Industry Perspectives Op-Ed: Building Canada’s future

This year’s federal budget is, at its core, about building, and about building faster than ever before.

Under Prime Minister Mark Carney’s leadership, the Canadian government has set out an ambitious vision for growth and productivity that centres on manufacturing, infrastructure and the built environment. For the construction sector, I believe this represents both an extraordinary opportunity and a considerable challenge.

The scale of the proposed investment is significant. More than $115 billion has been committed to infrastructure spending over five years and billions dedicated to housing through the new Build Canada Homes program, all signalling a clear commitment to long-term, strategic investment in Canada’s future.

In a speech delivered ahead of the budget, the prime minister emphasized these investments would mean good, union jobs for Canadians. This is an encouraging message for an industry that has long sought stability, sustained public investment and recognition of its central role in supporting Canada’s economic success.

Equally important is the budget’s focus on how projects will be delivered. The government’s emphasis on modern methods of construction, including prefabrication and bulk procurement for housing points to a positive shift toward efficiency, innovation and better value for public investment. Upfront government support for these approaches can help reduce risk, build confidence and enable faster delivery of high-quality homes and infrastructure.

It is important to note, however, that these proposals are not yet confirmed. The budget still needs to be passed by parliament, and with Carney’s Liberals leading a minority government, the existing proposals will need to be negotiated with other parties to secure enough votes to approve the plan. Some details could change as the budget moves through the parliamentary process, but the direction of travel is clear: a major focus on building, economic growth and productivity.

However, these opportunities also bring challenges. Canada’s construction industry is already experiencing persistent skills shortages, with employers across the country struggling to fill roles at every level.

We know already, thanks to research by BuildForce Canada, the industry needs more than 80,000 new workers by 2033 just to meet construction demand. Clearly, the ambition to build faster will only be achievable if the workforce has the capacity and capability to meet it.

Addressing this shortage requires more than short-term recruitment drives, though; it demands a long-term strategy to attract, train and retain talent. I believe Canada needs a workforce that not only grows in numbers but also evolves in skills, ready to take advantage of new technologies, digital tools and sustainable building practices, which we know will be critical to achieving climate targets.

This is where strategic co-ordination between government and industry becomes essential in my opinion. Latest figures show us youth unemployment in Canada remains at a 15-year high, yet the construction sector is in urgent need of new entrants. If we can bridge that gap by expanding training pathways, investing in and strengthening apprenticeships, and increasing the awareness and accessibility of careers in the sector, the benefits could be transformative. We could not only build the homes and infrastructure Canada urgently needs, but also create secure, well-paid jobs that support families and communities across the country.

To do this effectively, we need to think more broadly about how we engage with young people. At present, much of the industry’s outreach focuses on high school graduates or college-age students who are already beginning to consider their future career paths. 

While I don’t doubt this is important, other sectors – particularly technology, health care, and finance – have demonstrated the power of earlier intervention. By reaching out to children in elementary school, we can really begin to challenge outdated stereotypes about what working in construction looks like and who the sector is “for.”

Early engagement initiatives could include classroom visits from construction professionals; interactive workshops that introduce students to the principles of design, building and sustainability; and partnerships with schools to embed construction-related content into students’ learning. 

I believe these experiences can ignite curiosity, helping young people see the roles in construction as modern, innovative career choices and recognize the wider sector’s critical role in tackling Canada’s biggest challenges – including housing, climate resilience and community development. 

In summary, the Chartered Institute of Building welcomes the Canadian government’s recognition of construction as a key driver of national progress and economic growth. To realize its full potential, we must continue to focus on skills, training and workforce development, alongside innovation and productivity.

This budget gives cause for cautious optimism. It reflects a clear belief in what our sector can deliver while reminding us of the work still to be done. With the right support, planning and collaboration, Canada’s construction industry can help build a more resilient, efficient and inclusive future for everyone.

Jocelyne Fleming is a policy lead with the Chartered Institute of Building. Send Industry Perspectives Op-Ed comments and column ideas to [email protected].