Budget 2026: Building Canada Requires Canada's Skilled Tradespeople

OTTAWA, ON, Nov. 5, 2026 /CNW/ -- Canada's Building Trades Unions (CBTU) welcomes the federal government's investments in infrastructure, housing, energy, and major projects in Budget 2026. These investments represent an important opportunity to build Canada's economy, strengthen energy security, and create good-paying, unionized jobs with lasting benefits for Canadian workers and their families. Delivering on that ambition will depend on having the skilled tradespeople to get the work done. 

 "The federal government plans to invest more than $400 billion in capital investment over the next five years. That's an enormous undertaking, and Canada's ambitions for major projects, energy security, and economic growth depend on having the skilled tradespeople to deliver them. Our members have the skills and experience to get the job done," said CBTU Executive Director Sean W. Strickland.

CBTU welcomes the Budget's focus on strengthening Canada's electricity system, building more homes, supporting major projects, and developing domestic supply chains. CBTU also welcomes the extension of the Clean Technology and Clean Electricity investment tax credits to 2040.

The federal government's Team Canada Strong commitment to the skilled trades, announced in the spring, was an important step toward recruiting, training, and hiring more Red Seal workers. It builds on investments in union training, apprenticeship opportunities, and support for workers entering the trades.

Getting these projects built and creating good-paying, family-supporting, unionized jobs requires bringing governments, industry, and labour together to make sure workers are where they're needed, when they're needed. Budget 2026 builds on the investments and announcements already made, and the focus now needs to be on turning those commitments into real opportunities for Canadian workers and their families.

Our 500,000 members are ready to build Canada's future.

About CBTU
Canada's Building Trades Unions are an organization representing 14 international unions in the construction, maintenance and fabrication industries that collectively represent 500,000 skilled trades workers in Canada who work in more than 60 different trades and occupations and generate seven per cent of Canada's GDP. CBTU's mission is to advocate for public policy and work opportunities that benefit our members and improves the living and working conditions for construction workers across Canada. Learn more at www.buildingtrades.ca

SOURCE Canada's Building Trades Unions

Jennifer White, Senior Communications Advisor, [email protected], 613-818-7776