Evidence of meeting #69 for Transport, Infrastructure and Communities in the 41st Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was union.
A video is available from Parliament.
5 p.m.
Conservative
Pierre Poilievre Conservative Nepean—Carleton, ON
You're asking us to ensure that federally funded projects allow for that kind of open competition.
5 p.m.
Conservative
Pierre Poilievre Conservative Nepean—Carleton, ON
How many jurisdictions in Canada ban union-free workers from doing transportation infrastructure work?
5 p.m.
Conservative
Pierre Poilievre Conservative Nepean—Carleton, ON
How many ban union-free employers from competing for contracts?
5 p.m.
President, Linden Concrete Forming
Quebec's Act Respecting Labour Relations, Vocational Training and Workforce Management in the Construction Industry makes it a requirement for all workers. There's no chance.
5 p.m.
Conservative
Pierre Poilievre Conservative Nepean—Carleton, ON
No, that wasn't the question.
There are outside of Quebec, Hamilton, I believe Toronto, a number of other jurisdictions where union-free businesses are banned from competing for construction projects. Can you tell me which ones that you're aware of?
5 p.m.
President, Merit Canada
I have a list in my submission. There are many cities in Ontario. It's also agency specific. Metrolinx used to be a closed shop. Now it appears to be opening up. TTC, of course, is still a closed shop. There are many, not just municipalities or levels of government, but also agencies. Canada Post tries every once in a while to put in a closed-tendering clause in some of the construction they have. PSAC does the same thing. It's an ever-moving target. It's a very political decision.
5 p.m.
Conservative
5 p.m.
Conservative
Pierre Poilievre Conservative Nepean—Carleton, ON
That would be good.
Finally, the federal government has committed to building a replacement for the Champlain Bridge. We can't override Quebec labour law. It's within Quebec's jurisdiction to legislate the way it has. Do you believe that the Champlain Bridge will be more expensive to taxpayers and toll payers because competition is banned for that construction project?
5 p.m.
President, Linden Concrete Forming
I believe so, because companies from other provinces and other places aren't allowed to bid. With all the workers being unionized, it will inevitably be more expensive.
5 p.m.
Conservative
Pierre Poilievre Conservative Nepean—Carleton, ON
In an ideal world, you're not saying unionized contractors should be banned from competing on that project. You would like them to have the opportunity. You're simply suggesting that union-free companies would have the same opportunity.
5 p.m.
President, Linden Concrete Forming
Precisely.
Imagine if we had rules preventing black people or women from working somewhere. There would be a clause to stop that. All we are asking for is a clause to prevent discrimination against non-unionized workers. It's not complicated. That automatically brings down the cost.
5 p.m.
Conservative
5 p.m.
Conservative
Jeff Watson Conservative Essex, ON
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you to our witnesses for appearing today. Some days it can feel a little like The Twilight Zone up here. Last week we had CUPE appearing on the issue of P3s and making the assertion that P3s significantly reduced the pool of bidders for contracts. They were making a recommendation that we instead should be increasing bidders for federal contracts. The opposition were defending that particular position against P3s for restricting the number of bidders. Here we are today, and the shoe is on the other foot.
You mentioned a political decision—I think that was the terminology you used—that certain municipalities have closed-shop requirements. I presume you're seeking for us to recommend a political decision to ensure the opposite occurs.
5:05 p.m.
President, Merit Canada
Well, ultimately, if the government decided that, it would be a decision of government.
5:05 p.m.
Conservative
Jeff Watson Conservative Essex, ON
I'd like to make an evidenced-based decision in that regard. In the evidence you presented to the committee today, you mentioned U.S. studies, and you suggested that closed-tendering rules increased the cost of construction between 12% and 18%. How many studies are you referring to? Can a list of those be provided to the committee?
5:05 p.m.
President, Merit Canada
I have already said that I would send all the.... Some of them are very long and in English only, but I'll send them over.
5:05 p.m.
Conservative
Jeff Watson Conservative Essex, ON
Fair enough.
The only Canadian study you refer to is a report from the City of Montreal. Are there any other Canadian studies? While I might appreciate American studies, contextually they're dealing with the United States and not with Canada.
5:05 p.m.
President, Merit Canada
Of course. There are many other international studies. I chose to reference one, but there's a similar—
5:05 p.m.
Conservative
5:05 p.m.
President, Merit Canada
There's a City of Hamilton report that I have here that I can table. There's a study from Cardus that I can table. I'm happy to do that.
