Senior officials at the Carpenters’ Regional Council have resigned following an investigation into multimillion-dollar home purchases in Nobleton, Ontario. The probe follows reports that union funds were used for the personal benefit of top executives.

The $6.5 million Nobleton real estate trail

The controversy centers on two luxury properties in Nobleton, Ontario, valued at a combined $6.5 million, according to a report by the Globe and Mail. These transactions have triggered a massive leadership upheaval within the Carpenters’ Regional Council (CRC), one of Canada's largest construction unions.

The first property, a $4 million residence, was purchased by the union in 2022 and reportedly served as a home for executive secretary-treasurer Jason Rowe and his wife, Stacey Rowe, for two years. Following their residency, the property was rented out to third parties.

A second Nobleton property was acquired in 2024 for $2.5 million by a numbered company directed by Jason and Stacey Rowe.. Records indicate that the Rowes acted on behalf of this company in both real estate deals before the assets were moved into the union's control.

The properties were eventually transferred at no cost to the Carpenters’ Regional Council Building Corp., a subsidiary whholly owned by the union... This zero-cost transfer has become a central point of scrutiny for those investigating the union's financial management.

A 2022 U.S. trusteeship that failed to prevent misconduct

The United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America had placed the CRC under a trusteeship in 2022 to address potential financial malpractice. This oversight was intended to stabilize the organization, yet the recent scandal suggests that the measures failed to curb executive autonomy.

Under this trusteeship, the CRC executive board lost much of its traditional authority, allowing Jason Rowe to operate alongside a small group of appointed trustees. As reported by the Globe and Mail, the executive board was not even informed about the purchase of the initial $4 million house , contradicting claims that the acquisition followed union bylaws.

$27 million in provincial funds and the Doug Ford connection

Ontario’s Skills Development Fund has been a significant source of revenue for the CRC, including a $27 million award that preceded a public endorsement by Premier Doug Ford . The political implications of this funding have intensified as the investigation into the union's real estate dealings continues.

Premier Doug Ford publicly endorsed the union in early 2025, appearing at a campaign event with Jason Rowe shortly after the $27 million provincial fund was awarded. Critics suggest that this close relationship highlights the political risks involved when government-funded organizations face allegations of misusing assets.

Who will answer for the zero-cost property transfers?

The Carpenters’ Regional Council has provided inconsistent explanations regarding the Nobleton properties, initially denying they were for individual use before justifying the first house as a short-term necessity for Jason Rowe's relocation. However, the union has yet to explain why a numbered company was used for the transactions or why the properties were transferred to the Carpenters’ Regional Council Building Corp. for zero consideration.

Several critical questions remain regarding the future of the second Nobleton property, which is currently listed for sale, and whether any restitution will be made to the union for the use of its resources. Furthermore, the specific allegations that prompted the 2022 U.S. trusteeship remain undisclosed, leaving the full scope of the CRC's governance issues unverified.