Ontario Construction Secretariat (OCS) CEO, Brian Barron, discusses all things related to Ontario's unionized ICI construction sector with professionals from across the industry. An educational industry podcast that addresses varying topics, challenges, and opportunities within Ontario's unionized ICI construction sector. Episodes will feature leaders from across the industry to explore different subject matter. It is our hope that listeners find these short podcast episodes engaging, thought-provoking, and digestible.
OCS Talks
Claim This Podcastby Ontario Construction Secretariat
14 episodes
Updated Daily
Accepts GuestsHas SponsorsLocation 🇨🇦
38
Podcast Authority
BetaPoorBased on show quality, social media presence, reviews, charts, and more
Quality47
Social0
YouTube72
Engagement0
Podcast Overview
Ontario Construction Secretariat (OCS) CEO, Brian Barron, discusses all things related to Ontario's unionized ICI construction sector with professionals from across the industry. An educational industry podcast that addresses varying topics, challenges, and opportunities within Ontario's unionized ICI construction sector. Episodes will feature leaders from across the industry to explore different subject matter. It is our hope that listeners find these short podcast episodes engaging, thought-provoking, and digestible.
Language
🇺🇲
Publishing Since
4/9/2025
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38
Podcast Authority
BetaPoorBased on show quality, social media presence, reviews, charts, and more
Quality47
Social0
YouTube72
Engagement0
8
Excellent Areas
1
Good Performance
10
Growth Opportunities
excellent
Episode Length
37 minutes
Performing excellently!
good
iTunes Tags
6.2/10
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needs improvement
Publishing Consistency
Every 25 days
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Recent Episodes
June 22, 2026
Ontario’s ICI Construction Outlook: Forecasting Labour Demand, Major Projects, and Market Uncertainty with BuildForce Canada
Ontario’s industrial, commercial, and institutional (ICI) construction sector has experienced unprecedented growth in recent years, fueled by major transit expansions, energy investments, healthcare infrastructure, manufacturing reshoring, and large-scale institutional projects. At the same time, the industry continues to navigate significant challenges, including skilled labour shortages, inflationary pressures, supply chain disruptions, rising costs, and ongoing trade tensions between Canada and the United States. In this episode of OCS Talks, host Brian Barron is joined by Bob Collins and Irwin Bess from BuildForce Canada to explore what lies ahead for Ontario’s construction industry. Together, they unpack how BuildForce develops its construction forecasts, the key economic and project data shaping Ontario’s ICI outlook, and where investment activity is expected to grow over the next decade. They also discuss labour market pressures, the impact of public infrastructure funding, the reliability of long-term forecasting, and the major projects poised to influence construction demand across the province. Whether you're a contractor, employer, union representative, policymaker, or industry professional, this conversation offers valuable insights into the trends shaping Ontario’s construction future. Chapter Markers: 00:00 – Introduction 01:50 – About BuildForce Canada 06:58 – Key data inputs driving Ontario’s ICI forecast 10:20 – How smaller projects are incorporated into forecasting models 12:20 – Major project lists, active projects, and watch lists 16:15 – How reliable are 10-year construction forecasts? 20:20 – What’s different about the market outlook compared to recent years? 23:28 – Which sectors are driving the strongest demand? 27:19 – The role of public funding in market stability 31:10 – Navigating uncertainty in the construction industry 36:00 – How BuildForce measures labour shortages 43:00 – Trade and occupation pressure rankings 46:12 – Key projects to watch in the years ahead Call to Action: Subscribe to OCS Talks for more expert conversations and industry insights shaping Ontario’s unionized ICI construction sector. If you enjoyed this episode, share it with your colleagues and leave a rating or review on your preferred podcast platform. Have a question, topic suggestion, or guest recommendation? Contact us at info@iciconstruction.com or visit iciconstruction.com for the latest research, news, and industry resources. Tags & Keywords: Ontario construction, ICI construction, Ontario ICI sector, BuildForce Canada, construction forecast, labour shortages, skilled trades, workforce development, infrastructure investment, construction employment, transit projects, manufacturing reshoring, public infrastructure, commercial construction, industrial construction, institutional construction, Ontario economy, construction trends, major projects, construction workforce, unions, contractors, labour market, construction planning, OCS Talks Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 20, 2026
