PCA Supports Fairness for All B.C. Workers on Public Projects

The Progressive Contractors Association of Canada (PCA), whose member companies build major energy, natural resource and infrastructure projects and employ thousands of skilled tradespeople, is calling for a fair, open and inclusive approach to public construction in British Columbia that gives all qualified workers and contractors a fair shot.

Speaking in Victoria today alongside B.C. Conservative Party MLA Kiel Giddens and other industry and labour leaders, PCA said B.C.’s restrictive CBA model continues to exclude many qualified tradespeople from public projects based on labour affiliation rather than skill, safety or experience. PCA said that approach is unfair to workers, unfair to contractors and unfair to taxpayers at a time when British Columbia needs to get more schools, hospitals, transportation links and other critical infrastructure built.

“Fairness for workers has to be at the centre of this discussion,” said Paul de Jong, President and CEO of PCA. “Workers should not be forced into a government-preferred union model just to work on projects their own tax dollars help fund. That runs against the spirit of free association, shuts out qualified people and makes no sense for a province that says it wants more opportunity and more infrastructure.”

PCA said Giddens’ Public Sector Construction Projects Procurement Act would move B.C. back toward a fair and open model by reinforcing labour-neutral procurement and allowing all qualified contractors and skilled tradespeople to compete on equal footing. PCA said more open competition would help improve value for taxpayers, increase contractor participation and reduce the risk of higher costs and fewer projects getting built.

“We are not asking for anything radical. We are asking for a return to normal,” de Jong said. “Construction across Canada works best when qualified contractors compete, workers have real choice, and governments focus on getting the best results for the public. When competition is restricted, costs rise, opportunity shrinks and British Columbians lose twice — once in higher bills and again in the infrastructure that never gets built.”

PCA also said fair and open procurement must include meaningful opportunity for Indigenous workers, Indigenous-owned businesses and the full range of training and apprenticeship pathways that help build B.C.’s skilled workforce. With major infrastructure needs ahead, the province cannot afford policies that leave capable people on the sidelines or create barriers to partnerships that help communities share in the benefits of major projects.

Today’s press conference featured B.C. Conservative Party MLA Kiel Giddens, Mike Davis, Regional Vice-President, ICBA, Jon Coleman, Owner, Jon Co Contracting, Karen Ogen, CEO, First Nations Natural Gas Alliance, Ryan Bruce, Government Relations Director, CLAC, and Paul de Jong, President and CEO, PCA.

The Progressive Contractors Association of Canada (PCA) is a national association of leading construction companies. PCA members employ more than 40,000 unionised skilled tradespeople, primarily represented by CLAC, who build many of Canada’s major energy, natural resource and infrastructure projects.