b'POST-FEDERAL ELECTIONMAKING GOOD ON These investments and actions areUncertainties also exist on how the ELECTION PROMISES a positive sign that the Mark Carneygovernment will support increased Carney has made severalgovernment is listening to the industry.construction, given the current rising commitments to the constructionAnd while it may still be early tocosts, red tape and onerous processes. industry, both in his role as Canadascomment on their long-term impact,That is, while the idea of more interim prime minister before theMollenhhauer says, So far, [Carney] hasconstruction projects reads well on election and when his role was madedone all the right things since paper, Gilbert says some changes are official following the vote. Amongthe election. needed to ensure Canadian builders these were pledges to increase thecan do what they do best:The industry construction of major projects throughGOING FURTHER was facing challenges before the current initiatives like the $6-billion CanadaON IMMIGRATION crisis and will continue to face these Housing Infrastructure Fund (CHIF),One of the biggest questions for thesame hurdles if systemic inefficiencies which was included in the 2024construction industry is how the Liberaland chronic underinvestment are not Budget to accelerate the constructionParty will continue to address its growingaddressed. Short-term strategies arent and upgrading of housing-enablinglabour deficit. As Gilbert stresses, drinking water, wastewater, stormwaterCanadas construction industry is good enough. To unlock the full potential and solid-waste infrastructure, directlyfacing a major shortage of 85,000of construction in driving Canada supporting the creation of new homesworkers over the next 10 years that forward, we need long-term solutions.and increasing densification.will impact our ability to build the housing and infrastructure thatSTILL TOO EARLY TO TELLImportantly, provinces and territoriesCanadians rely on. While there areIts been several months since Mark that wish to access the fund mustlong-term strategies we can look to, ourCarney made his role official at demonstrate that they are adoptingimmediate workforce shortages can onlyParliament Hill, but there are positive policies that support local construction,be addressed through short-term signs that hes holding true to the thereby spurring domestic constructionimmigration solutions. promises he made as interim prime and promoting local supply chains. minister during the campaign trail. The challenge is that the current Since taking office, Carney has alsosystem is falling short in recognizingIts still early days, says Mollenhauer. tabled several strategies to counterand mobilizing the people that theSo far, hes made good on several U.S. tariffs and promote a more unifiedconstruction industry needs. Therefore,commitments and been very strong on Canadian industry. They include ahe adds, We need systemic immigration $5-billion Trade Diversification Corridoroverhaul, and until that happens, wehis interaction with the U.S. in terms Fund aimed at modernizing Canadashave to rely on imperfect solutions, likeof trying to eliminate the tariffs. Hes trade infrastructure, including ports,the Temporary Foreign Worker Program,starting to do some good things, so we railways, airports and highways, to fill the jobs we need. just want to see that continue. which Carney remains committedto supporting. Commitments to enhancing interprovincial trade and labour mobility have also been made. On June 5, 2025, Bill C-5, aka the Free Trade and Labour Mobility in Canada Act, received its first reading at the House of Commons. As a critical part of the Building Canada Act, the bill aims to harmonize federal and provincial standards, eliminate federal barriers, make it easier and faster to recognize provincial and territorial licensesLEADERS INand certifications for workers at theCONSTRUCTION LAWfederal level, and establish a 30-day Credential Recognition Standard for regulated professions, including skilled trades workers.There will never be any such thing asLAWYERS SUPPORTING complete free trade in Canada, butTRADE UNIONS AND its nice to see an effort made by theWORKING PEOPLECarney government to reduce some of the less effective trade restrictionsKOSKIE MINSKY LLPbetween provinces, says Mollenhauer,JEFFREY ARMEL | JEFFREY LONG | DANIEL RESNICK adding, The new trade relationships20 QUEEN STREET WEST, SUITE 900|TORONTO, ONM5H 3R3|KOSKIE MINSKY LLPwere creating are a very good thing.BUILDERSDIGEST Quarter 2202525'