Advocacy & Issues

Update from August 28, 2020:

On August 28, 2020, the BC Court of Appeal referred the CBA challenge (supported by all major construction associations, progressive unions, and business organizations, who consider it to be a violation of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms) out of the court and back to the government-appointed Labour Relations Board. This is extremely disappointing: this is not a labour relations issue but a human rights issue. To work on taxpayer funded infrastructure projects, construction contractors should not be forced to get their workers from the government and construction workers should not be forced to quit their current employer, and abandon their existing benefit plans, in order to join a government selected union. The coalition will continue to fight for the rights of BC's construction workers.

Update from July 16, 2020:

The CBA/PLA appeal referenced in our February 3rd update is back infront of the BC Supreme Court starting July 16th at 10 am.

Update from February 12, 2020:

BCCA’s response to the latest news around the CBA/PLA Supreme Court Decision:

“As a Canadian citizen, it's extremely troubling that the BC Supreme Court is disinterested in protecting my right to Freedom of Assembly. And as a provincial taxpayer and father, knowing that we have some of the highest child poverty rates in the country and that our health care system is stressing to point of collapse, I must question the wisdom of knowingly spending $56 million dollars more than necessary on a public infrastructure project, just to support a preferred union.” – Chris Atchison

Update from February 10, 2020:

Fraser Crossing Partners  has been awarded the $967.5-million CBA/PLA contract to replace the Pattullo Bridge.

• Total project costs are currently estimated at $1.4 billion.
• Premier Horgan publicly admitted that the budget will be 4% higher directly due to the CBA: this is $56M taxpayer dollars. 

Update from February 3, 2020:

Supreme Court Challenge - Setback

• On Monday, Feb. 3, 2020, B.C. Supreme Court Justice Christopher Giaschi clarified his July 2019 ruling, saying that he intended for the Labour Board to address Charter values related to the CBA afterall, not the Court.
• This clarification comes almost 7 months after original ruling.
• However, there has been no ruling on the merits of the case, and we will be appealing to have our case heard by the Court as quickly as possible.

The key aspects of our challenge have not changed:

• Central issue – fairness / openness / transparency in how government infrastructure projects are tendered and how workers and construction contractors are treated.
• We are not challenging the collective agreement or any other issue within the jurisdiction of the LRB.
• Government is forcing workers to join unions that it chooses not unions that workers choose, and it is excluding construction contractors whose workers are not organized by their favoured unions.
• If companies are successful in winning government work, their employees should not be forced to:
  • Quit their current employer and become an employee of a new government crown corporation;
  • Leave their benefits and pension plans behind; and
  • Join a union selected by the Government.
  • Contractors should not face the risk of losing their employees in a market when one of the biggest issues facing contraction contractors is the shortage of workers.
  • 85% of the men and women in B.C. are shut out of government funded projects along with 82% of all registered trades apprentices in the province.

Update from October 24, 2019:

On October 21, BCCA executives and several contractors met in Vancouver with BCIB President and CEO Irene Kerr and members of her staff. The goal of the session was to build a relationship with BCIB and gain a better understanding of their mandate, their goals, and their achievements so far. We also sought to represent the questions, concerns, and interests of the contractors, with the contractors in the meeting leading the bulk of the discussion for the 2 hours. The discussion was respectful and productive, however did not yield any meaningful new operational details about the PLA. We will continue to pursue further details and present industry conerns to BCIB.

Update from early October, 2019:

In early October, 2019 we received word that five days have been set aside by the BC Supreme Court to hear the legal challenge to the CBA/PLA. Those dates are February 3 - 7, 2020. While we are disappointed that so much time must pass before petitioners can be heard, we are confident that our opinion regarding the unconstitutionality of the CBA/PLA will be successful.

Update from September 14, 2019:

The provincial government updated its capital budget this week with 19 new projects and cost increases on existing projects, to a total of $3BN

• None of the 19 new projects fall under the CBA/PLA
• Vaughan Palmer's column on the topic

Update from July 23, 2019:

In a decision issued today, the BC Supreme Court has ruled that the BCCA and our industry partners can proceed through the courts with our challenge to the legal authority of the Government to impose the “Building Trades Only Requirement” on public construction Projects. Read BCCA’s official statement on this ruling.

Update from July 22, 2019:

BC Infrastructure Benefits (BCIB) was invited by Partnerships BC and the Vancouver Regional Construction Association to meet with construction industry representatives for an informal session on July 15, 2019. On July 22, 2019 BCIB released the following Q&A from the session.

