Hamilton (June 17, 2019) – The Progressive Contractors Association of Canada (PCA) whose member companies and workers have been shut out of city construction work for years, is urging Hamilton City Council to endorse a staff report recommending that Hamilton take “no action” on Bill 66. By doing so, Council confirms that it supports an open construction market that gives ALL qualified companies and workers the chance to build city projects.
“This is Hamilton Council’s golden opportunity to save millions of dollars that could go a long way in funding other priority projects,” said Sean Reid, Vice President and Regional Director, Ontario, for PCA. “Imagine the difference that funding could make in addressing the backlog in social housing repairs.”
It is widely accepted that when there are more bidders for projects, costs come down. A City of Hamilton staff report suggested that opening up competition could save the city as much as 40 percent on construction work. A study by Cardus, the Hamilton based think tank shows that by increasing competition, Hamilton could save, at minimum, anywhere from 8 percent to 15 percent on public projects. That’s at least $19 million to $35 million in savings annually.
“Opening up competition, also gives all qualified workers in any union, or those with no union affiliation, an equal opportunity to work on local projects,” added Reid. “Finally, Hamilton can put a stop to years of unfair practices that have given the Carpenters Union exclusive access to public construction work at taxpayers’ expense.”
About the Progressive Contractors Association of Canada (PCA)
PCA is the voice of progressive unionized employers in Canada’s construction industry. PCA member companies are leaders in infrastructure construction across Canada, employing more than 25,000 skilled construction workers who are represented primarily by CLAC. PCA promotes fair and open construction tendering in ALL Ontario municipalities.
For further information, contact:
Danna O’Brien, Danna@obriencommunications.ca 416-500-0699