Green Transit Initiatives in Ontario Mean More Jobs for IBEW Members

EIn IBEW Aprenticeship 400

February 12, 2020

Toronto’s GO Transit commuter rail network has committed to a shift away from reliance on diesel-powered locomotives, a push that could translate into meaningful, long-term employment for up to 1,500 members of Toronto Local 353.

“There’s been a huge investment by the federal and provincial governments in recent years to electrify our rail systems,” said Local 353 Business Manager Steven Martin. “Our members have the experience and the know-how to take on such a huge project and get it done safely and efficiently.”

Last April, Ontario Premier Doug Ford announced plans for the province to invest nearly $28.5 billion on transit projects in the Greater Golden Horseshoe region covering the western shores of Lake Ontario from Toronto to Hamilton. Much of that money is geared toward construction of a new subway line through Toronto, but plenty will be left to help fund GO Transit’s $11.2 billion electrification project.

“People are looking for ways to go green and they’re also tired of sitting in traffic gridlock,” said First District International Vice President Thomas Reid. “With the IBEW’s help, Ontarians could soon be enjoying smoother and more environmentally conscious commutes.”

Nearly 71.7 million people rode GO Transit in 2018, the agency reported. Its upgrade project aims to boost ridership even higher by allowing trains powered primarily by overhead-contact electricity to run every 15 minutes each way on at least five of GO’s seven lines. It’s a major undertaking: If all of the system’s lines were laid out in a straight line, the 500 km of tracks would connect Toronto and Montréal.

Local 353’s chances of getting this work rose significantly thanks to a happy coincidence. The local’s leaders had been conducting contract talks in a Toronto hotel when representatives from U.K.-based engineering and construction firm Keltbray, on a mission to expand the company’s business to Canada, checked in to the same hotel.

“Whilst we will maintain our commitment and focus on the U.K. market, it is only sensible and prudent for us to consider markets overseas which provide a greater degree of certainty in the medium term,” Keltbray Group CEO Brendan Kerr said in a press release.

The two parties learned that they each place a strong emphasis on education, Martin said: “We brought them through one of our training centers and showed them how we’re on the leading edge when it comes to training.”

With more than 11,000 members throughout central Ontario, an ongoing commitment to education is crucial for Local 353, Martin said. Thanks to an annual investment of nearly $3 million, funded mainly through collective bargaining agreements with its numerous signatory contractors, the local operates four state-of-the-art centres — in Toronto, Barrie and Oshawa — to train apprentices and provide continuing education.

Keltbray came away impressed, Martin said, and in turn invited him, Local 353 Vice President Jeff Irons, Education Director Susan Boorman and Project Co-Ordinator Mike Rogge to tour the company’s U.K. headquarters. “It gave us a chance to see different sites and different ways of doing things, and to see how far along they are on training,” Martin said.

The business manager assured the Keltbray representatives that, should the company formalise an agreement to work in the province, the IBEW stood ready to take on any electrical work that resulted.

It wasn’t long before Keltbray had signed a business agreement with Local 353 signatory contractor Aecon, an infrastructure development company that itself was looking to get in on the coming overhead electrification upgrades. Local 353 members have worked extensively with Aecon on a number of transportation developments, including construction of the 19 km Eglinton Crosstown light-rail system, set to open in the fall of 2021, and the 11 km Finch West light-rail system opening in 2023.

“This amounts to billions of dollars’ worth of construction and maintenance,” said Martin of the GO Transit upgrades, with the potential for more work to come from maintenance and future expansions. “We’re hoping to make good hay with this.”

Local 353 also assured Keltbray that a relationship with the IBEW could help the company smooth its entrance into the Canadian market by assisting it with translating their rigorous training standards to conform with Ontario’s. “The concepts are the same, but some of the terms are different,” Martin said.

The business manager estimates that these and similar green initiatives in Ontario could hold a great deal of potential for Local 353 members.

“It’s a win-win-win — for the IBEW, for Keltbray and for the province,” Martin said.

Go HERE for more information.

Related Articles


Latest Articles


Changing Scene

  • Siemens to Establish Global AI Manufacturing Technologies R&D Center for Battery & EV Production in Canada

    Siemens to Establish Global AI Manufacturing Technologies R&D Center for Battery & EV Production in Canada

    May 26, 2025 Siemens will invest CAD $150 million over five years to establish a Global AI Manufacturing Technologies Research and Development (R&D) Center for Battery Production in Canada. The new R&D center, located initially at Siemens Canada’s head office in Oakville, as well as in Toronto and Kitchener-Waterloo, Ontario, will focus on developing cutting-edge AI manufacturing technologies with an initial emphasis… Read More…

  • Honda Postponing Ontario EV Supply Chain Investment by Two Years

    Honda Postponing Ontario EV Supply Chain Investment by Two Years

    May 26, 2025 Honda is postponing its plan to invest in a comprehensive EV supply chain in Ontario. The CBC reported that the investment is being push back by two years. “Due to the recent slowdown of the EV market, Honda Motor has announced an approximate two-year postponement of the comprehensive value chain investment project in Canada…. Read More…

  • Serge Leblanc Named Sonepar Canada Interim President

    Serge Leblanc Named Sonepar Canada Interim President

    May 26, 2025 George McClean, former President of Sonepar Canada, has decided to leave Sonepar for an opportunity outside of the electrical industry. Serge Leblanc, current President of Lumen Canada, has been appointed interim President of Sonepar Canada. Leblanc will manage both responsibilities until a successor is named.  Leblanc joined Lumen in 1997 and has… Read More…

  • Ontario Building and Construction Tradeswomen Head to Queens Park to Advocate for Safer, More Inclusive Job Sites

    Ontario Building and Construction Tradeswomen Head to Queens Park to Advocate for Safer, More Inclusive Job Sites

    May 26, 2025 On Monday, May 26, the Ontario Building and Construction Tradeswomen (OBCT), will host its first-ever Advocacy Day at Queen’s Park. Tradeswomen from across the province will gather to meet with Members of Provincial Parliament, including Minister of Labour David Piccini, to advocate for progress in the skilled trades for tradeswomen. OBCT’s top priorities include:… Read More…