CDN Building Trades

CBTU is proud to be in Houston for Trades Women Build Nations, the world’s largest gathering of unionized tradeswomen! More than 6,000 tradeswomen from Canada and the U.S. are coming together to connect, share their stories, and strengthen our future in the skilled trades. In Houston? We hope you join us for the Banner Parade on Saturday morning!

Today, CBTU’s executive director Sean Strickland appeared before the HUMA Committee to provide expert testimony on Bill C-266, the National Framework on Skilled Trades and Labour Mobility Act. Our message is clear: workers shouldn’t face unnecessary barriers just because they cross a provincial border to go to work. Alongside amendments to the framework, we’re calling for a Labour Supply Coordinating Committee, led by unionized labour to align labour requirements with the availability of members across Canada. CBTU and our affiliates know where the shortages, where our members are available, what skills projects require, and where training capacity needs to grow. youtu.be/Wl6U538BJz4

Included in Bill C-39 are important steps toward getting Canada to get more big projects moving. That means more good-paying unionized jobs from coast-to-coast-to-coast. We welcome measures that will: ✅ Improve transportation project coordination and expand trade corridors ✅ Modernize port governance and strengthen supply chains ✅ Streamline project reviews ✅ Establish clearer timelines and a single federal lead for major projects. These changes can help provide greater certainty for investment and create more opportunities for Building Trades members.

Welcome back, Canada’s House of Commons! Over the past few months, both the Government of Canada and CBTU have been busy at work. We’ve seen major project announcements across the country: LNG Phase 2, Data Centres in the Prairies, and a historic hydroelectric agreement between Newfoundland and Quebec. We’ve fought for more relief from undue tariffs for our members, met with defence ministers, and participated in open discussions with other labour leaders and the Prime Minister. Now, CBTU and Canada remain ready to help build what’s next, to help recruit and train the next generation of Red Seal Tradespeople,  and to strengthen our economic sovereignty. Now, let’s Build, Baby, Build.

Canada has the opportunity of a generation in front of us. We have the resources, we have the workforce, now is the time to build. Nearly $500 billion in new investment commitments means more than headlines. It means the certainty to move major projects forward. It means shovels in the ground, and shovels in the ground translates into work for Canada's skilled tradespeople. Our members are ready to build the energy, infrastructure, critical minerals, defence, and technology projects that will power Canada’s future. When we build, we create good jobs, strengthen communities and put food on kitchen tables across this country. Read more from CBTU, here:buildingtrades.ca/en/cbtu-we…

Canada’s Building Trades Unions Executive Director, Sean Strickland, addressed nearly 4,000 members of the United Association at its convention in San Diego, including 1,000 Canadian delegates. The convention reflected the strength of the UA’s North American partnership, guided internationally by General President, Mark McManus and supported in Canada by Director of Canadian Affairs, Terry Snooks. With nearly 60,000 UA members across Canada, that partnership continues to advance opportunities for skilled tradespeople on both sides of the border. Watch his full presentation, here, youtube.com/watch?v=bKlUnuke… and read CBTU's statement, here: buildingtrades.ca/en/cbtu-ex…

Canada’s Building Trades Unions’ Executive Director, Sean Strickland, was interviewed to share his perspective on why so many people are turning to the trades, and why these careers are attracting Canadians at every stage of life. The average apprentice in Canada is 27 years old, showing that it’s never too late to pursue a good-paying, stable career. With opportunities to earn while you learn, develop in-demand skills, and help build Canada’s future, the skilled trades offer a pathway worth exploring. As Sean shared, “When you have the Prime Minister talking about building Canada, people start paying attention." Read the full article, here: theglobeandmail.com/business… #SkilledTrades #BuildingCanada #Apprenticeships #GoodJobs #UnionStrong #CareersInTheTrades

Last week, members from Canada's Building Trades Unions Canadian executive board and BC Building Trades visited the LNG Canada Phase 2 in Kitimat, British Columbia. As work advances on Canada's major resource and infrastructure projects, including the new West Coast oil pipeline, visits like these highlight the scale, complexity, and opportunities these projects create. They showcase the world-class work being performed by our brothers and sisters and reinforce the critical role Canada's unionized skilled trades play in building Canada's future. Learn more about how our members are making an impact here: buildingtrades.ca/en/were-re…

