Friday, February 27, 2026

Standing Strong in Manitoba and Ontario: March 2026 Report

From construction sites to care homes to Queen’s Park, CLAC’s advocacy and teamwork are driving real results for members.

Guide Magazine

By Ian DeWaard, Manitoba and Ontario Director

CLAC members and staff have worked tirelessly to strengthen representation, protect opportunities, and advance fairness across Manitoba and Ontario. Through collaboration and persistence, we’re continuing to build better workplaces and stronger communities for everyone we serve.

Manitoba
In Manitoba, we’ve secured a meeting with the province to discuss the finalized Manitoba Jobs Agreement (MJA). This policy grants exclusive representation rights to the Manitoba Building Trades Unions on certain designated projects. The MJA would require CLAC members working on these projects to pay dues to those unions and redirect employers’ benefit and pension contributions to programs that fall short of the superior benefits and retirement plans CLAC members have negotiated.

To protect members’ rights and livelihoods, we’ve registered our objections with the Manitoba Building Trades Unions, engaged employer associations to encourage a coordinated response, and commissioned a legal opinion to determine whether the MJA contravenes the Manitoba Labour Relations Act or other provincial laws. Our goal is simple: to ensure CLAC members are not excluded from the work they have long performed with skill and success across the province.

Meanwhile, after aggressive raiding by the UFCW at Save-On-Foods failed to gain traction, members ratified a new collective agreement with an overwhelming 91.5 percent vote in favour—an emphatic endorsement of stability and a clear sign that CLAC continues to deliver meaningful results for workers.

Ontario Construction
Ontario’s construction sector continues to experience heavy raiding from other unions, particularly as major collective agreements approached expiry in late 2025 and early 2026. CLAC teams successfully defended bargaining rights at Fritz Construction Services Inc., Koler Construction Inc., Twiss Electric Ltd., and Wallwin Electric Services Ltd.

We also celebrated new growth this year as workers from Clonard Group Inc. and C.G. Group Inc. chose to leave the Building Union of Canada (BUC) and join CLAC Local 52. In addition, employees at 613 Electric Inc., Parr Mechanical Inc., and Wieser Electric Ltd. also chose CLAC representation. These victories demonstrate the confidence workers place in CLAC’s balanced and constructive approach to workplace representation.

Ontario Healthcare
Recognizing the importance of member input in shaping advocacy, CLAC staff supported local boards through workshops to inform them about the union’s annual prebudget submission. Thanks to their leadership, CLAC’s policy positions remain grounded in front-line realities and focused on practical solutions for healthcare workers.

Bargaining in this sector remains challenging amid economic uncertainty, with several agreements proceeding to binding arbitration. Still, strong member engagement and clearly defined priorities have helped secure fair, inflation-beating outcomes in many workplaces.

Government Relations
On November 3, 2025, CLAC and the Progressive Contractors Association (PCA) cohosted their annual construction lobby day at Queen’s Park (see picture on page 18). Delegations met with 15 MPPs and ministry offices including Premier Doug Ford, interim Opposition Leader John Fraser, and Green Party Leader Mike Schreiner.

CLAC was recognized during Question Period and participated in an in-depth roundtable with Labour Minister David Piccini on the state of the skilled trades and strategies to support newcomers entering construction. The day concluded with a well-attended evening reception that brought together more than 100 MPPs, staff, and industry stakeholders—relationships that continue to drive progress on members’ priorities.

In healthcare, CLAC pushed back against Bill 14, which would have exposed long term care workers to personal legal penalties for facility conditions beyond their control. Following CLAC’s formal submissions and direct meetings with government leaders, we were advised that the bill will not proceed. This is an important win for front-line caregivers, who provide compassionate care under demanding conditions.

At the invitation of Local 302 steward and RPN Jonathan Sheppet, Ontario’s minister of long term care, the Honourable Natalia Kusendova Bashta, visited Royal Rose Long Term Care Home in Welland, Ontario. The minister saw and heard firsthand the staffing and retention challenges members face each day.

On behalf of CLAC’s volunteer firefighters, we also continued working with the Ontario Association of Fire Chiefs in advocating for an enhanced tax credit for the province’s more than 18,000 volunteer firefighters. The credit is a way to recognize the essential service they provide to their communities.

Together, these efforts—on job sites, in workplaces, and within government—underscore CLAC’s ongoing commitment to principled advocacy, practical problem solving, and real, measurable gains for members across Manitoba and Ontario. Wherever our members work and serve, CLAC continues to stand firm for fairness, choice, and respect.

Standing Strong in Manitoba and Ontario: March 2026 Report

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