Canada's Building Trades Unions

08/21/2026

Canada’s Building Trades Unions Executive Director, Sean Strickland, addressed nearly 4,000 members of the United Association at its convention in San Diego, including 1,000 Canadian delegates.

The convention reflected the strength of the UA’s North American partnership, guided internationally by General President, Mark McManus and supported in Canada by Director of Canadian Affairs, Terry Snooks. With nearly 60,000 UA members across Canada, that partnership continues to advance opportunities for skilled tradespeople on both sides of the border.

Watch his full presentation, here, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bKlUnukeoZQ and read CBTU's statement, here: https://www.buildingtrades.ca/en/cbtu-executive-director-addresses-uas-41st-convention-calling-for-north-american-collaboration/

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08/19/2026

Yesterday, CBTU Executive Director, Sean Strickland, took the stage at the United Association Convention in San Diego, California, speaking to our brothers and sisters of the United Association about the massive opportunity ahead for skilled tradespeople on both sides of the border.

However, one thing must be clear: tariffs on Canadian goods are hurting workers on both sides of the border. Our supply chains are integrated. When a project stalls in one country, workers in the other feel it.

Tariffs don’t build anything. They delay everything. Industry analysis show recent tariff rounds contributed to over 190,000 U.S. manufacturing job losses. In California, construction associations report tariff‑driven material costs have added $20,000 to $40,000 to the price of an average new home. And double that in markets like San Francisco and LA. That’s not protecting workers - that’s pricing families out of homes and putting tradespeople on the bench.

CBTU is pleased with yesterdays announcement to delay this round of tariffs, however, as Prime Minister Carney said, “...there is important work still to be done.”

Regardless of the outcome of these negotiations, Canada remains focused on building a stronger, more independent, and more competitive economy at home.

View Sean’s full speech here: https://youtu.be/bKlUnukeoZQ?si=XoHWooGFz4LHuh5V&t=124

08/18/2026

Congratulations to Prime Minister Mark Carney, N.L. Premier Tony Wakeham, Quebec Premier Christine Fréchette, and Trades NL on today's historic energy announcement. This is an important step towards unlocking the province’s enormous energy potential while creating good-paying unionized jobs and generating lasting economic benefits for workers and communities across the province.

The federal commitment of $10 billion for the modernization and expansion of Churchill Falls, potential development of Gull Island, new transmission infrastructure, and the 2,000 MW onshore wind project represent generational opportunities to put up to 23,000 skilled tradespeople to work building the infrastructure that will power Newfoundland and Labrador’s economy for decades to come.

CBTU looks forward to working with governments, industry, and Trades NL to ensure the province’s skilled trades workforce is ready to seize the opportunity.

Read our full statement here: https://www.buildingtrades.ca/en/canadas-building-trades-unions-statement-on-churchill-falls-and-labrador-energy-investments/

08/13/2026

Canada’s Building Trades Unions’ Executive Director, Sean Strickland, was interviewed to share his perspective on why so many people are turning to the trades, and why these careers are attracting Canadians at every stage of life.

The average apprentice in Canada is 27 years old, showing that it’s never too late to pursue a good-paying, stable career. With opportunities to earn while you learn, develop in-demand skills, and help build Canada’s future, the skilled trades offer a pathway worth exploring.

As Sean shared, “When you have the Prime Minister talking about building Canada, people start paying attention."

Read the full article, here: https://www.theglobeandmail.com/business/careers/article-the-trades-are-having-a-real-moment-as-perceptions-change-more-young/

For decades, young Canadians were told that a white-collar job offered the best route to a stable, middle-class life. That idea is changing as high youth unemployment and AI are pushing more to take a fresh look at the trades

08/11/2026

Yesterday, our Executive Director, Sean Strickland alongside members of Canada's Building Trades Unions Executive Board met with the Minister of National Defence, David McGuinty and fellow senior staff to discuss the National Defence Building Strategy. We reviewed infrastructure priorities for projects along Canada’s coasts and in the Arctic while examining the role unionized construction can play in advancing defence objectives. Together, we explored opportunities for closer coordination on workforce planning, security‑clearance processes, and long‑term training models. As Canada begins to rebuild, rearm, and reinvest in the Canadian Armed Forces, our members are ready to work with the department and deliver on these important national defense projects.

"The work of defending Canada is the work of building Canada." - Prime Minister Mark Carney

IBEW Canada, International Union of Painters & Allied Trades, LiUNA Canada, Canadian Ironworkers, OPCMIA, BAC, IUOE, Sheet Metal Workers & Roofers - SMART Canada, UA Canada Insulators Union

08/07/2026

Canada's Building Trades Unions are concerned with the Michigan Supreme Court's decision to revoke a building permit for Enbridge for a replacement project for Line 5. Preventing this work will affect the shipment of more than half a million barrels of oil per day, and result in the loss of thousands of jobs for our brothers and sisters.

At a time when Canada is developing our energy infrastructure, these shutdowns and unnecessary delays affect not only us, but our trading partners, including those in the United States. CBTU will continue to advocate for the continued operation of line 5 and its eventual replacement with a new and improved pipeline under the straits of Mackinac.

07/28/2026

Last week, members from Canada's Building Trades Unions Canadian executive board and BC Building Trades visited the LNG Canada Phase 2 in Kitimat, British Columbia.
As work advances on Canada's major resource and infrastructure projects, including the new West Coast oil pipeline, visits like these highlight the scale, complexity, and opportunities these projects create. They showcase the world-class work being performed by our brothers and sisters and reinforce the critical role Canada's unionized skilled trades play in building Canada's future.
Learn more about how our members are making an impact here: https://www.buildingtrades.ca/en/were-ready/

07/27/2026

Congratulations to our Brothers and Sisters on both sides of the border as we celebrate the opening of the Gordie Howe International Bridge. This landmark project is a testament to the skill and dedication of our tradespeople, and a powerful symbol of what can be achieved when Canada and the United States collaborate.
More than 12,600 tradespeople worked together to build the impressive 2.5 kilometer bridge, marking one of the largest and most significant cross-border infrastructure projects in North America.

07/13/2026

Last week, our Executive Director, Sean Strickland, attended the Sheet Metal Workers & Roofers - SMART Canada’s 50th Canadian Conference in Edmonton, Alberta. Sean presented federal updates on the rollout of the Team Canada Strong Program, which intends to invest up to $6 billion over the next 5 years to recruit, train, and certify up to 100,000 Red Seal skilled trades workers by 2030-31. The funding includes $250 million over 5 years for the Union Training and Innovation Program brick and mortar stream; the reinstatement and expansion of apprenticeship training grants up to $16,000 per apprentice and the introduction of a $5,000 taxable completion grant; the modernization and digitization of the Red Seal Program; and the increase to the Labour Mobility Tax Deduction from $4,000 to $10,000, while also reducing the travel zone from 150 KM to 120 KM.

Sean also announced the kickoff of the SMART-led Green Futures Partnership. In collaboration with CBTU and through partial funding from the Government of Canada’s Canadian Apprenticeship Strategy – Sustainable Jobs Stream, this five-year initiative is focused on developing a national Green Certification, modernizing and digitizing apprenticeship training, and expanding climate-focused skills development across SMART Canada’s members.

Learn more on the Green Futures Partnership, here: https://www.buildingtrades.ca/en/green-futures-partnership/

07/04/2026

Happy Independence Day to all of our Brothers and Sisters from North America's Building Trades Unions in The United States of America!