CCA CORNER

CCA’s momentum growing: Highlights from the June Board retreat

The Canadian Construction Association’s (CCA) Board of Directors gathered in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, June 18-19, 2026, for a productive retreat focused on advancing the association’s strategic objectives across its three pillars: Advocate, Engage, and Advance.

For the first time, CCA’s Board of Directors and the Canadian Construction Documents Committee (CCDC) held their retreats together, creating a valuable opportunity to strengthen connections and collaboration between the two groups. The St. John’s setting also allowed Board members to experience Newfoundland and Labrador, an important benefit of rotating meetings across the country. We were also pleased to welcome local leaders, with the Chairs and COOs of the Newfoundland and Labrador Construction Association (NLCA) and the Heavy Civil Association of Newfoundland and Labrador joining for a networking dinner.   

Advocate: Advancing policy and public awareness

CCA continues to strengthen the construction industry’s voice with government, project owners, and key stakeholders, helping shape policies that support a more productive, competitive, and sustainable construction sector.

Advocacy efforts strengthen industry voice in Ottawa

Spring activities included meetings with parliamentarians, the semi-annual Meech Lake session, and input into Budget 2026 consultations, with recommendations focused on workforce development, procurement modernization, security clearance reform, and CCDC contract adoption.

CCA participated in consultations led by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC), the Canadian Infrastructure Council (CIC), Transport Canada (TC), and the Major Projects Office (MPO). CCA President Rodrigue Gilbert appeared before the Standing Committee on International Trade (CIIT) as part of its study on free trade within Canada, providing direct industry input to parliamentarians. CCA was also selected as a co-lead of the Construction and Housing Workforce Alliance.

Economic analysis and public awareness 

CCA released its Spring 2026 Construction Quarterly Economic Insights report, highlighting an industry positioned for growth despite cost pressures and policy shifts. The report was presented at Build Expo in Newfoundland and at PIMA’s semi-annual meeting, strengthening our role as a national thought leader and key source of market insight.

Construction for Canadians Tour

The Construction for Canadians Tour is full steam ahead. With projects selected across the country, the team entered production planning and preparations are underway for filming in all 10 provinces this summer and fall. We’re proud to welcome Ford Pro of Canada as our Presenting Partner. Filming begins at the end of June. Learn more at construction4cdns.ca.

Modernizing procurement and strengthening industry practices

CCA continues working with owners and industry partners to modernize procurement and improve project delivery across Canada. At the 2026 Canadian Public Procurement Council (CPPC), growing awareness of CCDC 32/33 progressive design-build and CCDC 30 integrated project delivery contracts highlighted a shared commitment to more effective procurement practices nationwide. Following the spring Meech Lake meeting, CCA is working with Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) on improvements to the Contract Security Program.

The Board approved Building forward: Industry-informed procurement strategies for successful project delivery, for release in June. The report provides recommendations to improve project outcomes, bid participation, and value for money amid rising costs and capacity constraints.

CCA is also collaborating with Signal49 Research on immigrant labour alignment in the skilled trades and completed outreach efforts, which included presentations to the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada, an owner-focused BIM session with BCCA, and speaking engagements with the National Research Council (NRC)

Engage: Partnering for impact

CCA continues to strengthen collaboration across its membership through engagement, shared learning, and governance improvements that support alignment and collective impact across the industry.

Membership model review advances

During a dedicated working session on June 19, CCA staff and the project’s consultant presented the findings, analysis, and recommendations resulting from extensive member engagement and benchmarking activities conducted over recent months. The discussion provided Board members with an opportunity to examine the current membership structure, consider emerging risks and opportunities, and explore potential paths forward.

Governance updates strengthen CCA

The Board reviewed and approved updates to CCA’s Governance Manual and Terms of Reference for key governance bodies, including the Finance and Audit Committee, Governance and Nominating Committee, Nominating Sub-Committee, and National Advisory Councils (NACs), ensuring clarity of roles and alignment with CCA’s evolving priorities.

In addition, the Board confirmed the appointment of Andy Trewick, Brendan Nobes, Francis Roy, Nicole Chabot, and Zey Emir to the Nominating Sub-Committee for the 2026–2027 term, strengthening leadership and succession planning within the association.

CCA remains in a strong financial position, with the March 31, 2026 financial statements approved and a continued stable outlook supporting ongoing investment in key priorities.

Advance: Strengthening industry excellence

CCA continues to drive innovation across the construction industry by identifying and promoting tools, programs, and practices that increase efficiency, productivity, and professional development. Gold Seal Certification continues to see strong growth, with enrollments up 81 per cent year-over-year and exam registrations rising 18 per cent. CCA has also completed a comprehensive update of its foundational Construction 101 and 102 courses, with the revised curriculum launching September 1.

