“AI is integrated into nearly every aspect of our operations, from scheduling and project budgeting to labor planning and site logistics.”
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How does PCL Construction support Ontario’s mining industry?
Founded in 1906, PCL Construction (PCL) is one of North America’s largest construction companies. We are a 100% employee-owned company, and work across a range of sectors, including buildings, civil infrastructure, solar renewables and heavy industrial projects, with over 5,500 salaried employees across Canada, the US and Australia.
We have been present within the mining sector for decades, mostly in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. We established an office in Sudbury in 2019, from which we service most of our mining work in Ontario. Our core clients there include Glencore and Vale, for whom we undertake a range of industrial, building and civil infrastructure projects.
What sets PCL Construction apart as a mining contractor?
We have the expertise to provide a large direct-hire workforce and labor solutions for complex mining operations with high safety requirements. We also partner with local and national trade partners, dependent on project requirements. On the technical side, we have a very large modular solutions business. We have provided over 3,000 modules for various sectors through our prefabrication and modular shop. This is augmented by our in-house engineering and virtual design capability, which brings technical expertise to construction.
What is PCL Construction’s approach to safety?
For our mining clients, safety is non-negotiable. Mine sites are high-risk, and clients want a partner with a safety management system that aligns with their core values and integrates well into their system. We achieved zero lost time incidents in 2024 across all our operations in Canada, including all hours worked on our projects by PCL direct hires and trade partners. We have a very mature COR-certified HSE system, and as an employee-owned company, accountability for safety goes all the way to the senior level. This ensures we meet our goals of ensuring everyone goes home safely every day.
What is the nature of your collaboration with EPC and EPCM companies?
PCL’s collaboration with EPC and EPCM consultants enables a disciplined approach to estimating pre-construction services. We have the experience and expertise to help clients make informed, value-based decisions for their investments, which we believe is one of our differentiators. The most successful projects for our clients are those where we get involved early on. Clients now recognize that same value and approach us for it.
How would you describe your relationship with subcontractors?
What we look for in our trade partners is what clients look for in us as well. We seek trade partners with the necessary capacity and technical expertise to fulfill the project requirements. Having the financial capacity to perform these high-risk activities is also an important consideration. We undergo an extensive, value-based vendor selection and qualification process, and we take pride in our long-term partnerships. Trade partners in Canada view us as a very reliable client to work with, thanks to our efficient, effective and safe work sites.
How do you view the introduction of new technologies, such as AI, in general contracting?
AI is integrated into nearly every aspect of our operations, from scheduling and project budgeting to labor planning and site logistics. We have partnered with Microsoft to trial these new technologies, enabling us to continuously innovate and optimize how we plan and execute projects. We have also adopted drones across our offices and projects, but the real evolution comes from the AI-driven software and practices that complement drone deployment. We leverage these tools for predictive analytics, progress monitoring, risk assessment, shutdown planning and reality capture.
What is the future of PCL Construction’s mining business in Ontario?
In northern Ontario, we see good opportunities to work with the right clients. We continue to seek clients with whom we share values around safety, quality and value-based decision making.
In 2025, there is a tailwind to the development of mining in Ontario and Canada, given recent geopolitical developments. We think this growth in demand for mining contracting is durable. At PCL, we are aligning our future operations to reflect this increase in demand. Our measured approach prioritizes partnership development. We will continue to invest in our relationships with miners, EPCs, EPCMs, First Nations and the broader communities where we work, to deliver the nation-building projects that will move Canada forward.
How does PCL Construction support Ontario’s mining industry?
Founded in 1906, PCL Construction (PCL) is one of North America’s largest construction companies. We are a 100% employee-owned company, and work across a range of sectors, including buildings, civil infrastructure, solar renewables and heavy industrial projects, with over 5,500 salaried employees across Canada, the US and Australia.
We have been present within the mining sector for decades, mostly in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. We established an office in Sudbury in 2019, from which we service most of our mining work in Ontario. Our core clients there include Glencore and Vale, for whom we undertake a range of industrial, building and civil infrastructure projects.
What sets PCL Construction apart as a mining contractor?
We have the expertise to provide a large direct-hire workforce and labor solutions for complex mining operations with high safety requirements. We also partner with local and national trade partners, dependent on project requirements. On the technical side, we have a very large modular solutions business. We have provided over 3,000 modules for various sectors through our prefabrication and modular shop. This is augmented by our in-house engineering and virtual design capability, which brings technical expertise to construction.
What is PCL Construction’s approach to safety?
For our mining clients, safety is non-negotiable. Mine sites are high-risk, and clients want a partner with a safety management system that aligns with their core values and integrates well into their system. We achieved zero lost time incidents in 2024 across all our operations in Canada, including all hours worked on our projects by PCL direct hires and trade partners. We have a very mature COR-certified HSE system, and as an employee-owned company, accountability for safety goes all the way to the senior level. This ensures we meet our goals of ensuring everyone goes home safely every day.
What is the nature of your collaboration with EPC and EPCM companies?
PCL’s collaboration with EPC and EPCM consultants enables a disciplined approach to estimating pre-construction services. We have the experience and expertise to help clients make informed, value-based decisions for their investments, which we believe is one of our differentiators. The most successful projects for our clients are those where we get involved early on. Clients now recognize that same value and approach us for it.
How would you describe your relationship with subcontractors?
What we look for in our trade partners is what clients look for in us as well. We seek trade partners with the necessary capacity and technical expertise to fulfill the project requirements. Having the financial capacity to perform these high-risk activities is also an important consideration. We undergo an extensive, value-based vendor selection and qualification process, and we take pride in our long-term partnerships. Trade partners in Canada view us as a very reliable client to work with, thanks to our efficient, effective and safe work sites.
How do you view the introduction of new technologies, such as AI, in general contracting?
AI is integrated into nearly every aspect of our operations, from scheduling and project budgeting to labor planning and site logistics. We have partnered with Microsoft to trial these new technologies, enabling us to continuously innovate and optimize how we plan and execute projects. We have also adopted drones across our offices and projects, but the real evolution comes from the AI-driven software and practices that complement drone deployment. We leverage these tools for predictive analytics, progress monitoring, risk assessment, shutdown planning and reality capture.
What is the future of PCL Construction’s mining business in Ontario?
In northern Ontario, we see good opportunities to work with the right clients. We continue to seek clients with whom we share values around safety, quality and value-based decision making.
In 2025, there is a tailwind to the development of mining in Ontario and Canada, given recent geopolitical developments. We think this growth in demand for mining contracting is durable. At PCL, we are aligning our future operations to reflect this increase in demand. Our measured approach prioritizes partnership development. We will continue to invest in our relationships with miners, EPCs, EPCMs, First Nations and the broader communities where we work, to deliver the nation-building projects that will move Canada forward.
