The Nova Scotia Road Builders Association is pleased join Construction Alliance strengthening voice in Atlantic Canada
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 14, 2026
Atlantic construction leaders launch new alliance to tackle shared challenges and strengthen the region
HALIFAX, NS — Construction leaders from across Atlantic Canada have come together to launch the Atlantic Construction Alliance (ACA), a united regional voice strengthening how projects are planned, managed and built across all four Atlantic provinces.
The ACA will bring the industry together to advocate for fairer rules, modern procurement practices, better labour mobility, stronger workforce development, smarter long‑term infrastructure planning, and accelerated delivery of new housing. By speaking as one region instead of four separate provinces, the alliance aims to reduce red tape, improve consistency, and drive economic growth across Atlantic Canada.
The founding partners include:
• Construction Association of Nova Scotia
• Nova Scotia Road Builders Association
• Construction Association of New Brunswick
• New Brunswick Road Builders and Heavy Construction Association
• Construction Association of Prince Edward Island
• Prince Edward Island Road Builders and Heavy Construction Association
• Newfoundland and Labrador Construction Association
• Heavy Civil Association of Newfoundland and Labrador
“The strength of our collective organizations is advocacy so coming together as one regional alliance will allow us to reach broader audiences within various orders of government as they set policies impacting our industry,” said Sherry Martell, Executive Director of the Nova Scotia Road Builders. “Our industry builds and maintains critical trade-enabling infrastructure, safe water facilities and sewers that support every Atlantic community driving their economy forward.”
A collaborative vision for Atlantic growth
The Atlantic Construction Alliance was created by eight provincial construction associations, representing thousands of contractors, tradespeople and suppliers who collectively employ more than 100,000 Atlantic Canadians.
What the new alliance will do:
• Modernize procurement: Promote fair, transparent, and consistent contracting practices across the region through wider adoption of standard Canada-wide construction contracts (CCDC documents), so companies can bid more easily and governments get better results.
• Support housing delivery: Advocate for procurement, financing and regulatory approaches that allow builders to deliver more housing faster, including multi‑unit, rental and affordable housing projects.
• Improve workforce mobility: Work to remove barriers that prevent skilled tradespeople from moving freely between Atlantic provinces, helping fill labour shortages where they are most urgent.
• Advocate for infrastructure investment: Advocate for equitable federal and provincial investment in nation-building projects that strengthen Atlantic supply chains and communities.
• Strengthen workforce development: Coordinate regional responses to labour shortages and work with governments to align apprenticeship systems, immigration pathways, and credential recognition.
• Support sustainability and innovation: Encourage adoption of new building technologies, digital tools, and energy‑efficient construction standards that make the industry more productive and future‑ready.
One industry, one voice
The ACA will act as a collaborative forum for Atlantic industry leaders to engage governments, owners, and post-secondary institutions. It will also share best practices, conduct joint research, and deliver unified policy positions on issues that transcend provincial borders.
Each province has unique strengths, but similar challenges—workforce shortages, rising costs, and outdated procurement frameworks—are the same. The Alliance will allows the organizations to speak with one voice on behalf of industry, workers and future growth.
Over the coming months, the Alliance will formalize its governance structure, establish working groups on procurement, workforce, and sustainability, and begin developing shared policy priorities.
For more information, please contact:
Sherry Martell
Executive Director
Nova Scotia Road Builders
sherry@nsrba.ca
902-890-4616
Caption: Members of the Atlantic Construction Alliance at their inaugural meeting in Halifax in September 2025.
Front row (left to right):
Sam Sanderson, Executive Director, CAPEI
Duncan Williams, President & CEO, CANS
Chris Demerchant, Past President, NBRHCA
Melissa Paquet, Executive Director, PEIRBHCA
Grant Feltmate, former Executive Director, NSRBA
Stephen Short, Past Chair, NLCA
Back row (left to right):
Ian Boyd, Past Chair, CANS Board of Directors
Kris Mulcahy, Executive Director, HCANL
Darren Sutherland, President, CANB
Rhonda Neary, President/COO, NLCA
John-Ryan Morrison, Executive Director, CANB
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