Canada’s Building Trades Unions (CBTU) welcomes the passage of the Federal Budget 2025, confirming a suite of investments and policy commitments that reflect years of advocacy by CBTU, our Canadian Executive Board, and our members across the country.
When the budget was tabled on November 4, CBTU recognized it as a meaningful step forward for unionized skilled trades workers and for Canada’s economic future. With the budget now passed, the focus must shift from commitments on paper to real action on job sites, in training centres, and in communities nationwide. CBTU recognizes the critical importance of these projects and the urgent need to secure meaningful labour participation at every stage.
Labour must be at the table and be actively involved in shaping decisions around labour force needs to enable tradesperson mobility and support the timely completion of projects. We look forward to discussing in finer detail the necessity of implementing strong labour conditions on major projects, including prevailing wages and mandatory apprenticeship requirements.
“This budget laid out a clear vision, and now it’s time to deliver,” said Sean Strickland, Executive Director of Canada’s Building Trades Unions. “With the federal budget passed, we are urging the government to move quickly to translate these promises into concrete projects, enforceable labour requirements, and tangible benefits for Canada’s skilled tradespeople and their families.”
The federal government’s investments, including the $51-billion, 10-year Build Communities Strong Fund; the expanded funding for the Union Training and Innovation Program (UTIP); the new Workforce Alliances; and the completion of the Clean Economy Investment Tax Credits, represent generational opportunities to grow Canada’s skilled trades workforce and ensure union labour is central to the country’s infrastructure and clean energy transition.
While CBTU recognizes the budget as a strong foundation, much work remains. Key priorities, including expansion and indexation of the Labour Mobility Tax Deduction, clear commitments to brick-and-mortar training infrastructure, and reinstatement of essential apprenticeship supports, are critical to meeting workforce needs and ensuring mobility, training capacity, and apprentice retention.
On behalf of our members, CBTU is grateful to all Parliamentarians who supported the Federal Budget and acted in the best interest of all Canadians. We stand ready to work with the federal government, industry, and labour partners to deliver on the commitments made.