The Builders' Bench

In this episode of The Builders' Bench, Craig Larkins sits down to discuss new supports now available for tradespeople living with chronic pain, including the new confidential text support line and Pain BC's Trades and Pain Program. From peer support and coaching to workplace culture and prevention, this conversation explores how the industry is starting to better support the people who build our...

May is Mental Health Awareness Month and in construction, this conversation is shifting from awareness to action. On this episode of The Builders' Bench, Craig Larkins sits down with Rose Olsen from the Tailgate Toolkit to talk about practical, jobsite-ready leadership training. Designed for construction supervisors, this training equips leaders with the tools to confidently talk about substance u...

Ottawa is making a big bet on construction. In its latest Spring Economic Update , the feds rolled out some serious spending, including $6 billion for Team Canada Strong to bring in up to 100,000 skilled trades workers , plus a new $25 billion sovereign wealth fund and a majority government now in place to push it forward. All of this is happening against a backdrop of global uncertainty, rising f...

B.C.'s Budget 2026 is out. The latest BCCA Stat Pack and industry survey are in. And the picture for construction in BC is anything but simple. In this episode of the Builders' Bench, Craig Larkins sits down with BCCA President Chris Atchison for a straight-up reality check on the industry. From project delays and shifting government priorities to workforce shortages, rising costs, and what contra...

Host Craig Larkins sits down with VRCA President Jeannine Martin to break down what makes the VRCA Awards of Excellence such a defining moment for the industry. From new award categories to the stories behind the projects, this is a look at the people, teams, and work setting the standard across the Lower Mainland. Thinking about submitting? This episode might be your push.

In this rapid-fire edition of The Builders' Bench, we break down the latest from Ottawa and Victoria, from majority ambitions and byelections to new procurement legislation, credit downgrades, and job losses. Take a seat on the bench with us.

In this episode of The Builders' Bench , Host Craig Larkins sits down with Angelo Suntres, founder of The Human Side of Construction , to explore what it takes to build strong, high-performing teams in today's industry. From leadership and culture to mental wellness and psychological safety, this conversation highlights how investing in people is driving better projects and stronger crews. Angelo...

Recorded live at BUILDEX on February 11, 2026 Federal uncertainty. Provincial ambition. Municipal power. This live Builders' Bench conversation dives into the policies and political shifts shaping construction right now. We cover tariffs, the "build baby build" push, BC's Infrastructure Projects Act, prompt payment wins, and why the upcoming municipal election may define how we build for the next...

The budget is big. The numbers are louder. But what do they actually mean for construction? On the latest episode of The Builders' Bench , host Craig Larkins sits down with Louis-Philippe Champagne from the Canadian Construction Association to cut through the data and focus on what matters. From permits and labour to the build, baby, build push, this episode breaks down what's coming, what could s...

In this week's episode, we explore the incredible potential of prefab to transform the industry and tackle the housing shortage.   Craig Larkins sits down with Craig Mitchell, Partner and Project Manager at 720 Modular and former VRCA Board Chair, fresh off a tour of Sweden's prefab factories. They break down what prefab really means, why Sweden builds at scale, and what Canada needs to change to...

What if the path to a skilled trade started before graduation? Host Craig Larkins is joined by Mark Reid from the Vancouver School Board to explore Youth Work in Trades, a program connecting students to paid apprenticeships early, supporting families, and helping industry tackle the labour crunch. This episode is brought to you in part by Pitt Meadows Plumbing - building iconic projects and elevat...

A year of political shakeups, big promises, and nation-building talk. Host Craig Larkins and Sajjid Lakhani from Impact Public Affairs unpack what it all means for builders as British Columbia heads into a critical municipal election year. Take a seat on the bench with us!

On this episode of The Builders' Bench, Craig sits down with Sue Connors and Adam Addlestone from the BC Construction Association (BCCA) to break down PermitsCA - a new tool giving builders real-time visibility into permit activity across B.C. What does it mean? Smarter bids. Better planning. Fewer surprises. If you want to know where the work is headed before anyone else, this is the episode to t...

In this episode, the federal budget has dropped  and with billions promised for housing and infrastructure, the City of Vancouver is watching closely. We hear from the City's planning leaders on why federal investment is critical to unlocking non-market (affordable) housing and the infrastructure needed to support it. They share what's encouraging in this year's budget and what's still needed to t...

In this episode, the Federal Budget 2025 dropped with bold promises - billions for infrastructure, housing, and nation-building. But can Ottawa turn ambition into action? Host Craig Larkins sits down with Louis-Philippe Champagne (CCA) and Sajjid Lakhani (Impact Public Affairs) to unpack what's the numbers, and what builders need next. Progress on paper. Challenges on the ground. Take a seat on th...

In this episode, the latest BCCA Stat Pack just dropped - and the results might surprise you. From job surges to permits, BCCA President, Chris Atchison, joins The Builders' Bench to discuss what's really happening behind the numbers.

In this episode, we break down Prime Minister Carney's recent budget-themed speech. They analyze the potential impacts on the construction industry, the upcoming budget expectations, and the political dynamics of a minority government.  The conversation highlights the need for skilled workers, the focus on capital projects, and the challenges of balancing union and non-union interests in the const...

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.