At the federal, local, and provincial levels, Community Benefit Agreements are gaining traction in government as a way to solve social issues.

Provincially, the government announced on July 16, 2018, a new Community Benefits Agreement that is a loosely disguised Project Labour Agreement. The first projects to be delivered under the framework are the new Pattullo Bridge and the four-laning projects on the Trans-Canada Highway between Kamloops and Alberta. Read our CBA 101.

BCCA’s position on Community Benefit Agreements is clear: we strongly oppose any procurement practice or program that seeks to confer exclusive bidding rights to companies based upon any system of quotas or legislated wages within the province. We advocate for a transparent procurement strategy in the public tendering process that allows for fair competition. Read our policies.

Read BCCA’s responses to the Community Benefits Agreement and Pattullo Bridge announcements:

• Pattullo Procurement Strategy Takes BC Construction a Bridge Too Far
• Response to the Province’s Community Benefits Agreement Announcement
• BCCA does not support Premier Horgan’s new Community Benefits Agreement

BCCA is working with our counterparts at the national and local levels to educate MPs on the risks of this approach.

In Fall 2018 BCCA met with regional members to share opinions on the potential impacts of the BC CBA. The presentation is available for viewing and includes remarks from the discussions and in-room polling results. Although most contractors feel very strongly that the CBA is not going to be productive for BC, BCCA is preparing policy recommendations intended to achieve desirable outcomes for the stated goals of local, non-traditional hiring and timely, on-budget public sector projects.

Read the BCCA Community Benefits Agreement Town Hall Summary.