PC Leader Tony Wakeham Participates in Trades NL Political Leaders Panel

 

 

(St. John’s, NL) – Progressive Conservative Leader Tony Wakeham participated this morning in the Trades NL Political Leaders Panel as part of the 2025 Trades NL Conference, “Building NL Together,” held at the Sheraton Hotel in St. John’s.

 

Wakeham reiterated his commitment to growing the Newfoundland and Labrador economy and getting tradespersons back to work in this province.

 

Mr. Wakeham’s participation follows Trades NL’s endorsement of the Progressive Conservative Party of Newfoundland and Labrador.

 

“On behalf of all 40 PC candidates, I want to thank Trades NL and its members for their endorsement,” said Wakeham. “Unionized workers will always have a seat at the table in a PC government. We have the facilities, the skills, and the workforce right here in Newfoundland and Labrador — what we need now is a government prepared to dream big and start building again.”

 

During the panel, Mr. Wakeham emphasized the importance of ensuring that major projects such as Bay du Nord deliver benefits for Newfoundlanders and Labradorians first. He also called for more federal defense spending and reaffirmed his commitment to:

  • Reinvigorating Bull Arm as a hub for fabrication, construction, and manufacturing using local unionized labour;

     

  • Requiring local community benefits agreements for major public infrastructure and natural resource projects, with a minimum of 10% apprentices;

     

  • Strengthening training and apprenticeship programs to give young people, indigenous workers, and women more opportunities in the skilled trades;

     

  • Expand skilled trades programs with a high school pre-apprenticeship program. This will make sure that all high school students will be given a greater opportunity to explore and prepare for careers in the skilled trades.

     

 

“Our resources, our province, our people — that’s what this is about,” Wakeham added. “We will keep fighting to make sure Newfoundlanders and Labradorians get their fair share of the work, the contracts, and the opportunity that comes from developing our own resources.”

 

“I thank Trades NL for their endorsement and ask all Newfoundlanders and Labradorians to vote for their PC Candidate for better healthcare, lower taxes, and safer communities for all of us” concluded Wakeham.