www.rcabc.org  l  7 name, these CBAs are really just forced unionization disguised as something beneficial to the local community – and they could end up costing the tax paying public billions of dollars. The Horgan government has thus far confirmed that CBAs will be used on the new Pattullo Bridge, widening of the Trans-Canada highway and any transpor- tation project costing in excess of $500 million. However, the NDP has been less than transparent about this union- friendly plan from the beginning, and even admitted their desire to expand the use of CBAs on a “case by case” basis. In other words, the use of CBAs will expand, and it may not be long before we see them on hospitals, schools and other provin- cially funded public projects. This is especially hard to understand considering that 85 per cent of B.C.’s construction workforce will be excluded from these public projects. With so many illogical clauses, it’s hard to fathom how anyone could have come up with this. But they did, and CBAs are definitely coming to a project near you. So if you plan to bid on a CBA project, it is crucial that you care- fully read and fully understand the entire 336 page labour agreement entitled “A Community Benefits Agreement between BC Infrastructure Benefits Inc. and Allied Infrastructure and Related Construction Council of British Columbia” (dated July 2018). What is BC Infrastructure Benefits Inc. you might ask? It’s a new crown corporation that the Horgan govern- ment created to be the legal employer of labour on CBA projects. That’s right; your (former) workforce will now be employed by the provincial government. Of course this raises a host of other questions: If your firm does not employ the workforce, how can you estimate realistic labour rates or ensure no high risk violation fines are received from WSCB? Again, this entire system is simply illogical. For a better understanding and a more pointed critique of these CBAs, please contact one of the following organiza- tions that are part of a legal challenge in BC Supreme Court: Canadian Federation of Independent Business, BC Chambers of Commerce, BC Construction Association, Independent Contractors and Business Association of BC, Progressive Contractors Association of BC, Vancouver Regional Construction Association, Canada West Construction Union, and Christian Labour Association of Canada. We dodged a bullet with the rejec- tion of electoral reform. Unfortunately, Premier Horgan is reloading and deter- mined to make life difficult for our industry and province. With unfairly high WSBC premiums, an additional payroll tax, and the forced unionization of CBAs (along with their expensive inefficiency and bureaucratic headaches), let’s hope Horganomics don’t drag B.C. away from the robust state of the North American economy. In the end, only time will tell if enough opposition can be rallied to reign-in the NDP and can keep our economy strong. But either way, let’s make hay while the sun shines.