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Professional Development/Skills Training
August 2, 2010
Construction firms learn to get ‘Bear Smart’
Residents of a Canadian city debated whether police correctly handled a call reporting that a bear was shot and killed in April.
August 2, 2010
Lack of local workers on Wuskwatim Dam project riles Manitoba union
A carpenter’s union in Manitoba is upset that workers from outside the province are being given preference on the $1.3-billion Wuskwatim Dam project.
July 28, 2010
City of Vancouver report slams botched demolition
A report into a botched demolition at a downtown Vancouver construction site found several problems with the operation.
July 26, 2010
British Columbia’s electronic bidding system gets new name, services
The British Columbia Construction Association (BCCA) has changed the name of its electronic bidding system to BidCentral to create a new brand as well as an online center for a suite of services and documents.
July 26, 2010
BC Construction Safety Alliance merger complete
The paperwork has gone through and the BC Construction Safety Alliance (BCCSA) has officially been created.
July 26, 2010
Construction companies remain cautious about surety market
While many construction companies are currently performing well, there are concerns Canada’s economic recovery hasn’t yet established deep roots.
July 21, 2010
Calgary development industry launches election website
The Canadian Home Builder’s Association - Calgary Region and the Urban Development Institute Calgary have launched www.votecalgary.ca, a new website designed to educate and mobilize the housing and development industry to vote in the Oct. 18 municipal election.
July 21, 2010
Over-compensation issue has nothing to do with false claims
The article on the over-compensation of apprentices and COCA’s (Council of Construction Associations) campaign to stop this over-payment has drawn responses from two B.C. labour leaders.
July 21, 2010
Investigation launched after flag person killed in Mission, British Columbia
An investigation is underway into the death of a 49-year Langley resident, who was struck and killed by a car last week while controlling traffic at a construction site on the Lougheed Highway in Mission, B.C.
July 21, 2010
Consulting engineers have four potential career paths
When Andrew Steeves stepped up to the podium to address a group of young professionals employed in the consulting engineering industry, he opted to focus on the basics of building a successful firm.
July 21, 2010
Team approach, risk sharing necessary for BIM
Building Information Modeling (BIM) is a powerful design and planning tool that can make construction speedier, more efficient, and reduce construction disputes, said James LeBer, a London Ontario-based litigation specialist and vice-president of the London and District Construction Association.
July 19, 2010
Saskatchewan Construction Association honours province’s best projects
For his efforts in spearheading the Saskatchewan Youth Apprenticeship Industry Scholarship program, longtime industry “heavyweight” Paul McLellan was honoured with the Saskatchewan Construction Association (SCA) Person-of-the-Year Award.
July 14, 2010
Calgary’s development industry launches votecalgary.ca
The Canadian Home Builder’s Association - Calgary Region and the Urban Development Institute Calgary have launched, a new website designed to educate and mobilize the housing and development industry to vote in the Oct. 18 municipal election.
July 14, 2010
Calgary procurement code puts ethical onus on suppliers
Environment-friendly criteria have long been a part of the landscape in government procurement policies. but the City of Calgary, however, is going one step further with its Sustainable, Environmental and Ethical Procurement Policy (SEEPP).
July 12, 2010
Alberta’s auditor general criticizes immigration ministry’s occupational safety record
Alberta employers with open Occupational Health and Safety (OH&S) Act non-compliance orders for more than a year, originally mentioned in April’s auditor general’s report, may not be as numerous as originally reported.
July 12, 2010
Over-compensation for injured apprentices a concern in British Columbia
The pay for an apprentice in B.C. gets a lot better if they’re injured and this concerns some construction employers. After an apprentice has been injured on the job and has received temporary wage-loss benefits for 10 weeks, he or she is eligible for compensation at a rate of 90 per cent of a beginner journeyman’s wage.
July 8, 2010
Finning International announces executive appointments
Finning International has named Andy Fraser its new executive vice-president of power systems and global business development. Most recently, Fraser oversaw Finning’s U.K. operations as managing director.
July 8, 2010
Canada’s construction starts make solid gains in first half
The pattern of CanaData’s construction starts (+77% in square footage and +66% in dollar volume) through the first half of this year has been fairly predictable. The big winners have been institutional and engineering work, thanks to government funding.
July 7, 2010
Vanbots had early input into Aga Khan’s Toronto landmark
Contractor Vanbots brought its “builder’s hat” to the table during the pre-construction phase of a $300 million project now under way in Toronto’s Don Mills neighbourhood.
July 7, 2010
British Columbia’s construction industry dependent on stimulus, private investment
The construction industry in B.C. emerged from an abrupt and deep recession in 2009, but the strength of the upturn will depend on the timing of government stimulus and the recovery of private investment.
July 5, 2010
Bachelor degree in construction management offers flexibility
A construction management program is offering graduates a change to earn a degree, in addition to increasing their job prospects.
July 5, 2010
Harmonized sales tax could drive contractors to underground economy
The implementation of the Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) in B.C and Ontario could increase the chances that some construction businesses operate in the underground economy.
| MOST POPULAR STORIES |
- Sinkhole threatens Calgary building’s stability
- Highrise tool toss lands Calgary contractor in hot water
- Mike Holmes partners with First Nations on community-building pilot project
- Pine beetle spurs infrastructure construction in British Columbia
- City of Vancouver report slams botched demolition
- 20 Most Popular Stories
| TODAY’S TOP CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS |
These projects have been selected from 372 projects with a total value of $3,335,585,749 that Reed Construction Data Building Reports reported on yesterday.
$1,200,000,000 Calgary AB Negotiated
$520,000,000 Grande Prairie AB Prebid
$75,000,000 Edmonton AB Negotiated
| CURRENT STORIES |
- Lack of local workers on Wuskwatim Dam project riles Manitoba union
- Roadwork continues in Burnaby, British Columbia
- Contractor default insurance catches on in Canada
- Construction firms learn to get ‘Bear Smart’
- Qualifications-based selection gains traction with Defence Construction Canada
- Hamilton ready to work with all general contractors, union-affiliated or not
- Worker survives crane rollover in Victoria
- Encana negotiates with China National Petroleum
- Rigger acquitted in New York crane collapse
- Work begins on Lynn Creek Rail Bridge project in Vancouver
- Archaeological assessments an integral part of pre-construction
- Outland Camps offers flexibility from coast to coast
- City of Vancouver report slams botched demolition
- VIDEO: Canada’s economy is slowing down
- Australian Labor government defends stimulus after allegations of political bias
- Western Construction wins contract for Bonnybrook Waste Treatment Facility
- Stimulus spending on U.S. national parks a major job creator
- Fences provide first line of defence
- Directional drilling less disruptive for locals
- Ontario Brownfield Act to change remediation rules next year
- High-tech surveillance protects construction sites from thieves
- Market grows for energy efficient construction trailers
- Site photographers focus on staying in the picture
- Fast Wrap asset protection firm coming to Canada
| ALEX’S ECONOMICS BLOG |

Reed Construction Data Chief Economist Alex Carrick discusses current developments in the North American economic environment with emphasis on the construction industry.
- Canadian railway freight traffic on a better track (July 28, 2010)
- Waiting to see if the other shoe drops in Canada (July 16, 2010)
- Who wants Canada’s oil? (July 7, 2010)
- More



















