Tuesday, October 27, 2026

CLAC Congratulates Olivia Chow on Re-election as Toronto Mayor

Calls for dialogue on city's construction labour policies

Toronto, ON—CLAC congratulates Olivia Chow on her re-election as mayor of Toronto and calls on her administration to engage with a broader range of construction unions and workers in her next term.

Toronto’s housing supply, infrastructure needs, and skilled labour shortages require collaboration among the city, workers, unions, and contractors.

CLAC believes achieving these goals requires an inclusive approach to labour relations that recognizes the contributions of all qualified construction workers, regardless of union affiliation.

“We congratulate Mayor Chow on her re-election and share her commitment to worker safety, fair wages, and strong apprenticeship and training programs. But those shared priorities make it all the more important that the city engage with the full diversity of unions and workers contributing to Toronto's construction industry,” says Ian DeWaard, CLAC’s Provincial Director in Ontario.

On June 24, 2026, Toronto City Council supported a motion introduced by Mayor Chow directing city staff to pursue voluntary recognition agreements with a select group of construction unions. In an August 27 letter to the Mayor, CLAC acknowledged her commitment to worker safety and fair wages while expressing disappointment with the city’s decision to favour a select group of U.S.-based craft unions. The letter emphasized that Canadian unions, including CLAC, represent thousands of skilled tradespeople who contribute to Toronto’s housing, infrastructure, and economic development. The letter also requested a meeting with the mayor to discuss CLAC’s concerns, share information about its investments in training and workplace safety and explore how a more inclusive approach could advance the city’s construction priorities. Unfortunately, we have yet to receive a response to our request for a meeting.

“We believe there is considerable common ground on the issues that matter most to taxpayer and to construction workers," says DeWaard. “With the mayor beginning a new term, we hope there will be an opportunity to have that conversation before the city moves further down a path that could exclude thousands of skilled workers from publicly funded projects.

“Good labour policy should bring people together, not create barriers that favour certain unions over others. Toronto is fortunate to have a diverse and highly skilled construction workforce, including workers represented by Canadian unions like CLAC.”

CLAC looks forward to working constructively with the city to support skilled workers, strengthen Toronto’s construction industry, and advance the housing and infrastructure investments residents need.

CLAC Congratulates Olivia Chow on Re-election as Toronto Mayor

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