November 13, 2024, marked an important turning point for the construction industry, with the launch of the Construction Industry Action Plan for the Inclusion of First Nations and Inuit.

The result of a major collaborative process that began in 2019, this initiative brought together organizations representing First Nations and Inuit communities, employer and union associations, and several other partners. An advisory committee was created at the very beginning to make sure that all Indigenous communities were represented.

During the consultations, numerous subjects were addressed related to the realities of Indigenous communities and issues around inclusion in the industry. In constructive, well-informed discussions, possible solutions were explored with the goal of encouraging access to the construction industry and ensuring job retention, with the result being greater representation in the industry by Indigenous communities.

The launch of the Action Plan, which took place at the Hôtel Delta Trois-Rivières, was one of the activities during the 5th Indigenous Peoples and Québec Regional Economic Circle, organized by the Conseil de la Nation Atikamekw on November 12–14, 2024. The program included discussion panels, speeches, and a presentation of key measures, followed by a cocktail party that offered opportunities for encounters and fruitful exchanges among the guests, all of them mobilized to implement the plan.

The 24 proposed measures are presented through 10 inclusion paths, and a working plan will be formulated for each measure, accompanied by a timeline for following the plan’s progress.

To find out more, read the Construction Industry Action Plan for the Inclusion of First Nations and Inuit.