Regina City Council has approved the City’s new Indigenous Procurement Policy.
Regina is committed to reconciliation and this policy, which outlines a minimum goal of 20 per cent Indigenous procurement, is a step along our journey to economic reconciliation. Effective immediately, the procurement policy puts tools in place to foster greater success for Indigenous-led business growth and development within Regina and area.
The Indigenous Procurement Policy has been developed in collaboration with the Indigenous Procurement Advisory Committee (IPAC) who have graciously provided insight and support to Regina’s team to help them move forward together in reconciliation. The IPAC will continue to meet and provide guidance to support implementation of the Indigenous Procurement Policy to its fullest.
Visit Regina.ca/procurement for more information about the Indigenous Procurement Policy.
All members of SHCA are welcome to submit their article ideas for consideration. This is a great opportunity to shine the spotlight on your company, a project you completed and are proud of or to suggest a topic relevant to industry.
If interested, please direct your requests to Shantel.
The opportunity to get together with others in the industry is always time well spent and I can say that some very good time was spent together at the #WCRStrongerTogether2023 conference earlier this month.
Hundreds of delegates from across Western Canada gathered in Waikiki between Feb. 5–9, where they listened to industry speakers, attended networking events and learned – a lot.
It was enlightening to hear about the future of equipment in the industry and how green technology can best be incorporated. Knowing how this equipment must perform in our industry, it was clear we will need to continue to rely on diesel together with alternative energy sources, including batteries, to fuel machines that must run for long hours doing energy-intensive work. It was also interesting to hear how equipment is becoming more autonomous, reducing the need for human labour and improving efficiency on worksites.
Many speakers shared their perspectives on the role of the industry in supporting Canada’s economy. A highlight for me was the keynote address by former Alberta cabinet minister and now Canada West Foundation President Gary Mar.
You will recall the report that was developed by Canada West Foundation last year, From Shovel Ready to Shovel Worthy. Mar shared the ideas that report delivers – that Canada has been spending on one-off projects rather than investing in strategic trade routes that will deliver a return on that investment, and that other nations have implemented long-term investment strategies that prioritize infrastructure projects based on their ability to meet criteria. That difference is causing Canada to become less competitive in the global trade markets.
Mar also reminded those listening about the difference between national and federal. He pointed out that there can be a national initiative led by provinces working with industry, which has expertise to know how to accomplish what is needed, while also partnering with municipalities and First Nations to move towards strategic investment in infrastructure rather than simply spending on it. That was a powerful message to hear and consider.
Panel discussions covered how our industry supports trade, which helps to grow Canada’s economy with speakers such as Brad Wall, the former premier of Saskatchewan, Perrin Beatty, president and CEO of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce and Mary Van Buren, president and CEO of the Canadian Construction Association (CCA).
For those interested, click here to watch Trade Infrastructure panellists Beaty, Wall and Mar summarize their session at the WCR&HCA conference.
“Politicians need to know the skill and experience of those working in the industry when we are explaining our labour needs.”
It was heartening to hear our industry recognized for what we contribute to the strength of this country’s economy, not just in terms of what is built, but also the knowledge and experience members, such as yourself, possess that can help inform decisions about investment. Speakers reminded us that our industry generates far more than the projects we build. As Wall told those listening to the panel, “There’s a lot of long-term job creators in this room and I don’t think you’re thanked enough by government.”
We were also reminded how important it is for government to hear from those working in the industry to better understand and benefit from it. Politicians need to know the skill and experience of those working in the industry when we are explaining our labour needs. Details in the procurement process impact and even burden industry, and they need to have that explained. They need to be reminded of how efficient and effective relationships with industry generate results more quickly.
Those in attendance were reminded that they don’t have to wait for formal invitations to meetings with politicians to share their perspective. As Rod Gilbert, the VP of procurement for the CCA pointed out, you can have these discussions when out in the community where you might encounter someone in the government.
The same is true for those of us in the industry talking to one another. Anyone who was unable to attend the conference who would like to know more can get in touch and I’d be happy to discuss with you what was shared by the speakers and learn how these issues relate to your business. I’m sure the new chair of the Western Canada Roadbuilders and Heavy Construction Association, Carmen Duncan, would also not mind hearing from you. These are weighty issues that have tremendous importance when looking at the future of our country, so we need to keep them moving ahead by talking about them and how we make progress on them.
These types of events are important to help nurture these conversations. If this sounds like an event you’d benefit from attending in the in future, I’d encourage you to watch for information about the next conference, which is scheduled for 2025.
Normally this space is reserved for conversation or discussions about building or upgrading things or as Shantel Lipp likes to say: when the earth moves, it’s us. But it has been hard these days to ignore another form of construction – nation building.