Update from May 17, 2019:

The Province has awarded the first construction contract to fall under BC’s new Community Benefits Agreement(CBA)/Project Labour Agreement, and it comes at a hefty cost.

The expansion of Highway 1 at Illecillewaet will now cost $85.2M, an overall project cost increase of $22.3M from the budget announced with the tender in February, which was already $27.9M higher than the original funding announcement of $35M in August 2015. In total that’s a 143% project cost increase. It’s worth noting that the Federal government’s contribution of $15.5M will not grow with the budget, leaving BC taxpayers to cover the $50.2M overage.

Since the CBA/Project Labour Agreement was announced by Premier Horgan in July 2018, BC’s construction industry has expressed significant concern about its impact on cost, competition, and labour supply. Its requirement that all workers on a CBA project become members of a preferred union is believed to be contrary to the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, and places a heavy administrative burden on a largely free-market industry where 85% of the 180,000 tradespeople are not unionized.

The uncertainty the PLA creates around the labour market is of significant concern to BC’s construction employers. When Premier Horgan announced the PLA last summer he estimated that its introduction would result in a 7% increase to project budgets. Today the government is citing “escalating costs of materials, labour, and the complexity of the work required” as the reason for the 35% budget increase on the Highway 1 project. Industry believes the cost increase to some extent reflects the risk the PLA introduces in the market.

The BCCA and industry partners are awaiting a ruling from the BC Supreme Court in regard to their legal challenge based on the unconstitutionality of the BC CBA/PLA.

Update from March 1, 2019:

In a joint filing, the BCCA teamed with other industry stakeholders, with the “Pattulo Bridge Petition” to ask that the NDP government’s discriminatory building trades union-only hiring procurement policy for public construction projects be struck down on the grounds that it violates the constitutional rights of 85% of BC’s construction workforce.

The BC Supreme Court heard the case between February 27 and March 1, 2019. They advised a decision would be shared by the end of April.

Update from August 27, 2018:

Today, a coalition of stakeholders from the construction industry and the broader business community filed a petition in B.C. Supreme Court asking that the NDP government’s discriminatory building trades union-only hiring procurement policy for taxpayer-funded construction projects be struck down. The legal basis of the challenge is straightforward - the NDP government is exercising its authority for an illegal purpose and, as a result, the constitutional rights of eighty-five percent of the B.C.’s construction workers are being violated.

This is important, not only because of the issues raised in this case, but also, because taking a stand now may help to prevent further roll out of the policy to smaller infrastructure projects, such as schools and hospitals, and draws a line-in-the-sand in the fight against the NDP Government’s anti-business, anti-investment agenda that includes radical changes to the Labour Code, WorkSafe BC, Employment Standards, the major infrastructure project review process, and the tax framework on investment, to name just a few.

The Coalition is made up of the following organizations: the British Columbia Construction Association; the Independent Contractors and Businesses Association; the Progressive Contractors Association of Canada; the Vancouver Regional Construction Association; the Canada West Construction Union; CLAC; the B.C. Chamber of Commerce; and the Canadian Federation of Independent Business.

A number of construction contractors have also joined the Coalition: Eagle West Crane & Rigging Inc.; Jacob Bros. Construction; LMS Reinforcing Steel Group; Morgan Construction and Environmental; and Tybo Contracting.

CBA Background:

Click here to read our article on the Community Benefits Agreement

Click here to see MLA's responses to our letter writing campaign

At the federal, local, and provincial levels, Community Benefit Agreements are gaining traction in government as a way to solve social issues.

Provincially, the government announced on July 16th a new Community Benefits Agreement that is a loosely disguised Project Labour Agreement. The first projects to be delivered under the framework are the new Pattullo Bridge and the four-laning projects on the Trans-Canada Highway between Kamloops and Alberta. Read our CBA 101.

BCCA’s position on Community Benefit Agreements is clear: we strongly oppose any procurement practice or program that seeks to confer exclusive bidding rights to companies based upon any system of quotas or legislated wages within the province. We advocate for a transparent procurement strategy in the public tendering process that allows for fair competition. Read our policies.

