Ontario’s skilled trades leaders are throwing their full support behind Bruce Power’s ongoing and future nuclear projects, calling them a cornerstone of the province’s clean energy and job creation strategy.
The Provincial Building and Construction Trades Council of Ontario says it’s bullish on the opportunities ahead for skilled tradespeople with Bruce Power’s Life-Extension Program, Major Component Replacement (MCR), and the proposed Bruce C Project, which could see the development of a new nuclear build at the Bruce Power site.
At their 68th annual convention in Windsor, delegates passed a resolution reaffirming the Council’s long-standing partnership with Bruce Power and its commitment to collaboration on current and future projects.
“The Ontario government’s Integrated Energy Plan – Energy for Generations – recognizes Bruce Power’s critical role in securing the future of the province’s clean energy supply, as well as the possibility of new nuclear through its Bruce C project,” said Marc Arsenault, Business Manager and Secretary-Treasurer of the Provincial Building and Construction Trades Council of Ontario. “Thanks to the hard work and dedication of Building Trades workers at Bruce Power, refurbishments are advancing safely, with quality, and on schedule, and the Bruce C project would create and sustain thousands of direct and indirect jobs during construction and operation.”
During the design and construction phase of Bruce C, it’s estimated that more than 20,000 jobs would be created or supported nationally each year. Across the entire project lifespan, about 12,000 full-time equivalent jobs are expected to be created or supported annually in Canada.
The Council’s resolution also urges the provincial government to strengthen policy certainty and investment, calling for “unlocking investment through Investment Tax Credits (ITCs) and other innovative financing models, Indigenous participation, and supply chain and workforce collaboration.”
As part of its motion, the Building Trades highlighted Bruce Power’s large economic footprint, including 22,000 jobs directly and indirectly tied to operations, and another 5,000 annually throughout the investment program. The organization also emphasized efforts to diversify the workforce — creating opportunities for Indigenous people, women, returning veterans and reservists, and underemployed youth.
“The Provincial Building and Construction Trades Council and the skilled tradespeople who work on our site are driving our economy and helping to secure a clean energy future for Ontario,” said Pat Dalzell, Bruce Power’s Vice-President of Corporate Affairs and Market Development. “Together, we are showing the world that we can deliver projects safely, successfully, with quality and on track, and that our expertise and innovation are second to none.”
