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Cast your ballot with heart, mind and an eye to the future.

By: Tom Sigurdson, Executive Director, BC Building Trades

When it comes to elections, there’s only one way to ensure you On the campaign trail, Trudeau promised to repeal the anti-union
have a say, and that is by voting. legislation, and true to his word, he did. He also became the first
prime minister in more than 50 years to meet with the Canadian
So who will get your vote in October? In the 2015 federal election,
Labour Congress, which represents 3.3 million unionized
there was significant support for strategic voting, led by a
Canadian workers. In addition to meeting with the CLC, Trudeau
grassroots “Anyone But Harper” movement that saw scores of
has attended every Building Trades Legislative Conference since
people cast their ballots for the candidate with the best chance of
becoming prime minister.
defeating the Conservatives. Voters who traditionally supported
the Liberals, New Democrats and Greens were asked to consider Of organized labour, Trudeau has said, “We will always respect
betraying their party for the common goal of ousting the organized labour in the country. We will work with it and the
Conservatives. hundreds of thousands of Canadians it represents.”
Several groups backed the campaign, most notably the non-profit In April of this year, the federal Liberals also supported a private
Leadnow, which even recruited 2,000 volunteers to reach out to member’s bill from MP Ramesh Sangha that would authorize the
voters. Minister of Public Works to require an explanation of anticipated
community benefits when construction bids are submitted for
And this wasn’t the worst strategy, particularly for organized
federal infrastructure projects. The so-called Community Benefits
labour, which was facing the real threat of right-to-work legislation
Act would, in Sangha’s words, “provide for community
on the heels of two repugnant anti-union bills put forward by the
participation so they can achieve their fair share of the federal
Harper crew in 2013 and 2014. Specifically, bills C-377 and C-
government’s spending” and ensure “reliable growth and
525 were designed to weaken Canadian unions by forcing
meaningful employment.” Similar legislation had previously
redundant and unreasonable financial reporting of any
passed second reading and committee stage in the House but
expenditures over $5,000 and reducing the rights of workers in
had to be dropped from consideration when its sponsor, Ontario
federally regulated workplaces to unionize.
MP Ahmed Hussen, was named to Cabinet.
Those bills drew criticism from unexpected corners. Opponents
Sangha’s bill is currently making its way through the Senate. If
included Conservative and Liberal senators, Canada’s privacy
approved, it would give Minister of Public Services and
commissioner, the Canadian Bar Association, constitutional and
Procurement and Accessibility Carla Qualtrough the authority to
privacy experts, the insurance and mutual fund industry, and even
require government contractors to account for the community
the National Hockey League Players Association.
benefits they expect to deliver.
The Conservatives persevered, but so did the Anyone But Harper
The B.C. government has taken a more comprehensive approach
offensive, and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau ascended to the
to community benefits. B.C.’s Community Benefits Agreement
country’s top political post.
(CBA) framework, which was introduced last year, includes hiring
8 ~ E L E C T I O N 2 0 1 9 C A N A D I A N B U I L D I N G T R A D E S M A G A Z I N E