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by SHCA SHCA

Help SHCA Help You – and Saskatchewan Communities

Stay up to date with SHCA events, happenings, industry news and other announcements. Follow SHCA on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, X and YouTube. And if you received this edition of The Interchange from a colleague who forwarded it to you, don’t forget to subscribe by visiting www.saskheavy.ca – that way, you’ll never miss updates that are important to you and your business.

Go one step further and tag SHCA and Shantel Lipp, SHCA president, in your social media posts. This will help SHCA market your company and share your news and updates with our followers. Encourage the communities you stay in to tag your company and SHCA in their online communications, too – we want to show the province the undeniable economic ripple our industry creates!

If you have anything that you would like SHCA to share on your behalf on social media, in The Interchange or on www.saskheavy.ca – whether it’s a project update, staff event, fundraisers, job announcements or postings, big announcements or more – send an email to the SHCA office and we’ll help you get the word out.

Witness the harmonious coexistence of a yellow construction helmet, pencils, and drawings as they rest on a table. This image reflects the artistic aspect of the construction industry, highlighting the importance of creativity in the field.
by SHCA SHCA

Company Fined $70,000 for Serious Workplace Injury

On March 13, 2024, Sunterra Horticulture (Canada) Inc. pleaded guilty in Yorkton Provincial Court to one violation of The Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, 2020.

The company was fined for contravening clause 3-1 (a) of the regulations (being an employer at a place of employment, fail to provide and maintain plant, systems of work and working environments that ensure, as far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare at work of the employer’s workers, resulting in the serious injury of a worker). As a result, the Court imposed a fine of $50,000 with a surcharge of $20,000, for a total amount of $70,000.

One additional charge was withdrawn.

The charges stemmed from an incident that occurred on September 16, 2021, near Hyas, Sask., where a worker was seriously injured while attempting to dislodge a pallet and bale of peat moss.

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by SHCA SHCA

SARM Responds to the 2024-25 Provincial Budget Announcement

The Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities (SARM), alongside their member RMs, emphasizes both highlights and concerns regarding rural communities across the province in this year’s provincial budget.

“Today’s budget includes many priorities that our members have been asking for, although not perfect, we feel items in this budget go a long way to support our RMs and the people who live in rural Saskatchewan,” said Ray Orb, SARM president.

SARM is pleased with the increase, recognizing that RMs are a key component in driving Saskatchewan’s economy.

“More funding is always welcome, RMs have a major responsibility to provide a level of service and infrastructure expected by the major sectors driving Saskatchewan’s economy,” said Orb.

The municipal revenue sharing model is unique to Saskatchewan and SARM is pleased with the increased dollars being invested by the province. This funding goes a long way to supporting RMs in the future.

Agriculture is the backbone of rural Saskatchewan and SARM is pleased with the record investment in the Ministry of Agriculture this year. Key asks from SARM, such as increased Business Risk Management program funding, increased investment in weather stations for data collection and the commitment to irrigation are all being addressed. SARM supports the direction the province is taking in these critical areas.

As stated in the lead up to SARM’s annual convention, SARM has been advocating for the launch of the water management infrastructure known as the Lake Diefenbaker Irrigation Project. This project has been in the making for a long time and will positively impact RMs into the future, increasing crop diversity and farm profitability through irrigation.

SARM is appreciative of the province’s investment of $20 million and commends their commitment to this transformational project. 

“We appreciate the government’s recognition of the importance of this project,” said Orb. “Irrigation is a key component to economic growth in rural Saskatchewan and this project will go far in supporting that.”

The competition to attract and retain qualified medical professionals is particularly fierce. As the pressure on urban health care facilities increases, there is an equally dire need to support, maintain, and grow rural health care programs.

It will take a collaborative partnership with the government, along with health care partners, to create a wholesome, informed and triaged approach to ensure the people living in rural Saskatchewan receive the health service and care they deserve.

The funding towards rural recruitment and nurse practitioners is something that SARM members have been asking for. These steps in the budget are encouraging in the path towards proper rural health care.

Funding for rural road and bridge infrastructure is imperative for RMs to continue to provide key economic sectors with a strategic transportation network that is effective and well maintained.

