The strike by Ontario’s professional engineers and land surveyors, represented by the Professional Engineers Government of Ontario (PEGO), has entered its third month, delaying significant infrastructure projects across the province according to the union.
This marks the first legal strike action in PEGO’s 35-year history.
The union, which represents approximately 600 engineers and land surveyors employed by the Ontario government, began its job action in October 2024 with a work-to-rule campaign. Since then, the strike has escalated to rotating service withdrawals affecting major projects, including Highway 413, the Bradford Bypass, and numerous other initiatives critical to the province’s transportation and environmental infrastructure.
“The delivery of important transportation projects is being delayed across the province, in some cases by several years,” PEGO President Nihar Bhatt said. Delayed work includes highway interchange reconstructions, bridge replacements, electric vehicle charging stations in northern Ontario, and environmental permitting for industrial facilities.
PEGO says the strike stems from recruitment and retention issues, which Bhatt attributes to wages that lag behind the broader market for engineers and land surveyors in Ontario. “Our focus has always been to address the root cause of Ontario’s recruitment and retention challenges,” Bhatt said. “PEGO members design and oversee critical work, saving the government money, protecting taxpayer interests, and ensuring effective planning for the long-term interests of Ontarians.”
PEGO asserts that the union and the government are close to resolving compensation issues but says the Treasury Board Secretariat (TBS) must show greater flexibility. Efforts to reach a settlement included rallies in Toronto, Kingston, London, and other cities in recent weeks, as well as direct communication with Premier Doug Ford’s office earlier this week.
While PEGO has called for continued negotiations, the Ontario government has described projects like Highway 413 as moving “full steam ahead.” However, the union’s withdrawal of engineers working on these projects raises questions about the potential for further delays.
The strike’s impact highlights the critical role engineers and surveyors play in delivering Ontario’s infrastructure priorities. As talks continue, the timeline for resolving the dispute and resuming normal project delivery remains uncertain.
