The Builders' Bench

In this episode of Builder's Bench, Craig Larkins speaks with Rod Gilbert, President of the Canadian Construction Association, about the current state of construction in Canada. They discuss the challenges of nation building, workforce shortages, immigration policies, and supply chain pressures. Gilbert emphasizes the importance of collaboration between government and industry to address these iss...

New government acronyms, new offices, tariffs - and the rise of Prime Minister Carney's agenda. Joining host Craig Larkins on The Builders' Bench to break it all down are Louis-Philippe Champagne , AVP of Public Affairs & Industry Practices at the Canadian Construction Association , and Sajjid Lakhani , Director at Impact Public Affairs . Together, they cut through the political noise to talk abou...

Prompt Payment is finally here - but what does it  really mean for BC's builders? We break it all down in a quick 15-minute conversation on The Builders' Bench with BCCA President Chris Atchison . - What's inside Bill 20 - the Construction Prompt Payment Act. - Who's covered and who's not - from public owners to private developers. - What happens next as it moves toward becoming law? And if you ru...

B.C.'s new Housing and Municipal Affairs Minister, Christine Boyle, joins The Builders' Bench to talk permits, costs, collaboration and the path forward for builders. A candid first conversation on the future of housing and municipal engagement in B.C.

Parliament may be on break, but the work doesn't stop for builders. On this new episode of The Builders' Bench , we dig into what's been cooking on the policy front from Bill C‑5 and tariff negotiations to trade talks and B.C.'s recent cabinet shuffle. Joining Craig Larkins on the bench this week are BCCA President Chris Atchison and Loui‑Philippe Champagne, AVP, Public Affairs & Industry Practice...

The government's in motion — PM Carney's leaner Cabinet is in place, the Throne Speech has landed, and one mandate letter is steering the whole ship. What does this mean for builders? We break it all down — from federal priorities to Bill C-5's game-changing impact on project delivery. Joining host Craig Larkins on the Bench: Louis-Philippe Champagne – Associate Vice President Public Affairs & Ind...

RECORDED LIVE AT VRCA'S Construction Leadership Forum on May 9, 2025 This isn't your average podcast episode - we took it live and in-person at VRCA's 2025 Construction Leadership Forum (CLF) in Whistler on May 9!    Fresh off a federal election, we brought together the sharpest minds in construction, economics, and politics to break down what comes next for the industry.   Joining host Craig Lark...

What happens when a former construction project manager becomes the Opposition Critic for Infrastructure and Construction? On this episode of The Builders' Bench, we sit down with MLA Misty Van Popta to talk bottlenecks, Bill 15, and building smarter in BC.

In this special Builders' Bench episode, host Craig Larkins sits down with B.C.'s Minister of Infrastructure, Bowinn Ma, to unpack Bill 15 - the Infrastructure Projects Act. From permitting delays and project selection to industry involvement and long-term planning, this five-part conversation breaks down what the legislation means for the people building B.C. and why it matters now.

The election is over, but the real work starts now. In our latest episode, we break down Prime Minister Mark Carney's first press conference , what to expect from the upcoming cabinet announcement and throne speech , and what it all means for construction. PLUS - we celebrate the success of the  Construction for Canadians grassroots campaign and the power of industry advocacy across the country an...

🚨 Election 2025: The Results Are In – What's Next for Construction? Mark Carney's Liberals are back with a minority mandate. So what does it all mean for Canada's construction industry? In this special post-election episode of The Builders' Bench, host Craig Larkins breaks down the results with: Rodrigue Gilbert - CCA President  Louis-Philippe Champagne - AVP Public Affairs & Industry Practices,...

Episode 5 of The Builders' Bench is our final episode before Canadians head to the polls on April 28! This week, we're putting it all on the table. The platforms are in, the promises have been made - and now it's time to talk about what really matters to construction. We dig into:  Infrastructure investment Skilled labour and the trades Housing and affordability And most importantly, how it all co...

Week 4 of the Federal Election = Crunch Time!  With advance polls opening April 18 and two major leaders' debates happening this week, the campaign trail is heating up! In our latest episode, we head east to Atlantic Canada and back west to BC for a coast-to-coast check-in on what's driving the conversation in construction. Joining host Craig Larkins on the bench this week: Duncan Williams – Presi...

With advance polls opening on April 18, the pressure is on for parties to deliver and voters to be informed.  This week on The Builders' Bench, we head to Ontario, the province with the most seats in Parliament, to unpack what's shaping the race so far. Joining Louis-Philippe Champagne, Associate VP of Public Affairs & Industry Practices at the CCA, and Craig Larkins, Director of Advocacy at the V...

The cross-country conversation continues as we welcome Calgary's perspective to The Builders' Bench! Bill Black, President & CEO of the Calgary Construction Association, joins the Craig on the bench alongside:   Louis-Philippe Champagne – AVP, Public Affairs & Industry Practices, CCA and Chris Atchison – BCCA President  It was a busy first week on the campaign trail, with federal parties prioritiz...

The federal election has been called, and the race is officially on! With 1.6 million Canadians working in construction, our industry holds serious political power—if we make our voices heard. In this premiere episode of The Builders' Bench , host Craig Larkins is joined by top industry leaders to break down what this election means for builders, trades, and developers across Canada. Joining Craig...