While there is a modest increase in Rural Integrated Roads for Growth funding, the challenges and expenses of maintaining critical rural infrastructure continue to rise and there are concerns regarding the level of investment in vital services such as roads and infrastructure. With the current inflation and the vast inventory of rural infrastructure, RMs will require stronger support going forward. SARM will continue to ask for more funding to allow RMs to renew and maintain rural roads.

“While we recognize the challenges in balancing various priorities within budget constraints, we urge the government to ensure RMs have sufficient funding to maintain critical rural infrastructure across the province,” Orb said. 

Moreover, SARM emphasizes the need for continued collaboration between the provincial government and RMs to address ongoing issues such as agricultural sustainability, health care, rural policing and rural infrastructure investments.

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by SHCA SHCA

Saskatchewan Invests $248,000 Toward Women in Trades

At the end of March, the Government of Saskatchewan announced a partnership with Women Building Futures to support the Journey to Trades pre-employment program that will provide women with the skills they need to start their careers in the construction trades and embark on apprenticeship.

“This investment in skills training will further support Saskatchewan’s Labour Market Strategy by ensuring residents have every opportunity to benefit from the jobs our rapidly growing economy is creating,” Immigration and Career Training Minister Jeremy Harrison said. “This partnership with Women Building Futures will provide the opportunity for women to gain first-hand experience in the skilled trades and take advantage of the in-demand jobs being created in the construction and maintenance industries.”  

The Ministry of Immigration and Career Training is investing $248,000 into the Journey to Trades program, which will support 18 participants over the next year. The program takes place in Regina and will run for 12 weeks. Students will take part in classroom learning and receive hands-on skills development that will enable them to gain employment in entry level positions. 

“At Women Building Futures, we recognize the need to eliminate barriers for women and under-represented groups, so they can get into resilient careers that pay higher than a living wage,” Women Building Futures President and CEO Carol Moen said. “We help them build the skills and confidence they need to succeed and then connect our graduates with industry partners who nurture safe, equitable workplaces for women. With this investment, we are excited to grow our impact in Saskatchewan, supporting more unemployed and underemployed women on their paths to economic security.”

The Journey to Trades program will be delivered through Women Building Futures, an organization that empowers women to explore careers by providing training and supports. This collaboration provides women in the skilled trades with skills training and work experience.

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by SHCA SHCA

WCB Releases 2023 Provincial Workplace Injury Statistics

The Saskatchewan Workers’ Compensation Board (WCB) released the 2023 provincial workplace injury statistics in mid-March. The total injury rate for 2023 was 3.95 per 100 workers, an almost nine per cent decrease from 2022. From 2009 to 2023, the WCB’s Total injury rate has decreased by 57.62 per cent. The 2023 Total injury rate is the lowest in the province’s recorded history. 

“Through the WorkSafe Saskatchewan partnership with the Ministry of Labour Relations and Workplace Safety, as a province, we are on the right track as we see our total and Time Loss injury rates continue to come down,” said Gord Dobrowolsky, chair of the WCB. “This is thanks to the combined efforts of workers, employers, our safety associations, safety leaders across the province and labour, including the Saskatchewan Federation of Labour and the Saskatchewan Building Trades. But even one injury is too many, so there is still much to do to ensure that every worker in Saskatchewan is able to come home safely at the end of the day.” 

For the fourth year in a row, 90 per cent of Saskatchewan workplaces had zero fatalities and zero injuries last year. In addition to the total injury rate decrease in 2023, the Time Loss injury rate also dropped to 1.78 per 100 workers. This represents a decrease of 12.75 per cent from the 2022 rate of 2.04 per 100 workers. 

“An almost 13 per cent decrease in the Time Loss injury rate is certainly significant for 2023,” said WCB CEO Phillip Germain. “While we are moving in a positive direction, we all need to continue prioritizing workplace safety to drive our rates even lower.” 

Saskatchewan’s Time Loss injury rate is fourth among Canadian provinces. 

“We believe every workplace incident is preventable, and serious injuries represent approximately 11 to 14 per cent of our total claims,” said Germain. “Serious injuries account for more than 80 per cent of our claim costs in the province’s compensation system each year. We will not rest until Saskatchewan records no workplace fatalities and the lowest serious injury rate in Canada. We believe we are on the right track to get there.” 

