MBT Updates

Federal Budget 2026: Building Opportunities for Manitoba’s Skilled Trades

November 9, 2026 | Manitoba Building Trades

Manitoba Building Trades (MBT) welcomes the Government of Canada’s Budget 2026 investments in infrastructure, skilled trades training and workforce development. These commitments represent important opportunities to strengthen Canada’s construction workforce, expand apprenticeship training and support the delivery of major projects across Manitoba.

The budget builds on significant federal commitments made earlier this year, including the $6-billion Team Canada Strong initiative, while introducing additional measures to support construction activity, workforce mobility and Indigenous participation in the skilled trades.

Key Investments for the Building Trades

  • $430 million for union training: Five-year investment through the Union Training and Innovation Program (UTIP) to expand training infrastructure, equipment and apprenticeship capacity.
  • $451.8 million for Indigenous workforce readiness: Funding over four years to strengthen Indigenous employment and training pathways connected to major economic opportunities.
  • More than $50 billion in electricity investments: Supporting electricity generation, transmission and northern energy infrastructure.
  • $44.7 billion for housing and supporting infrastructure: Long-term investments to accelerate construction and address Canada’s housing needs.
  • $6.6 billion for trade infrastructure: Investments in transportation networks and trade-enabling infrastructure.
  • Improved supports for tradespeople: A new optional $1,500 flat-rate Labour Mobility Deduction, alongside the existing eligible-expense deduction, and additional measures supporting apprentices and their training.

What This Means for Manitoba

With major investments anticipated in health care, energy, housing, transportation and industrial infrastructure, Manitoba’s unionized construction workforce will play an important role in delivering Canada’s economic priorities.

MBT and its affiliated unions bring established apprenticeship and training programs, experienced construction workers, and strong relationships with signatory contractors to support project delivery throughout the province.

The Manitoba Jobs Agreement (MJA) demonstrates how major public investments can be connected to fair wages, local employment, apprenticeship opportunities and coordinated workforce planning.

As federal investments advance, MBT will continue advocating for these principles to be reflected in major project delivery across Canada.

Turning Investment into Good Jobs

Funding commitments alone will not guarantee that projects have the skilled workforce needed to succeed.

MBT supports Canada’s Building Trades Unions (CBTU) in calling for stronger prevailing wage and apprenticeship requirements, improved construction labour forecasting, and meaningful labour participation in federal workforce planning.

The priority must be turning federal investments into good-paying construction jobs, stronger apprenticeship opportunities and lasting economic benefits for Manitoba workers and communities.

MBT looks forward to continued collaboration with the Government of Canada, the Province of Manitoba, affiliated unions and industry partners to ensure Manitoba’s skilled trades workforce is ready to build what comes next.

Read more: CBTU Federal Budget 2026 Backgrounder