Coverage of Community Benefits Agreements revisited, a JOC compilation

It’s no secret that since the B.C. NDP government implemented Community Benefits Agreements (CBA) on public-sector infrastructure projects in 2018 that industry stakeholders had vastly different views on the matter.

Over the years the Journal of Commerce (JOC) has followed the story closely, updating readers on new developments as they became known.

The COVID-19 pandemic has also been top of mind for the construction industry since it began to spread into B.C.

But as the provincial government moves towards more recovery efforts to help stimulate the economy as part of COVID-19 recovery efforts, the debate has been reignited with a new sense of urgency and determination for those on both sides of the debate.

While the industry has written numerous Industry Perspectives Op-Eds and Letters to the Editor expressing their views, the following is a collection of recent JOC coverage that showcases different initiatives and views on the topic, plus a look back at the previous compilation in 2019.

Canadians want open, fair bidding: ICBA, Merit poll

Poll reignites CBA debate in B.C. as province looks to recovery

Court dismisses CBA challenge but coalition vows to keep fighting

B.C. budget doesn’t address pressing construction workforce needs: BCCA

PCA calls B.C. community benefit agreements “fake CBAs”

Workers, contractors gather at B.C. legislature in CBA protest

Coverage of the Community Benefits Agreement debate: A JOC compilation