By Peter Spence, VP of Sales & Partnerships, AuditSoft
Peter has 10+ years of experience in the regulatory technology and safety & compliance industry. He was involved in the early rollout of the Certificate Of Recognition (COR) program in Ontario and has completed the IHSA COR Internal Auditor and the Basic Auditing Principles courses. Prior to AuditSoft, Peter worked for the leading provider of global legal and regulatory compliance content, consulting Fortune 500 companies and supporting their rollout of global corporate compliance and auditing programs. Connect with Peter on LinkedIn.
Canada’s construction sector is entering a decade of sustained expansion. The latest BuildForce Canada forecast projects steady growth in both residential and non-residential construction investment through 2034, driven by infrastructure upgrades, healthcare and education projects, and increased renovation activity across the country.
But alongside this growth comes a serious workforce challenge: the industry is expected to need 380,500 workers over the next 10 years, including the replacement of 270,000 experienced tradespeople retiring by 2034. That’s a significant gap—one that raises important questions about project readiness, execution, and risk.
Add in global uncertainty—from shifting trade dynamics and material supply disruptions to inflationary pressures and geopolitical instability—and it becomes clear that controlling what you can has never been more important.
That’s where contractor prequalification and oversight come in. In a complex and unpredictable environment, qualifying your supply chain of contractors is one of the most effective ways to bring certainty into your projects.
When labour is tight and demand is high, the risks of engaging contractors who overstate their capabilities—or who can’t scale effectively—are amplified. Without proper due diligence, organizations face increased exposure to delays, rework, safety issues, and cost overruns.
Prequalifying contractors allows you to assess technical competence, capacity, safety performance, and compliance history before work begins. And by monitoring contractor performance throughout the project, you gain the visibility needed to address issues early and stay ahead of emerging risks.
In short: control the controllables. You may not be able to influence global conditions, but you can ensure that the people delivering your projects are qualified, reliable, and aligned with your standards.
As construction activity approaches peak levels across nearly every province, organizations that invest in contractor prequalification and supply chain transparency will be better positioned to deliver projects with fewer surprises and stronger outcomes.
At AuditSoft, we’re committed to being part of the solution. Through ContractorXchange, we’re helping organizations proactively manage contractor compliance, reduce risk, and prove due diligence. Explore our prequalification & contractor management software or join our next webinar to learn more!
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