With legislatures in Regina and Edmonton being asked to consider bills designed to assert the authority of provincial governments, anyone who was around 40 years ago is feeling like we’ve seen this movie already.
Back then it was Pierre Trudeau on one side of the table, facing off against Saskatchewan’s Allan Blakeney, a politician many considered the intellectual equal of the Elder Trudeau, and Peter Lougheed elegantly projecting gravitas and authority from Alberta.
Today, while the cast is different – Trudeau the Younger on the federal side squaring off against Scott Moe and Danielle Smith representing their respective provinces – the script is the same. Saskatchewan and Alberta are seeking respect at the national table.
Reasonable observers would probably think it fair to assume that after 40 years, things should be sorting themselves out but, in fact, it is showing no sign of improvement as the list of grievances dividing the parties seems to be growing and positions hardening.
The good news is that last time round, in the ’70s and early ’80s, Canada survived, although bruised and divided. The West suffered severe economic damage and decades of resentment over the imposition of the National Energy Program while the entire country found itself repatriating a constitution that a key player in the nation refused to endorse.
Four decades later, the same issues still capture us as multiple attempts to find solutions – olive branches from the West (remember The West Wants In?) to hard-line positions such as demands for Parliamentary reform for elected and equal Senate representation – have failed to bring us closer together. In fact, irritants such as anti-pipeline sentiment outside the prairies have stifled resource development, pouring salt on the wounds.
The one difference between the head butting of old and today’s version is television. Back in Pierre’s day, we got to watch federal-provincial First Ministers meetings live from coast-to-coast. Today, with no First Ministers meetings, having the arguments waged in social media 30 words at a time is what passes for progress.
Canada’s economy has slowed down in the last few years, and companies, now more than ever, are worried about staying afloat in these changing times. Has your company considered how it will navigate the future? Is your company ready for when the economy turns around? Will it have a competitive edge from planning?
When the economy improves, you best be ready to hit the ground running. If you want to take advantage of this time and prepare, there are several things your company should do. The following questions will help you get ready.
Do you have a safety management system and/or are you COR certified? If not, your safety association should be able to assist you. If you do not work with a safety association, there are many private companies that can help. Why? A safety management program allows your company to be competitive in the bidding process. With it, you can set a safe example.
Do you have a fully functioning return-to-work program? The WCB Act of 2013 requires that all employers in Saskatchewan have a return-to-work program in place. The program must be documented and formal, not an informal binder or loose “practice” for employees returning to work.
As part of the program, all stakeholders, such as your staff and management, should be knowledgeable of the process and their respective responsibilities. It is also best practice for staff to refresh their knowledge on your company’s program regularly. Your company can accomplish this by going over expectations during orientation, posting it and talking about it in toolbox meetings.
Documentation throughout the process is also crucial. If you do not feel qualified to undertake this responsibility, Injury Solutions Canada can assist. Managing any injury claims, no matter what the source, is vital to your employees and company’s well-being. We do not recommend leaving it to the insurer.
Do you have measures in place to resolve absenteeism issues and off-site injuries should they happen? A good return-to-work program can eliminate the Monday/Friday frequent flyers. It also works well with other types of injuries that may not have occurred at work and can take employees away from the workplace.
However, these types of injuries may still impact your bottom line through sick time and short or long-term disability programs. If you are unsure of what modified work duty tasks these employees can complete, canvass your staff. They will likely have great ideas for accommodation.
When the economy improves, you best be ready to hit the ground running.
Have you looked closely at all of your WCB cost statements? Look closely at the statements; if there are any costs you are unfamiliar with, inform yourself, and if there are any costs related to older claims, do your due diligence. Do you know who to ask for assistance? Unknown costs such as these can lead to you being eliminated from the potential to bid on large projects and increase your premium rates – be conscientious of them.
If you are a member of an association such as the Saskatchewan Heavy Construction Association (SHCA) or a safety association such as the Heavy Construction Safety Association of Saskatchewan (HCSAS), are you familiar with their offerings? If not, get to know the benefits and become involved.
For example, the primary focus of SHCA, as stated on its website, is “advocacy and lobbying government on behalf of the organization and [its] members.” Access to networking with peers is also a benefit. Have you been to a SHCA event? Take advantage of the exposure and chance to connect.
When you are hiring new staff, spend time upfront properly screening them using a documented system or policy that is equal and fair to all. This process eliminates potential problems before they become your employee. Ensure new staff go through a clear onboarding process which includes informing them of your return-to-work policy as well as expectations on sickness and injury. If you do not have this process in place, or it is not documented, Injury Solutions Canada can help you develop one catered to your company’s needs.
