b'CANADAS FEDERAL ELECTION: WHAT IT MEANS FOR THE TRADESWhat impact will the expected leadership change have on the mechanical contracting sector?MATTHEW BRADFORDU ncertainty abounds on ParliamentOne only needs to scan the headlinesAnybody who works in housingand Hill as Canada approaches the nextto get a sense of the chaotic state ofespecially anyone building large apartment federal election. With a change inNorth American politics. Yet no mattercomplexes or tall condominium towers leadership and a federal election, mechani- where the dust settles after election day, is going to be busy, says LeForte. cal contractors nationwide are questioningthe outcome will inevitably reshape theTackling this housing shortage is going how a new name at the helm will impactnations policies, affecting industries liketo be the primary job of the federal their sector. mechanical contracting, which will begovernment, no matter whos in power.The political climate is changing rapidly,responsible for carrying out the ambitiousMore business is typically a good problem says Rob LeForte, president of First Lakecampaign promises coming from bothto have. The tricky part, says LeForte, will Solutions, a government relations firm.sides of the aisle.be ensuring the mechanical contracting If youre looking forward to an electionForecasting the Impacts trade has the capacity to meet demand. campaign, youre already late, becauseCanadas Liberal and Conservative partiesThe bigger challenge is going to be, how the campaign started last Decemberare giving due attention to key issues likedo you respond? If it is too busy, how do you adapt when demand outstrips when Pierre Poilievre began buildinghousing, immigration and infrastructure.capacity? Does that just result in higher momentum and defining what the ballotThis is good news for mechanicalcosts? And if they do, who will bear those box issues would be for Canadians verycontractors, who are integral to movingcosts, and how will that impactearly on. the needle on each. the industry?TARIFF THREATS AND THE TRUMP ADMINSTRATIONWhile MCAC continues to focus on the upcoming Canadian federal election, the new Trump administration is raising flags for the sector. In particular, the impact of proposed tariffs and subsequent retaliatory tariffs have the potential to severely impact mechanical contractors across the country. In early January, MCAC wrote to the federal government, asking for an exemption from retalitatory tariffs for construction-related materials. The letterco-signed by the Canadian Construction Association, the Canadian Roofing Contractors Association and the Canadian Water Quality Associationoutlined the significant impact these tariffs may have on construction and subsequently the Canadian economy.20 www.mcac.ca'