Concert is proud to support the Community Benefits Coalition of BC, which has been established to advocate for Community Benefits Agreements (CBAs) on publicly-funded infrastructure projects.
Used in many jurisdictions in various contexts, a CBA is an agreement that sets out provisions for hiring qualified workers, as well as under-represented groups, including Indigenous Peoples, apprentices and women in trades. CBAs include provisions for union wages and ensure there are no work stoppages for the duration of construction, which helps to deliver quality projects that are completed on time and on budget. CBAs also help to enrich our communities and strengthen our economy by first offering opportunities to local qualified workers, creating a legacy of education and experience.
Supporting the Community Benefits Coalition is a natural fit for Concert and Concert Infrastructure Fund, which operates as an independent, long-term investor, developer and manager of public infrastructure, primarily delivered via the public-private-partnership (“P3”) model.
Both Concert and Concert Infrastructure are owned by Canadian union and management pension plans and use union trades for construction to assure high-quality developments defined by exceptional craftsmanship.
Concert and Concert Infrastructure also believe in the importance of being good corporate citizens by giving back to the communities where we work and build. Over the years, Concert has invested in the future of our industry by contributing more than $3 million towards trades training in Canada.
“We appreciate that CBAs are focused on creating and reinforcing long-term community benefits,” said Brian McCauley, Concert’s President & Chief Executive Officer. “We support the Coalition’s objective of investing in local talent, creating jobs and strengthening our economy for the benefit of all British Columbians.”
More information about the Community Benefits Coalition of BC is available at letsbuild.ca.