Last year, WorkSafe Saskatchewan, a partnership between the WCB and the Ministry of Labour Relations and Workplace Safety, launched the 2023-2028 Fatalities and Serious Injuries Strategy. Building on the success of the first strategy, this document lays out a new approach to fatalities and serious injuries in Saskatchewan’s workplaces. The strategy is a multi-year plan that uses customer feedback and engagement, as well as claim and injury data. It outlines two key streams of work from the WCB and the Ministry of Labour Relations and Workplace Safety to reduce serious injuries and fatalities – a regulatory and enforcement stream, and a prevention and learning stream. 

“The WorkSafe Saskatchewan partnership is committed to continuing to bring our injury and fatalities rates down and keeping all workers safe on the job,” said Germain. 

In 2023: 

  • Total claims accepted decreased by 6.80 per cent to 16,143 from 17,321 in 2022. The total number of workers covered increased to 409,158 in 2023 from 400,392 the previous year. 
  • Accepted No Time Loss claims decreased to 8,870 in 2023 from 9,156 in 2022. 
  • Accepted Time Loss claims (excluding current-year fatalities) decreased to 7,256 from 8,148 in 2022. 

There were 29 workplace fatalities in 2023 compared to 39 in 2022. This is a decrease of 25.64 per cent. These deaths occurred in a variety of Saskatchewan industries. Of the 29 fatalities in 2023, 10 fatalities were due to occupational disease (five of which resulted from exposure to asbestos)), and nine fatalities were due to motor vehicle collisions. The remaining 10 fatalities resulted from medical complications due to workplace injuries, and from heart attacks and traumatic events. 

“Each of these fatalities represent spouses, children, families, workplaces and communities who have been tragically impacted by these losses,” said Dobrowolsky. “We need to remember the 29 workers in our province who lost their lives because of a work-related injury last year. To honour their memories, we all must intensify our efforts to make every workplace safe from injuries and fatalities.” 

Learn more about the strategy at worksafesask.ca/fatalities-and-serious-injuries.

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by Shantel Lipp Shantel Lipp

Prepping for the Construction Season

Shantel Lipp - Portrait

We are another month closer to the construction season getting underway. As you get ready for the projects you will work on this season, our board is preparing for a meeting we would love to have you attend.

A special meeting will be held in Saskatoon on April 24 to outline the priorities of SHCA. Members are invited to register to attend this event. Please get in touch with our office about registering –  we will be providing our membership regular updates on these priorities as well as future meetings we will hold.

Our priorities are related to current developments in our province and country. I keep a close eye on issues relevant to our industry, to understand them while also advocating for our members’ interests.  

One issue coming to the forefront of public attention is housing. The federal government is looking ahead to an election next year as Canadians express their frustration at the lack of housing and the cost of what is available.  

We need to build more homes in our country, but recent announcements by the federal government about their intent to “partner” with provinces and territories to build more housing in municipalities are being scrutinized by provincial and municipal leaders. The strings attached to the funding are a point of contention.  

Municipalities are in the best position to judge what the biggest benefit will be to their community, but  new homes, no matter where they’re built, will require roads, utilities and other services that are challenging for municipalities to provide.  

There’s infrastructure that we like, such as parks, recreation facilities, pools and more. There’s infrastructure we need, such as hospitals, care homes, clinics and schools. Then there’s the infrastructure that helps pay for it all, including roads, rail, air and trade corridor access. We can’t forget how important that last piece is to all the others.  

We need to be vocal about this matter, so the federal government understands that building homes isn’t about constructing a single standing structure. Before any housing can begin to be built, there is the preparation for the development, and that’s done by our industry. That is critical and can’t be lost in the discussion.  

Working in this industry, I am constantly reminded of how great the people are who work in it. That extends beyond our country to our neighbours in the south. I was pleased to attend the 2024 World of Asphalt conference Nashville, Tenn., held in late March.  

