Edmonton (June 18, 2019) – The Progressive Contractors Association of Canada (PCA), whose member companies will be major builders of the Trans Mountain Pipeline Expansion project along with thousands of Alberta and B.C. construction workers, is urging the federal government to ensure nothing else stands in the way of this critically important project.
“We’ll believe this project is moving forward when the shovels are finally in the ground,” said Paul de Jong, President of the Progressive Contractors Association of Canada (PCA). “While today’s decision is the right one, it’s far from a ringing endorsement when the government is working so hard to kill major resource projects through legislation and regulations designed to make energy development less likely in the future.”
Bill C-69 will bog down major projects and drive up costs and uncertainty. Bill C-48 limits Canada’s export capacity by banning oil tankers carrying more than 12,500 metric tonnes of crude oil from stopping at ports along B.C.’s north coast. Both bills are likely to be passed into legislation this week.
“We’re urging the federal Liberals not to use Trans Mountain as a pawn in their re-election bid this fall,” added de Jong. “With thousands of jobs, billions in economic benefits and Canada’s credibility on the line, there’s too much at stake not to get this project built now, not months from now after an election.”
The TMX project is shovel ready, with thousands of construction workers waiting for the go ahead to return to work. PCA co-sponsored a rally in Vancouver today in support of the project.
About the Progressive Contractors Association of Canada (PCA)
With offices in BC, Alberta and Ontario, PCA is the voice of progressive unionized employers in Canada’s construction industry. Our member companies are responsible for 40 percent of energy and natural resource construction projects in British Columbia and Alberta and are leaders in infrastructure construction across Canada. PCA member companies employ more than 25,000 skilled construction workers in Canada, represented primarily by CLAC.
For further information, contact: Danna O’Brien, Danna@obriencommunications.ca 416-500-0699