On March 5, 2026, Kiel Giddens, MLA for Prince George – Mackenzie and Critic for Labour, introduced the Construction Projects Procurement Act, a Private Member’s Bill aimed at restoring fair and open procurement on public construction projects in British Columbia.

BCCA has a long history of advocating for fair and open public procurement. Publicly funded infrastructure projects should be accessible to all qualified participants in the construction sector, regardless of labour affiliation. At a time when BC is facing significant skilled labour shortages, it is especially important that governments do not limit who can participate in building critical public infrastructure.

Competitive and transparent procurement helps maximize participation across the construction workforce and deliver better value for taxpayers. We support initiatives that strengthen fair and open tendering and ensure that public projects are awarded based on merit, safety, and the ability to deliver value for taxpayers.

Modernizing public procurement remains a key priority for BCCA as we continue to advocate for fair, open, and competitive processes that support BC’s construction industry.

Click here to learn more about our ongoing advocacy on behalf of BC’s construction industry.

BC’s construction sector welcomes the move to permanent daylight saving time. Stability and predictability matter in our industry. Eliminating the twice-yearly clock change removes an unnecessary disruption that can affect productivity and safety during those transition weeks.

However, construction often operates on daylight-driven schedules, and safety is our top priority. Permanent daylight saving time will mean darker mornings during the winter months, and many crews start work early in the day when visibility is most important. Operating heavy equipment, working at heights, and managing active jobsites requires full alertness and strong visibility conditions.

While we support the consistency this change brings, it will be important for industry to plan carefully for winter operations including lighting, scheduling, and other safety protocols. With proper preparation and a safety-first approach, BC’s construction sector will adapt to permanent daylight saving time while protecting workers, and delivering projects safely across British Columbia.

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VICTORIA, BC (FEBRUARY 17, 2026) — As British Columbia navigates a challenging fiscal environment, the British Columbia Construction Association (BCCA) is pleased to see continued commitment to capital spending on critical infrastructure. BC’s construction industry will play a pivotal role in delivering the projects enabled by this funding and advancing major projects that will position BC as a leader on national and international stages.

“Stable, predictable funding for construction and infrastructure contributes directly to economic resilience and job creation, keeping British Columbians housed, healthy, and connected to their communities,” said Chris Atchison, President of the BCCA. “The emphasis on construction and infrastructure development in this Budget validates the critical economic and social importance of our industry.”

British Columbia, alongside the rest of Canada, is facing unprecedented uncertainty driven by ongoing trade disputes and geopolitical pressures. In this volatile environment, project delays pose a growing risk to economic stability, workforce continuity, and the timely delivery of critical infrastructure. To safeguard the province’s economy and maintain momentum, the BC government must continue to recognize and support the construction industry’s central role in keeping projects on track and communities growing.

“Doubling investment in trades training through SkilledTradesBC, streamlining permitting, and establishing the Strategic Investments Special Account are the kind of measures our industry needs to achieve critical goals,” emphasized Atchison, “While Budget 2026 features meaningful commitments to construction, we urge the provincial government to avoid unnecessary delays on key projects such as hospitals and healthcare facilities and continue to push for progress on infrastructure development.”

As the voice for BC’s construction industry, BCCA will continue its advocacy to the provincial government to ensure the sector has the workforce, tools, and regulatory environment required to get projects built. BCCA remains firm in our position that a strong, sustainable province and economy are only made possible by a strong, sustainable construction sector.

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About BCCA:
About BCCA: The British Columbia Construction Association (BCCA) is a non-partisan and non-profit organization, working with four Regional Construction Associations (NRCA, SICA, VICA and VRCA) to serve more than 10,000 employers in the province’s industrial, commercial, institutional, and residential multi-unit (ICIR) construction industry regardless of labour affiliation. BCCA advocates on behalf of all employers to ensure British Columbia’s construction sector remains productive and resilient.

