January 9, 2026
I WAS PLEASED TO JOIN the Prime Minister in Edmonton earlier this fall when he announced that the first series of projects would be referred to the Major Project Office (MPO) for consideration. The MPO was created to streamline regulatory assessment to fast-track projects of national significance. British Columbia had two major projects announced on the list: LNG Canada Phase 2 and the Red Chris Mine expansion.
Brynn Bourke – Executive Director
The Prime Minister identified other projects he’s considering for B.C., including the North Coast Transmission Line, Ksi Lisims LNG, and the Roberts Bank Terminal 2 project.
There’s no doubt these projects bring economic benefits to B.C. and significant opportunities for our province. But, we can only fully realize that opportunity if there are meaningful measures in place to ensure local people are hired, that workers receive good-union wages, and that apprentices have pathways to work on these projects.
I have been reflecting on the past couple of months on what happens when we don’t put guardrails on these publicly-supported projects. As I write this, Stellantis is in the news after it was announced that it is closing its Brampton, Ontario, auto assembly plant and moving 3,000 jobs to the United States. This shock comes after the company received billions from the federal government for their electric vehicle battery plant in Windsor in 2023. That deal, coincidentally, was already being criticized for the hundreds of temporary foreign workers that were tied to the project.
We don’t have to look further than our own province for examples of projects gone wrong. HD Mining, an international mining company, sought to open a longwall coal mine in Tumbler Ridge and wanted to bypass Canadian workers to bring in several hundred foreign miners. BC Building
Trades unions intervened in the case to challenge the labour market opinions issued by the federal government.
Many Tradetalk readers will also remember the Canada Line case. Dozens of workers were brought in from Latin America to operate the Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM). It was discovered that many of them were being paid less than $4 Cdn. to run the equipment. BC Building Trades unions intervened in that case as well and were able to secure tens of thousands of dollars in back pay for the workers.
This issue of Tradetalk looks at the real impact of the underground economy. It also explores the connection with the Temporary Foreign Worker and International Mobility programs. I felt it was timely to bring these issues forward in light of all the talk about major projects.
We have a real opportunity to make these “nation-building” projects if we build them through Project Labour Agreements, prioritize hiring local workers and require opportunities for apprentices.
When I come to a table with the government or a project proponent to talk about these issues, I carry these hard lessons from HD Mining and the Canada Line with me.
I will never forget meeting one of the Canada Line workers from Latin America and hearing his story. He told me, “Every time I use the Canada Line, I see thousands of people. They don’t know who built it. We were hidden underground in the tunnel. I did the work, and I think — this is the place they ripped me off.”
We can do better.
By Brynn Bourke,
Executive Director