Election Candidates Urged to Help Stop Construction Labour Monopolies

Waterloo, ON—CLAC and the Progressive Contractors Association of Canada (PCA) are urging all local candidates in the upcoming Ontario election to put taxpayers first by supporting a provincial labour law change that will allow the Region of Waterloo to maximize its infrastructure investments.

A provincial government policy drives up public infrastructure costs in the Region of Waterloo by preventing qualified local companies and their workers from bidding and working on local projects. With less competition, construction costs rise, leaving taxpayers footing the bill.

“We’re urging candidates to publicly support putting an end to the reign of construction labour monopolies,” says Ian DeWaard, CLAC Ontario director. “All qualified local workers—regardless of union affiliation—should be allowed to work on projects in their own communities. After all, they’re taxpayers too.”

Candidates will be asked where they stand on the issue during a series of Candidate Election Forums sponsored by CLAC and hosted by the Greater Kitchener Waterloo Chamber of Commerce on May 29, 30, and 31.

“It’s about time Ontario’s antiquated labour laws changed so they started working for local taxpayers, not against them,” says Karen Renkema, of PCA. “Taxpayers are being overcharged between 20 and 30 percent on municipal construction projects. Apply that to all of the region’s construction work and it amounts to millions in wasted tax dollars.”