NEWS

Environment Canada has issued an air quality warning for much of southern Ontario, including the Greater Toronto Area, as wildfire smoke from northwestern Ontario continues to drift south.

From all of us at The Building Union of Canada - happy Canada Day to our members and their families.
Enjoy the day, and stay safe.

As many of you know, I am a retired police officer and Past President of the Toronto Police Association. The recent murders of police officers in Ontario and Quebec have deeply saddened me. Through my years in the construction industry, I've come to know how many in the trades have friends and family in policing, these attacks strike close to home for all of us.

The Building Union of Canada also stands firmly with our Jewish friends and colleagues. The senseless attacks on the Jewish community must stop. Society must exhaust every effort to address this, and I know our construction community stands behind those being targeted.

No community, whether in policing or the Jewish community, should have to live in fear. The BUC stands with you.

Craig Bromell
President
The Building Union of Canada

The Ontario government has introduced new legislation aimed at delivering a major tax break for new homebuyers, with officials projecting the measure could mean thousands of construction jobs and stimulate billions in economic growth.

Ontario Government marked the National Day of Mourning on April 28, unveiling a design concept for a new memorial commemorating construction workers whose lives have been lost or changed forever due to work-related incidents.

The federal government is pushing to build up Canada's skilled trades and tackle youth unemployment by proposing $6 billion over five years to recruit, train and hire up to 100,000 new trades workers under a flagship measure called Team Canada Strong.

Today, on the National Day of Mourning, we honour and remember those who have been injured, made ill, or lost their lives on the job. We stand with our members in recognizing the importance of safety and the responsibility we all share in protecting one another on every job site.

On April 20, 2026, the Ontario government announced the introduction of the Protecting Ontario’s Workers and Economic Resilience Act, 2026, which would, if passed, contain important potential changes to the construction industry’s “open period” which all construction employers should be aware of.

Labour ministers from the federal, provincial and territorial governments met in Québec City this week and agreed to take new steps aimed at making it easier for workers to move between provinces, while improving workplace safety training across Canada.

The province is planning to temporarily remove Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) for all buyers of new homes valued up to $1.5 million.

The Ontario government is launching Canada’s first Occupational Exposure Registry (OER). This new secure digital portal includes a self-tracker that allows workers to record and track exposure to hazardous substances in the workplace.

Build Canada Homes (BCH) has issued a Request for Information (RFI) to engage Canadian firms specializing in modern methods of construction (MMC), a move aimed at accelerating the delivery of affordable housing across the country.

Ontario is bringing new labour mobility and free-trade regulations into force Jan. 1 aimed at helping employers, including those in construction and engineering, fill skilled positions faster by removing interprovincial barriers for certified workers.

From all of us at The Building Union of Canada, thank you for your hard work, dedication, and commitment throughout the year. We wish you and your families a safe, healthy, and prosperous year ahead.

Ontario’s construction industry has made good progress in dealing with mental health and addictions issues, but suicides and drug overdoses are still exceedingly high for workers in the sector.

Helmets to Hardhats (H2H) has received new funding from Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) to expand its programs that help Veterans, Reservists, Cadets, and military family members transition into careers in Canada’s skilled trades.

On this Remembrance Day, November 11th, we pause to honour the brave men and women who gave their lives in service to our country.

Canada’s 2025 federal budget is getting two thumbs up from construction‑industry groups as a significant step toward accelerating both major infrastructure projects and new housing construction.

New home sales in the Greater Toronto Area have plunged to historic lows, raising fears of widespread layoffs and a severe housing downturn unless governments act quickly, the Building Industry and Land Development Association (BILD) warned Tuesday.

To all BUC Members and Construction Workers in Canada, I want to wish you a Happy Labour Day. Canada is built on your contributions, and you all deserve respect and a well-earned day of rest.