CLRA is pleased to announce that our President, Joe McFadyen, was recently granted a position on the Alberta Board of Skilled Trades by Minister of Advanced Education Rajan Sawhney. We are honoured and excited to have the opportunity to contribute to this board’s vital work over the next three years. We have played a crucial role in guiding Alberta’s unionized construction employers through labour negotiations for over 50 years, uniting contractors, owners, and skilled tradespeople to strengthen local and provincial economies. Whether by ensuring our presence on boards like ABST, or promoting education resources to prospective tradespeople through our new campaign, we are dedicated to advancing the skilled trades in this province. Learn more about the Alberta Board of Skilled Trades here. Check out the other members of ABST here.

Yesterday, Linde announced its plans to build a $2-billion clean hydrogen and atmospheric gases facility in Fort Saskatchewan’s Industrial Heartland. This first-of-its-kind facility will be a key player in Dow’s Path2Zero Project, an ambitious initiative aimed at achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Alberta remains at the forefront of hydrogen production and clean energy technology, with this latest news building on other significant announcements made late last year. In its first phase, Linde will supply clean hydrogen, nitrogen, and other essential services to support Dow’s pioneering net-zero emissions integrated ethylene cracker and derivatives site. The complex will also provide clean hydrogen to both existing and new industrial clients aiming to reduce their carbon footprint. It is expected to capture and sequester over 2 million metric tons of carbon annually. Notably for CLRA and its members, this facility will generate 750 temporary jobs and 60 permanent positions in the construction industry. Linde’s investment builds on Alberta’s efforts with the Carbon Capture Utilization and Storage (CCUS) Hub and the Alberta Petroleum Incentive Program (APIP) by driving thousands of jobs and billions in investment – all while reducing greenhouse gas emissions. When completed in 2028, Linde’s new complex will stand as Canada’s

CLRA is excited to share the launch of our newest social media campaign this week, which is dedicated to showcasing career, education, and training opportunities in the skilled trades for groups that are statistically underrepresented in the construction industry. This includes women, newcomers to Canada, Indigenous peoples, veterans, and those with disabilities. Our goal with this campaign is to challenge misconceptions and remove barriers that have traditionally prevented diverse individuals from exploring and excelling in the trades. By featuring success stories, providing targeted, valuable resources, and sharing available supports, we aim to make the trades more accessible and attractive to a broader audience. Given Alberta’s unprecedented population growth and the continual labour shortage, the need to advocate for trades careers has never been greater. The campaign will primarily run on X (formerly Twitter), LinkedIn, and Instagram. We invite you to explore our new web page and follow our social media channels for weekly updates. We also encourage you to share our posts to help us reach a wider audience. CLRA believes that by fostering a diverse, inclusive, and equitable environment, the skilled trades can benefit from a richer pool of talent and fresh perspectives. This campaign is not just about