Read BCCA's responses to the Community Benefits Agreement and Pattullo Bridge announcements:

• Pattullo Procurement Strategy Takes BC Construction a Bridge Too Far
• Response to the Province’s Community Benefits Agreement Announcement
• BCCA does not support Premier Horgan’s new Community Benefits Agreement

Federally, Bill C-344 (An Act to amend the Department of Public Works and Government Services Act (Community Benefits)) will go before the Senate in Fall 2018. Bill C-344 is very concerning from multiple perspectives:

• It supposes that BC’s construction employers do not already contribute in our communities;
• It assumes that we do not willingly support apprenticeship, training, and equity seeking groups;
• It presumes that contracts are so lucrative that contractors have “plenty more to give away”;
• It expects that the imposition of subjective “benefit” criteria will not have unintended negative consequences for taxpayers;
• It assumes the addition of subjective criteria to the public tendering process does not undermine its integrity or compromise the obligation

BCCA is working with our counterparts at the national and local levels to educate MPs on the risks of this approach.

In Fall 2018 BCCA met with regional members to share opinions on the potential impacts of the BC CBA. The presentation is available for viewing, and includes remarks from the discussions and in-room polling results. Although most contractors feel very strongly that the CBA is not going to be productive for BC, BCCA is preparing policy recommendations intended to achieve desirable outcomes for the stated goals of local, non-traditional hiring and timely, on-budget public sector projects.

Read the BCCA Community Benefits Agreement Town Hall Summary.

On October 25, 2018 the Labour Relations Code Review Panel released their report on Recommendations for Amendments to the Labour Relations Code. The panel was appointed by the Minister of Labour, Harry Bains, and is made up of Michael Fleming (former Assoc. Chair of LRB), Sandra Banister QC (Trade Union Lawyer), and Barry Dong (employer lawyer). It has been more than 15 years since a Panel was convened and a review conducted.

The recommendations have not yet been proposed in the Legislature or passed into law. The period for industry to submit feedback ends November 30. The Minister of Labour reserves the right to introduce additional changes or amendments that deviate from these recommendations.

The BCCA is preparing an official response for submission and will post that response publicly at the time it is submitted.

Update from November 30, 2018

The Labour Relations Code Review Panel released a report detailing 29 recommendations regarding BC’s Labour Relations Code in August 2018. The Panel was appointed by the Minister of Labour, the Honourable Harry Bains. It has been more than 15 years since a Panel was convened and a review conducted. Read the full BCCA Labour Relations Act Review Response here.

Update from May 1, 2019

We are pleased that Minister Bains accepted Labour Code recommendations provided by the Labour Relations Code Review Panel, particularly in regard to maintaining the secret ballot. We also support the proposed updates to the Employment Standards Act, which seek to improve the safety of children and youth in all industries, and enhance protective supports for all workers. Read the BCCA's full statement related to these review decisions.

Update from May 29, 2019

Bill 30, Labour Relations Code Amendment: Green Party Leader Andrew Weaver was instrumental in passing the sub amendment to the Bill introduced by Greg Kyllo, which reduces the “raiding” open period in construction from July and August every year to once every three years only.

BCCA played a significant role in educating Andrew Weaver on the issues of concern to our industry.

• The sub-amendment was passed 44-40
• To quote excerpts from Andrew Weaver in the House today:
• "Over the last few months, my colleagues, staff and I engaged with numerous stakeholders to develop a deeper understanding about the various forces at play in this issue of labour policy. The B.C. Green caucus understands the profoundly unique nature of the construction industry.
• We understand that there are unions like CMAW, like IUOE and others who actually are end-to-end project unions. We know, also, that present rules within the B.C. Federation of Labour do not allow unions to raid other unions in the Federation. So in the spirit of fairness and openness and transparency, this, to us, must be collectively addressed.
• More than anything, we believe, as a caucus, that we must end this ideological tug-of-war that has been allowed to take place in our province for far too long. It is not about union versus employer. We need a level playing field, one that's grounded in evidence, not in ideology."

BCCA is a Member of the BUSINESS COUNCIL OF BRITISH COLUMBIA, and we work in close partnership with this council on issues that impact all industries in BC (vs those issues that are uniquely important to construction): small business taxation is one of those issues.

We are working together to create awareness of government actions that are resulting in increasing complexity, cost, and time for business. We believe the taxation changes are adding to uncertainty and eroding competitiveness in many industries through uncoordinated layering of more regulations, taxes and volume of change.

