National crisis not a time to further own interests: BC Building Trades

Ryan Bruce with the Christian Labour Association of Canada (CLAC) made a number of inaccurate statements in his opinion editorial dated Feb. 18, 2025.

Let’s start with Bruce’s claim that B.C. gives, “preferential treatment to American-based unions at the expense of Canadian unions.”

Nothing could be further from the truth.

While we are proud of our long-standing partnerships with our brothers and sisters in the United States, BC Building Trades unions are Canadian to the bone. In many cases, our roots go back more than 125 years.

I am the business manager of the United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipefitting Industry Local 170. We were founded in Vancouver in 1898. Our local and other BC Building Trades unions were 70 years old before CLAC was even conceived of. Our Canadian history dwarfs that of the Christian Labour Association.

Furthermore, Bruce claims that construction cost overruns and delays on major B.C. infrastructure projects are due to Project Labour Agreements with our unions and gives not a single shred of evidence to support his assertion.

If folks are paying attention, they know that construction cost overruns and delays are an unfortunate and pervasive problem across North America and throughout the world.

Those problems are most commonly attributed to an increase in commodity prices, the ongoing skilled labour shortage, lengthy regulatory approval processes and supply chain disruptions. Here’s some actual evidence:

Bruce also claims the B.C. NDP government, in building B.C.’s infrastructure using the highly skilled members of the BC Building Trades, is somehow harming our economy. It’s actually just the opposite.

A majority of workers on large government projects that use Community Benefits Agreements (CBA) and Project Labour Agreements are from the local communities that surround the project. For example, 75 per cent of CBA workers are local. This means the taxpayer dollars invested into these important projects are re-circulated by workers in their own communities. This economic boost provides substantial support to local businesses and families. That keeps B.C. strong.

I could go on for many pages about how that Feb. 18 op-ed’s claims are baseless and inaccurate, but I think you get the point.

It is, however, important to note the following: They are using a time of crisis for all Canadians to advance their own self interests.

And that is clearly wrong.

In a time where unity, honour and patriotism are required to protect our great nation, this kind of cynical, divisive and self-serving behaviour simply will not cut it. We are all Canadian and it’s time to come together to build a country that is self-reliant, resilient and strong.

Al Phillips is president of the BC Building Trades Council and the business manager and financial secretary of the United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipefitting Industry, Local 170. Send Industry Perspectives Op-Ed comments and column ideas to editor@journalofcommerce.com.