisory Committee and integration of reconciliation objectives into CBTU governance structures.
“This plan is a formal commitment born from listening, learning, and working alongside Indigenous communities and our members across the country,” said Robert Kucheran, Chairman of the CBTU Canadian Executive Board. “The IRAP brings together best practices and sets out a clear, accountable framework for meaningful progress, one that we invite our partners to engage with, challenge, and help us advance.”
CBTU has committed to annual progress reporting, the creation of an Indigenous Advisory Committee reporting directly to the Board, and the appointment of an Indigenous Relations lead responsible for coordinating implementation efforts.
