Canadians believe the federal government is failing to manage Canada’s infrastructure and construction workforce needs

Canadians are five times more likely to rate the federal government’s performance at managing Canada’s infrastructure and construction workforce needs as very poor.

This election, there’s been a lot of talk about the need to build, but not enough talk about the elephant in the room — the federal government isn’t doing enough to manage Canada’s infrastructure and construction workforce needs. And Canadians across the country agree.

“We hear a lot of promises about building more housing, roads, and infrastructure — but none of that happens without workers to do the job,” said Duncan Williams, President and CEO at the Construction Association of Nova Scotia (CANS). “Canada doesn’t just have a housing crisis, we have a workforce crisis limiting our ability to build.”

Data collected by Nanos Research revealed that Canadians are five times more likely to rate the federal government’s performance at managing Canada’s infrastructure needs as very poor and three times more likely to rate management of workforce needs as poor. With industry projecting elevated demands over the next decade, sticking with the status quo simply isn’t good enough. The next federal government must work with the construction industry to take bold new action that reflects the sector’s needs and the workforce that makes it all possible.

“Workforce development needs to be at the heart of any national strategy to build Canada’s future,” added Williams. “Industry is ready to do its part, but we need a federal partner that’s serious about long-term planning, skilled trades training, and immigration pathways that support our sector.”

For too long, the construction industry has been left out of the conversation. Decisions have been made and policies implemented without adequate consultation and collaboration, leading to chronic inefficiencies and excessive red tape that hinder infrastructure development. The industry deserves better. Canadians deserve better. When the federal government fails to manage Canada’s infrastructure and construction workforce needs, it fails to support Canadians.

The next federal government needs to take decisive action — that’s why Canada’s construction industry launched its federal election campaign: construction4cdns.ca. Canadians can show their support by sharing #construction4cdns on social media and sending a letter to their riding candidates at https://construction4cdns.ca/get-involved/.