ACA Stands Ready to Build Schools

Alberta Construction Association (ACA) are pleased to see the Alberta government announcement that they will be boosting spending on school construction by $6.5 billion in capital funding, during Premier Danielle Smith’s address to Alberta last night. This funding will go towards the School Construction Accelerator Program boosting Alberta’s three-year capital spending to $8.6 billion.

This investment, as the Premier pointed out, is urgently needed and we feel strongly that it will reduce the pressure on student spaces while continuing to allow Alberta’s construction industry to grow. ACA continues to work with the province and stand ready to help realize these projects. Over the years we have built Edmonton’s LRT network, Calgary’s ring road, supported reconstruction in Jasper and numerous projects across the province from Fort McMurray to Lethbridge and everywhere in between. And more is needed to meet growing population demands and continue to grow our economy.

While we are ready work to get things done, we feel it is important to develop our skilled labour force through workforce development programming. Our labour force pressures continue to be a concern with aging skilled workers who are increasingly reaching retirement age. We are currently on pace to have 22,000 positions to fill over the coming 9 years and no one to fill those jobs. Increasing apprenticeship spaces and developing more opportunities to enhance our training and labour demands across the sector are needed.

“Continued investment in Workforce programs will help construction meet this demand as the industry builds the schools and other vital infrastructure across the province. We look forward to having more conversation and collaboration with the government and the industry to achieve these goals. This announcement will be a significant benefit to the province and the construction industry stands ready to work with the government in completing these projects,” said Jason Portas, Board Chair of the Alberta Construction Association.

The Alberta Construction Association (ACA) represents the collective voice for Alberta’s construction industry. ACA is comprised of 3000+ member companies involved in institutional, commercial and industrial sectors that include general contractors, trade contractors, and manufacturers and suppliers. We work in partnership with 8 local construction associations and 10 associate members from across the province, as well as provincial and national counterparts.

For more information, please contact policy@albertaconstruction.net.