Congratulations to our Brothers and Sisters on both sides of the border as we celebrate the opening of the Gordie Howe International Bridge. This landmark project is a testament to the skill and dedication of our tradespeople, and a powerful symbol of what can be achieved when Canada and the United States collaborate. More than 12,600 tradespeople worked together to build the impressive 2.5 kilometer bridge, marking one of the largest and most significant cross-border infrastructure projects in North America. #Buildingtrades #skilledtrades

Minister of Jobs and Families Patty Hajdu recently discussed new federal supports for skilled trades apprentices that were previously announced in the Spring Economic Update under the $6 billion Team Canada Strong program. Key measures include: ✅Training support: $400 per week during apprenticeship training, up to $16,000 total. ✅ Completion bonus: one-time payment of $5,000 for apprentices who complete their program. ✅ Retroactivity: the $5,000 completion bonus will be retroactive to May 2025 to ensure those who missed the previous grant opportunity can access the payment. These measures are intended to strengthen the pipeline of journeypersons and reduce financial barriers to trades training. Further implementation details and eligibility criteria will be shared as rollout information becomes available. Watch the segment, here: youtu.be/EDPFLfoKyQA?si=HGcC…

Canada doesn't need to build a workforce; we've already built one. As our executive director, Sean Strickland shared, "Our members have a proven record of excellence building the projects that power Canada's economy, from pipelines and power generation to LNG facilities. We don't need to build a workforce; we've already built one. If Canada is ready to build, our members are ready to get to work." Now it's time to turn proposals into projects, projects into paycheques, and investments into lasting prosperity by prioritizing LNG export capacity and other nationally significant projects, delivered with good‑paying, unionized jobs, strong apprenticeship pathways, prevailing wages, and mandatory minimum apprenticeship requirements on any taxpayer‑backed pipeline projects. Read our full statement: buildingtrades.ca/cbtu-welco…

This week in iPolitics, CBTU's Sean Strickland shares what projects like LNG Canada Kitimat Phase 1 and 2 mean for Canada and Canadian tradespeople. "LNG Canada brought thousands of workers together from across Canada to build one of the most ambitious projects our country has ever undertaken. For years, people travelled long distances, spent time away from their families, learned new skills, trained apprentices and worked side by side to turn a bold idea into reality." Read more, here: ipolitics.ca/2026/07/01/cana…

Canada has a unique opportunity to strengthen its energy future, and British Columbia is well positioned to lead. CBTU is proud to share When Our Nation Builds: a discussion paper that explores how responsible energy development can support economic growth, energy security, and long-term prosperity for Canadians. The report highlights four key advantages that make B.C. a world-class LNG supplier: - Abundant natural gas resources, including the globally significant Montney Formation - A strategic location that provides the shortest shipping route from North America to key Asian markets - A cooler climate that helps reduce LNG production costs and emissions - Strong partnerships with First Nations that are advancing projects through collaboration, equity participation, and shared economic benefits Together, these advantages position B.C. to compete globally while creating jobs, strengthening Indigenous partnerships, generating government revenues, and delivering lasting benefits for communities. Read When Our Nation Builds whenournationbuilds.energyse… and join the conversation about how Canada can responsibly build the infrastructure needed to support prosperity, energy security, and future generations.

