Op-eds

Proposed Labour Code Changes Could Wreak Havoc on B.C.’s Construction Industry

(Victoria, April 7, 2022) – The Horgan government’s proposed labour code amendments are a giant step backwards for workers and employers, according to the Progressive Contractors Association of Canada (PCA) whose member companies build major infrastructure and capital projects, employing thousands of construction workers. Currently, collective agreements appropriately have open periods every three years in …

Proposed Labour Code Changes Could Wreak Havoc on B.C.’s Construction Industry Read More »

B.C.’s “CBA” stands out for all the wrong reasons

Click here for the original post, which appeared in the Victoria Times Colonist. It’s a dubious distinction. A prominent Canadian think tank has just completed a major study of Community Benefits Agreements (CBAs) across the country, and they have come to a troubling, but not so surprising conclusion: that the B.C. government’s labour framework for …

B.C.’s “CBA” stands out for all the wrong reasons Read More »

Alberta’s workers never asked for this political pipeline paralysis

Paul de Jong| Contributed to the Globe and Mail Published May 17, 2019 Paul de Jong is president of the Progressive Contractors Association of Canada (PCA). It wasn’t that long ago that the federal Liberal government took ownership of the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion project, “to get it built in a timely fashion.” But now, …

Alberta’s workers never asked for this political pipeline paralysis Read More »

Paul de Jong: B.C.’s community benefits deals nothing to brag about

This Op-Ed was originally published in the Vancouver Sun. You can find the full post here. An upcoming conference on B.C.’s so-called Community Benefits Agreements is likely to raise more questions than answers about the Horgan government’s new framework for building public infrastructure. No doubt, attendees will proclaim this as a model whose time has …

Paul de Jong: B.C.’s community benefits deals nothing to brag about Read More »

Industry Voices Op-Ed: Who really benefits from B.C.’s public infrastructure rules?

Earlier this summer, the B.C. government laid out the rules for building billions of dollars-worth of public infrastructure across the province. Future projects are to be built using a framework that’s supposed to boost apprenticeships, promote local hiring and help youth and underrepresented groups get the first crack at good paying construction jobs. But anyone …

Industry Voices Op-Ed: Who really benefits from B.C.’s public infrastructure rules? Read More »

Industry Perspectives Op-Ed: Fixing Toronto District School Board’s funding woes not that hard

There was a hue and cry recently when the Ford government cut funding for Toronto public school repairs. Although it wasn’t intentional, the end of Ontario’s Cap and Trade programs has left the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) millions of dollars short for badly needed school renovations. However, there is an easy fix that could …

Industry Perspectives Op-Ed: Fixing Toronto District School Board’s funding woes not that hard Read More »

Paul de Jong: Taxpayer-funded projects should benefit all B.C., not select unions

When plans for big infrastructure projects roll out, they should be guided by the basic principals of public procurement:competition, fairness and value. This op-ed was published on May 3, 2018 for HuffPost Canada. https://www.huffingtonpost.ca/paul-de-jong-/taxpayer-funded-projects-should-benefit-all-b-c-not-select-unions_a_23425583/ The B.C. government will soon be announcing how it plans to award contracts for billions of dollars in public construction work. Major infrastructure …

Paul de Jong: Taxpayer-funded projects should benefit all B.C., not select unions Read More »

LTE: Building B.C. should be open to all qualified workers

It’s encouraging that Premier John Horgan believes that contracts to build taxpayer-funded infrastructure projects in B.C. should be awarded to the “best bids.”  While there are no details about what the criteria is, we know what it should be. Fair and open tendering, not union affiliation, should be the principals that guides public-procurement practices across …

LTE: Building B.C. should be open to all qualified workers Read More »

Op-ed: Is B.C. truly “open for business”? A view from the construction sector

Premier Horgan campaigned on good jobs and a sustainable economy. The mantra was clear: “There will be thousands of good jobs with better wages in every corner of B.C. as we build a sustainable economy.” Now, as the minority NDP government settles into office, comes the inevitable question from the local business community and international …

Op-ed: Is B.C. truly “open for business”? A view from the construction sector Read More »