CCA Policy Statements
 SEPTEMBER 2014
CCA POLICY STATEMENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1.0 GENERAL STATEMENTS
1
2.0 FREE TRADE
1
3.0INFRASTRUCTURE
2
4.0 INDUSTRY PRACTICES
2
5.0 HUMAN RESOURCES
4
CCA Policy Statements 1
1.0 GENERAL STATEMENTS
1.1 Freedom of Enterprise
CCA supports an economic and political system based on free competitive enterprise and
individual freedom.
1.2Environment
CCA supports the concept of sustainable development, recognizing the need to balance
environmental and economic considerations in the decision-making process.
CCA supports the development and use of a fair, equitable and expedient Canadian
environmental assessment and review process.
1.3 Quality Assurance and Control Program
CCA supports the use of quality assurance and control programs to ensure quality (excellence)
in construction projects.
1.4Research
CCA advocates the need for research in construction and supports the Institute for Research
in Construction, universities and other agencies engaged in such activities for the purpose of
improving construction practices, materials, and safety, as well as the durability and cost of
construction.
1.5 Use of Metric Measurement
CCA supports and advocates the use of the metric system of measurement in project designs
and the specification of metric-sized products and materials on all construction projects within
Canada.
1.6 Distribution of Construction Opportunity Information
CCA believes that the provision of project information in Canada, as it has traditionally been, is
a prime activity of construction associations. The dissemination and distribution of project and
tender opportunity information/documents in support of the construction procurement process
must be provided by organizations that have a true understanding of the bidding process and of
the local, regional and national construction markets. Therefore, CCA advocates the use of plans
room associations who are the most qualified and competent to fulfill this role in Canada.
2.0 FREE TRADE
2.1 Free Movement of Construction Materials, Services and Personnel within Canada
CCA supports the free and unfettered movement of construction materials, services and
personnel within Canada and is opposed to all regional barriers and preference policies.
2.2 Labour Force Mobility
CCA advocates the right of qualified construction workers to seek employment in any region
of Canada without any restrictions. Labour mobility should be supported, promoted and
facilitated by such measures and programs as:
a. National apprenticeship and training standards for construction trades and occupations;
b. The Red Seal Program designed to provide inter-provincial recognition of apprentices and
tradesperson qualifications; and/or,
c. Federal tax incentives and EI assistance, or similar measures.
CCA Policy Statements 2
2.3Reciprocity
Reciprocity is paramount to the establishment and maintenance of a free flowing international
system of trade, both in terms of goods as well as services. CCA supports international free trade
agreements, including provisions respecting government procurement.
In this context, CCA supports the equal opportunity and access to government procured or
government funded infrastructure development and/or construction opportunities for foreign
firms operating in Canada, provided reciprocal access is granted to Canadian firms in the
respective foreign country.
3.0INFRASTRUCTURE
3.1 Core Municipal Infrastructure
CCA supports and promotes long-term, sustainable, transparent, and predictable federal
investment in core municipal infrastructure.
CCA defines core municipal infrastructure as being: roads, highways, streets, sidewalks, lanes,
bridges and structures; water distribution systems and treatment plants; waste water and
sewage collection and treatment; power, garbage, and refuse facilities; airports; educational
facilities; power and fiber optic networks and distribution systems; and urban transit systems.
3.2 National Highway System
CCA supports and promotes the creation of a long-term, sustainable, transparent, predictable
and permanent federal program designed to provide investment in Canada’s National Highway
Program. This program must be based on the Nation’s strategic needs and demands on the
System and it must support the concept that all stretches of the National Highway System ought
to meet minimum ridership and engineering standards as defined by the Council of Ministers
responsible for Transportation.
3.3 Strategic Infrastructure Investment
CCA supports and promotes long-term, sustainable, transparent and predictable federal
investment in Canada’s strategic infrastructure. CCA defines strategic infrastructure as being
assets required to create new, or enhance existing, national economic, commercial
or transportation activity.
4.0 INDUSTRY PRACTICES
4.1 Procurement of Construction Projects
CCA supports procurement of construction projects in an open and transparent manner in
accordance with the procedures and practices recommended in CCDC 23 – A Guide to Calling
Bids and Awarding Construction Contracts.
4.2 Bidding and Contract Award Practices
CCA advocate the bidding and contract award practices and procedures outlined in
CCDC 23 – A Guide to Calling Bids and Awarding Construction Contracts.
