Canada’s Building Trades Unions Launch Indigenous Reconciliation Action Plan

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The Canada’s Building Trades Unions (CBTU) has introduced a new Indigenous Reconciliation Action Plan (IRAP) with commitments aimed at enhancing Indigenous representation in the workforce and fostering economic partnerships across the construction sector.

Canada’s Building Trades Unions (CBTU) has announced the launch of a comprehensive Indigenous Reconciliation Action Plan (IRAP), which encompasses 41 commitments designed to enhance the presence of Indigenous peoples in the workforce while fostering economic partnerships. This initiative was led by Lindsay Amundsen, the director of workforce development at CBTU, who emphasized that the plan's success will ultimately be gauged by one key outcome: increased engagement of Indigenous individuals within union organizations, the building trades community, and their subsequent career advancements. In a statement made following the plan's release on May 28, Amundsen remarked, "I think there’s a lot of ways we can measure success – how is engagement going? how are the programs running? But I think ultimately it’s very simple. We have more Indigenous people engaged in our organizations, and our union members, and building trades members, and thriving in their careers." Sean Strickland, the executive director of CBTU, highlighted the significance of this initiative, stating, "With unprecedented investment in infrastructure, we have a responsibility to ensure Indigenous engagement and partnership are embedded across every jobsite and community." Strickland referred to the IRAP as a "unified national voice" for the ongoing efforts. The IRAP is structured around four strategic pillars: participation; learning and engagement; economic reconciliation; and representation. The participation pillar aims to facilitate Indigenous entry into the trades via training pathways, outreach initiatives, and partnerships. Economic reconciliation focuses on enhancing Indigenous involvement in procurement processes and major project supply chains. The development of the IRAP was a collaborative effort with Mokwateh, an Indigenous-owned consultancy led by JP Gladu, who has a rich background in the resource sector and reconciliation consulting. The groundwork for CBTU’s reconciliation plan began in 2017, following the adoption of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s Call to Action number 92. The CBTU established a committee to discuss subsequent steps, which led to the creation of an allyship booklet and an Indigenous awareness training course. This course has already been attended by approximately 1,800 participants. In 2024, CBTU initiated a collaboration with the First Nations Power Authority to bolster Indigenous workforce and project development efforts. The IRAP was formulated as part of CBTU's commitment to assess their progress and understand the impact of their initiatives. Amundsen stated, "We needed a more formalized process, something that we could hold ourselves accountable to, and measurable actions year in, year out, to make sure that what we’re doing is working." The IRAP development process involved a thorough review of existing programs, along with multiple rounds of stakeholder interviews and workshops. Amundsen noted, "There’s a lot of people doing great work, and then there’s others that might be just hesitant and afraid of doing the wrong thing or saying the wrong thing. This is where we want to come in and help share best practices and show people some successful models, some successful programs at the local level." With the IRAP now officially launched, the next steps include establishing an Indigenous advisory committee and potentially appointing an Indigenous relations lead. Amundsen emphasized, "This is a four-year plan. It’s an evergreen document. We’re going to be working in consultation with the same people that we consulted throughout this process, and they identified gaps as well. We want to create networking groups and opportunities for Indigenous businesses and communities to engage with the building trades." The CBTU has identified gaps in procurement processes involving Indigenous businesses, organizations, and communities. Amundsen mentioned the possibility of creating a resource document akin to a union-made list for stakeholders to utilize. One of the commitments within the IRAP is the development and piloting of a national pre-employment "Workforce Ready" curriculum for aspiring Indigenous tradespeople, which is expected to be implemented by 2029. By 2028, the CBTU aims to provide resources to assist signatory contractors in outreach efforts directed toward Indigenous communities and contractors. Gladu, who serves on the First Nations Major Projects Coalition Advisory Centre, could not be reached for immediate comment. He has recently conducted a third-party Indigenous review of Domtar's new Global Indigenous Relations Policy and has shared insights on the importance of understanding community needs and perspectives, likening the process to examining a tree for suitability in forestry: "You have to take the time to ‘walk around the tree’ – to truly get to know the community and understand their needs, aspirations and perspectives. Companies shouldn’t assume they know what’s best for Indigenous communities. Instead, they need to spend time in the community, listen and learn."

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