Canada cannot control trade decisions made in Washington, but it can decide how it responds. As new U.S. tariffs add pressure to the economy, governments across the country are placing greater emphasis on strengthening economic resilience, improving energy security and expanding domestic infrastructure.
Recent proposals for a new pipeline on Canada’s West Coast and another connecting Hardisty, Alberta, to Sarnia, Ontario, reflect that broader strategy. However, while much of the discussion has focused on investment and approvals, one critical issue remains: finding enough skilled workers to build these projects.
Major infrastructure developments require far more than financial backing. They depend on a highly trained workforce capable of delivering complex projects safely and efficiently. From engineers and surveyors to heavy equipment operators, welders, pipefitters, electricians, mechanics and environmental specialists, every stage of construction relies on skilled professionals working together.
Beyond the infrastructure itself, these projects also play a vital role in developing Canada’s future workforce. Large-scale construction sites provide valuable opportunities for apprentices to learn directly from experienced tradespeople, gaining not only technical expertise but also practical knowledge, problem-solving skills and a strong commitment to safety.
This transfer of experience has long been one of the construction industry’s greatest strengths. Skills developed on one project often become the foundation for future developments, allowing workers to carry their expertise from one major build to the next.
A recent example is the Trans Mountain Expansion Project, where contractors employing CLAC members completed approximately 852 kilometres of pipeline, representing about 71% of the project. Many of those same workers are now contributing to other major industrial developments, including Dow’s Path2Zero petrochemical complex in Fort Saskatchewan and the ongoing expansion of the Bethune potash mine in Saskatchewan.
Although the projects themselves differ, they share a common lesson: Canada’s most valuable infrastructure asset is not steel, concrete or machinery, but the skilled people capable of building and maintaining them.
Governments have already begun increasing support for workforce development. The federal government’s Team Canada Strong initiative includes up to $6 billion over five years to recruit, train and hire the next generation of skilled trades workers, while provincial governments continue investing in apprenticeship programs and skilled trades education.
Industry leaders argue, however, that public funding alone will not solve the challenge. Employers must continue investing in apprentices, unions and labour organizations need to support mentorship and long-term career development, and colleges and training providers must ensure graduates have the skills employers need.
Addressing labour shortages is only part of the objective. Building a larger skilled workforce is also essential if Canada wants to remain competitive while delivering future infrastructure projects in sectors such as energy, housing, manufacturing, mining, transportation and ports.
The construction industry also hopes to change perceptions around careers in the skilled trades. While many young Canadians are encouraged to pursue office-based professions, careers in construction offer the opportunity to design, build and maintain the infrastructure that supports the country’s economy.
Unlike many professions, skilled trades allow workers to look back decades later at a bridge, pipeline, manufacturing facility or mine and know they played a direct role in creating something that will serve future generations.
As Canada prepares for a new wave of nation-building, the success of those projects may ultimately depend less on investment dollars than on whether enough people choose to develop the skills needed to build them.
