Ontario Construction News staff writer
The federal budget introduced Nov. 4 includes new funding to expand skilled-trades training and speed up construction projects, with measures aimed at strengthening Canada’s workforce as it pushes ahead with major infrastructure and housing plans.
Increasing the Union Training and Innovation Program to $75 million over three years, supporting union-run training initiatives and helping apprentices move into well-paid construction jobs will enhance the ability to upgrade training equipment, deliver specialized programs and connect workers directly to union job sites, according to the Carpenters’ Regional Council (CRC).
“Workers are the backbone of our economy, and our members look forward to contributing their skills to ensuring Canada continues to be UBC built,” said Jason Rowe, Canadian district vice-president of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters. “We welcome Budget 2025’s commitment to union-led training through UTIP and investments in critical infrastructure and housing.”
The budget also commits to expanding foreign credential recognition for the construction sector, intended to help internationally trained tradespeople obtain certification faster. New Workforce Alliances will be created to bring together industry partners, including unions, to guide skills development and support labour needs on major projects.
Infrastructure and housing delivery remain central to the government’s economic strategy, with continued investment through the Major Projects Office and the Build Canada Homes initiative. The CRC says those programs will accelerate project timelines and create more jobs for union carpenters. The council continues to press for prevailing-wage rules and apprenticeship minimums on federally supported builds to ensure fair pay and training pathways for younger workers.
The budget also includes new enforcement measures to curb worker misclassification and address underground-economy activity in the construction industry. The CRC says improved information-sharing between federal departments is an important step toward tackling tax fraud, which it estimates costs taxpayers nearly $25 billion each year.
The CRC encouraged all parties to support the budget as the country faces heightened economic and trade uncertainty and renewed focus on building national capacity in the skilled trades.