Dear Members;
As we look ahead to a new year of opportunities for CLRA and its members, I want to recognize the commitments you have all made to advancing our industry over the past 12 months. The last year presented several challenges to our industry – including unprecedented labour pressures, an unpredictable economic landscape, and a dynamic policy and regulatory environment. Yet, despite this uncertainty, construction employers gracefully navigated the year with optimism – inspired in part, I hope, by the guidance and support of the CLRA, for which I’m honoured to now serve as Chair.
Much of that leadership can be attributed to the steady hand of Past Chair Shawn Campbell. Over this holiday season, I extended our association’s thanks to Shawn for his time, dedication and commitment to advancing the interests of Alberta’s unionized construction employers.
In this new year, I aim to build CLRA’s reputation for doing what’s right for workers and job creators, driving our economy forward. We have supported Alberta’s construction employers for over 50 years by staying true to the foundational value of trust. Our motto is to say what we mean, do what we say, and get results. I’m excited to get to work in further advancing our industry by building on this foundation.
Over the next several months, much of our association’s focus for that work will be advocacy with the provincial government and with other industry stakeholders. Politics in Alberta have changed dramatically and permanently over the last decade. As a result, we have work to do to raise awareness about CLRA with decision-makers and influencers in government.
We have important messages to deliver on your behalf about the value of the collective agreements we’ve signed with the skilled trade unions, about the value CLRA offers to government efforts to attract investment and workers to Alberta, about the need for more predictable and stable investments in the construction industry, trades education and workforce retention, about the impact of potential changes to labour legislation, workplace safety regulations and building codes, and about the need to attract and recruit more people to our industry from underrepresented groups including women, LGBTQ2S+ and Indigenous people.
As Chair, my only ask of our members this year is to support these efforts.
Share your stories with us and your provincial government MLAs about the value your organization brings to our economy and the help you need to ensure that value is protected in the years to come. Help ensure stakeholders know that CLRA’s comprehensive training and support programs reflect our experience and our track record of fast and effective problem-solving. Share your pride in our commitment to healthy and safe workers and workplaces and its positive impact on productivity and culture. Tell others that CLRA’s in-depth understanding of labour relations and construction trends helps us find creative contract solutions for employers.
Our board will take on the lion’s share of this work, but every bit helps, and many voices are more influential than few. Those who wish to help will be supported by the CLRA with new tools and tactics to help guide conversations and interactions that further the interests of our industry.
We have a short timeline to engage with the government and political parties before the election period, and we will report back to you regularly with updates. We already see encouraging signs and opportunities to build new relationships with the government in the future. And even after an election, there’s more advocacy work to be done.
The year ahead offers CLRA a unique opportunity to shape the policies and regulations that impact your business. No other employer group in Alberta has our experience helping create a productive, profitable, and sustainable construction sector.
This year, I aim to help CLRA be recognized as the most essential and influential labour voice of Alberta’s construction employers. I’m grateful for your support and wish you all a safe, prosperous and successful year ahead.
Sincerely;
Bonnie Smith
CLRA Board Chair