World of Asphalt is the leading asphalt trade show and conference, where industry manufacturers and service providers in the aggregate, asphalt, pavement maintenance, and traffic safety industry sectors come together to showcase their latest products and technologies. This event features 500 exhibitors, 150 education session and over 15,000 attendees from around the world.  

A highlight for me was connecting with my peers in the U.S. chapter of Women of Asphalt. They held a one-day event as part of the conference and it was very well received. Here at home, we have a Canadian chapter of this organization, and it is looking for members and sponsors to help promote women in our industry. I’d be happy to talk to any SHCA members about it and why it matters that it thrives.

Story #5: Province Unveils Saskatchewan Investment Attraction Strategy
by SHCA SHCA

Province Unveils Saskatchewan Investment Attraction Strategy

On March 11, 2024, the Government of Saskatchewan released Securing the Next Decade of Growth: Saskatchewan’s Investment Attraction Strategy. The strategy is Saskatchewan’s roadmap to increasing investment in the province and further advancing Saskatchewan’s Growth Plan goal of $16 billion in private capital investment annually. 

“The new strategy builds on Saskatchewan’s many advantages as the best place to invest in the nation,” Trade and Export Development Minister Jeremy Harrison said. “This will lead to more opportunities for local, national and international investors, while solidifying our province as a nation leader in private capital investment. We have seen significant investments in this province over the past several years and this strategy will help build on that momentum. This will create jobs and grow our economy for a brighter future that benefits all Saskatchewan residents.”

Private capital investment in Saskatchewan increased by nearly 25 per cent in 2023 and is expected to lead the nation with an increase of 14.4 per cent in 2024. 

The strategy is built on the Saskatchewan Advantage, which includes a competitive business environment, low tax and utility rates, a transparent and predictable regulatory environment, a strong suite of incentives and a network of nine international offices that connect Saskatchewan to the world. 

“Saskatchewan’s world class resource base, highly skilled talent pipeline and stable and supportive regulatory and investment environment, all gave BHP the confidence to make the largest single investment in the company’s history right here in Saskatchewan,” BHP Potash Asset President Karina Gistelinck said. “Our Jansen potash mine will deliver responsibly produced Canadian potash to the world. We are proud to support the ongoing economic growth of Saskatchewan and applaud the province for their commitment to advancing growth and prosperity in a responsible manner.”

The strategy focuses on three key pillars:

  • Build – creating opportunities in new and emerging sectors to drive investment and diversify the economy;
  • Grow – leveraging previous successes and capitalizing on existing strengths in Saskatchewan’s key sectors; and
  • Connect – connecting the world to Saskatchewan to ensure the province remains a secure, reliable supplier of goods and services.

As part of the strategy, the provincial government launched a new website, investSK.ca, which will serve as a gateway to the province for international business and investors. It provides an overview of the major economic sectors and the world-class investment opportunities in Saskatchewan. 

“Saskatchewan’s newly announced Investment Attraction Strategy strikes the right balance between supporting our established industries and encouraging innovation,” Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce CEO Prabha Ramaswamy said. “We look forward to showing the world what our province has to offer and welcoming new partners both in Canada and abroad.”

To continue to be the best place in the world to invest, the Government of Saskatchewan is announcing the following new, expanded or improved incentives. 

The new Saskatchewan Critical Minerals Innovation Incentive will support innovation commercialization projects that target emerging critical minerals including helium, lithium, rare earth elements, copper, zinc, magnesium, nickel, gallium, and aluminum through a 25 per cent transferable royalty/freehold production tax credit.

The new Critical Minerals Processing Investment Incentive will support the development of critical mineral processing in the province, establishing Saskatchewan as a rare earth elements hub. The program will provide a 15 per cent transferable royalty/freehold production tax credit to support the development of processing facilities for 10 emerging critical minerals in Saskatchewan. 

The new Multi-lateral Well Program will provide an incentive to help jumpstart use of this new more sustainable drilling technology. 

The expanded Saskatchewan Technology Start-up Incentive is a non-refundable 45 per cent tax credit to individuals, corporations and venture capital firms that invest in eligible technology startups. This program will see a doubling of its annual tax credit cap from $3.5 million to $7 million and expanded eligibility to include clean technology. 