SignaSur^TM on track for full transition

As the construction industry continues its transition toward digital delivery, the Board has reaffirmed its decision to discontinue traditional document sales effective December 31, 2026. Following an assessment of market needs, the Board also approved the continued availability of CCDC 9 Statutory Declarations in both physical and digital formats. To support this transition, CCA will soon launch a public awareness campaign, complemented by a range of customer support initiatives designed to help users adapt to the new digital environment.

CCDC advances industry standards and resources

In April, draft updates to CCDC 10 – ‘Guide to Construction Project Delivery Methods’ and the CCDC 9A/B Statutory Declarations were approved and circulated to members for feedback as part of CCA’s endorsement process. CCDC also delivered a cross-country seminar series to introduce the new progressive design-build contracts, CCDC 32 and 33, along with updates to the traditional design-build contracts, CCDC 14 and 15. The seminars attracted strong participation across Canada, with 885 registrants attending 24 sessions and additional events held in June.

Following the seminars, the new and updated contract documents, CCDC 14, 15, 32, 33, and 32-G, were officially released on May 15 via SignaSur and traditional distribution channels.

The Board also approved CCDC 22 – A Guide to Construction Surety Bonds and CCDC 41 – Insurance Requirements.

NAC updates

The Board received updates from all five National Advisory Council (NAC) chairs, who met virtually with their council members the week prior, highlighting emerging issues, regional insights, and priority areas across the country.

Civil Infrastructure

The Civil Infrastructure NAC meeting highlighted opportunities for the civil construction industry to strengthen coordination with the government on key advocacy priorities. Following an update on the Spring Economic Statement, discussions emphasized the government’s extensive focus on addressing workforce challenges to ensure effective delivery of its infrastructure investments. Members explored ways to leverage industry expertise and engagement to better communicate the nuances and complexities of the civil sector, especially in workforce recruitment and procurement practices. Fiscal transparency and standardization of specifications were also underscored as key priorities for direct engagement with key departments such as Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC), the Department of National Defence (DND), and Defence Construction Canada (DCC).

General Contractors

The General Contractors National Advisory Council continues to advance key industry priorities through active subcommittee work. Progress includes development of a cross-sector BIM white paper and webinar, a practical health and safety guide for small businesses, and a new productivity study. Discussions also highlighted ongoing sector challenges, including labour shortages, risk allocation, innovation, digital construction, and inconsistencies in public procurement practices across Canada.

Local Construction Associations

The meeting of the Local Construction Associations National Advisory Council focused on identifying key industry priorities, opportunities for collaboration, and potential task force initiatives. Members discussed Indigenous engagement, women in construction and allyship, municipal elections/relations, and construction theft as areas where sharing best practices and exploring coordinated action could provide value. The council also reviewed proposed revisions to its Terms of Reference and discussed participation opportunities. Updates highlighted the success of the Partner Association Symposium and strong interest in future programming. The meeting concluded with discussions on awards program enhancements and volunteer participation in the upcoming awards season.

Manufacturers, Suppliers, and Services

The MS&S National Advisory Council received updates on two upcoming webinar series. The Modular Construction Sub-committee is planning a three-part series in September focused on modular construction fundamentals, Design for Manufacturing and Assembly (DfMA), and procurement and site execution in the ICI sector. The Collaborative Contracting Sub-committee is organizing a three-part October series covering collaborative contracting fundamentals, technology, and implementation challenges. The council also discussed developments in prompt payment legislation across Canada, including the potential for future educational sessions on federal requirements. Members noted that increased federal investment in defence and major infrastructure projects may renew interest in understanding payment timelines and related legislative implications.

Trade Contractors

The Trade Contractors National Advisory Council discussed ongoing initiatives from CCA’s NACs, including the modular construction subcommittee and the productivity report. A subcommittee was formed to discuss an initiative to help address challenges around third-party pre-qualification programs. During the roundtable, it was noted that in certain regions the workforce shortage was no longer the top issue due to a lower volume of work. Members reported seeing a worsening trend of poor project scheduling, unclear scopes of work, and general risk download to trade contractors. Other issues included price uncertainty due to steel quotas and tariffs and challenges and confusion with new legislations like the Manitoba Jobs Agreement and the new Ontario Construction Act. An uptick in youth joining the industry was also reported.

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.

Upcoming meetings or events

• September 9-10, 2026: CCA Board meetings – Montreal, Quebec
• October 6-7, 2026: Best Practices in Construction Symposium – Toronto, Ontario
• November 16-18, 2026: CCA Board and NAC meetings, Hill Day – Ottawa, Ontario
• March 9-12, 2027: CCA Annual Conference – Niagara Falls, Ontario

As always, we are happy to participate in your AGMs, Board, or member meetings. Just reach out to Robin Borne to schedule us!