The Calgary Construction Association has outlined several key areas they hope the upcoming federal government will prioritize. These include immigration policies, federal grant programs, investments in infrastructure development, and strengthening the nation’s energy sector.
The association's president and CEO, Bill Black, emphasizes that boosting the influx of skilled trade workers through immigration is essential for addressing the large number of open positions within the sector.
Black suggests that the sector is presently lacking around 6,800 roles. Factoring in potential retirements pushes this figure above 40,000, according to him. He attributes this shortage to an increased negative perception of working in the field.
"We have to reinvent how we present construction to Canadians," he stated.
Frankly, Canadians must acknowledge that if they're not interested in pursuing careers in this sector, we'll need to find skilled individuals from outside our country. After all, we require roads, bridges, hospitals, schools, and houses, which need continuous construction, maintenance, and operation by workforce members.
Immigration is crucial for filling construction positions.
Black condemned the government's move to cut the provincial nomination program nearly in half this year, targeting immigrants according to their professions. This leaves provinces like Alberta with limited means to address labor shortages.
Canada's immigration policies have faced increased examination following the nation's population surge in 2023, which rose by 1.27 million people, equivalent to a growth rate of 3.2 percent. Immigration contributed over 800,000 new inhabitants, pushing the total count of temporary residents up to 2.7 million—nearly doubling since just two years prior.
Highlighting pressured tailoring of immigration to meet the area’s labor demands, while referring to the present dilemma as a "catch-22 scenario."
“Immigration has indeed contributed to the housing crisis,” he stated. “However, this issue isn’t solely due to immigration. The housing crisis exists partly because our nation is expanding, including through internal growth. Strategic and targeted immigration should also play a role in addressing this challenge.”
The organization is seeking additional federal grants that businesses utilize for training and hiring new staff members. Black pointed out the Canada-Alberta Job Grant, which covers 60 percent of the expense related to employee training costs.
When you take into account that much of our sector consists of relatively small enterprises, these companies typically lack a dedicated training budget," Black explained. "They also don't have substantial margins or overheads to cover such expenses.
The Canadian federal government allocated $70.8 million for employment initiatives in Alberta, with approximately $27 million going towards grants.
The support for this initiative, including programs like the apprenticeship incentive grant which helps new employees financially as they typically depend on unemployment benefits during their training periods, came to an end in 2024 after the pact between Ottawa and Alberta lapsed.
Black dismisses the idea that these programs provide financial benefits to the industry, noting that companies operate with thin profit margins. He further states that if these businesses cannot sustain themselves, "the costs for everything would rise, project timelines would stretch out, and we could lose the capability to construct schools and hospitals."
Federal infrastructure funding needed
The organization additionally pushed for federal funding towards infrastructure projects like the Green Line Light Rail Transit initiative in Calgary. Black also highlighted the city’s water main rupture from the previous year.
“He mentioned, ‘We experienced that nightmarish situation last summer due to our deteriorating infrastructure.’”
Investment in this type of infrastructure primarily falls under the city’s authority. Nevertheless, Black contended that these duties have gradually been transferred from Ottawa to more local governmental bodies over time.
But the federal government retained all the initial tax income," Black stated. "Then they come back and claim, 'We now wish for cities to freeze development charges so we can construct more homes.' So, how will municipalities finance infrastructure, sewers, roads, and such?
The organization is advocating for a strategy that acknowledges the importance of the oil and gas sector while also bolstering clean energy initiatives.
"As we strive to adopt more sustainable methods for managing energy resources, there remains a significant demand for oil and gas. By declining to permit the growth of responsibly managed energy projects, our nation risks hindering our ability to access new markets," he argued, expressing his disagreement with imposing an emission limit.
It is very troubling when across-the-board restrictions and universal choices lead to halted investments and diminished economic potential.