Two successful existing incentives are being extended for five more years to 2029, the Oil and Gas Processing Investment incentive and the Saskatchewan Petroleum Innovation Incentive. 

These new and expanded programs will complement existing successful programs such as the Saskatchewan Value-Added Agriculture Incentive, the Manufacturing and Processing Investment Tax Credit and others. 

For the full strategy, to see the new website and to learn more about the Saskatchewan Advantage, visit investSK.ca.

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by SHCA SHCA

The Canadian Construction Association Welcomes Francis Roy as Chair for Upcoming 2024-26 Term

Story #4: The Canadian Construction Association Welcomes Francis Roy as Chair for Upcoming 2024-26 Term

The Canadian Construction Association (CCA) announced that Francis Roy has been appointed Chair of the 2024-26 Board of Directors. Roy succeeds outgoing Board Chair, Brendan Nobes, who led the association for two years, advancing strategic partnerships and national advocacy. 

A 30-year veteran of the industry, Roy is president and CEO of Groupe Humaco companies, considered a vital employer in the Quebec construction industry.

Roy began his career in 1994 as an estimator and project manager at Les Gypses Promark Québec Inc. Having gained experience and a passion for the construction industry, he soon took on the position of vice president and general manager at ITR Drywall Inc.

Today, Roy oversees the activities of his companies at Groupe Humaco Inc., including several branches such as drywall, general contracting, real estate development and construction technologies. With more than 200 projects annually, Groupe Humaco deploys expertise and high-quality standards to build complex large-scale projects, from hospital centres and high-rise office buildings to public service complexes and multi-residential buildings.

The architectural technology graduate is active in several industry associations. He has been a dedicated member of CCA’s Board of Directors and served as past-Chair of the Association de la Construction du Quebec (ACQ).

In his address to members at CCA’s Annual General Meeting, Roy articulated his focus for the association over the next year. 

“My primary goal will be to support a healthy environment where communication is encouraged and valued so that everyone can contribute meaningfully to the achievement of our association’s strategic objectives,” he said. “I firmly believe in the power of collaboration, engagement, and innovation.”

Joining Roy on CCA’s 2024-25 Board of Directors are:

  • Trevor Doucette (Vice-Chair), senior director, operations, Synergy Group of Companies (Alta.)
  • David Bowcott, managing director and co-leader, NFP Construction & Infrastructure (Ont.)
  • Derek Brown, project manager, Cahill Group (N.L.)
  • Charles Caza, executive vice president and chief legal officer, Bird Construction (Ont.)
  • Nicole Chabot, vice president, L. Chabot Enterprises Ltd (Man.)
  • Steve Drummond, president, Capilano Highway Services Company (B.C.)
  • Frank Faieta, national vice president, Surety Risk Management, Trisura Guarantee Insurance Company (Ont.)
  • Wayne Ferguson, senior vice president and area manager, EllisDon Corporation (Ont.)
  • Eric Gaulin, vice president, Operations Building – Ontario, EBC (Que.)
  • Peter Grose, president and CEO, Westland Construction (Man.)
  • Quentin Huillery, chief operating officer, Ledcor (Alta.)
  • John Mollenhauer, president and CEO, Toronto Construction Association (Ont.)
  • Christina O’Donnell, vice president and general counsel, Black & McDonald (Ont.)
  • Cory Richter, president and CEO, Quorex Construction (Sask.)
  • Sam Sanderson, general manager, Construction Association of P.E.I. (P.E.I.)
  • Amber Sandhu, regional underwriting officer, national accounts surety, Travelers Canada (Ont.)
  • Brad Scott, vice president, finance, Basin Contracting Limited (N.S.)
  • Ajay Sharma, project development engineer, GeoStabilization International (Alta.)
  • Rick Wagner, president, Maxwell Floors Ltd. (B.C.)
Story #3: Premier Unveils the Saskatchewan Labour Market Strategy
by SHCA SHCA

Premier Unveils the Saskatchewan Labour Market Strategy

On March 4, 2024, Premier Scott Moe launched Building the Workforce for a Growing Economy: the Saskatchewan Labour Market Strategy, which outlines how the province will ensure Saskatchewan people benefit from the jobs our economy is creating, and that Saskatchewan employers have access to the workforce needed to succeed.

