PCA applauds federal government for continued commitment to skilled trades and small business in Budget 2015

OTTAWA, April 21, 2015 /CNW/ - The Progressive Contractors Association of Canada (PCA) today welcomed the federal government's continued commitment to the skilled trades sector in Economic Action Plan (EAP) 2015. EAP 2015 includes several initiatives that will strengthen Canada's skilled trades training system, support small businesses, and create jobs in Canada's construction industry and across the economy.

"Today's budget strikes an appropriate balance between fiscal responsibility and continued investment in the skilled trades, resources industry, manufacturing and other sectors at the heart of Canada's economy," said PCA President Paul de Jong. "The federal government clearly recognizes that investments to improve labour mobility and better align skills training with employer needs are important ingredients for a strong economy."

PCA member companies and their employees will benefit from a number of specific measures announced in EAP 2015, including:

• Several initiatives to better support and encourage the mobility of Canadian workers
• Reducing the small business tax rate from 11 percent to 9 percent by 2019
• Extending support for harmonization of provincial and territorial apprenticeship training and certification requirements
• Investing $65 million over four years to help business and industry associations work with post-secondary institutions to better align curricula with employer needs
• Retooling federal-provincial Labour Market Development Agreements to enhance employer engagement and better align training to market needs
• Supporting further responsible development of Canada's Liquefied Natural Gas and mining industries  

"PCA members will welcome the substantial new tax relief for small businesses in today's federal budget," said PCA Federal and Ontario Vice President Sean Reid. "We look forward to working with the federal government to refine and strengthen these new initiatives."

About the Progressive Contractors Association of Canada (PCA)

PCA is the voice of progressive unionized employers in Canada's construction industry. PCA member companies employ more than 25,000 skilled construction workers across Canada, represented primarily by CLAC. PCA member companies are responsible for 40 percent of energy and natural resource construction projects in British Columbia and Alberta and are leaders in infrastructure construction across Canada.

PCA's goal is to ensure that Canada has a fair and open construction industry, cooperative labour relations, and a robust, inclusive and highly-capable workforce. PCA believes in open competition in which no sector is given artificial and unfair advantage over another on the basis of union affiliation or lack thereof.

SOURCE Progressive Contractors Association of Canada

Media inquiries: Sean Reid, [email protected], [phone]