The 69th Annual Ontario Building Trades Convention took place on October 15-16 in Ottawa, bringing together union leaders, industry stakeholders and government officials.
Business Manager Mike Gallagher led the Local 793 delegation in the capital, which included President Dave Turple, Vice President Mike Scott, Recording-Corresponding Secretary Steve Booze, Treasurer and OETIO Executive Director Rick Kerr, and Financial Secretary and Director of Health and Safety Brian Alexander.
During the conference, which was focused on worker safety, construction industry outlooks and ways to invest in skilled workers, Business Manager Gallagher addressed the board to emphasize that with a strong demand for labour and a shortage of workers, the priorities should be addressing Labour Board delays, improving health and safety, and retaining qualified workers in the building trades rather than asking workers to accept less.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford used the event to reiterate his government’s backing of the skilled trades, touting its $2.5-billion investment in the Skills Development Fund and ongoing support of apprenticeships, which it says has delivered 14,000 new registrations and 9,100 apprenticeship completions in 2026.
There was more good news for training providers such as the Operating Engineers Institute of Ontario (OETIO) and workers wanting to build a career in the trades, as Federal Secretary of State (Labour) John Zerucelli announced on Thursday more than $430 million over five years to expand union training facilities, modernize equipment and support apprenticeship programs.
