Author: SHCA

The April 19 release of the Federal Budget lays some important groundwork for a strong economic recovery and delivers against four of the Canadian Construction Association’s (CCA) pre-budget asks, including increased support for green and trade-enabling infrastructure investment, workforce capacity building, a commitment to beginning a 25-year infrastructure plan and investment to advance innovation in construction. While these new programs are welcome, the budget does not address how to expedite already committed funds, says CCA, the national association representing Canada’s non-residential construction industry.

“The budget endorses the valued role of the heavy civil, institutional, commercial and industrial construction sector to building back better,” said Mary Van Buren, CCA president. “However, an equal commitment is needed to facilitate the quick and unfettered roll-out of these proposed investments.” 

With improved coordination, communication and transparency between federal, provincial and municipal governments, infrastructure investments can be delivered more efficiently, addressing the real and immediate needs of communities, speeding up the start of projects, minimizing boom-bust cycles, getting people back to work and securing a steady supply chain. 

News of greater investment aimed at building a greener, more sustainable economy aligns with the CCA’s recently released white paper, Strength, resilience, sustainability. CCA recommends that the federal government also adjust its procurement criteria to accelerate the adoption of new processes, materials or technology, by taking on more of this risk, which currently rests with contractors.

Workforce capacity development is essential to Canada’s economic recovery and our long-term global competitiveness. The goal of the proposed Apprenticeship Service aimed at connecting 55,000 first year apprentices to jobs in the construction and manufacturing Red Seal trades will provide education, training and jobs for youth, Indigenous people, women, racialized Canadians, persons with disabilities and other groups traditionally underrepresented in the trades. This directly aligns with the industry’s workforce diversity efforts through CCA’s Talent Fits Here campaign and we are highly encouraged by its inclusion in Budget 2021. Additional attention needs to be paid to growing the participation of these same groups in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) so they may lead and support the industry’s digital transformation.

Creating a program to temporarily subsidize new hiring at $1,100 per month for every new employee and continuing the wage and rent subsidies will help small and medium-sized businesses in Canada’s construction sector contribute to employment, job creation and economic growth.

The complexities of infrastructure require leadership, long-term vision and consistency to deliver optimum benefits to all Canadians. The two-year $500 million Canada Community Revitalization Fund is a welcome announcement, and the commitment to funding Infrastructure 2050 is a positive step forward. 

CCA is encouraged to see increased funding over three years to the federal Internal Trade Secretariat to accelerate its work reducing interprovincial trade barriers within Canada, a long-standing policy that CCA continues to champion.

CCA looks forward to continuing our work with the federal government on building an inclusive and green economy, driving innovation, boosting employment opportunities and supporting Canadian businesses. Strengthening investor confidence and reducing red tape are also important outcomes.

An investment in sustainable infrastructure is an investment in Canada and our communities, and the construction industry is willing and able to partner with the government. We remain committed to helping our country re-build its economy and improve the quality of life of all Canadians.

Think BIG Q2 2021 is all about Inspiring the Next Generation of Builders. One of the features on this topic focuses on how more than 30,000 kids each year experience STEM opportunities through the University of Regina.

Click here to read more.

The perfect COVID-19 storm is brewing, driving up the price of mainstay construction materials by up to 300 per cent with no real end in sight.

The pandemic is being blamed for much of the supply chain and delivery problems while demand is being driven by home-bound individuals spending vacation dollars on home construction over-heating the low-interest general construction market in both the U.S. and Canada.

At the same time, governments have been pumping billions into infrastructure recovery programs.

Flying high are wood product values with Western spruce-pine-fir (SPF) dimensional lumber prices tripling, cedar landscaping product prices doubling, and plywood per sheet prices tripling in three months.

Steel has also been slammed.

Read the full article from ConstructConnect.

TEC – THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Companies who have joined a TEC group over the past 5 years grew 2.2 times faster that average small and medium sized businesses.

Imagine having your very own peer advisory board.

The SHCA wants to create a confidential group of strong women from the construction industry to hoin us 6-8 times a year to bring together your collective intelligence. These meeting will be guided by an accomplished Chair, who will provide a safe and stimulating environment to accelerate personal, professional, and business growth.

Attend from anywhere. The sessions will be delivered virtually. RSVP to confirm your attendance. The invitation link will be sent once we’ve received your RSVP.

We’re creating this special group because, women approach problems from different perspectives, they face unique challenges, and have unique solutions to tackle those challenges. They’re quite simply NOT men. Women are a growing force within the construction industry, and they should have a seat and voice at the board table, said Shantell Lipp, President of the Saskatchewan Heavy Construction Association.

We are deeply saddened to share the news that our long-time colleague and friend, Carlyle Murray, P.Eng., PMP, passed away on May 8, 2021 after battling cancer, a heart attack and a stroke. News like this is difficult to process, and we are in touch with Carlyle’s family to offer our support.

Carlyle’s impact within Stantec, the City of Regina and industry was clear. Throughout his extensive career, he worked very hard to contribute in a meaningful way, as can be seen through a few of his career highlights:

1. He contributed to the engineering industry for over 50 years, the “Gordie Howe of Engineering”
2. He improved the City of Regina’s maintenance systems, including the winter maintenance program; he found efficiencies in their asphalt and concrete construction programs, and introduced Automatic Vehicle Location (AVL) equipment into the municipal roadways fleet
3. He was a very successful project engineer and project manager, having one of the best track records for keeping projects on budget and schedule. He had a long and distinguished career in engineering, and we were blessed to have him as part of our team.

Carlyle’s extensive consulting background made him a key partner in the planning and delivery of infrastructure projects in Saskatchewan and particularly with the Ministry of Highways. His role gave him the opportunity to engineer and manage a variety of projects ranging from roadway projects, including grading and surfacing, hydraulics and culverts, civil works, land development and special projects such as civil site designs for Federated Co-op. On March 9, 2021, Carlyle celebrated his 11th anniversary with Stantec.

Throughout his career, Carlyle prioritized having a positive impact on those around him, for the betterment of the community. He was engaged in many charitable endeavors both corporately and in his personal life. Whether it was Stantec social events, Stantec in the Community, Rotary Club, providing education to our youth through his foundation, supporting friends and family, heading to a Rider game or companionship with Carlyle’s Coyotes, Carlyle always put his community first and was a real pleasure to be around. In addition to his contributions to his communities, he was very active in ACEC-SK and the betterment of the consulting industry, providing much-needed knowledge, time and energy to improve and evolve our industry. Carlyle has made a positive impact on many of our communities, clients and careers, which will always be remembered.

Carlyle believed in education and providing opportunities for others. In 1993, he founded the Carlyle Murray Educational Foundation through The Regina Industrial Parks Rotary Club. This foundation is a registered charity and provides an annual post-secondary scholarship to a Regina area graduating Grade XII student. If you are interested in contributing to the Carlyle Murray Educational Foundation, please reach out to Jerry Boulanger at jclan@sasktel.net or by calling 306-527-0671. A charitable donation receipt will be provided upon request.