Joyeuse fête de la Saint-Jean-Baptiste à tous nos frères et sœurs du Québec, ainsi qu'à tous nos membres francophones à travers le pays ! #BuildingTrades #SkilledUnionTrades #UnionTrades #StJeanBaptiste

Canada's Building Trades Unions is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Eastern Ontario and Western Quebec Building Trades Council's Richard Hayter. Richard was a tireless champion of the unionized construction industry and a proud advocate for skilled tradespeople throughout Ottawa and the surrounding region. Over a long and distinguished career, he helped strengthen relationships across our industry, advance safer workplaces, and build lasting connections between the trades and the communities we serve. Richard's charisma, boundless energy, warmth, and genuine kindness left a lasting impression on everyone fortunate enough to know him. He had a remarkable ability to bring people together, make others feel valued, and move important conversations forward with professionalism, integrity, and good humour. His contributions helped shape and strengthen the construction industry in Ottawa for generations of tradespeople. His legacy will live on through the relationships he built, the causes he championed, and the countless lives he touched. We extend our heartfelt condolences to his wife Yvonne, his children and grandchildren, and all of his family, friends, and colleagues. Richard will be deeply missed and fondly remembered.

From conversation to commitment to action. At our national conference, a fireside chat between CBTU’s Sean Strickland and @mokwateh's JP Gladu explored what it will take to turn our Indigenous Reconciliation Action Plan into real, lasting impact: on jobsites, in communities, and across the entire construction industry. The discussion covers implementation, barriers, leadership, and the growing importance of Indigenous participation in major projects, along with practical advice for unions ready to move this work forward. Watch the full conversation ⬇️ lnkd.in/gN5rAa3f #Reconciliation #BuildingTrades #UnionizedSkilledTrades

Yesterday NDP House Leader Heather McPherson introduced Bill C‑259, with Canada’s Building Trades Unions' support. This bill protects worker representation and their safety by stopping employer‑influenced organizations from masquerading as unions. Read the full statement from Sean Strickland, Executive Director of Canada’s Building Trades Unions, below. "Canada's Building Trades Unions strongly support Bill C-259. Representation matters and Canada’s unionized skilled tradespeople deserve unions that promote the wellbeing of workers, not employers. Serious harm is done to all unionized workers when we allow employer-influenced organizations to masquerade as worker representatives; wages fall, safety standards erode in favour of speed and cost, and workers lose their voice. Bill C-259 protects the integrity of worker representation by strengthening safeguards against employer interference and ensuring workers have a clear path to challenge organizations that do not serve their interests. This is a simple principle: unions must be independent and driven by their accountability to the workers they represent. We call on all Members of Parliament to support Bill C-259 and take a stand for fair representation, stronger protections for workers, and safer jobsites across Canada. No worker should have to choose between earning a living and making it home safely at the end of the day."

Today is World Environment Day. Across Canada, our members are leading the transition to greener construction by using innovative technologies and retrofit solutions that improve efficiency and reduce environmental impact. Building smarter means protecting our communities, and we're proud to #BuildItGreen. Learn more here: buildingtrades.ca/en/buildin… #WorldEnvironmentDay #BuildingTrades #UnionizedSkilledTrades

Canada’s Building Trades Unions is proud to launch our Indigenous Reconciliation Action Plan (IRAP), a four-year roadmap featuring 41 measurable commitments to advance Indigenous participation, representation, learning, and economic reconciliation across the unionized construction industry. As CBTU Director of Workforce Development Lindsay Amundsen shared with DCN's Don Wall: “We needed a more formalized process, something that we could hold ourselves accountable to, and measurable actions year in, year out, to make sure that what we’re doing is working.” This plan reflects collaboration, consultation, and learning from our affiliates and our industry partners. CBTU's IRAP represents an important step forward in our commitment to creating meaningful opportunities and partnerships with Indigenous communities across Canada. Read more: canada.constructconnect.com/…

CBTU’s Indigenous Reconciliation Action Plan (IRAP) sets out a clear, national framework to advance Indigenous participation, leadership, and economic opportunity across the unionized construction sector. Developed with support from Mokwateh and engagement across the CBTU network, the plan outlines 41 actionable commitments to be completed by 2029. Through 4 pillars, our actions are focused on expanding access to training and careers, strengthening relationships with Indigenous communities, increasing participation in procurement and major projects, and embedding accountability within our governance. Our IRAP provides practical tools, measurable goals, and a roadmap for affiliates and partners to take action. Read the full report and explore the path forward. Download from our website, here:buildingtrades.ca/wp-content… #Reconciliation #BuildingTrades #UnionizedSkilledTrades