Canadian building trades conference focuses on economy

Event draws Boilermakers from across Canada

“WE BUILD THIS country, and our views and issues deserve to be heard at every level of government,” IVP Joe Maloney said in his opening remarks to the 2010 Canadian Building and Construction Trades Department policy conference, held in the nation’s capital city of Ottawa, Ontario, May 10-13. Maloney, who is chairman of the Canadian BCTD Executive Council, added, “Our work and our sacrifices have earned us that respect.”

The event’s theme was: “Take it back: winning in today’s economy.” The conference drew union leaders from across Canada, including more than two-dozen Boilermakers. Its purpose was to define issues that are vital to the Canadian trades and lobby legislators for support. Officials from the Canadian Ministry, members of Parliament and provincial governments, and industry representatives also attended.

Keynote speaker retired General Rick Hillier spoke about “the power of one,” a reference to individuals he has met during his military career who overcame personal difficulties to make a difference. Hillier held Canada’s top military position as chief of the defense staff before his retirement in 2008 and commanded the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force in Kabul, Afghanistan, in 2004.

Also addressing the conference were Mark Ayers, president of the Building and Construction Trades Department; Robert Blakely, director of Canadian affairs for the building trades; Keith Ashfield, minister of national revenue; Lisa Raitt, federal minister of labour; Mark Sherman, refinery general manager for Irving Oil; Valerie Keyes, executive director for the Canadian Forces Liaison Council; Pat Martin, New Democratic Party (NDP) member of Parliament, Winnipeg; Chris Charlton, NDP member of Parliament, Hamilton; Ron Genereux, Suncor Energy Services; Don Areneault, New Brunswick minister of labour and deputy premier; and Michael Ignatieff, leader of the Official Opposition.

Delegates debated and voted on 20 resolutions, among them the creation of a value construction program for each political jurisdiction in Canada, the construction of a workers’ memorial, and a ban on asbestos.

During the conference, many delegates, including Boilermakers, met with government and opposition members of Parliament to discuss legislative concerns such as infrastructure development, the interprovincial Red Seal program (a skills certification for construction industry workers), and tax fairness for construction workers traveling long distances for employment.

IVP Maloney met with Prime Minister Stephen Harper to voice support for a change to the Income Tax Act that would allow construction workers to write off their travel and living expenses when they leave their principal residences to work on a temporary basis.

Attending the conference from the Boilermakers union were IVP Maloney, IVP Ed Power, Jim Tinney, AIP/AD-CSO-Canada/D-QCC-Canada; Canadian National Training Director Grant Jacobs; AIP-CSO Cory Channon; Canadian National Director, Health & Safety Jason McInnis; International Reps Richard MacIntosh, Kent Oliver, Stan Petronski, Norm Ross, and Guy Villemure; BM-ST Jim Watson, L-128 (Toronto, Ontario); BM-ST Warren Fraleigh, L-146 (Edmonton, Alberta); BM-ST Michel Trépanier, L-271 (Montreal, Quebec); BM-ST Phil Halley, L-359 (Vancouver, British Columbia); President Jim Quinn, L-451 (Flin Flon, Manitoba); President Curt Nessett, L-532 (Regina, Saskatchewan); BM-ST Dallas Rogers, L-555 (Winnipeg, Manitoba); Elaine Jackson, assistant to IVP Maloney; L-73 (Halifax, Nova Scotia) Business Reps Kim Blyth and Derrick Carey; L-128 Business Rep Kyle Groulx; L-128 Training Coordinator Scott McMahon; L-146 Business Reps Ward Wagner and Arnie Stadnick; L-451 Sec.-Treas. Elian MacDonald; and L-532 Sec.-Treas. Len Brodner.

Also attending was MOST Boilermaker Delivery System (BDS) Program Manager Jayne Clemance.