001-48_126_RENEW_SEPT-OCT26_PT - Flipbook - Page 12
SKILLED TRADES
REFRAMING THE TRADES
How one company aims to transform Canada’s skilled labour pipeline
by John Tenpenny
“The fundamental idea that construction
isn’t an attractive place to go to has been the
underlying issue, arguably for the last 20 years.”
ANADA STANDS at an unprecedented economic and industrial crossroads. Across the country, federal and provincial governments are
aligning behind an ambitious mandate to “build, baby, build”—
committing hundreds of billions of dollars toward critical infrastructure, healthcare facilities, national defense expansions, clean
energy installations, and next-generation data centres. Yet, behind
this historic surge in planned capital expenditure lies a looming threat that
could stall Canada’s economic growth: a severe, worsening shortage of
skilled labour.
C
John Tenpenny is the
editor of ReNew Canada.
john@SiteMediaGroup.com
12—RENEW CANADA – SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2026
CHRIS GOWER,
President and Chief
Executive Officer of
PCL Construction,
RENEWCANADA.NET
