The Canadian Construction Association (CCA) is among several industry organizations to heap praise on the federal budget.

In particular, the association has commended the government's $115-billion investment in infrastructure, including $51 billion for local infrastructure such as housing and transportation, which will support communities across Canada and enable the ambitious homebuilding agenda.

"Canada has underinvested in critical infrastructure for decades," said CCA president Rodrigue Gilbert. "These investments reflect the essential role of housing-enabling infrastructure in addressing the national housing shortage and committing substantial resources to these projects."

The association also welcomed the announced investment for the Major Projects Office, and the recognition within the budget that "for too long, the construction of major infrastructure in Canada has been stalled by arduous, inefficient approval processes."

The Residential and Civil Construction Alliance of Ontario (RCCAO) was similarly supportive, with executive director Nadia Todorova pointing to the Build Communities Strong Fund.

Both RCCAO and CCA argued that the announcements in the budget are a first step, and more work remains.

“The federal government must act with a sense of urgency to expeditiously get funding out the door and shovels in the ground on critical infrastructure projects,” Todorova said. “The Build Communities Strong Fund must also continue to be a permanent ongoing element by the Government of Canada in reflection of the significant infrastructure deficit across Ontario and the rest of the country.”

CCA, meanwhile, is calling for a coordinated national workforce strategy that connects immigration, apprenticeships, upskilling, and the destigmatization of careers in the skilled trades.

"The construction sector employs 1.6 million Canadians and contributes $165 billion to Canada's GDP, yet we continue to face significant labour shortages," said Gilbert. "Without a long-term, coordinated workforce strategy, any ambitious construction agenda will stall."

CCA says the government's investment in foreign credential recognition is also important, but it cautions that it is too narrowly focused on unionized programs. RCCAO similarly said that it would be willing to work with the government to improve the economic streams of Canada’s immigration system, while ensuring the regulations for the National Occupation Classification, specifically level C and D, are amended to reflect the frontline operational realities of Canada’s building and construction industry.

Finally, while CCA said it supports the government's ambition to strengthen domestic industry, procurement policies must not unintentionally restrict the construction supply chain.

“Canada's builders depend on a reliable flow of materials and components,” it said. “Continued dialogue with the construction sector is critical to ensuring that domestic sourcing policies strengthen rather than constrain Canada's ability to build.”