New From the BTA June!

The BTA represents Alberta’s Building Trades – so you can keep doing the work you were trained to do, on projects that will build Alberta’s future.

This month, we met with owners, contractors, government leaders, and industry partners.

The goal: get more work for Building Trades members, set the standard, and make sure union trades are part of the plan before decisions are made. 
 

1. Building Trades visit Borouge International’s Joffre Site 

BTA, GPMC-NMC, and Building Trades representatives visited the Borouge International Joffre Site on June 4 to discuss future opportunities for union trades. 

BTA Chair Rod McKay, BTA Executive Director Terry Parker, and GPMC-NMC Executive Director Brett McKenzie joined Shutdown Turnaround Leader Marc Wahl and his team to see the E1 shutdown turnaround firsthand.

Building Trades unions are performing 65% of the current work – the goal is to grow that share on future projects. 

What this means for members: BTA and its affiliates are working directly with industry to secure more work for union tradespeople on major industrial sites in Alberta. 
 

2. Terry Parker represents Building Trades workers before Parliament 

BTA Executive Director Terry Parker appeared before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration as part of its study on attracting and empowering global talent to strengthen Canada’s economy. 

Parker used the appearance to reinforce BTA’s position: Canada needs a serious skilled trades workforce strategy. That means investing in apprenticeship training, protecting good union jobs, and ensuring immigration programs are not misused to undercut Canadian workers or weaken labour standards. 

What this means for members: BTA is making sure Alberta’s unionized skilled trades are heard in Ottawa as federal decision-makers shape immigration, training, and workforce policy for the construction industry.  

Immigration programs should never undercut Alberta worker

3. Canada-Alberta Pipeline and Carbon Infrastructure Agreement points to major work ahead – and major job gains 

BTA welcomed the announcement from Prime Minister Mark Carney and Premier Danielle Smith on a new Canada-Alberta agreement to advance pipelines, carbon capture, electricity infrastructure, and other energy projects. 

Following the announcement, Prime Minister Carney visited the UA Local 496 training centre, where he met with apprentices, instructors, and industry leaders. The visit highlighted what Building Trades members know: major projects can’t ‘go’ without a highly trained workforce. 

What this means for members: Pipeline development, carbon capture, grid expansion, and new power demand from AI and data centres all point to major opportunities for Alberta’s skilled trades. BTA will keep working to ensure those opportunities become family-supporting union jobs, strong apprenticeship pathways, and long-term careers. 
 

4. Building Trades join Energy for a Secure Future discussions in Edmonton 

Alberta’s energy future will require major infrastructure – and skilled union tradespeople to build it. 

Members of IBEW Local 424 and BTA joined the Energy for a Secure Future Municipal Energy Dialogue in Edmonton. Discussions focused on how Alberta can meet its rising energy needs. Energy security, electricity growth, and the rise of AI data centres mean Alberta’s future will go beyond traditional oil and gas and will require major new power and infrastructure projects. 

Those projects must be built safely, efficiently, and to the highest standard. 

What this means for members: BTA is making sure union workers are part of the conversations shaping Alberta’s energy economy. As Canada expands domestic electricity production, strengthens energy security, and attracts new investment, projects must create lasting benefits for members, families, and communities. 

5. BTA brings members’ priorities to the Western Premiers’ Conference 

BTA Executive Director Terry Parker met with Premier Danielle Smith and members of her cabinet to discuss workforce planning, apprenticeship training, and making sure Albertans are first in line for skilled trades jobs when major projects break ground. 

BTA also connected with key industry partners, including Warren Singh of the Alberta Construction Association, Terrance McKibbon of Bird Construction, Terry Milot of Chemco, and Ross Undershute of OpenCircle. 

What this means for members: Big decisions are being made about major projects, energy infrastructure, economic corridors, and construction workforce planning. BTA is at the table to make sure unionized skilled trades workers are part of these decisions from the start.

6. BTA Strategic Engagement & Development Director Rob Calver represents Building Trades members at workforce development panel 

Rob Calver participated in a workforce development panel at the Construction Innovation Centre Forum – joining experts from Alberta Jobs, Economy and Trade, the University of Alberta, and the University of Calgary. 

Discussion focused on workforce development plans that keep unionized building trades members at centre – and how labour, industry, and government can work together to build the skilled trades workforce Alberta needs. 

What this means for members: BTA is making sure union trades are part of every workforce development conversation – from apprenticeship training to industry partnerships.