Some of the recent budget activity can be found here:

• BCBC offers mixed reviews on Budget 2018
• Avoiding a deficit should be a BC NDP coalition budget priority (BIV)
• Budget’s higher business costs dim BC investment prospects
• Pros & Cons of NDP’s Housing Plan
• New age of activist governments driving up costs of doing business(BIV)
• BC Budget 2018 - Higher Business Taxes Plus Additional Spending Measures

In support of CCA’s efforts at the Federal level, BCCA provied this letter.

SPECULATION TAX
We are concerned that the “Speculation Tax” introduced in the February 2018 provincial budget will create uncertainty in the market and lead to a slowdown in construction on new developments: we continue to monitor the impact closely in partnership with other industry stakeholder organizations. This concern is heightened when taken into consideration with the other measures aimed at cooling BC’s real estate market, such as the increased foreign buyers tax (from 15% to 20% of fair market value), and the expansion of the geographic areas of the tax to include the CRD, Central Okanagan, Fraser Valley, and Nanaimo Regional District.

Update from March 30, 2019

• The EHT came into effect January 1, 2019.
• Employers with payrolls of $500,000 must pay EHT.
• This amounts to an increased cost burden per employee, adding to the cost of performing work under construction contracts and subcontracts.
• Only one exemption amount may be available for each calendar year, not per project/contract. This information is provided to BCCA by the Provincial Income Taxation Branch from the Ministry of Finance.
• Contractors who are associated with another group of employers will share the annual exemption

On behalf of members, BCCA sought legal counsel to confirm that the increased cost may be claimable under a contract or subcontract, in the context of CCDC 2 (Stipulated Price Contract) or CCA 1 (stipulated price subcontract). While this was confirmed by counsel, the following cautions must be duly considered:

• Each circumstance may be different, depending on the nature and terms of each contract or subcontract. Contractors and subcontractors must review their documents closely in each case.
• If, after careful review, a contractor or subcontractor decides to claim the increased costs incurred as a result of EHT, the claims related to the increases costs are pursuant to paragraphs 10.1.2 (taxes and duties) and 10.2.7 (laws, notices, permits, and fees)
• There is no guarantee that such claims will be successful.
• It is highly recommended that legal advice be obtained prior to making such a claim, to ensure appropriate interpretation and application of the contractual terms related to the costs resulting from the EHT.
• Employers should register for their accounts by May 15, 2019
• Contractors with bids that closed prior to January 1, 2019 should make a claim following the process under CCDC 2 (GC 6.6) and CCA 1 (SCC 6.6)
• The first quarterly installment is due June 15, 2019 for all companies who’s estimated liability is greater then $2,925 based on their previous calendar year

This calculator helps employers estimate their liability. Try the calculator!

Update June 21, 2021:

In our role as the only provincial representative of all employers in BC's industrial, commercial, and institutional construction industry, BCCA was at the table with government and other industry leaders to ensure all opinions on compulsory trades were adequately represented. Read BCCA's official statement here.

Update October 24, 2019:

During the week of October 14, Chris Atchison, President of the BCCA, attended a discussion about compulsory trades, or mandatory certification, as part of an invitation-only "Stakeholder Advisory Working Group" led by the BC Ministry of Advanced Education and the Ministry of Labour.

Update November 28, 2018:

In November 2018 the BC Federation of Labour announced that it would lobby the NDP government to bring back “compulsory trades”, a move which would bar employers from hiring tradespeople who don’t hold official Red Seal certifications.

In 2003 BC introduced a modularized trades training system, and the Industry Training Authority (ITA) was introduced to govern this system. To become a certified journeyperson, workers must still complete an apprenticeship, but the BC system no longer included “compulsory trades”. These are trades that only allow certified journey people or indentured apprentices to practice. Prior to 2003 there were 11 compulsory trades in BC.

Stringent requirements remain in place to ensure that the work is done to a high level of skill and safety, for example through the work of Technical Safety BC. Obtaining a Certificate of Qualification from Technical Safety BC provides assurance that tradespeople have the knowledge and ability to do regulated work in the province. The Safety Standards Act defines the scope of regulated work within the specific certificate.

Advocates of the current BC system like it because:

• It decreases training time requirement, making it easier to attract people to the trades
• Apprentices have more flexibility in pursuing types of specialization within their trade
• Employers can play a more active role in identifying skill requirements for their apprentices

Opponents of the BC system say:

• compulsory trades make the industry safer
• the quality of work is higher
• BC should align with the rest of Canada

The Council of Construction Associations (COCA), which represents 20 BC construction associations from every sector, company size, and labour affiliation, has confirmed that from a health and safety perspective the compulsory trade requirement has no impact. COCA has reviewed safety data from across Canada and has found no safety correlation. This is because the Worksafe BC health and safety regulations apply universally to all employers, workers, and job sites. The worker is therefore protected in either context: the result is that BC has the same safety record as other provinces that have compulsory trades.

