{"id":16297,"date":"2023-04-29T09:37:54","date_gmt":"2023-04-29T16:37:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/essential.construction\/news\/alberta-construction-groups-raise-policy-concerns\/"},"modified":"2023-04-29T09:37:54","modified_gmt":"2023-04-29T16:37:54","slug":"alberta-construction-groups-raise-policy-concerns","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/essential.construction\/news\/alberta-construction-groups-raise-policy-concerns\/","title":{"rendered":"Alberta construction groups raise policy concerns"},"content":{"rendered":"

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A group of Alberta construction associations is urging the provincial leader of the opposition, Rachel Notley, to clarify policy positions in her party\u2019s platform for the upcoming Alberta provincial election that the group says could negatively impact thousands of construction workers in the province.<\/p>\n

The organizations say that, if elected in the May 29 election, the Alberta New Democratic Party has pledged to create a \u201ccommunity benefits agreements regime\u201d and do away with \u201cdouble breasting\u201d (using affiliated companies with different union representation or a mix of union and non-union employees). These policy changes, says the group, could prevent the vast majority of Alberta construction workers from building public projects at a time when the province faces a critical shortage of skilled tradespeople.<\/p>\n

In an open letter to Notley, the Progressive Contractors Association of Canada (PCA), Alberta Construction Association and ICBA Alberta state, \u201cWe are concerned that if implemented, these changes could increase taxpayer costs and limit the access of thousands of Alberta companies and construction workers to public and private projects, during a critical time when demand for their skills is at an all-time high.\u201d<\/p>\n

The organizations\u2019 concerns about Community Benefits Agreements (CBAs) stem from experiences in B.C., which the group says is \u201ca grossly coercive program aimed at giving select B.C. Building Trades Unions a monopoly over large parts of the province\u2019s multi-billion-dollar infrastructure projects.\u201d<\/p>\n

The association executives who signed the letter are asking Notley to confirm that \u201call public infrastructure programs, including any conducted under a future CBA regime, will be open to all Alberta construction companies and their workers regardless of the labour model they have freely chosen to employ.\u201d<\/p>\n

The group also says, \u201cOne of Alberta\u2019s distinct advantages is that large scale construction projects, like the oil sands and petrochemical sectors, as well as major infrastructure, have been built and maintained using craft union, non-union, and progressively unionized workers \u2013 productively working side by side,\u201d adding that industry-wide consultations would be advisable before making policy changes that could impact the industry\u2019s growth and success.<\/p>\n

The full letter<\/a> can be viewed on the PCA website.<\/p>\n

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www.pcac.ca<\/a><\/p>\n

www.albertaconstruction.net<\/a><\/p>\n

www.icbaalberta.ca<\/a><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n