New report charts path to safer workplaces, job creation, and steady growth for Canada’s maintenance sector
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
EDMONTON, AB, September 15, 2025 – The One Industry. One Workforce. One Future. Discussion paper released September 8 by the Association of Maintenance Contractors of Canada (AMCC) provides concrete recommendations on a strong path forward for Canada’s maintenance sector. The report was prepared by an independent Advisory Panel representing owners, contractors, unions, regulators, and training providers.
The panel has identified several major challenges facing Canadas maintenance sector but also points to the opportunities created by embracing collaboration and modernization. By taking action now, Canada can unlock billions in economic growth, create and sustain tens of thousands of good-paying jobs, and strengthen the long-term competitiveness of its workforce.
Canada’s maintenance sector underpins the nation’s energy facilities, utilities, petrochemicals, manufacturing plants, and transportation systems—supporting tens of thousands of skilled workers and billions in economic activity. Yet, the industry faces a turning point. An aging workforce, fragmented contracting practices, uneven adoption of technology, and inefficiencies in workforce deployment threaten to drive up costs, delay projects, and erode safety standards.
“Canada’s ambition to invest in trade, energy, and critical infrastructure to meet trade and global economic challenges demands a new approach,” says panel co-chair Mandy Kaiser. “If we embrace cooperation and structured collaboration, the maintenance sector can ensure these investments translate into safer projects, stronger productivity, and a globally competitive advantage.”
Key Findings and Recommendations:
• Collaboration as the Foundation: Moving from silos to systems of trust, shared accountability, and transparency across all stakeholders.
• Four Pillars for Success: Productivity, workforce utilization and mobilization, competitiveness, and safety—with safety as the non-negotiable foundation.
• Industry-Wide Alignment: Owners must embrace collaborative contracting, unions should lead mentorship and mobility, contractors need to invest in innovation, regulators must align policy with best practices, and training providers must prepare the next generation.
• Tools of the Future: Digital platforms, AI-powered forecasting, predictive maintenance, and shared data systems should be embedded in every project, contract, and training program.
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Unlocking Growth and Jobs Implementing the report’s recommendations is not only about avoiding risks—it is also about capturing opportunity. By embracing collaboration and modernization, Canada’s maintenance sector can unlock billions of dollars in new project efficiencies, attract global investment, and position the country as a leader in safety-driven productivity. More importantly, these changes will help create and sustain tens of thousands of good-paying jobs, strengthen apprenticeship pipelines, and ensure that Canadian workers and communities’ benefit from long-term, predictable employment opportunities.
The report emphasizes that the time for action is now. Incremental change will not be enough to meet the rising demand for maintenance services driven by energy corridor development, infrastructure renewal, and sustainability commitments.
“The tools are ready. The partnerships are taking shape. The window for action is open, but it will not be forever,” said panel co-chair Robert Kucheran. “Let this be the moment when Canada’s maintenance sector chooses courage over caution, and action over inertia.”
About the Report One Industry. One Workforce. One Future was authored by an Independent Advisory Panel with contributions from leaders across industry, labour, training, and regulatory organizations. Over the last year, the panel consulted stakeholders, examined best practices from leading Canadian and international maintenance organizations, and reviewed global benchmarks in safety, productivity, and workforce development.
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The full discussion paper is available at www.AMCCanada.ca/One-Future.
For more information
Shandra Linder, President Association of Maintenance Contractors of Canada
(587) 986-2622
info@amccanada.ca
The executive summary can be found here: https://amccanada.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Executive-Summary-Layout.pdf
The full report can be viewed here: https://amccanada.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/AMCC-Discussion-Paper-2025.pdf
Media inquiries can be sent to:
Shandra Linder, President
Association of Maintenance Contractors of Canada