On Friday, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Chrystia Freeland was subject to verbal harassment during her visit to Alberta. Canada’s Building Trades Unions strongly condemn these acts against the Minister. There is no room in any workplace – be it politics or otherwise – for any kind of harassment, abuse, or intimidation. Everyone should have the right to do their job, safely. Unions have always and will always stand up for safety – in the same way that Minister Freeland has stood up for working people. There is absolutely no place in Canada for this kind of behaviour. 

This Friday marks Canada Day – a day that looks different now than it used to. While Canada Day is still a day to celebrate this country, its communities, people, and accomplishments on the world stage, it is also a day to reflect on Canada’s Indigenous Peoples and the celebration of their history. The birthday of Canada, as we know it today, and the beginning of Indigenous life in this land are two separate elements. For much of Canadian history, the celebration of Indigenous history, culture, and communities have not been a focal point of Canada Day. Today, Canada Day includes celebrations across the country to mark each of these histories. With that in mind, Canada’s Building Trades Unions are taking the opportunity today to

Canada’s Building Trades Unions have been selected as an intermediary for the Apprenticeship Services Project – a federally-funded program that will help apprentices get started in the skilled trades. CBTU will connect first-year apprentices in eligible Red Seal Trades with job opportunities with small and medium-sized contractors with the goal of hiring 4,000 first-year apprentices including 20 per cent participation from equity-deserving groups over the course of the next two years. 

June 21st marks National Indigenous Peoples Day in Canada. It’s a time for Canadians to celebrate Indigenous Peoples and communities across the country – their history, cultures, and contributions to our society.   In the last year, the discovery of the remains of 215 children in Kamloops, BC; 751 unmarked graves in Cowessess, SK, and more unmarked graves across the country brought the history of residential schools to the forefront of conversations across Canada. While initiatives like the Truth and Reconciliation Calls to Action, released in 2015, have sparked some change, there is still a long way to go on the path to reconciliation and we’re committed to continuing on this journey. As celebrations take place across Canada to mark National Indigenous Peoples Day, Canada’s Building

Canada’s Building Trades Unions’ opened their 2022 conference 2022, Stronger Now, with a celebration of leaders who have made significant contributions to the construction industry. The award recipients were: Diversity and Inclusion Champion: Lyle Daniels, Community and Indigenous Director at the Building Trades of Alberta. Workforce Development Champion: Karen Walsh, Executive Director of the Office to Advance Women Apprentices. Apprenticeship Champion: James St. John, President and Director of the Hammer Heads and Business Manager/Financial Secretary of the Central Ontario Building Trades. “The innovators selected have demonstrated commitment through the establishment of programs that serve to support, build, and transform the lives of those they were created to serve. Through a pathway in the unionized skilled trades, the CBTU Distinction Award winners were recognized for their

FEDERAL MINISTERS, BUSINESS AND LABOUR LEADERS TO HEADLINE ANNUAL CONFERENCE Hundreds of building trades leaders from across Canada will gather at The Westin in Ottawa next week for Canada’s Building Trades Unions’ annual conference, themed Stronger Now. The Conference, running from April 25-28, will feature CBTU’s Annual Distinction Awards, plenary speeches from government, labour, industry and business leaders on the changing economy, major projects, recovering from COVID-19 and new and emerging technologies. On Thursday, April 28, we will mark the Day of Mourning with a national ceremony at Canada’s Building Trades Workers Monument located in Major’s Hill Park, Ottawa, ON. What:            CBTU Annual Conference – ‘Stronger Now’ When:           CBTU Distinction Awards – 5:30 PM EST Monday, April 25, 2022                         Plenaries 9:00 AM EST Tuesday

On April 11th, CBTU Executive Director Sean Strickland appeared on CBC Radio Metro Morning to discuss Budget 2022 and the inclusion of a Labour Mobility Tax Deduction for tradespeople – one measure that should help skilled trades workers travel to where the work is.  Listen to the full interview below. 

On April 13, 2022, CBTU Executive Director Sean Strickland appeared on the CBC Radio Ottawa Morning show to discuss the challenge in meeting the demand for skilled trades workers over the next 5-10 years as the housing industry sets targets for hundreds of thousands of new builds. Strickland spoke about incentives and supports to bring more people into the skilled trades, including the provision in the 2022 Federal Budget to double the Union and Innovation Training Program. Funding provided through this program supports apprentices as they complete their apprenticeship. Strickland also spoke about the importance of attracting and retaining more women and BIPOC individuals in the skilled trades, and explained some of the programs CBTU are working with to do that. Listen to the full interview below.

On behalf of the 600,000 members of Canada’s Building Trades Unions, we applaud the Federal Government for including a Labour Mobility Deduction for Tradespeople in Budget 2022. This policy change creates real support in the pockets of all construction workers across Canada. CBTU has worked tirelessly over the last decade to fight for tax fairness for skilled trades workers and appreciate the support from all parties who have stood up for the women and men who build Canada. On behalf of workers, we thank Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Chrystia Freeland, and Minister of Labour Seamus O’Regan for making a long, overdue policy change that will improve workers’ lives and improve labour availability across Canada. This policy change is