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ICBA Applauds Fair and Open Tendering Bill

The Independent Contractors and Businesses Association (ICBA), Canada’s largest construction association, is strongly endorsing a new Private Member’s Bill introduced in the BC Legislature that would require labour-neutral procurement on all public sector construction projects in British Columbia – and save taxpayers billions of dollars over the next decade.

The Public Sector Construction Projects Procurement Act was introduced today by Prince George-Mackenzie MLA Kiel Giddens. The Bill would prohibit government and crown corporations from issuing calls for construction that require building trades union-only labour or mandate that contractors enter into a specific collective agreement as a condition of bidding. It would also bar solicitations that require non-union-only labour, ensuring a genuinely fair, open and level playing field for all qualified workers and contractors.

The timing couldn’t be better. As MLA Giddens noted in his announcement of the bill, since the NDP union-only bidding on several public sector capital projects in 2018, BC’s record on major infrastructure delivery has badly deteriorated. Capital projects have gone $17.3 billion over budget. Delays now total 158 combined years. Average cost overruns sit at roughly 25 percent. And taxpayer-supported debt is projected to hit $189 billion by 2028–29 – with Debt-to-GDP expected to climb past 37 percent.

“With no end in sight to BC’s deficits and debt, the last thing we should be doing is driving up government costs by limiting the pool of qualified contractors and workers who can bid on public work,” said Chris Gardner, ICBA President and CEO, noting that less than 15% of construction workers in B.C. are affiliated with the building trades unions. “By freezing out workers who are not unionized, or are members of progressive unions or employee associations, the NDP Government is denying workers and contractors fair opportunities to bid and win work, wasting taxpayer dollars, and delaying the delivery of new infrastructure for the public when people need it.”

ICBA represents contractors who employ both union and non-union workers. At its core, the Bill mandates a level playing field. It simply says that government should award contracts based on merit: safety record, qualifications, experience, price, and the ability to get the job done. Not labour affiliation, not connections to insiders or ties to government.

“Public infrastructure belongs to everyone in this province – and so should the work building it,” said Gardner. “The opportunity should be open to every qualified contractor and every skilled worker who wants to contribute. That’s not a radical idea. And that’s what MLA Giddens’ Bill is about – a level playing field, fairness and opportunity.”

ICBA is calling on all Members of the Legislative Assembly to support the bill for full debate, a free vote, and approval.

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