News & events

From the
hall floor.

Notices, bursaries, events and announcements relevant to Local 512 members and the wider construction trades community in Newfoundland and Labrador.

  • Oct 15, 2026Apprenticeship

    Ottawa puts $430 million into union trades training

    Announced in Ottawa on October 15, the investment in the Union Training and Innovation Program (UTIP) includes $197.2 million to expand training facilities and $135 million for new ways to recruit pre-apprentices, move apprentices through to certification and upgrade journeypersons. Training providers can also apply at any time for help buying training equipment, with the federal share temporarily raised from 50% to 70% to offset rising equipment and material costs. Expressions of interest for facility projects close November 12, and innovation proposals close December 17. Canada’s Building Trades Unions called it “a significant and welcome investment in Canada’s unionized skilled trades.” Ottawa expects more than 1.4 million skilled trades job openings between 2024 and 2033. Thinking about the trade? Start with our apprenticeship page, see the safety tickets explained, or visit Canada.ca for program details.

  • Jul 17, 2026Apprenticeship

    Ottawa commits $2 billion to trades training

    The federal government has committed $2 billion in new funding for provinces and territories to expand skilled trades training, announced in Halifax following a meeting of the Forum of Labour Market Ministers. Delivered over five years under the Team Canada Strong initiative, the money targets pre-apprenticeship and technical training capacity, shorter certification waitlists and higher completion rates, part of a national push to recruit, train and certify 80,000 to 100,000 new Red Seal trades workers. Ottawa projects Canada will need more than 1.4 million new trades workers by 2033 to build homes, transit and energy infrastructure. Funding agreements with the provinces are expected to be finalized in the 2026–27 fiscal year. Thinking about the trade? Start with our apprenticeship page, see the safety tickets explained, or visit Canada.ca/skilled-trades for federal supports.

  • Jul 12, 2026Apprentices

    Canada crowns its top apprentices at the 50th CCSMWR Convention

    The Canadian Council of Sheet Metal Workers & Roofers (CCSMWR) marked its 50th Annual Convention in Edmonton this July, hosted by SMART Local 8 at the Chateau Lacombe. Delegates from locals across the country gathered July 9–12 for governance sessions and the milestone 50th Annual Apprenticeship Competition, where the trade’s top apprentices went tool-to-tool for national bragging rights.

    Sheet Metal
    1st: Justin Costa, Local 285 (EM Air Systems)
    2nd: Nathan Marzilli, Local 537 (Flynn Canada)
    3rd: Michael Pardy, Local 562 (Nelco Mechanical)
    4th: Lauren Coates, Local 276 (Playsted Sheet Metal)
    Congeniality: Rodeo Richard Michaud, Local 437 (Beaulieu Mechanical)

    Roofing
    1st: William Morgan, Local 276 (Aurora Roofing Ltd)
    2nd & Congeniality: Joshua Blais, Local 47 (Flynn Canada)
    3rd: Leandro Rites, Local 47 (Simluc Roofing)

    Congratulations to every competitor who stepped up to the bench. You represent the future of our trade, a path that starts with an apprenticeship. The 51st Convention heads east to Cape Breton in 2027.

  • May 20, 2026Site

    Local 512 website rebuild in progress

    We’re modernizing our online home. Over the next phase, the news, dispatch and training calendar will move into this section so members can find the latest from anywhere.

  • May 19, 2026SMART Canada

    New resources and support for Canadian members

    SMART Canada Director Jack Wall has announced three new supports for Canadian members. (1) A dedicated Canadian Facebook page for member stories, local successes and updates from the Canadian office. (2) Enriched Academy financial wellness, now added to the Health & Welfare package, covering budgeting, debt management, investing and retirement planning, available to members and immediate families. Reach out to the local for enrollment. (3) A Canadian Apprenticeship Strategy funding opportunity covering up to 50% of eligible training-equipment costs for Red Seal trades; SMART will promote proposals to locals for facility upgrades.

  • Mar 11, 2026Project

    $200M Bull Arm dry dock: built union by TradesNL

    The province has committed to a 7,000–8,000-tonne dry dock at Bull Arm (Atlantic Canada’s largest fabrication site) to be built by unionized TradesNL workers and owned by OilCo. Sheet metal scope on a large enclosed fabrication structure means ductwork, ventilation and architectural sheet metal squarely in Local 512’s wheelhouse. Initial planning-phase funding is in the upcoming provincial budget.

  • Mar 3, 2026Project

    Bay du Nord benefits deal signed

    First new standalone NL offshore development since Hebron, and the province’s first deepwater project. The benefits agreement with Equinor and BP locks in 95% of subsea components to be fabricated in Newfoundland and Labrador, a $200M fabrication fund, and a 10% apprentice target on construction (15% onshore operations). FEED runs through end of 2026; subsea and topsides fabrication scope opens to provincial contractors after that.

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