Monday, May 25, 2026

Delivering Results for Members in Manitoba and Ontario

Across Manitoba and Ontario, ongoing labour challenges and policy pressures are being met with focused advocacy and real solutions for members

Guide Magazine

Ian DeWaard, Manitoba and Ontario Director

So far in 2026, members and staff across Manitoba and Ontario have continued to navigate a demanding labour relations environment, marked by ongoing bargaining challenges, legal uncertainty, and new opportunities for engagement with government and industry partners. We continue to focus the union’s efforts on protecting members’ interests and advancing practical solutions for the workplace.

Manitoba

In Manitoba, concerns about the Manitoba Jobs Agreement (MJA) have been resolved in CLAC's favour. In May, the provincial government agreed to amend the MJA to ensure that all bargaining rights are respected. This means that CLAC members, who have long contributed to major projects across Manitoba, will not be unfairly discriminated against based on their union membership. CLAC is grateful for the government’s willingness to listen and make adjustments that better reflect the interests and needs of workers on the ground.

Ontario Construction

This past season has been defined by intense competition and heavy raid activity by other unions. Despite this, our teams have remained focused, engaging early in bargaining and maintaining a strong presence on job sites. We have concluded negotiations at several large workplaces, including J.M.R. Electric Ltd., LTS Build Services Ltd., O’Connor Electric, and VanRooyen Earthmoving Ltd., to name a few.

Except for supportive and subsidized housing, work in the residential sector is flat, and we expect that sector—particularly high-rise construction—to remain soft through 2026.

Most other sectors of construction, especially institutional and infrastructure, remain strong, and overall, members should experience full employment through the rest of 2026.
Looking ahead, there are encouraging signs in northern Ontario, where mining activity is expected to resume later in 2026. The province’s efforts to fast-track approvals further signal a return of meaningful work opportunities for members in a region that saw limited activity through 2025.

Long delays at the Ontario Labour Relations Board (OLRB) continue to present challenges for our union. With more than 10 outstanding cases, some dating back to 2020, the pace of decisions is impacting both organizing efforts and the timely resolution of disputes.

Ontario Healthcare

In healthcare, we are also facing long delays at the OLRB. At Cedarcroft, a retirement home in Stratford, workers waited 10 months for a declaration from the board that they are an essential service. With that procedural matter now concluded, they can advance their stalled contract negotiations to interest arbitration—adding another year to the process. As they sit in limbo, wages remain frozen at levels well below the industry, and staffing pressures intensify, affecting both working conditions and resident care.

Across the sector, payroll errors continue to impact hundreds of workers annually, requiring ongoing intervention by CLAC representatives. Dozens of grievance and arbitration referrals are processed every month to address vacation pay, sick time, pension, and wage errors caused by a payroll system provider commonly used in the industry. CLAC is proud to assist members in receiving what they are owed, and we are working hard to resolve these ongoing disruptions and delays in pay.

Government Relations

In February, we met with Natalia Kusendova-Bashta, minister of long term care. The minister is attuned to the staffing pressures faced by members working in the sector and the strain this places on them. She is keen to see the industry maximize full-time work opportunities, for which we expressed appreciation. She also outlined plans to support learn-while-you-earn pathways to personal support worker and RPN credentials for current staff.

A top priority for members remains the need for improved responses to workplace violence, along with better and more standardized behavioural intervention training for long term care workers. CLAC was also pleased to meet with MPP Trevor Jones in February, where we discussed these issues, as well as our recommendation for a provincial tax credit for volunteer firefighters.

Other government meetings this quarter included discussions with Ministry of Health staff regarding CLAC’s proposals for homecare workers, with the Premier’s Office regarding apprentice group sponsorship programs, and with the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development on a variety of initiatives for which they sought CLAC’s input.

In March, we participated in the Progressive Contractors Association’s annual Ontario labour relations summit and conference. CLAC contributed to several panels, sharing insights on trends in labour relations, labour board activity, and collective bargaining. As always, the summit provided a valuable opportunity to work alongside contractors to identify ways to continually improve on-site labour relations and resolve workplace issues constructively.

At the event, David Piccini, minister of labour, immigration, training and skills development, addressed attendees and reinforced the province’s focus on skilled trades and workforce development. MPP Stephen Blais, who currently serves as the Ontario Liberal Party’s critic for labour, also offered remarks on behalf of his party’s caucus. Their participation underscored the importance of ongoing dialogue between government, labour, and industry.

Indigenous Engagement

Engagement with Indigenous communities and partners remains a central priority for CLAC. We again attended the Prosperity North and Neeganii-Iishawin gatherings, as well as the First Nations Major Projects Coalition conferences. These events bring together Indigenous leaders, industry, and labour to advance economic reconciliation through responsible resource development and the work opportunities such projects provide. These conversations continue to highlight the role that fair and inclusive labour relations can play in supporting long term success for communities.

What This Means for You

Across all of this work, CLAC remains focused on delivering practical results for you, our members. Whether addressing delays at the labour board, advancing fair access to work, supporting you through bargaining, or engaging with government and industry partners, our priority is clear: protect your interests and strengthen your opportunities. In a complex and often challenging environment, that focus continues to guide our work across Manitoba and Ontario.