Constructive Thinking

There's been a lot said about mental health and wellness in the construction industry - but what about financial wellness? How do the two relate? What steps can be taken to improve both, and foster a more productive, engaged workforce?Listen now as Kevin McCarthy, Head of Corporations and Institutions at Enriched Academy, and PCA's Vice President, Ontario, Karen Renkema, discuss these important questions. 

B.C. says it wants to build more infrastructure and spend taxpayer dollars wisely. So why is it still using procurement rules that shut out so many qualified contractors and workers? In this episode, Darrel Reid sits down with PCA’s B.C. Regional Director, Dan Baxter, to talk about the province’s Community Benefits Agreement (CBA) regime, the new private member’s bill from MLA Kiel Giddens and the bigger fight over fair and open procurement in British Columbia. They discuss what these policies mean for competition, labour choice, project costs and the people trying to get more infrastructure built in a province that badly needs it.

Ontario’s 2026 Budget maintains a large infrastructure spend, while delaying the plans to get back in the black.  Featuring PCA’s Stephen Hamilton and Sam Duncan, Vice President, at Wellington Advocacy discussing A Plan to Protect Ontario - Ontario’s recent budget.

PCA President & CEO, Paul de Jong, speaks with Hugh Secord, Chief Strategist with Oakbridges Labour Relations Strategies. Their discussion includes the issues of labour supply in Canada, the nature and function of the unionized labour market and competition issues with Ontario's Electrical Power Systems Corporation Association (EPSCA). 

Paul de Jong, PCA's President & CEO, chats with Wayne Prins, Executive Director of the CLAC union. The discussion covers the history of the union, policy priorities, workforce development innovation and concerns with competition in the construction sector.

PCA’s President & CEO, Paul de Jong, speaks with Marco Navarro-Genie of the Haultain Research Institute. Their conversation covers the opportunities and challenges presented by Prime Minister Carney’s nation building strategy, the impacts of recent events between the USA and Venezuela and the challenges present with jurisdictions in Canada which are restricting the movement of workers across labour models.

A discussion on prompt payment, adjudication and how the construction industry should adapt to changing payment requirements across Canada, featuring PCA’s Stephen Hamilton and Rocco Ruso, Principal and Founder of RAR Litigation.

PCA staff discuss the Association’s response to the Ontario Government consultation linking apprenticeship requirements to public procurement. They argue that the proposal will increase costs, limit competition and won’t address the root causes that slow down apprenticeship completion.

Darrel Reid, VP of Public Affairs at PCA, sits down with The Honourable Preston Manning to unpack the new Alberta–Ottawa MOU agreement, ask how much of it will really get built, and explore what it all means for Western Canada’s builders — from the boardroom to the jobsite. Along the way, Preston shares his perspective on Western Canada’s place in Confederation, the rise of bottom-up populism, and how those forces will shape major projects, politics, and careers in the years ahead.

PCA President & CEO Paul de Jong chats with Ontario VP Karen Renkema, about how far our national association has come, and what’s ahead.

Stephen Hamilton, PCA’s Director of Public Affairs Ontario, speaks with Renze Nauta, Program Director for Work and Economics at the Cardus think tank, about why the Ontario government should be wary of Project Labour Agreements. 

Mike McDonald, co-host of the leading B.C. political podcast, Hotel Pacifico, chats with Dan Baxter, PCA’s Regional Director, B.C., about pipeline politics in Western Canada.

Stephen Hamilton, PCA’s Director of Ontario Public Affairs, speaks with Sam Duncan, VP at Wellington Advocacy, about Ontario’s Fall Economic Statement, the Federal Budget and its impact on Ontario, and what to expect at Queen’s Park in the near term.

PCA President & CEO Paul de Jong speaks with Tim McMillan, the Founding Partner of Garrison Strategy, about a range of topics including Canada’s nation building strategy.

PCA Vice President Darrel Reid talks about Alberta’s new pipeline initiative, and what it means for workers, indigenous partnerships, and Canada’s economic future. Guest hosted by Peter Csillag, VP of Wellington Advocacy.

Alex Knight, PCA’s Manager, Corporate Communications, has a conversation with Tara Hoffmier about Women Building Futures’ impact on the progressive construction industry and the importance of psychologically safe workplaces.

Stephen Hamilton, PCA’s Director of Public Affairs, Ontario speaks with Keith Burkhardt, one of Canada’s leading labour lawyers about Project Labour Agreements.

Paul de Jong, PCA’s President & CEO, speaks with Stewart Muir, President & CEO of Resource Works, about the challenges ahead for our resource industry. 

Dan Baxter, PCA’s Regional Director BC, inconversation with Ryan Bruce, Government Relations Director at CLAC.

Paul de Jong, PCA’s President & CEO, continues his conversation with Lindsay Langill, Dean of the School of Technology and Trades at Thompson Rivers University about improving Canada’s apprenticeship system. 

Paul de Jong, PCA’s President & CEO, speaks with Lindsay Langill, Dean of the School of Technology and Trades at Thompson Rivers University about a variety of topics including parity of esteem for the skilled trades.

A conversation with Steven Crombie, Senior Director of Public Affairs at the Ontario Road Builders Association.  We discuss the recent Ontario Budget, procurement issues, and what his organization is doing to address skills shortages.

A conversation with CLAC about their new Apprenticeship Group Sponsorship Program in Ontario and how innovative approaches to apprenticeship can improve completion rates and make it easier for companies of all sizes to get more active in apprenticeship.  For more information on the program, contact Colin [email protected] or [email protected]

Stephen Hamilton, the Director of Public Affairs for PCA Ontario, Interviews Sam Duncan. Sam is Vice President at Wellington Advocacy.