Canada's Building Trades Unions welcomes pipeline announcement

OTTAWA, Nov. 29, 2016 /CNW/ - Canada's Building Trades Unions (CBTU) welcomes the announcement of approval of two major pipeline projects by the Rt. Hon. Justin Trudeau.

Skilled trades people and Canada's economy depend on major resource projects for sustained prosperity. This announcement means increased certainty for employment prospects for our members in the coming years in Alberta and beyond. Pipelines don't mean temporary construction jobs, they mean generational jobs at both ends of the line.

Speaking on behalf of CBTU, Canadian Operating Officer Robert Blakely said in Ottawa today: "Our membership, half a million strong across the country, are looking forward to these projects and getting to work. Canada's economy is founded on major industrial projects like pipelines. Middle class Canada needs foundational support in order to assist in the energy transition process. These two pipelines will create more certainty for apprentices and journey persons alike"

CBTU notes that both projects require certain binding conditions in order to proceed. Our members will engage with the proponents to assist in any way possible. Blakely added "CBTU members live and work in the communities where these pipelines will operate. The workforce shares responsibility for long term environmental progress in Canada - we will do the right thing by our fellow citizens in this regard."

Canada's Building Trades Unions is an alliance of 15 building and construction unions that represent a membership of more than 500,000 skilled tradespeople across Canada.

SOURCE Building & Construction Trades Department, AFL-CIO

Christopher Smillie, Sr. Advisor for Government Relations and Public Affairs, CBTU, at [phone], Cell at 613-620-0653 or [email protected]