Canadian Affairs Report: Committed to progress

As we settle into the fall, I’d like to take a moment to look back on what was an incredibly busy and productive summer for our Canadian locals. From participation in cross-border conferences and key gatherings here in Canada to important preparations for upcoming project implementations, this summer showcased the development and strength of our union.

We kicked off the summer with a strong presence at the Canadian Convention in Toronto and the SMART Leadership Conference in New York. In New York, we delivered Canadian-specific breakout sessions, which gave our members a platform to explore new resources, discuss innovative recruitment strategies and address unique challenges and opportunities facing our locals from coast to coast.

The momentum continued in Chicago, where over 300 Canadian Building Trades delegates participated in the Tradeswomen Build Nations Conference. The energy and solidarity were truly inspiring, and a testament to the growing strength of tradeswomen across Canada. Events like this not only celebrate how far we’ve come, but also empower SMART members to expand their involvement, grow their networks, step into leadership roles and estab­lish women’s committees within their locals.

Back at home, the Ontario Conference met in Windsor to celebrate recent victories in organizing efforts and to prepare for the next wave of megaprojects set to shape the province’s future. It was a powerful reminder of what we can accomplish through unity and the value of strong partnerships with federal and provincial govern­ments to advance key projects and worker priorities. As part of the conference, a SMART Army event brought members out for a local community clean-up. This was another meaningful opportunity for our members to give back to our communities.

Most recently, I had the privilege of joining the Canadian Building Trades Executive Board for a signifi­cant announcement with Prime Minister Mark Carney.

The prime minister officially launched the Major Projects Office, a new initiative designed to fast-track critical infrastructure and energy projects across the country. This office aims to cut approval timelines to under two years, an important step in supporting a growing and evolving Canada.

Five transformative projects have already been greenlit, representing more than $60 billion in invest­ment and creating thousands of jobs, including opportunities for SMART members across Canada.

We are also excited to celebrate a major milestone on the East Coast — Local 409 in Halifax will mark its 80th anniversary since being chartered. We are incredibly proud of Local 409 for its accomplishments, including growing and diversifying the local’s workforce. Congratulations to all current and past members on this incredible achievement.

Moving forward, there are many promising initiatives underway, and we will continue to work closely with the federal government, provincial governments and our locals as they complete and prepare for more green infra­structure and other nation-building projects that will be vital to Canada’s future.

Thank you to everyone who made this summer such a success. As always, we remain committed to building a stronger, more inclusive and forward-thinking union across Canada.

In solidarity,

Jack Wall

Director of Canadian Affairs