Building momentum: Highlights from the November Board meeting
The Canadian Construction Association’s (CCA) Board of Directors met in Ottawa on November 19, following Hill Day, for a focused meeting centred on advancing our strategic priorities and strengthening the value we deliver to members. The discussion reflected both confidence in CCA’s current position and a clear commitment to continuing to elevate our presence and impact across the industry.
Elevating CCA’s voice and value
2026–2029 Strategic Plan approved
The Board formally approved CCA’s 2026–2029 Strategic Plan, which will guide the association’s direction over the next three years. The plan outlines how CCA will strengthen advocacy, drive industry leadership, and enhance member value through unified national efforts. The final plan will be published in the new year and shared with members.
CCA remains in strong financial health
The Board received an update on the association’s financial position, confirming that CCA remains in a stable and healthy state. This positive outlook provides a strong foundation for continued investment in priority initiatives, innovation, and services that support members and the broader construction community.
Governance feedback and nominations
Directors reviewed the results of the Governance Pulse Check survey, which saw strong participation from volunteers across CCA’s governance structure. The feedback confirmed that engagement levels remain high and that governance is functioning well, while also providing constructive input that will help further strengthen transparency, effectiveness, and continuous improvement.
As CCA begins the nominations review process for the 2026–2027 volunteer slate, we are pleased to report a record number of applications this year. This strong response reflects growing interest in contributing to CCA’s leadership and signals progress in building governance bodies that are engaged, diverse, and truly representative of the breadth of Canada’s construction industry.
Strengthening engagement with construction owners
The Board held a strategic discussion on opportunities to more formally engage public and private owners in CCA’s work. The conversation focused on creating a structured mechanism to bring owners into dialogue and collaboration, ensuring their perspectives help shape national priorities and industry solutions.
SignaSur™ progress update
The Board received an update on the progress of SignaSur™, CCA’s digital contract platform, including ongoing development milestones and readiness planning. This initiative supports the modernization of contract management and the delivery of practical, value-added tools for members.
Approval of three new CCDC documents
The Board endorsed three new Canadian Construction Documents Committee (CCDC) standard documents, further reinforcing CCA’s leadership in establishing trusted industry standards and supporting greater consistency in project delivery across Canada.
The approved documents include:
- A revised CCDC 3 – Cost Plus Contract, modernizing guidance for this delivery model
- The new CCDC 5B-MA – Master Agreement Between Owner and Construction Manager – for Services and Construction, along with its companion Work Authorization
- A revised CCDC 29 – A Guide to Pre-Qualification, strengthening industry best practices for contractor selection and risk management
These updates continue to provide members with clear, reliable tools that support efficient, fair, and transparent project delivery.
Discussion on future annual conferences
Directors engaged in a forward-looking discussion on the CCA Annual Conference and longer-term conference planning, focusing on ensuring our flagship event is strategically aligned to strengthen CCA’s role as the national voice of the construction industry. The conversation explored how future conferences can more deliberately support our strategic priorities, reinforce our value proposition, and enhance CCA’s visibility, influence, and impact across the country.
This dialogue reflects our continued commitment to evolving the conference beyond a standalone event into a strategic platform that advances national engagement, thought leadership, and industry alignment.
Updates from the National Advisory Councils
The Board received updates from all five National Advisory Councils (NACs), highlighting emerging issues, regional insights, and priority areas across the country. These discussions continue to inform CCA’s national strategy and reinforce strong alignment between regional perspectives and national direction.
Civil Infrastructure
The Civil Infrastructure NAC focused on three key areas: the success of Hill Day, intensifying workforce challenges, and a presentation from the Canadian Construction Sustainability Alliance (CCSA). Members expressed that this Hill Day delivered some of the most constructive government engagement to date. The CCSA gave an insightful report on reducing emissions in the construction industry. Lastly, workforce discussions dominated the conversation, addressing the misconception of ‘unskilled labour’ and exploring solutions to attract domestic talent.
Trade Contractors
The Trade Contractors NAC Chair provided an update on the September CCA Board and Meech Lake meetings. Members were encouraged to submit nominations for the CCA National Awards and CONtact mentorship program. The Council discussed their Hill Day meetings, with members reporting that their meetings were productive and that government representatives were highly engaged in CCA’s messages. The council also discussed the increasing prevalence of microcredentials, emphasizing the importance of industry involvement in their development and noting that microcredentials should not be treated as a replacement for apprenticeship and Red Seal certifications. Members also discussed the knowledge gap many trade contractors across Canada have with CCDC documents and how to best address it.
General Contractors
Updates from the recent CCA Board meeting were shared, followed by operational updates on the National Awards and CONtact mentorship program. The NAC work-in-progress review highlighted Subcommittee 5’s efforts on building information modeling (BIM), focusing on survey analysis, outreach to the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (RAIC) and the Association of Consulting Engineers Companies (ACEC), and addressing barriers such as withheld models. Roundtable discussions covered Hill Day planning, emphasizing clear asks and tailored engagement, and industry trends including collaborative models, BIM adoption gaps for SMEs, AI risks, and shifting market dynamics toward public projects. Safety initiatives, mental health programs, and regional updates were noted. Sustainability discussions centered on electrification challenges, workforce capacity, and utility coordination. Workforce development remains a priority, with emphasis on First Nations inclusion and school program integration. Material reuse and mixed-material practices were also addressed.
Manufacturers, Suppliers and Services
The MS&S NAC discussed the need to educate the industry on emerging advancements, particularly the growing use of modular and prefabrication methods. The council also raised concerns about the potential implications of the federal government’s Buy Canadian policy. In addition, members emphasized the importance of informing owners and contractors about the value of collaborative contract models.
Local Construction Associations
The LCA NAC meeting opened with introductions and updates from the September Board meeting. The workforce and immigration sub-committee presented its final documents on national labour policy issues and sector definitions; and with no further requests, the sub-committee was closed. CCA announced that the Partner Association Symposium will be held in Halifax, May 19–21, 2026, with a COO-led taskforce shaping content. SignaSur is now in beta testing, with added focus groups for user feedback; interested firms can contact CCA to participate. The Hill Day event was deemed successful, with continued concern over labour shortages, especially among sub-trades, and support for CCA to advocate for greater investment in non-union and non–Red Seal trades.
Partner Association reports
The Board also expressed appreciation for the detailed Partner Association reports received, which continue to inform national strategy and ensure alignment across the country.
Looking ahead
The November meeting reinforced CCA’s commitment to strong governance, industry leadership, and delivering meaningful value for members. With a clear strategic plan now in place, the association is well-positioned to continue strengthening its impact and advancing the interests of Canada’s construction industry into 2026.
Upcoming meetings and events
- March 8-9, 2026: Board and NAC meetings, and Annual General Meeting – San Diego, California
- March 10-13, 2026: CCA Annual Conference – San Diego, California
- May 19-21, 2026: Partner Association Symposium – Halifax, Nova Scotia (by invitation only)
As always, we welcome the opportunity to attend your AGMs, board meetings, or member events. Please contact Robin Borne to coordinate a visit.