Advocacy ALERT

Construction in focus: Parliament’s fall session set to bolster industry 

With Parliament officially back in session as of September 15, all eyes in the construction industry are on Ottawa. The federal government has laid out some clear priorities heading into the fall session, many of which place construction right at the heart of Canada’s economic strategy. Key items to watch include:

• Moving forward on the nation-building major project approvals through the launch of the Major Projects Office (MPO).
• Building affordable housing through the Build Canada Homes initiative (BCH).
• Preparing for the CUSMA 2026 renegotiations and supporting sectors most impacted by tariffs.
• Expanding defence investments, including investments in infrastructure.

Busy season for construction

The Canadian Construction Association (CCA) is pleased to see the federal government’s continued recognition of construction as a key economic driver.

This was underscored with the launch of the MPO on August 29, 2025. The MPO’s mandate is to select and streamline the conditions for getting nation-building projects off the ground through a “one project, one review” framework. The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) released the preliminary list of five ‘nation-building projects’ on September 11, with the potential for expansion following further consultation. Notable projects include doubling Canada’s production of liquefied natural gas (LNG) export capacity and upgrading the port of Montreal. Both projects could mean big opportunities for the construction sector.

The federal government has also introduced additional measures to support key sectors impacted by tariffs. Since Canada lifted $60 billion in counter-tariffs on U.S. goods (excluding steel and aluminum), Industry Minister Mélanie Joly has announced a new ‘Buy Canadian’ policy for federal procurement and a ‘Strategic Response Fund’ focused on workforce and training support.

Additionally, Treasury Board President Shafqat Ali shared a 60-day progress update on the federal government’s Red Tape Review, where he identified nearly 500 measures to eliminate red tape to boost productivity as part of the Carney government’s “spend less, invest more” approach.

CCA will continue monitoring these initiatives and report on any developments affecting construction.

What’s ahead for CCA this fall

CCA’s Public Affairs team is looking at a busy fall packed with numerous advocacy and political events. Stay tuned for updates on our semi-annual Meech Lake meeting with senior government officials, the Best Practices Symposium in Toronto on October 30-31, our response to the federal budget on November 4, and our upcoming Hill Day on November 18.