Calgary Construction Association Advocacy Update-Q3, 2024

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Expanding our Presence in the Media: Since July, the Calgary Construction Association (CCA) has been featured in over 59 news stories across various platforms, including radio, articles, columns, and television. T hese stories have covered critical topics such as the cut to the Canada-Alberta Job Grant, Calgary's ongoing watermain break crisis, the Green Line LRT, and the roll-out of the Telus Spark (BLU)Print Program and our Honour the Work initiatives. Our consistent presence in the media underscores the Association's role as a key voice in shaping public discourse around the construction industry's most pressing challenges and opportunities. Maintaining strong visibility is crucial as it strengthens our advocacy efforts, ensures our members' interests are represented, and reinforces the CCA's leadership in driving meaningful change.

Activity on the Stampede Circuit: We were actively engaged throughout the Stampede Circuit, connecting with key political figures including Calgary City Councillors, Mayor Jyoti Gondek, Premier Danielle Smith, Opposition Leader Naheed Nenshi, and several potential mayoral hopefuls. These interactions provided valuable opportunities to discuss key industry issues, such as infrastructure development, procurement practices, and workforce challenges.

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By being present at these events, the CCA solidified its role as a trusted advisor and industry leader, while reinforcing relationships with policymakers. From an advocacy and visibility standpoint, these engagements are critical to ensuring the voice of Calgary's construction industry is heard at all levels of government, allowing us to influence policy decisions that directly affect our members.

Raising Concerns Regarding the Reduction to the Canada-Alberta Job Grant: We have actively raising concerns about the Government of Alberta's decision to cut the Canada-Alberta Job Grant, following a reduction in the Labour Market Transfer Agreement between Alberta and the federal government. This cut has severe implications for skilled-trades training and development, which are crucial to addressing the current labour shortages in our industry.

The Canada-Alberta Job Grant has been a vital tool for funding upskilling programs, including those offered by organizations like Momentum, which focus on preparing underrepresented groups for careers in the skilled trades. Eliminating this support weakens efforts to develop a strong, capable workforce and undermines the construction industry's ability to meet growing demands.

Our advocacy efforts on this included a news release, which went national. As a result, we were able to generate over 11 different news stories (articles and radio hits) across Canada.

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Ahead of the introduction of new water restrictions at the end of August, we proactively collaborated with the City of Calgary to minimize the impact of these restrictions on the construction industry. In particular, we emphasized the critical role that water plays in concrete production during the summer months, as concrete is foundational for building new residential and commercial spaces. Ensuring a steady supply of concrete is essential to maintaining construction timelines and meeting the city's growing infrastructure demands. Through our discussions, we highlighted the need to balance water conservation efforts with the industry's ability to continue building, ensuring both environmental stewardship and economic progress.

Partnering with TELUS Spark Science Centre and the Government of Alberta t o Launch the BLUprint Program: In August, we were pleased to announce our partnership and historic investment with TELUS Spark Science Centre and the Government of Alberta, resulting in the launch of a pioneering program designed to inspire youth to pursue careers in the skilled trades.

As Alberta's population and economy continue to grow rapidly, demand for skilled tradespeople continues to increase. The labour shortage is the challenge of our times, and that is why the Calgary Construction Association Education Fund is investing $100,000 towards the BLUprint Program - the largest single investment made by the Fund since its inception in 1998.

What is BLUprint? Recognizing the critical need to address the skilled labour shortage and invest in future tradespersons, the CCA is dedicated to encouraging the next generation of trades professionals.

Our partnership with TELUS Spark Science Centre will create a series of exploration spaces called BLUprint-standing for "Building, Learning, and You." These spaces are designed to educate youth about trades-based science concepts in a fun and engaging way. By featuring hands-on activities related to carpentry, plumbing, and electrical trades, BLUprint integrates S TEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) education.