4.3 Regional Federal Openings
CCA maintains that bids for publicly funded projects should be deposited and publicly opened
in the region where the work is to be performed.
CCA Policy Statements 3
4.4 Minority Preferences and Set-Aside Programs
CCA opposes any procurement practice or program that seeks to confer exclusive bidding
rights to firms based upon any of the following characteristics: sex, race, religion, or geographic
domicile within Canada of the principal Owners of a firm, its employees or labour force.
4.5 Contracting Out/Public Sector Competition
CCA promotes the use by government of the private sector for construction and engineering
services, as this practice serves to develop more private sector capability.
CCA opposes government-owned, or controlled, entities competing for construction contracts.
CCA opposes the government’s practice of supporting crown corporations that compete with
the private sector.
4.6 Reverse Auctions
CCA endorses the use of electronic procurement provided that it maintains the principles that
are intrinsic to the construction bidding process and that it is intended to increase efficiency.
CCA opposes the use of reverse auction.
4.7 Firm Price Quotation
CCA supports the principle that where owners seek firm price bids from contractors, it is
essential that prices obtained by contractors for the supply of materials and equipment also be
provided on a firm price basis.
4.8 Conditional Payment Clauses
CCA is opposed to payment provisions in construction contracts that make the prior receipt by
one party of a payment, or advance from a third party, a condition precedent to any payment
obligation to the other contracting party.
4.9 Deficiency Holdbacks
CCA is opposed to the retention of funds to cover unidentified deficiencies or warranty items.
4.10 Extended Warranties
CCA is opposed to requirement by Owners for extended warranty bonds beyond the standard
one-year warranty period.
4.11 CCA & CCDC Standard Documents
CCA advocates the use of standard documents, developed and endorsed by the Association,
as an effective means of promoting standard practices and procedures within the industry.
CCA opposes the implementation of supplementary General Conditions which have the effect
of altering or subverting the intent or the substance of standard documents.
4.12 Use of Bid Depositories
CCA supports the use of the bid depository system in those areas where Bid Depositories are in
regular operation and are operating under rules and regulations endorsed by local professional
and construction associations for those trades served by them.
4.13 National Building Code
CCA supports the general adoption of the National Building Code of Canada.
CCA Policy Statements 4
4.14 Restrictive Bidding Practices by Public Owners
CCA opposes the practice by public owners of excluding construction contracting firms and
suppliers from bidding their projects, or otherwise penalizing them, solely because of past or
current litigation or other contested disputes with that public owner, or other public owners.
5.0 HUMAN RESOURCES
5.1 EI Support for Apprentices
CCA advocates the need for the EI regime to support apprentices while in school.
5.2 Under-Represented Groups in Construction
CCA advocates the entry of under-represented groups in all occupations within the construction
industry and urges construction employers to remove all barriers to their employment. CCA
opposes all forms of compulsory programs of employment equity, including any system of
quotas.
5.3 Immigration to Canada
CCA supports a pro-active and effective immigration policy designed to help build a domestic
labour supply for the industry’s future needs. A key feature of this policy ought to be the efficient
use of foreign workers to meet temporary shortages when necessary.
5.4 Labour Relations
CCA supports the right of every contractor to operate in the construction marketplace. CCA
supports the maintenance of a healthy labour/management relationship, which will aid the
Canadian economy and provide maximum productivity.
5.5 Federal Fair Wages & Hours of Labour Act
CCA considers the Federal Fair Wages & Hours of Labour Act as archaic statute in a provincial
area of jurisdiction that has out-lived its intended purpose and urges that it now be repealed.
While this legislation remains in force, CCA opposes the practice of issuing wage schedules as a
means to effect compliance with the Act’s fair wage provisions.
5.6 Education & Training
CCA supports and promotes all proven industry educational and training programs for
construction trades (e.g. apprenticeship) and management occupations (e.g. Gold Seal), and
urges the widest possible acceptance of national standards and certification. CCA advocates
the highest standards in all technical, professional, supervisory and management training. CCA
urges the youth in Canada to consider career employment in the construction industry.
5.7 Red Seal Program
The CCA endorses the Red Seal Program and recommends its use as the national standard of
certification in construction trades to ensure that the highest quality training standards are
upheld.
5.8 Safety
CCA supports the establishment of programs to promote excellence in construction safety.