Doug Ford and the Ontario PCs Welcome Support from the Ontario General Contractors Association

Endorsement driven by the party’s strong commitment to investing in skilled trades and protecting Ontario workers

The Voice of Canada news : Doug Ford and the Ontario PCs welcomed an endorsement from the Ontario General Contractors Association (OGCA). Their endorsement reflects the Ontario PCs’ strong commitment to investing in workers, boosting economic growth and protecting Ontario against the threat of President Trump’s tariffs.

“I’m truly honoured to receive the support of Giovanni Cautillo and the Ontario General Contractors Association,” said Doug Ford. “While President Trump’s tariff threats take direct aim at our skilled trades and building and construction sectors, we’re working with the OGCA and workers across the province to invest in infrastructure and skills development, keep our economy going and keep workers on the job, no matter what. I’m grateful for the partnership and support of the OGCA as we protect Ontario.”

“The OGCA stands firmly with Doug Ford and his vision for Ontario’s future. Our 200 member companies—some of the province’s safest and most innovative general contractors—are proud to support the PC government’s continued investment in construction, skilled trades training and building Ontario,” said Giovanni Cautillo, President, OGCA. “Doug Ford’s commitment is evident in initiatives like the Skills Development Fund, which is helping the OGCA train the next generation of project managers, site supervisors, and estimators and deliver our very successful Pathways to ICI program that is opening doors for new graduates, newcomers, and women to become project managers in construction. With our members delivering over $14 billion in construction annually across Ontario’s industrial, commercial and institutional sectors, we believe Ontario needs Doug Ford’s leadership now more than ever, especially amid significant economic challenges from the U.S.”

“Our contractors, who are at the forefront of driving Ontario’s infrastructure projects, need Doug Ford’s leadership to keep Ontario moving forward,” said Craig Lesurf, Chair, OGCA and President of Gillam Construction Group. “We’re proud to work with a PC government that delivers real, forward-thinking solutions for Ontario’s future. Through strategic investments in infrastructure projects, commitment to safety on construction sites and growing the skilled trades, his government is fostering a vibrant economy that creates opportunities for contractors and workers across the province and lays the groundwork that not only meets today’s economic demands but is also ready for tomorrow’s challenges.”

Since 2018, the Ontario PCs have supported and invested significantly in the skilled trades, including the following: 

• Over $5 million through the Skill Development Fund to support the OGCA’s Pathways to ICI program, which quickly acclimates new graduates and newcomers to Canada who have obtained an education as a project coordinator and want to be a project manager in construction.
• Skills Development Fund investments that have helped the OGCA expand their upskilling program, which allows contractors to identify and assess existing workers, regardless of background, who would be good candidates to become site supervisors. 

• More than $63 million to help students and young people get first-hand experience and prepare for future careers in the skilled trades. 
• Creating a new 27-week job-protected long-term illness leave for workers with a serious medical condition.
• Putting money back into workers’ pockets by waiving the fee for apprentices taking their first Certificate of Qualification exam, saving each apprentice up to $570 throughout their apprenticeship journey.

Only Doug Ford has a plan to protect Ontario:

• Building Ontario’s economy by investing more than $200 billion in our plan to build roads, highways, transit and other infrastructure projects while investing $2.5 billion to train more than one million people for better jobs and bigger paycheques in the skilled trades. 
• Protecting workers in the face of President Trump’s tariffs by doing whatever is necessary to protect people’s livelihoods, including by investing tens of billions of dollars to keep people working.
• Keeping us competitive by fighting the job-killing Liberal carbon tax and urging the federal government to cut red tape and streamline approvals to get big things built.
• Cleaning up our streets by protecting families and children by banning drug injection sites near schools and daycares and clearing out encampments from public parks with new investments in shelters. 
• Delivering better care, including by investing $1.8 billion more to connect everyone in Ontario to a family doctor and primary care.

Doug Ford will never stop working to protect Ontario.