Industry and political experts see a series of challenges on the way for the British Columbia construction industry from both within the province and over the border.
Vancouver Regional Construction Association president Jeannine Martin moderated a panel of construction experts and political thinkers at a session at Buildex Vancouver titled Constructive Conversations: What B.C.’s new political landscape means for the construction industry.
British Columbia Construction Association president Chris Atchison, Port Coquitlam Mayor Brad West and Impact Public Affairs manager of government relations and strategy Sajjid Lakhani all lent their insights on political headwinds affecting the industry including the recent speech from the throne in the B.C. legislature.
“Overall, the speech left people wanting for more, but details are to come with the upcoming provincial budget. That’s where we need to pay attention to what commitments are upheld and what principles are abandoned,” Atchison said.
West termed the idea of throne speeches generally as meaningless and containing “the most unobjectionable things you can imagine.
“Everything sounds good, but what’s really important is what happens,” he said.
Lakhani said it was up to grassroots communities and those on the ground to keep government accountable and recommended the construction industry approach discussion in a bipartisan manner.
“This is a unique opportunity for the construction industry to work with both opposition and the government to work on what you want to see in legislation,” he said.
Atchison added the industry should “prepare to be disappointed,” but it also needs to approach the provincial government with their needs regardless.
“Government has telegraphed there will be areas of disappointment, but as an industry it shouldn’t be (up to) us to bear the brunt of it,” he said.
“For last number of months we’ve been in a suspended state of uncertainty and chaos,
but that provides a certain amount of cover for elected officials to expect no response, a delayed response or lack of commitment is OK because of that uncertainty,” Atchison added.
“There’s no question the province is signalling it is entering a period of restraint,” West said. “The challenge is that this is coming at the tail end of Metro Vancouver and the province experiencing unprecedented population growth.”
Lakhani reiterated the importance of exploring all advocacy avenues given the NDP’s razor-thin majority.
“This is the largest opposition in B.C. history (47 NDP seats, 44 BC Conservative and two BC Green seats) and there’s going to be a real opportunity to address the learning curve of new MLAs on the magnitude and importance of the provincial construction industry,” he said.
“It’s important the government understands the urgency of the situation we’re in and the contributions your industry makes. Treat opposition almost as important as government (because) we could go into an election next year,” Lakhani added.
“We have to be at the forefront of advocacy. If the construction industry doesn’t have their ear, it’ll be another industry.”
The panel also pointed to the recent threat of substantial U.S. tariffs as one of the industry’s greatest concerns.
“We are where we are. What I hope is we approach this with level of urgency and vigour required. Government can move effectively and quickly when it wants to,” West said. “Politicians need to put our elbows up a bit, because words are easy but it’s the outcome that matters.”
“The issue around tariffs is one that will impact the construction industry greatly and it won’t be U.S. tariffs, it will be the retaliatory Canadian tariffs which will have the most dire consequences for construction,” Atchison said.
“People need to be aware this can have lasting business implications. You need to have difficult conversations with your contractors now. Don’t wait until everything is OK, because it may not be OK.”
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