The unionized Industrial, Commercial, and Institutional (ICI) construction sector in Ontario continues to see opportunity—but not without risks. In this episode of OCS Talks, Brian Barron is joined by BuildForce Canada’s Bill Ferreira and Bob Collins to explore their 2024–2034 forecast and its implications for contractors, unions, and the broader workforce.

The discussion dives deep into what’s driving growth—namely transit infrastructure, healthcare, and power generation—while also addressing looming concerns around inflation, trade tariffs with the U.S., material costs, labor supply, and project delays. Learn where future opportunities are emerging, how demographic shifts are straining the workforce, and what it will take to avoid a projected shortfall of 50,000 skilled workers in the coming decade.

This episode is a must-listen for contractors, project managers, union reps, and anyone tracking the pulse of Ontario’s construction landscape.

Chapters:

00:35 – Ontario’s construction market outlook

02:19 – Key drivers: transit, healthcare, and power

04:35 – The state of industrial and commercial sectors

08:30 – Risks on the horizon for ICI projects

10:12 – U.S. tariffs and their potential fallout

13:16 – Material costs and project contract concerns

15:51 – Transition opportunities amid economic shifts

20:34 – Skilled trades and labor supply

22:22 – Forecasting a 50,000-worker shortage

27:19 – Recruiting newcomers and reshaping industry perception

Key Quotes:

“Healthcare and transit systems will be key drivers going forward.” — Bob Collins

“We’re going to be around 50,000 workers short over the next 10 years.” — Bill Ferreira

“Our economies are just so integrated, we need cooler heads to prevail.” — Bill Ferreira

Resources & Links:

• BuildForce Canada

• Ontario Construction Secretariat

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