by Rosemarie Powell
As the 2025 federal budget doubles down with hundreds of billions of dollars earmarked for new infrastructure and housing over the next five years, it is crucial that Community Benefits Agreements (CBAs) are woven into the fabric of these initiatives.
This will ensure that they not only grow the economy but also create local opportunities for marginalized populations and promote inclusive growth. CBAs have been gaining traction in recent years as a powerful tool for promoting both economic development and social equity in Canadian cities. Thankfully, the federal budget has included a community benefits directive in the way that infrastructure projects will roll out.
The City of Toronto’s Community Benefits Framework, formally adopted in 2018, has shown how CBAs can be successful in delivering tangible benefits to local communities through infrastructure and housing projects. By engaging with residents, community organizations, and other stakeholders, Toronto has been able to ensure that infrastructure and housing projects deliver more than just physical assets. Through CBAs, projects have been able to create good jobs and opportunities for local residents and equity-deserving communities through apprenticeship training pathways and skills development programs, and support for small and medium sized businesses through local procurement strategies.
This approach not only helps to address economic disparities within the city but also fosters a sense of community ownership and pride in the projects being developed.
From the revitalization of the West Park Health Care Centre to the construction of the Finch and Eglinton Crosstown LRT and soon to be open Gordie Howe Bridge in Windsor, CBAs have been instrumental in ensuring that infrastructure projects benefit all residents, especially those who are traditionally marginalized or underserved. Private sector companies like Northcrest Developments are also understanding their importance by including community benefit plans in the redevelopment of the Downsview lands. By incorporating CBAs into federal projects, the government can build on these successes and create a more inclusive and equitable economy for all Canadians.
It was good to see that a Community Employment Benefits Agreement directive was included in the 2025 Carney budget. However, its success will rely on strong funding conditions, early engagement at the project level and developing key performance indicators and processes to ensure accountability.
As Canada embarks on this unprecedented wave of infrastructure and housing investment, CBAs must not be treated as a box-ticking exercise but as a cornerstone of how we build. The 2025 federal budget’s inclusion of community employment benefits is a promising step—but promises alone will not deliver equity.
To truly transform public investment into shared prosperity, the federal government must work closely with key stakeholders including provinces, municipalities, industry, labour, and community coalitions to embed CBAs from the outset of every major project and include mechanisms to monitor and report on its impact.
Rosemarie Powell is Executive Director of the Toronto Community Benefits Network, co-founder of the Canadian Building Diversity Institute and Owner of Big on Green Property Management earning numerous awards for her leadership and advocacy for inclusive economic development.