For more information about BCCA, visit: bccassn.com

Media Contact:
Sajjid Lakhani
[email protected]
778-387-4647

The B.C. Budget is just around the corner, and it could have serious implications for our province’s construction industry. With the Minister of Finance expected to introduce significant spending reductions, the British Columbia Construction Association (BCCA) is calling on the provincial government to recognize the essential role the construction sector plays in economic stability, community resilience, and the delivery of critical infrastructure. Strategic support now will determine whether B.C. can keep pace with its housing and infrastructure commitments in the years ahead.

Construction remains one of the province’s largest employers and a cornerstone of economic activity, yet the sector continues to grapple with persistent labour shortages, rising project demands, and tightening financial pressures. Any contraction in capital investment risks slowing project delivery, compromising workforce recruitment and retention, and placing additional strain on small and medium‑sized businesses across the province.

“Government decisions must reflect the realities facing our communities,” said Chris Atchison, President of the BCCA. “Cuts to capital spending for construction will ripple through the entire economy, jeopardizing businesses, jobs, and the projects that British Columbians rely on.”

BCCA urges the province to maintain consistent investment in construction – this is fundamental to a healthy economy. Predictable funding enables contractors to plan effectively, hire apprentices, and sustain the workforce needed to deliver housing, transportation, health, public and private commercial projects. Targeted investments in training, recruitment, and apprenticeship pathways are essential to address ongoing skilled labour shortages and ensure B.C. can meet growing infrastructure and housing demands.

As the province navigates fiscal pressures, supporting the construction industry is not a cost: it is a commitment to B.C.’s economic resilience, housing supply, and long‑term prosperity. The BCCA urges government to ensure the upcoming budget reflects the importance of a strong, stable construction sector for all British Columbians.

This Red Tape Awareness Week, BC’s construction industry reaffirms its support for strategies and initiatives that reduce red tape and regulatory hurdles, which slow down project approvals and delay critical construction.

Red Tape Awareness Week is led by the Canadian Federation of Independent Business and aims to shed light “on the confusing rules and regulations, administrative obstacles, excessive paper burden, and poor customer service Canadians face every day from all levels of government.” The construction sector is impacted heavily by excessive red tape, from slow approval timelines to excessive documentation to inconsistent rules to complex, non-standardized contracts. These don’t make construction safer or more efficient; it makes it slower and more expensive, especially for small and medium-sized businesses.

BCCA continues to advocate for the reduction of red tape in BC’s construction industry. Regulatory changes developed and implemented in consultation with industry are critical to ensuring BC can accelerate development, attract investment, and grow the economy, all while supporting businesses across the province. Streamlining regulations isn’t about cutting corners; it’s about cutting confusion. When we reduce unnecessary regulatory burden, we boost productivity, get homes built faster, and create an environment where the construction industry can focus on what it does best: building the communities BC needs.

Let’s build a better BC by building smarter regulations.

As the BC Legislature wraps up the final week of the Fall session, BCCA is very pleased to see Bill 20 receive Royal Assent and officially become the Construction Prompt Payment Act, SBC 2025, c 24. This marks a significant milestone for BC’s construction sector.

This achievement reflects decades of consistent, principled advocacy and represents real progress toward a payment system that is fairer, more predictable, and more sustainable across the entire construction sector and the infrastructure and housing it delivers province wide. With this step, BC joins other Canadian jurisdictions in establishing a modern prompt payment framework. It is a significant step forward, but the work does not end here. The effectiveness of the Construction Prompt Payment Act will depend on clear, practical regulations that reflect the realities of the industry, and BCCA will continue working closely with government to ensure the next phase advances promptly and with meaningful input from industry.

To learn more about prompt payment, visit our dedicated prompt payment page.

The BCCA welcomes the federal government’s investments into construction and infrastructure in Budget 2025.

The budget includes increasing Canada Infrastructure Bank funding by $10 billion and funding the new Major Projects Office to the tune of $213.8 million over 5 years.

The BCCA also supports the government’s investment into the construction workforce, with $97 million invested over five years to establish the Foreign Credential Recognition Action Fund to improve foreign credential recognition, focusing on the construction sector.

These are important investments into the construction industry that will allow us to strengthen the resiliency of our industry and our nation’s infrastructure.

BCCA’s partner, the Canadian Construction Association (CCA), put out a news release today in reaction to the budget which you can read here.