Our Advocacy
40 Years of Advocacy
OpenCircle Contractors Association has a long-standing reputation for being a powerful voice for open-shop construction, focusing its advocacy efforts to ensure a fair and competitive landscape for both employers and employees. Over the decades, the Association has been instrumental in championing open tendering—fighting for the right of all qualified contractors to bid on public infrastructure projects regardless of their union affiliation.
Beyond procurement, OpenCircle’s current advocacy has pivoted toward critical social and workforce issues. The Association is a leader in advocating for mental health initiatives tailored for the construction industry, as well as pushing for government support to address the chronic skilled trades labour shortage through enhanced apprenticeship programs.
Our Industry Impact
For 40 years, we have operated as a not-for-profit association providing training, benefits, and advocacy. Through the decades OpenCircle Contractors Association (formerly Merit Contractors Association) has lobbied for the rights of workers, fought for open shop construction representation and has always believed contracts should be awarded on merit.
OpenCircle Advocacy
If you have an area of interest in the advocacy portfolio at OpenCircle, you are encouraged to reach out to Lori Coté, Director of External Relations with OpenCircle.