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Launching the Honour the Work Initiative: At the end of August, we were proud to announce our collaboration with "Honour The Work" and will be bringing a skilled-trades curriculum supplement program to 850 Calgary Classrooms and over 30,000 elementary students this Fall.

Honour the Work, founded by educators and supported by industry leaders, aims to address the skilled trades labour shortage by sparking interest in these careers from an early age. The centerpiece of the program is the curriculum-compliant STEAMS Kits, (Science - Technology - Engineering - Math - Skills) which are designed for grades 1-6 and include hands-on activities that connect classroom learning to real-world skilled trades careers. Each kit features comprehensive lesson plans, curricular expectations, digital resources, building materials, and diverse children's books about skilled trades.

First launched in Ontario to tremendous success, the Honour the Work program will be piloted in Calgary schools, including both the Calgary Catholic School District and the Calgary Board f Education. We are proud that through the Calgary Construction Association Education Fund and our funding partners, we are making one of the largest direct industry investments into elementary school education related to skilled trades in Canadian history.

From a media perspective, the launch of HTW was tremendously successful. We were able to generate 12 news stories on the initiative (television, radio, print) in all 4 major news outlets (Global Calgary, CTV, CBC and CityNews), and an article was written about us in the Calgary Herald.

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This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-NC- D We expressed deep concern over the recent delays to the Green Line LRT project due to the Province's withdrawal of funding. This project, long seen as transformative for Calgary's transportation infrastructure, now faces further uncertainty, jeopardizing jobs and economic growth. The CCA warns that this funding pull sets a troubling precedent for future provincially funded projects, introducing significant risks for contractors and businesses, and undermining confidence in government commitments. If this trend continues, it could have far-reaching impacts on Alberta's infrastructure development and economic recovery. In response, the CCA launched an intense media campaign advocating for the restoration of funding and project continuity. Our efforts culminated in a letter written to Premier Smith and Mayor Gondek, offering our full support and assistance to get the Green Line LRT project back on track. We urged the provincial and municipal governments to collaborate closely with industry stakeholders to ensure the timely completion of this critical infrastructure project, emphasizing its importance to the future of Calgary and the entire province.

Addressing the Government of Alberta's School Construction Accelerator Program: We addressed the Government of Alberta's School Construction Accelerator Program, a $8.6 billion initiative to create 50,000 student spaces over the next three years. While the CCA welcomed the program as a positive step towards addressing Alberta's education infrastructure needs, it highlighted significant challenges that could impede its success. The CCA emphasized the need for reforms in procurement practices and risk management frameworks, which currently pose risks of receiving no bids for critical projects. Additionally, the CCA raised concerns about the severe labour shortage in the construction industry, urging the government to invest in workforce training and skills development.

The CCA expressed its commitment to collaborating with the government to overcome these challenges and ensure the program's successful delivery.

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Hosting Mayor Gondek for the Inaugural CCA Mayor's Luncheon: On September 13, 2024, the Calgary Construction Association hosted its inaugural Mayor's Luncheon, featuring Mayor Jyoti Gondek. The event was well-attended by our members and served as a significant platform for in-depth discussions between the construction community and the city's key decision-makers.

Mayor Gondek shared her vision for Calgary, focusing on the critical role our industry plays in addressing the city's infrastructure needs. As the largest purchaser of construction services in our region, the City of Calgary is a key partner for our industry. The Mayor highlighted the importance of our ongoing collaboration, noting how our contributions directly impact the city's growth and development.

This luncheon provided an exclusive opportunity for CCA members to engage directly with Mayor Gondek. The discussions allowed our members to voice their concerns, share industry insights, and contribute to the broader conversations shaping Calgary's future. The event reinforced the importance of maintaining strong relationships with municipal leadership to ensure that our industry's voice is heard and our expertise is utilized in the city's strategic planning.

Overall, the luncheon was a success and set a positive precedent for future engagements, strengthening the CCA's role in advocating for our members and influencing the direction of urban development in Calgary.

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