Canada's Building Trades Unions Showing Leadership on Important Issues at this Year's Legislative Conference

OTTAWA, May 3, 2018 /CNW/ - The Canada's Building Trades Unions (CBTU) are hosting their annual legislative conference from May 7^th to the 9^th in Gatineau, Quebec.  Approximately 400 leaders from the construction industry, labour organizations, and the purchasers of construction services from across Canada and the United States will be in attendance.  This year's theme "Diversity, Inclusion, Respect…CBTU Leading the Way!" has attracted a great cast of speakers.

Amongst the long list of political speakers, delegates will hear from leaders such as:

• Prime Minister Justin Trudeau;
• Minister of International Trade, Francois-Philippe Champagne;
• Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour, Patty Hajdu;
• President of Treasury Board, Scott Brison;
• Leader of the Official Opposition, Andrew Scheer;
• Leader of the NDP, Jagmeet Singh;
• Leader of the Ontario Conservative Party, Doug Ford;

People in attendance will also get to hear from other great speaker on a variety of topics such as:

• Chantal Hebert on National Affairs: Politics from Coast to Coast;
• Dr. Tim Christie on the opioid crisis;
• Dr. Lee Tunstall on homelessness with people between the age of 45 to 60 yrs;
• Bob Tait on Irving R.E.W.A.R.D.S. Program;
• Bill Ferreira and Sharon Barney on respectful workplace policies;
• Ian Lopez on Dog Whistle Politics;
• Mike Rencheck of Bruce Power;
• Gaetan Thomas of NB Power;
• Dr. Eric Jonckheere on asbestos.

"These speakers and many others has accepted to participate in our conference because they know that Canada's Building Trades Unions are taking a leadership role in addressing important issues facing our workforce and our industry," states Robert Blakely, Canadian Operation Officer of Canada's Building Trades Unions.

The conference agenda which can be found at www.buildingtrades.ca will cover a variance of important topics such as workforce diversity, opioid crisis, cannabis, trade agreements, respect in the workplace, and today's political scene.  The Chairman of Canada's Building Trades Unions is confident that the delegates will find the various topics very pertinent, informative, and forward thinking.

"I'm proud to lead a national organization who is prepared to have the tough discussions on important issues to our members and to our country and bring forward sensible solutions to move forward.  This year's conference does just that," states Robert Kucheran, Chairman of the Board of Canada's Building Trades Unions.

About CBTU

The North America-wide Building Trades coordinates activities and provides resources to 15 affiliated trade unions in the construction, maintenance and fabrication industries. In Canada, CBTU represents 500,000 skilled trades workers.

SOURCE Building & Construction Trades Department, AFL-CIO

Donald Arseneault, Government Relations Manager, Cell: [phone], [email protected]