Building momentum: Highlights from the June Board retreat and National Advisory Council meetings
The Canadian Construction Association’s (CCA) Board of Directors gathered in Victoria, British Columbia, from June 11-13, 2025, for a productive Board retreat focused on advancing the association’s strategic priorities. The meeting combined formal approvals, strategic discussions, and visioning sessions to guide the association into its next phase of impact.
Elevating CCA’s voice and value
Federal readiness: Building on momentum from Construction for Canadians
The Board received an update on Construction for Canadians, CCA’s national election campaign, which continues to position the industry as a critical partner in Canada’s future. With strong engagement from local construction associations and members, the campaign exceeded early expectations—generating positive recognition from all major parties and a clear presence in federal narratives, including the Speech from the Throne and key mandate letters.
With a minority government now in place, the Board approved access to reserve funds to support rapid mobilization in the event of a snap election. The CCA team is already engaging new Ministers and MPs to build relationships ahead of Hill Day 2025 and the fall budget cycle.
National membership campaign: Join the Network gains traction
Launched this spring, Join the Network marks CCA’s first-ever national membership awareness campaign. The initiative is designed to raise visibility and promote the collective value of Canada’s association network, speaking directly to business leaders navigating today’s risks and regulatory challenges.
The Board received a mid-campaign update on media placements, local engagement efforts, and feedback from partner associations. The campaign runs through July, with full results and insights to be presented at the September Board meeting.
SignaSur enters production and moves into beta testing
CCA reported that SignaSur has successfully moved into production. Beta testing has begun with five outlets, and technical discovery is now complete for 90 per cent of document distributors. The Board was updated on final legal documents, improved user terms, and a revised pricing structure that better reflects member needs.
With go-to-market planning underway, CCA is refining communications and marketing materials in preparation for a broader public rollout later this year.
Governance and approvals
Several key motions were passed at the Victoria meeting, including updates to the Terms of Reference for committees, sub-committees, and councils, and the appointment of the Nominating Sub-committee.
In addition, the Board engaged in a meaningful discussion on the nominations pipeline, including how to identify and develop high-potential volunteer leaders.
Strategic planning and membership model review
The retreat included an interactive session to begin shaping CCA’s next strategic plan (2026-2029). Directors provided early input on priority issues, desired outcomes, and emerging challenges facing the industry.
The Board also discussed perceived risks with the current membership model. As a result, the Board supported issuing an RFP to hire a third-party consultant to review the model and explore options to enhance long-term value and revenue.
CCA’s 2026 Annual Conference: San Diego discussions
The Board reviewed early considerations for the 2026 Annual Conference, proposed to take place in San Diego, California. The discussion focused on aligning the location with CCA’s international engagement strategy and broader goals of member value, trade relations, and advocacy.
NAC and Partner Association updates
National Advisory Councils (NAC) met virtually the following week to share insights and priorities from across the industry. Highlights from each NAC are available in the summary below.
Civil Infrastructure
The Civil NAC meeting centred on strategic infrastructure advocacy and industry challenges. The discussion highlighted our work on the Canada Trade Infrastructure Plan (CTIP) and its critical role in national economic development. Members extensively explored the impacts of federal procurement policies, tariff challenges, and project pipeline uncertainties. Key themes included defense spending opportunities, Indigenous engagement, and the need for more transparent infrastructure investment strategies. The discussion revealed significant concerns about workforce shortages, unrealistic project budgets, and supply chain disruptions.
General Contractors
The General Contractors NAC welcomed new member François Sansfaçon Hamel (Groupe DCR). Key updates included a recap of the recent CCA Board meeting and operational highlights, such as CCA’s election campaign, the rollout of SignaSur, and the Best Practices in Construction Symposium, scheduled for October 30-31, 2025 in Toronto. Progress reports from NAC subcommittees were shared, including May’s Construction Playbook webinar, upcoming sessions on contractual terms, and a BIM-focused webinar in development. The roundtable discussion addressed ongoing tariff challenges, workforce development through OCA’s talent initiatives and the “Honour the Work” program, and green building efforts in collaboration with national partners. The meeting concluded with a discussion on Contract A vs. Contract B, noting regional differences in relevance.
Manufacturers, Services and Suppliers
The MS&S NAC welcomed Guillaume Roy as its newest member. Staff provided updates on the recent Board meeting, the success of the election advocacy campaign, and the latest developments regarding SignaSur. Subcommittee members were thanked for their contributions to the release of the Digital Maturity Report, developed by CCA in collaboration with KPMG in Canada. The Chair of the Prefab Subcommittee requested the appointment of a new chair to lead and oversee its activities. Meanwhile, the Tech Subcommittee confirmed they are on track to deliver at least two technology-focused webinars. During the roundtable discussion, members explored recent changes to prompt payment legislation in Ontario. It was suggested that CCA provide a cross-jurisdictional update on the status of prompt payment across all provinces. There was also discussion on how the adoption of new technologies could accelerate and transform prompt payment practices moving forward.
Local Construction Associations
The Local Construction Associations (LCA) NAC Chair provided an update from the Board, which included a review of CCA’s membership structure and upcoming government relations efforts aimed at strengthening CCA’s advocacy following the successful election campaign. The workforce and immigration sub-committee shared their document, “Addressing National Labour Policy Issues in Canada’s Construction Sector,” highlighting the need for policy reform to ease labour shortages in the face of growing retirements and insufficient replacement by domestic workers. Early discussions with CCA and Talent Beyond Boundaries’ Lara Dyer have been positive. A follow-up document is in development, focusing on information gaps in wages, skills, trade requirements, and international business challenges. All NACs are participating in a review of the CCA Awards to improve judging criteria and boost participation from smaller members, trade contractors, and LCAs. A roundtable discussion included topics such as AI and SMEs/LCAs, grant money, promotion of construction careers, successful LCA programs, and a reminder to sign the CCA service MOU.
Trade Contractors
The Trade Contractors NAC welcomed new members to the Council. The council continued previous discussions on third-party pre-qualification programs, including concerns around costs and the sale of data provided to these programs. The Council also discussed developing a new best practice resource for trade contractors during construction projects, to follow previous tools on project selection. Concerns were also raised over the use of non-standard subcontract agreements and common risks and challenges associated with them. Members also discussed the practice of having large insurance deductibles passed down to trade contractors, beyond what can be managed by small-to-medium-sized firms. During the roundtable, workforce was noted to be a continuing issue in many regions.
Partner Association reports
The Board also expressed appreciation for the detailed Partner Association reports, which continue to inform national strategy and ensure alignment across the country.
Upcoming meetings and events
- September 8-9, 2025: CCA Board meeting – Halifax, Nova Scotia
- October 30-31, 2025: Best Practices in Construction Symposium – Toronto, Ontario
- November 17-19, 2025: Hill Day, Board and NAC meetings – Ottawa, Ontario
As always, we welcome the opportunity to attend your AGMs, board meetings, or member events. Please contact Robin Borne to coordinate a visit.