After more than 30-years, the City of Sault Ste. Marie is no longer restricted by a construction employer designation.
The Ontario Government has just passed Bill 66 which is the PC’s Restoring Ontario’s Competitiveness Act.
It’s passage will allow our City along with three other municipalities to open up the bidding process for City construction projects to companies beyond two specific unions regardless of whether they are union or non-union.
The legislation deems public bodies, including municipalities, school boards, hospitals, universities and colleges as non-construction employers.
Mayor Christian Provenzano says it is something they have worked towards…

Provenzano says there are some significant projects ahead that will benefit…

Sault Ste. Marie’s designation occurred in 1987 as a result of an Ontario Labour Relations Board ruling—–and two appeals both in ’98 and 2004 failed.
City Councillor Matthew Shoemaker had said when the legislation was introduced in December, that it would save municipalities up to 30% on every infrastructure project they undertake.