Canada’s Building Trades Unions welcome the federal government’s launch of the Build Communities Strong Fund as a transformative investment in the infrastructure that underpins strong, growing communities. From the first project announced, the local Embleton Community Centre and Park in Brampton, to the broader rollout of investments in hospitals, transit systems, bridges, water infrastructure, and post-secondary facilities, this initiative represents long-term, nation-building commitments that supports both economic growth and workforce stability. With 42,000 skilled trades jobs anticipated annually, this moment provides a critical opportunity to strengthen Canada’s unionized construction workforce while delivering the essential infrastructure Canadians need.
We are committed to seeing through the implementation of Community Employment Benefit Agreements, which were introduced in Budget 2025. By leveraging these agreements, we will ensure these investments create real opportunities for apprentices, Indigenous workers, women, newcomers, and other underrepresented groups while maximizing local economic benefits.
“This is a moment to meet ambition with action,” said the Executive Director of Canada’s Building Trades Unions. “The Build Communities Strong Fund has the potential to transform communities and create generational opportunity, but only if we turn the promise of jobs into real jobs on the ground. Canada’s Building Trades Unions are ready to get to work, training the next generation of skilled workers and delivering the projects that will build a stronger, more resilient country.”
CBTU and our affiliated unions stand ready to partner with all levels of government, employers, and communities to ensure these projects are delivered safely, efficiently, and to the highest standards of quality. CBTU is looking forward to working collaboratively with federal partners and stakeholders across the country to ensure this historic investment delivers lasting benefits for Canada’s skilled tradespeople, our communities, and our nation’s economy.