The most measurable impacts of the BC system have been an overall increase in registered apprentices but a decrease in apprenticeship completions.

The BCCA strongly supports training and has always been a proponent of apprenticeship: 85% of our members hire and train apprentices, and we operate some of the most innovative and far-reaching training initiatives in Canada. We know the right training is essential for safety and career development.

However, adding new barriers to entering the skilled trades may not be a productive course for our industry or for BC’s economy as a whole. Here’s why:

• BC’s construction industry is facing a skills shortage of at least 11,000 workers: likely as many as 19,000 now that the LNG Canada project is confirmed.
• Unemployment in BC is at generational lows in construction and most other industries. Job seekers have many options: we are competing with all of them.
• The majority of BC’s construction employers (80%) have ten employees or less, limiting their operational capacity to participate in the apprenticeship system.
• Most Level 1-4 training programs for apprenticeable trades are already operating at near or full capacity. Waitlists can already be as long as one year.
• There is no measurable difference in safety outcome between provinces with compulsory trades and BC.

Trade unions require apprenticeship of all dues paying members and offer apprenticeship training programs: they are highly supportive of the re-introduction of compulsory trades. Large employers have greater capacity to support apprenticeship programs and will not be unduly impacted by a return to compulsory trades. However the industry as a whole - and small employers in particular - may be challenged to adopt compulsory trades, especially given the current level of construction activity and shortage of labour supply in the sector.

BCCA supports a fair, flexible solution that achieves a high standard of skill and safety without over-burdening workers or their employers with unnecessary barriers. We represent employers from all labour affiliations and seek to ensure a productive and resilient industry for all.

BCCA supports the maintenance of a safe and healthy workplace and the construction safety measures through our active involvement with COCA and WorkSafe BC. We support the establishment of any additional programs to promote excellence in construction safety, including those that regulate substance abuse of any kind.

Many jurisdictions across Canada are struggling to manage opioid addictions within their communities. BC is no exception. The construction industry can be an important influencer in this battle, because the demographic composition of our workforce - adult males – aligns with demographic profile of the majority of those suffering from opioid addiction. However, we have seen no evidence to support broad claims in the media that the construction industry has a higher incidence rate than other industries. This is an important distinction as we strive to attract new entrants to the construction sector, recognizing that decades of negative stereotypes continue to play a key role in a persistent cultural bias that discourages desirable candidates from considering our industry.

BCCA attended the first “Industry Roundtable” in August 2018 hosted by BC’s Minister of Mental Health and Addictions Judy Darcy to learn more about this epidemic and how we can play a part in the solution without unnecessarily and unfairly stigmatizing our industry.

BCCA is focused on developing public sector procurement capacity and improving access to high quality project information through our BidCentral platform.

In the public sector, we believe that adherence to the Capital Asset Management Framework (CAMF) is essential to the fair, open, and transparent procurement process that is an obligation and responsibility of government to taxpayers.

Success rests on a contractor’s ability to access high quality project information from any region in BC, and on an owner’s ability to receive multiple compliant and professional bids from quality local contractors.

BCCA will continue to support BC’s public sector by offering the highest level of industry knowledge and expertise available. Recent advocacy efforts include:

• Infrastructure Masterclass
• Best Bid definition and education
• Public Sector Procurement Awards

We continue to work with the Ministry of Citizen’s Services to support their procurement innovation strategy and the re-visioning of BC Bid to ensure that the unique needs of construction are met.

Update August 30, 2021

Read the BCCA letter to the City of Vancouver in relation to the City of Vancouver's current permit crisis, and its impact on BC's construction industry.

Update May 3, 2021:

Listen to Epidose 2 of BCCA's Podcast Series Inside Construction "Fear, Open, and Trasparent" In this episode we look at the corrosion of public sector procurement standards, explore why today's procurement practitioners may be bending the rules, and explain how ignoring best practices puts projects at risk. Host Chris Atchison gives the low-down on the issue that's becoming a top concern for BC's ICI industry, and talks with experts about how to fix it

Update April 28, 2021:

Read the latest Construction File released by the BCCA on April 28, 2021 titled: Building Back Smarter - Restoring Confidence in BC's Public Procurement Methodology for Construction Services.