“A strong labour force drives healthy economies and successful communities,” Moe said. “The Labour Market Strategy is our roadmap to secure a labour force that keeps pace with growing demands and opportunities of our economy. Through strategic investments that align Saskatchewan’s work force with the needs of industry, we are ensuring that investment into our province is supported, and that growth translates into a better quality of life for Saskatchewan people.”

The Labour Market Strategy Focuses on three main pillars: 

  • Preparing Saskatchewan People for Jobs
  • Recognizing Skills in Saskatchewan
  • International Recruitment

Through these pillars, the Strategy outlines how the province is preparing people for both current and emerging jobs in Saskatchewan and aligning training opportunities in post-secondary institutions to the needs of industry. This ensures employers have the steady supply of the skilled labour employees they need, while also providing job seekers the opportunity to train for in-demand and available jobs. The Strategy also includes targeted programing designed to increase Indigenous engagement in the workforce and increase opportunities for persons with disabilities to find employment. 

Additionally, the Strategy ensures newcomers to Saskatchewan can work in the field in which they trained. Saskatchewan is taking steps to remove red tape to more efficiently recognize credentials obtained outside of the province and will provide one-on-one support to individuals who need help navigating the credential recognition process for their occupation. 

When employers experience vacancies in the local workforce they need, the Strategy provides a framework for employers to expand their workforce through international recruitment by using the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program. Newcomers enrich our province and play an important role by filling in-demand jobs across the province. 

The Labour Market Strategy highlights how government is addressing emerging labour needs in various growing sectors such as energy, mining and minerals, manufacturing, agriculture, and technology to build Saskatchewan’s future. 

“The Agricultural Manufacturers of Canada (AMC) are proud to support the Saskatchewan Labour Market Strategy, sharing a common mission to cultivate, advocate, and collaborate for the growth of the agricultural manufacturing industry in Canada,” AMC President Donna Boyd said. “Recognizing the pivotal role of a robust labour force in fostering healthy economies and communities, our strategic investments and Careers in Ag initiative mirror the province’s commitment to aligning the workforce with industry needs. AMC echoes the strategy’s inclusive approach, supporting initiatives to increase Indigenous engagement and enhance opportunities for persons with disabilities. We stand united in reducing barriers and fostering an environment where newcomers to the agricultural manufacturing sector can contribute their skills, enriching our industry.”

Read Building the Workforce for a Growing Economy: the Saskatchewan Labour Market Strategy here.

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Story #2: Construction Industry Condemns Environment Minister’s Lack of Support for Canada’s Road Infrastructure
by SHCA SHCA

Construction Industry Condemns Environment Minister’s Lack of Support for Canada’s Road Infrastructure

Canada’s construction industry is demanding clarity from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on future investment in new road infrastructure after comments made in February by Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault.

While Guilbeault explained that support to provinces for maintenance will continue, he also said existing road infrastructure “is perfectly adequate to respond to the needs we have.”

Canada is dealing with an acute housing crisis. The government is asking our industry to build 5.8 million new homes but is overlooking the investment needed to support these homes and communities.

A report by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities estimates that it will require $107,000 in public investments per new housing unit. This amounts to a total of $620 billion in public funding needed – an additional $375 billion beyond the current planned budget.

“These new communities need new roads. People need to be connected to their jobs, their schools, and their hospitals,” said Mary Van Buren, president of the Canadian Construction Association. “A growing population has growing demands. We not only need the road networks to support their movement; we also need to shore up our trade infrastructure, which includes roads, bridges and highways.”

Canada has been under-investing in trade-enabling infrastructure for 15 years, as evidenced by the drop from 10th to 32nd in terms of the World Economic Forum’s global trade infrastructure ranking. Without continued investment in critical infrastructure, as recommended by the National Supply Chain Task Force, including trade-enabling infrastructure, Canada will fail to harness trade with its international partners for its economic success.

Canada needs the federal government to partner with industry and work with municipal and provincial governments to build a strong foundation for a stronger country.

For more information, read CCA’s recommendations to government in advance of its 2024 Federal Budget.

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