Budget 2013 puts strong focus on skilled trades and infrastructure

The Progressive Contractors Association of Canada (PCA), along with a number of Canadian construction organizations, was pleased to note Budget 2013 placed a strong focus on skilled trades and infrastructure.

“The Government of Canada has clearly put a strong focus on skilled trades training and development in Budget 2013,” said PCA executive director Paul de Jong. “We welcome the Government’s particular focus on bringing under-represented groups into the trades, including young people, aboriginal Canadians and newcomers. These measures are further strengthened by the government’s pledge to work with the provinces and territories to harmonize apprenticeship regulations.”

In addition to placing a considerable emphasis on addressing shortages in the skilled trades workforce, Budget 2013 contains a new 10-year funding commitment to federal, provincial and municipal infrastructure beginning in 2014.

“Budget 2013 shows the government is committed to ongoing infrastructure investment,” said Sean Reid, PCA director, Federal and Ontario.

In Ontario, Manitoba and various other jurisdictions across Canada, federally-funded provincial and municipal construction projects experience cost inflation as high as 40 per cent because of restrictive tendering practices. Construction labour monopolies systematically exclude otherwise qualified trades people and businesses from the opportunity to work, simply because of their particular labour union affiliation or lack thereof.

“Canadian workers and companies deserve equal access to publicly funded construction projects and Canadian taxpayers deserve to get the best value for money,” said Reid.

SOURCE: Progressive Contractors Association of Canada