Click here to read the Q4 2021 issue of Think BIG.
2022 SHCA Media Kit is Now Available
The 2022 SHCA Media Kit, which outlines print and digital advertising opportunities in SHCA’s publications, is now available.
Plan your 2022 advertising and contact a sales representative today to confirm your placements.
Click here to download the 2022 Media Kit.
Jobs, Jobs Everywhere
You don’t have to look very far in the business community to find organizations and leaders willing to share their frustrations with filling jobs. Identifying talent and hiring are probably the biggest issues businesses are facing these days. And it seems widespread, not restricted to one or two sectors.
And now we have some numbers that support the feeling of frustration and identify which industries are facing the steepest climb in securing personnel.
StatsCan has updated its payroll and vacancy numbers. The latest are for August. It shows employers are paying workers more money and there are nearly 30,000 more people with a job than a year earlier. But even higher wages are not enough to fill the gaps in payroll numbers.
There were 20,000 vacant jobs in Saskatchewan in August – about 4 per cent of the overall workforce.
Source: Martin Charlton Communications
Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce Network Sees Huge Positive Response to Rapid Tests
This week, 18 chambers of commerce in Saskatchewan and several businesses began distributing rapid tests for individuals across the province.
“The response has been amazing. In Swift Current, they ran out of kits within 45 minutes and people are thrilled to finally have access to these important tools to aid in the fight against COVID-19. […] People have been expressing how appreciative they are to have access,” said Steve McLellan, CEO of the Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce.
The 18 local chambers of commerce and the Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce will be distributing rapid tests over the next few weeks as supply and demand require. Additionally, 10 Canalta Hotels and the Market Mall in Saskatoon have also agreed to distribute kits.
Rapid tests will be given to households to help curb infection. The chambers are providing the distribution service at no cost to the province or residents and have based their current hours on anticipated supplies.
Hours may change in upcoming weeks depending on test availability. Chambers are only one avenue the provincial government and the Saskatchewan Health Authority are using to distribute the tests, with other community agencies stepping in to help across the province.
For more information on distribution hours and locations, visit: https://www.saskatchewan.ca/government/health-care-administration-and-provider-resources/treatment-procedures-and-guidelines/emerging-public-health-issues/2019-novel-coronavirus/testing-information/rapid-testing
New Legislation Will Protect Contractors from Payment Delays
On March 1, 2022, The Builders’ Lien (Prompt Payment) Amendment Act, 2019 will be proclaimed into force.
“This government is committed to supporting the construction industry,” said Justice Minister and Attorney General Gordon Wyant. “These changes will ensure the prompt payment of contractors and subcontractors and will enable parties to resolve issues quickly and without added costs – which in turn will help projects move forward without delays.”
This new provincial legislation will protect and define the rights and obligations of owners, developers, contractors and subcontractors by establishing reasonable payment timelines for construction projects and introducing an interim adjudication process as an alternative to arbitration and litigation.
The payment timelines will mandate that owners and developers provide payment within 28 days of receiving a proper invoice for construction services. Contractors will have seven days to provide payment to subcontractors after receiving a payment from the owner or developer.
The new adjudication process under the Act will enable parties to seek interim resolution for disputed payments. It will be overseen by the Saskatchewan Construction Dispute Resolution Office (SCDRO), a not-for-profit corporation designated by the Minister to act as the official Adjudication Authority. The SCDRO will work with the ADR Institute of Saskatchewan Inc. to provide trained, independent adjudicators for disputes under the process.
These changes are similar to amendments recently introduced in several other Canadian jurisdictions, such as Ontario and Nova Scotia.
Brandt Completes Cervus Deal, Creates International Equipment Dealer Powerhouse
SHCA member Brandt Tractor Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of the Brandt Group of Companies, recently announced its successful acquisition of Cervus Equipment Corp., following a 97.66 per cent endorsement for the deal in an Oct. 12, 2021 vote by Cervus shareholders. The transaction sees publicly traded Cervus transition to 100 per cent private ownership in an all-cash deal.
The landmark transaction creates Canada’s largest-ever equipment dealer network, adding 64 agriculture, transportation and material handling equipment locations to Brandt’s existing John Deere Construction & Forestry dealerships across Canada. When fully integrated, it will give Cervus’ customers access to Brandt’s extensive national parts and technical support infrastructure. The purchase further establishes the firm’s position as a premier privately held Canadian company and the largest John Deere dealership in the world.
“The addition of Cervus’ branch network is a big win for customers in all of the affected markets,” said Brandt owner and CEO, Shaun Semple. “We’ve got a lot to offer and we’re ready to roll up our sleeves and earn the loyalty of our new customers through a combination of premium products and services and a consistent, high-quality customer support experience.”
With the acquisition of the Cervus locations in Canada, Australia and New Zealand, Brandt now owns and operates 120 full-service equipment dealerships with an additional 50 service points and employs over 5,100 people. The transaction will make a significant impact across the industry as the company rolls out plans to introduce expanded parts inventories, service department capacities and extended hours of operation at the former Cervus dealerships. As operations are integrated, staffing in these locations is expected to increase by up to 40 per cent with significant new facility construction across the entire network.
“Cervus staff, customers and their communities will all benefit from this acquisition through a stronger, more diversified network of support dealerships,” concludes Semple. “Brandt is fully committed to ongoing investment in business infrastructure and community enhancement; there is tremendous opportunity for everyone in this deal.”
The transaction officially closed on Oct. 22, 2021.
SHCA Convention Postponed
There is a saying that anything worth having is worth the wait.
That’s definitely true of the SHCA Convention. You might have recently noticed receiving postcards with new spring dates for that event.
The new dates for the SHCA Convention are set for April 7–8, 2022. The convention will be held at the same place – the Delta Bessborough Hotel and Convention Center in Saskatoon – and the same speakers will be ready to present. I am also grateful our sponsors have agreed to carry forward their sponsorships into next year.
Since this event is being held in the spring, which is when SHCA’s annual general meeting is typically held, these two events will be combined. The AGM will be added to the agenda that will see us spending two full days discussing our industry, the Saskatchewan Heavy Construction Association and you, its members.
We will hear from two wonderful speakers – Darci Lang and retired Colonel Mark Gasparotto – during the convention.
Darci has discovered a solution to help each of us do our jobs, connect with the people who matter most and live our lives to the fullest. She is an award-winning entrepreneur, a professional speaker, a bestselling author, a blogger, a wife and a mom. She brings her message of “Focus on the 90%” to help others find the positives at work, rise above adversity and triumph in their lives.
Then there is Mark, who provides leadership solutions inspired by his two decades of military service. Mark is highly decorated, serving in key leadership roles in international hotspots such as Bosnia, Afghanistan and Haiti, doing everything from commanding small tactical units, to overseeing large, multinational peacekeeping operations.
Mark is passionate about self-reflection and personal development. He emphasizes results, teamwork and effective communications, which is how he was able to elevate to the upper ranks of the Canadian Armed Forces.
As always, the convention will wrap up with the Chairman’s Banquet. New at this convention is that the capacity for this event is set at a maximum of 300 delegates. That makes registering and booking your room early extra important.
If you had hotel rooms booked for the November dates, there is information on the postcards about what to do about rescheduling those dates. If you are still thinking about booking rooms and attending, I would encourage you to consider all that this type of event has to offer.
Events such as this convention allow us to gather, which helps each of us to reconnect to learn from one another and to share our experiences so we can recognize our successes and opportunities. It is also how we can determine where improvements are needed and how to address making those improvements. I look forward to all of you gathering in the spring to help develop and strengthen the voice of the association to benefit you, our members and your businesses.