October 7, 2008

Federal leaders’ election debate sidesteps construction industry issues

VINCE VERSACE

staff writer

Issues of infrastructure, immigration and skilled labour shortages received little to no airtime in the recent English language leaders’ debate — to no one’s surprise, says an industry official.

“Our general reaction is one of disappointment that the leaders’ debates, both French and English, failed to touch on such key issues as skilled labour shortages and infrastructure,” said Michael Atkinson, president of the Canadian Construction Asssociation (CCA).

“Although one can somewhat understand why, because the current events in the U.S. and their impact upon the Canadian economy, both present and future, tend to overshadow everything else.”

Prime Minister Stephen Harper spent most of the two hour debate responding to repeated attacks by the other federal party leaders. All party leaders, at some point during the debate, accused the prime minister of inaction concerning current Canadian economic concerns.

Harper argued that Canada’s economic fundamentals “are sound” compared to the U.S.

Jack Layton, leader of the NDP, delivered a pointed-attack at Harper over the lack of a defined Conservative platform and took a swipe at the prime minister’s sweater-vest worn in some campaign ads.

“You say you have a plan, where is it? Where’s your platform? Under the sweater?” asked Layton.

Stephane Dion spoke to his five-point economic plan which would be implemented within 30-days of being elected. Dion explained that his plan includes working with provincial and territorial leaders to “identify infrastructure projects and opportunities in the manufacturing sector” which would have the greatest potential to stimulate investment and create jobs.

However, on the issue of a skilled labour shortages experienced by construction, let alone other sectors in Canada, the debate never progressed further than the shortage of doctors and nurses or job losses.

“I dare say that it is almost as if none of the federal political parties see the current skills crisis as being a true crisis or concern beyond simply the healthcare sector or that they view it as a regional problem only,” said Atkinson. “All of the focus was on the loss of manufacturing and forestry jobs in Ontario and Quebec and yet many of those workers, with some retraining, would be welcome in the construction industry and at pay levels equal to or better than manufacturing.”

The concept of sustainable development was put forward most often by Gilles Duceppe, leader of the Bloc Quebecois. Both Elizabeth May, leader of the Green Party and Dion spoke of how carbon taxes in their respective platforms would help Canadians and bolster the nation’s economy.

Atkinson found the talk of green technologies and sustainable development interesting from a CCA perspective. Increased funding for colleges, better inter-provincial labour mobility and reforms to EI and tax systems all have a stake in those areas, he said.

“Who is going to build all of that if the construction industry does not get some help from government in terms of a clear, focused immigration policy that recognizes the importance of skilled trades,” said Atkinson.

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