Update August 9, 2019:

The BCCA has issued a Freedom Of Information (FOI) request to BC Parks for construction services on improvements at Little Qualicum Falls. The request was made in partnership with the Vancouver Island Construction Association (VICA).

• A second FOI request will be going to the Ministry of Forests, in partnership with the Northern Regional Construction Association (NRCA).
• The intent of these requests is to improve access to project information from Public Owners.
• We will work with the BCCA Standard Practices (SP) committee on a longer term plan, informed by the results of these first two efforts.
• The Parks FOI request is asking for:
  • Company name and amount of contract award for successful respondent
  • Bid/Tender Amounts
  • Names of Companies who responded to the solicitation for Construction Services
  • List of Company Attendees at Site Visit
  • List of Plan holders

Update July 5, 2019:

In response to recent contractor alerts for 'Onerous Bidding Conditions' on two Prince George construction projects being procured by BC Housing, the BCCA has been closely consulting with BC Housing, the most recent meeting being at the end of June. As a result of these consultations we can report that the following changes will be implemented by BC Housing on August 2:

• SGCs: Increase C/O markup on CCDC SGCs from 10%/5% to 15%/7.5% (Action 26)
• Update ITT reserved rights per changes proposed 16 May (Action 7, 14, 15,16,17,21,22)
• Update ITT to replace “scoring” with “evaluation” per changes proposed 16 May (Action 8)
• Update ITT to identify only top 5 subcontractors per changes proposed 16 May (Action 12)
• Update ITT to include a minimum 7 day extension for addenda issued after the deadline per changes proposed 16 May (Action 20)
• Update ITT to revise Governing Law clause per changes proposed 3 Jun (Action 23)

Update May 21, 2019:

BCCA issued two Contractor's Alerts warning BC contractors of "Onerous Bidding Conditions" on two Prince George construction projects being procured by BC Housing.

Update April 9, 2019:

BCCA hosted a number of Ministry and Construction Employer Leaders for a Capital Asset Management Framework (CAMF) Breakfast during Construction Month. You can view the discussed topics in this presentation.

Update September 18, 2020:

Chris Atchison, President of the BCCA, receives letter. from Minister Harry Bains addressing the concerns around the presumptive coverage elements of Bill 23, passed into law earlier in August, despite Industry concerns around the scientific and medical research not supporting this element.

Update August 19, 2020:

Bill 23 Officially passes into law. The new legislation, which introduces changes to the Workers Compensation Act, contains 34 provisions that include housekeeping amendments and changes relating to compensation, assessment, and occupational health and safety matters. This includes the industry contested issue re: presumptive coverage around the contraction of COVID-19. For more information about the Details of Bill 23 click here.

Update July 24, 2020:

In response to WorkSafeBC considering the altering of hardhat regulation in deference to religious freedom, the BCCA has sent a letter to WorkSafeBC. stating our position. BCCA and its partner COCA fully respect religious freedom, however, we are concerned that this change will come at the expense of site safety and human life.

Update July 22, 2020:

Read the BCCA letter to Minister Harry Bains, voicing industry concerns with regards to the presumptive coverage elements outlined in Bill 23 (Workers Compensation Amendment Act 2020) Read letter.

Update April 16, 2020:

A letter to Premier John Horgan and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau from a coalition of representatives of the BC Construction Industry including BCCA. Re: COVID-19 Recovery - Infrastructure Stimulus Spending.

Visit BCCA's Construction Briefing: COVID-19 for ongoing updates surrouding this global pandemic and its impacts on construction.

BCCA is a founder and major funder of the Council of Construction Associations, an industry stakeholder group that leads our advocacy efforts to ensure safety standards and protections are upheld and kept up-to-date across our provincial industry.

BCCA is a major contributor to the governance of the BC Construction Safety Alliance, an industry non-profit working to develop health and safety programs to ensure the health and well-being of our industry’s workforce.

Resources:

• Council of Construction Associations
• BC Construction Safety Alliance
• Builders Code

The October 1, 2018 announcement naming the “US Mexico Canada Trade Deal” (USMCA) as the successor to Canada is welcome progress in the challenging new relationships between the US and Canada. However, we are gravely concerned that the tariffs on steel (25%) and aluminum (10%) remain under Section 232 national security grounds.

BCCA supports the agreement overall and urges all ratification, but with removal of the steel and aluminum tariffs.