Building Better Policy: Why Advisory Councils Matter in Ontario Construction
Construction is one of Ontario’s most important economic engines, but it’s also one of the province’s most complex and constantly evolving industries. Effective construction policy cannot be developed in isolation, which is why advisory councils play such an important role in bridging the gap between government intent and on-the-ground industry realities. By bringing together industry leaders, employers, labour representatives, and subject matter experts, these councils help ensure policy decisions translate into practical solutions, successful projects, and better outcomes for workers and employers alike. Early and consistent industry engagement leads to stronger, more responsive, and future-ready policy. Host Brian Barron is joined by Marc Arsenault from the Provincial Building and Construction Trades Council of Ontario, Enzo Garritano, President and CEO of the Infrastructure Health and Safety Association (IHSA), and Robert Love, Vice President of Project Support Services at Alberici, for a discussion on why advisory councils matter, the importance of formal industry consultation, and how collaboration between labour, management, and government helps move Ontario construction forward. Chapters 0:00 – Introduction 2:50 – Why are advisory councils and structured industry-government tables so important? 11:35 – Why is it critical to have a formal voice in advisory councils during reviews? 18:20 – Does early engagement through these councils help government move faster? 30:00 – What does the process of achieving labour and management buy-in look like? 36:00 – Building confidence behind recommendations with labour-management support 42:30 – Success stories and lessons learned 51:00 – Closing remarks Subscribe to OCS Talks for more industry insights and expert conversations shaping Ontario’s construction sector. If you enjoyed this episode, share it with your colleagues and leave a rating or review on your preferred podcast platform. Have a question, topic suggestion, or guest recommendation? Reach out at info@iciconstruction.com or visit iciconstruction.com for more industry updates, research, and resources. Keywords: Industrial, Commercial, Institutional, economy, contractors, unions, Ontario, ICI Construction, Ontario Construction, OCS Talks, construction projects, Skills Ontario, technology, careers, jobs, skilled trades, engineering, infrastructure, public policy, advisory councils, labour relations, workforce development, construction industry, health and safety, collaboration, government relations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
April 27, 2026
Shaping Tomorrow’s Workforce: A Conversation with Skills Ontario’s CEO
Today’s conversation is all about the future of skilled trades and how we inspire the next generation to be part of it. With rapid advancement in technology, we don’t know what jobs will exist and be created but there is no doubt that today’s job market is evolving. What we do know is what we will and do need people in the skilled trades, we need innovative ways to attract the right talent early on and show them what a rewarding career in the trades looks like. Chapter Markers: 0:00 – Introduction 0:39 – Welcome, Ian 1:08 – Overview of Skills Ontario 4:08 – Promoting Careers in the Skilled Trades 8:26 – Inside the Skills Ontario Event 13:50 – Guidance Counsellors Conference 16:22 – The Impact of Parent Influence as a Barrier 17:43 – Competition Qualification Process 20:35 – A Team Effort: Gratitude for Support 25:48 – How You Can Support Skills Ontario 29:30 – Where to Learn More About Skills Ontario 33:10 – Final Thoughts Subscribe for more industry insights and expert conversations. Have a question or topic suggestion? Reach out to us at info@iciconstruction.com or visit iciconstruction.com. To learn more about the incredible work being done by Skills Ontario, including the Skills Competition, visit: https://skillsontario.com/ Tags and keywords Industrial, Commercial, Institutional, economy, contractors, unions, Ontario, ICI Construction, Ontario Construction, OCS Talks, Construction Projects, Skills Ontario, technology, careers, jobs, skilled trades, engineering, technology, Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
14 total episodes available
Recent guests on OCS Talks
Guests from recent episodes — sign up to see every guest that has ever appeared on this show.
Gord Rados
Guest
Don Marks
Guest
Scott Wood
Guest
Sandra Shime
Guest
Cole Carson
Guest
Bob Collins
Guest
Bill Ferreira
Guest
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Frequently asked questions
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- What is OCS Talks?
- How often does this podcast release new episodes?
This podcast updates daily.
- Where can I listen to this podcast?
This podcast is available on 4 platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. You can also use the RSS feed directly.
- Does this podcast accept guests?
Yes, this podcast regularly features guests.
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