In its pre-budget submission, the Progressive Contractors Association of Canada (PCA) has called on the Ford government to make policy changes that will help ease the skilled trades shortage, and open up competition on all taxpayer-funded projects.

Specifically, PCA is recommending reform of the province’s training delivery agency (TDA) model, to improve access to in-class training for tradespeople in all regions and from all labour models.

“Tradespeople in every region of the province, especially in rural and northern Ontario should have access to in-class training,” said Stephen Hamilton, Public Affairs Director, Ontario at PCA. “Unfortunately, the TDA is still stuck in the 1970s, putting too many workers and companies outside the GTA at a great disadvantage. That has to change, to help more tradespeople put their needed skills to work.”

PCA says such long-standing policies have undermined innovation and productivity in the construction industry. It is urging the province to end restrictive project labour agreements along with restrictive municipal procurement policies that still exist in the City of Toronto.

“As Ontario makes major investments in building more hospitals and other crucial infrastructure projects, it has a responsibility to ensure taxpayers get good value and that all qualified workers and companies have a chance to build these projects,” said Hamilton. “A fair, open and competitive procurement process is the way to do that. There should be no exceptions.”

Earlier this month, PCA took aim at the project labour agreement The Ottawa Hospital struck with Ottawa-area building trades on its $2.8-billion Civic campus mega project. It argues the agreement will shut out contractors and workers that are not affiliated with select unions.

PCA has asked the Competition Bureau to weigh in on the matter.