Canada’s Open Shop construction industry is going to expand its efforts on the national stage with Terrance Oakey at the helm as the organization’s first full-time president.
Oakey will be responsible for expanding the national presence and influence of the Open Shop coalition.
“Merit Canada’s eight provincial associations share the same national goals – we want a fair and transparent construction marketplace, and we want to see our industry grow,” Oakey said. “I’m looking forward to making sure our issues around labour mobility, reduced red tape, and competitive tax regimes get heard at a national level.”
At the core of the Open Shop is the belief that all qualified people and companies should be able to bid on work and projects regardless of their union affiliation. There are still jurisdictions in Canada that restrict public contracts on the basis of union membership.
“One thing is clear – construction needs a vibrant economy to thrive. Merit Canada believes that if government is fair and open in its rules, the economy and our industry will flourish,” Oakey said. “I’m looking forward to bringing our issues to the national stage on behalf of the entire Open Shop sector in Canada.”
Oakey joined Merit Canada from the Retail Council of Canada where he was Vice President of Federal Government Affairs. He brings a decade of experience in the public and private sectors providing government relations and strategic communications council to a variety of national and international clients.