Richard Van Egmond, the project leader of the provincial Edvance OYAP Program, joins Karen Renkema to discuss how the Edvance OYAP provincial program differs from local OYAP programs, provides critical support to young people interested in the trades, and offers support and flexibility to employers through the partnership between Edvance and CLAC. A critical listen for those employing young people, parents of students considering the trades, and students trying to understand their options for vibrant career choice.

This podcast session between PCA’s Paul de Jong and Bill Black, President and CEO of the Calgary Construction Association, unpacks the “Honour the Work” initiative. Honour the Work has been rolled out to over 950 Calgary area classrooms, in which students in grades 1-6 are provided with multidisciplinary kits providing hands-on activities that connect classroom learning to real-world trades.

In this episode, PCA's VP of Public Affairs, Darrel Reid, is joined by Paul de Jong, PCA's President & CEO, Dan Baxter, PCA's BC Director, and Ryan Bruce, Government Relations Director at CLAC. Together, they reflect on PCA and CLAC's recent lobby days at the BC Legislature, where they made the case for fair and open tendering — and why this issue is gaining unprecedented political traction in British Columbia.

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.