Ontario Construction News staff writer
While the federal budget introduced Nov. 4 puts construction “at the centre of Canada’s economic strategy with significant funding for infrastructure, housing and defence,” the Canadian Construction Association (CCA) is urging the government to implement a coordinated workforce strategy to ensure these investments can be realized.
The budget includes a $115-billion investment in infrastructure, with $51 billion directed toward local projects such as housing and transportation. CCA says these measures are critical for supporting communities and advancing the federal government’s homebuilding agenda.
“Canada has underinvested in critical infrastructure for decades,” said Rodrigue Gilbert, president of CCA. “These investments reflect the essential role of housing-enabling infrastructure in addressing the national housing shortage and committing substantial resources to these projects.”
The budget also funds the Major Projects Office, acknowledging that “for too long, the construction of major infrastructure in Canada has been stalled by arduous, inefficient approval processes.”
CCA welcomed the emphasis on streamlining approvals for large-scale projects, however, the association says the budget does not go far enough in addressing labour shortages, which remain a major challenge for the construction sector.
“The construction sector employs 1.6 million Canadians and contributes $165 billion to Canada’s GDP, yet labour shortages continue to threaten the pace of projects,” Gilbert said. “Without a long-term, coordinated workforce strategy that links immigration, apprenticeships, upskilling, and the destigmatization of careers in the skilled trades, any ambitious construction agenda will stall. Investing in infrastructure is only part of the solution — we must also invest in the people who build it.”
CCA also noted that investments in foreign credential recognition are positive, but programs remain too narrowly focused on unionized pathways.
“Union training programs play an important role, but we must ensure equitable access for all workers, including the 70 per cent of the construction workforce that is non-unionized,” Gilbert said. “If we want to build more homes and infrastructure faster, we need policies and programs that support the entire workforce, not just a segment.”
The association supports the government’s goal to strengthen domestic industry, but cautions that procurement policies must not unintentionally constrain the construction supply chain.
“Canada’s builders depend on a reliable flow of materials and components,” Gilbert said. “We look forward to working with the federal government to ensure domestic sourcing policies strengthen — not constrain — Canada’s construction capacity. When government and industry work together, we can deliver more skilled workers, modern infrastructure, and stronger communities. Together, we build Canada.”