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| A NOTE FROM CBTU’S EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR This has been a week of significant developments in both Canada and the United States, as we witness shifts in the political landscape that will have a lasting impact on our workforce and the skilled trades. As our neighbors to the south grapple with political uncertainty, Canada is navigating its own challenges, as governments at all levels adapt to evolving economic and policy pressures. As economic and political realities shift, it is more important than ever that we work collaboratively to ensure our tradespeople have the training, support, and opportunities they need to succeed in the future. With Indigenous Veterans Day today and Remembrance Day on Monday, we are reminded of the deep connections between service and sacrifice. Many Building Trades members served in WWI and WWII and gave their lives for their country. Their sacrifice is honoured today through the work of the Building Trades and our signatory contractors through our partnership with Helmets to Hardhats Canada – which plays a critical role in helping Canadian military veterans transition into skilled trades careers, providing them with the tools and opportunities to build prosperous futures. By connecting veterans with high-quality training and apprenticeships in the trades, we honour their service and selfless dedication to Canada. Today, and every day, CBTU is proud to stand with Helmets to Hardhats and to advocate for our veterans as they transition from military service to successful careers in the skilled trades. In solidarity, Sean COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS Canada’s Building Trades Unions’ team was proud to stand together at The Pearson Centre Leadership Awards 2024: Salute Organized Labour as we celebrated CBTU’s Executive Director, Sean Strickland, for his outstanding leadership in driving progressive change within the skilled trades. This recognition is a reflection of the hard work and dedication of Sean, our Canadian Executive Board, and the entire building trades movement, whose commitment to advancing positive, progressive change has and will continue to deliver real improvements in the lives of workers.   PROPOSED OIL AND GAS EMISSIONS CAP Earlier this week, the Government of Canada announced the proposed Oil and Gas Sector Greenhouse Gas Emissions Cap Regulations. CBTU will review government regulations that would cap oil and gas sector GHG emissions, once proposed regulations are published. We will be looking to ensure that skilled trades workers’ jobs in the oil and gas sector are protected through the transition to net-zero, while new opportunities are created through projects taking full advantage of emissions-reducing technology like Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage that will allow the oil and gas industry to continue to deliver significant economic benefit, lower emissions, and maintain strong employment for our members. While Canada’s Building Trades Unions supports the transition to a net-zero clean economy, this transition must be accomplished with smart, coherent regulations in a manner that’s consistent with maximizing economic benefit to Canadian workers, while protecting the environment that all workers share. Canada’s Building Trades Unions intends to strongly advocate for workers throughout the regulatory comment period to ensure our workers concerns are addressed. CBTU NHL ALL CANADA DIVISION Keeping with the spirit of Canadian sports this bi-weekly newsletter will feature a special “CBTU NHL all Canada division” where we will post the records of all the Canadian teams. In my travels across the country, the pride for the Home Team runs deep – and so do the bragging rights!  P.S. Our apologies to CFL fans when in the last newsletter we were premature in wishing the teams well in playoff contention! Good luck this weekend to Western Conference finalists, the Saskatchewan Roughriders and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and to the Eastern Conference finalists, the Toronto Argonauts and the Montreal Alouettes! |
