Canada's Building Trades Unions welcome decision to approve Northern Gateway

OTTAWA, June 17, 2014 /CNW/ - Canada's Building Trades Unions (CBTU) today welcomed the federal government's decision to approve the Northern Gateway Pipeline.  CBTU Chief Operating Officer, Bob Blakely called the decision an important step forward for the working women and men who build Canada's economy.

"The Northern Gateway Pipeline will generate thousands of jobs and billions of dollars in revenue for the Canadian economy," said Blakely.   "Our members take enormous pride in their work and have the skills to build Northern Gateway to the high environmental and safety standards all Canadians expect."

Canada's Building Trades Unions represent over a half a million Canadian construction workers in 14 different international unions who work in more than 60 different trades and occupations.

"The women and men who work in Canada's Building Trades Unions make up the best trained construction workforce anywhere in the world," said Blakely.  "We build Canada so that everyone can enjoy a strong economy and a good quality of life.  On major economic development projects like Northern Gateway, we know how to get the job done, and we know how to get right."

In April 2014, Canada's Building Trades signed a memorandum of understanding with Northern Gateway ensuring that highly trained union members would make a major contribution to building the project.   The MOU ensures that the Project Labour Agreements include guarantees consistent with Northern Gateway's commitments to high-quality workmanship and safety, environmental protection, and guarantees for Aboriginal employment and training.

"Working Canadians want a strong economy with good jobs and good paychecks and a clean environment to leave to their kids," said Blakely. "Northern Gateway meets that high standard.  It has been through the most rigorous environmental review of its kind in Canadian history and it will provide the kind of good jobs that keep communities strong. We live here and we aren't going to ruin the environment for the sake of a couple of pay cheques!!"

"That's why Canada's Building Trades welcome the federal government's decision and are proud to support Northern Gateway.  It's good for working people.  It's good for communities, but most of all it is good for Canada."

SOURCE: Canada's Building Trades Unions (CBTU)

Bob Blakely, Chief Operating Officer, 613-236-0653 ex. 22, [email protected]