Building projects must offer opportunities for all

With the Canadian government’s recent announcement to fast track billions of dollars to help stimulate the economy with investments in infrastructure projects across the country, it is imperative that community benefits agreements are leveraged to prioritize women, Indigenous, Black and racialized communities in the economic opportunities generated from these investments.

Infrastructure projects are complex undertakings and can be intimidating to interact with for local community members. At the same time, meaningful community involvement in these projects is a necessary piece of the blueprint for success.

Over the past five years, as executive director of the Toronto Community Benefits Network, I have been part of negotiations to secure community benefit agreements on public and private infrastructure projects that have provided a legal framework for liaison between project developers and local communities with clarity and accountability for commitments as they are established.

One example is the Finch West Light Rail Transit project where the network and a local community organization, Community Action Planning Group, contributed to a process to ensure that the local community would benefit from this transit investment. As part of the community benefits program, Metrolinx committed to include requirements for local and equity hiring in apprenticeships, promoting job opportunities in the professional, administrative and technical fields among the local community, and identifying opportunities for diverse local suppliers and social enterprises to secure procurement opportunities generated from this $2.5 billion infrastructure investment.

This planning process also galvanized the local community to have a big vision, and hold Metrolinx accountable to its commitment of preserving a piece of land for a future community hub and centre for the arts.

An inclusive recovery is only achieved if we truly address barriers that prevent some Canadians from benefiting from these mammoth investments. Whether it is the contractors the government chooses from the outset, or the training available to help communities access jobs, reaching equitable outcomes will take intentional effort. It doesn’t happen by accident.

As federal, provincial, and municipal leaders come together to prioritize these projects, they will undoubtedly hear arguments against community benefits commitments, for the sake of saving time. But for projects that Infrastructure Minister Catherine McKenna has deemed “shovel worthy,” we have a responsibility, especially now, to ensure the dollars being spent are making the maximum impact possible. Commitment to infrastructure, employment equity, and improved social and environmental outcomes for diverse communities must go hand in hand.

When this approach is taken, projects are improved through community input, construction companies gain access to a trained local workforce, local businesses are empowered, and economies are strengthened from the ground up.

If we are going to invest billions in building upgrades, roads, bridges and transit, we cannot allow the opportunities that these projects will bring to bypass the communities that need them most.

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in rippling economic, social and health impacts on Black, Indigenous and racialized communities. Recent Statistics Canada Labour Force Survey (from July) data outlines several groups that had rates of joblessness significantly above average, including South Asian (17.8 per cent), Arab (17.3 per cent) and Black (16.8 per cent) Canadians. Meanwhile, individuals who were not a member of a population group designated as a visible minority and who did not identify as Aboriginal had an unemployment rate of 9.3 per cent.

If there is anything this past month has taught us, it is the necessity for transparency in government procurement processes, and for intentional diversity in the construction industry workforce. Since June, five nooses have been found on construction sites across Toronto. This is unacceptable; we must do better to ensure welcoming workplaces free from harassment, hate and discrimination.

My vision for Canada is a country where all Canadians can contribute to building up their neighbourhoods and where they are familiar with and can participate in the planning and development process. We build stronger communities when all Canadians have an equitable opportunity to contribute to developing our infrastructure of the future. Making these decisions in 2020 is timely, given the fall-out from COVID-19.

With $187 billion of our public dollars on the line over the next decade, we have to make an honest effort.