PLCAC was founded by a small group of contractors in February of 1954 for the purpose of training Canadian workers in pipeline construction and to negotiate collective bargaining agreements for these workers. Today, the Association consists of 157 regular, associate, and honorary members.

PLCAC negotiates and renews, with the building trades unions in Canada that have traditionally held pipeline construction jurisdiction, four Canada-wide collective agreements covering mainline cross country transmission pipeline construction, four Canada-wide collective agreements covering natural gas distribution pipeline construction within cities and towns, and four Canada-wide collective agreements covering pipeline maintenance and service.

The Association actively liaises with government, pipeline owning companies, pipeline craft unions and other external stakeholders as an advocate for the unionized pipeline construction industry.