The steps given above can put your company on a healthy and safe path that will pay dividends when you are in a bidding competition. Other benefits include: your WCB premiums decreasing, your ability to bid more competitively increasing and having a safe and productive workplace.
As electric vehicle (EV) technologies advance and the energy transition continues, the demand for critical metals keeps rising. However, the primary resources for battery metals are not able to meet the growing demand.
“The supply and demand for major metals, such as lithium, nickel, cobalt and copper, shows that demand will outpace supply in the next few years,” said Dr. Jack Zhang, associate vice-president of strategic technologies in Saskatchewan Research Council (SRC)’s mining and minerals division. “We may be facing a shortage of critical metals for batteries.”
Critical metals are essential to telecommunications, computing and clean energy. They are a valuable export commodity and vital to Canada’s technology sector and our supply chain.
Critical metals at work
Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), first invented in 1985 and commercialized in 1991, power EVs, renewable energy storage, consumer electronics, power tools and more. Metals such as lithium, cobalt, nickel and copper are required to build LIBs and are found around the world.
“However, the current supply chain is vulnerable because the majority of refining takes place in one spot,” said Dr. Zhang. Right now, that one spot is China. “It’s important for us to develop a more balanced supply of refined metals in North America.”
At the end of their working life, LIBs end up as waste.
Batteries clog landfills, with significant disposal issues due to their toxic components leaching out over time. Concurrently, the demand for critical metal supply is increasing, posing its own environmental concerns for mining jurisdictions around the world. The technologies that require these new batteries, (and the metals that power them) are developing faster than industry and governments are finding solutions for the waste.
What if there was another way to source critical metals and address the environmental concerns around spent LIBs?
Enter urban mining
The term urban mining may sound like a buzzword, but the idea behind it is simple; what if we recycle the usable elements of spent LIBs, thereby reducing their environmental impact and addressing the growing need for more critical metals?
The idea of recycling batteries is not a new one. It’s been happening for years, but it’s been focused on the “front end,” meaning diverting batteries from the landfill and disassembling the battery into individual components.
Urban mining takes battery recycling one step further, metals are extracted from these parts, thereby making them available for battery and other product manufacture. This mining activity can help meet the growing need of new batteries and technologies. Plus, it generates value from what was previously considered “waste,” and removes environmental contaminants from landfills.
Urban mining also reduces the need for new mining operations that have a large environmental footprint. Recycling and refining previously used metals are far better than creating a new mine, from both economic and environmental perspectives.
Let’s recycle
Drawing on their specialized expertise in lithium recovery processing and technologies, Zhang and his team at SRC are developing a direct recycling process of LIB metals that will help industry meet the growing demand for critical metals and divert batteries from landfills.
EV batteries and batteries from electronics, such as cellphones and computers, are valuable for their components (e.g., aluminum, copper, nickel and lithium), and recovery processes are designed to maximize the critical metals from end-of-life (EoL) batteries.
How it works
EoL batteries will be dismantled in SRC’s lab through an automated process that produces minimal waste residues while carefully preserving the critical metals. These components – such as nickel, cobalt, lithium, aluminum and copper – are extracted at high purity and recovered for immediate reuse.
“Battery recycling is complex because of all the types of batteries and their varied composition and chemistry,” said Zhang. “But it’s not impossible. With the appropriate sorting and recycling processes in place, battery recycling can become a viable source for critical metals and minerals that addresses both the market demand and environmental concerns.”
SRC can facilitate the development of the refining process for organizations interested in battery recycling.
SRC lithium battery recycling services
SRC’s direct recycling of LIB technology aims to provide an alternate source for critical metals and support the value chain of the EoL battery recycling industry. Zhang outlines the following benefits as core factors to SRC’s approach:
Reduces environmental footprint
Increases significant secondary resources of LIB metals
Develops new recycling technologies
Creates a secure supply of critical metals for high tech and supports industry’s energy transition
Zhang also points to SRC’s state-of-the-art labs and facilities and his team of experienced professionals as essential in developing and commercializing the proposed technology for industry. With these advancements, powering up will be more sustainable in the future.
Companies are looking for candidates who can communicate and take initiative
By Barb Feldman
Matt Erhard, managing partner at Summit Search Group (right), Jessica Willis, partner and senior recruitment consultant (middle) and Gail Eckert, director recruitment (left) Photo courtesy of Matt Erhard
Almost one and a half million Canadians were earning a living in the construction sector in 2021 – approximately one in every 13 working Canadians, according to BuildForce, a national industry-led organization representing all construction industry sectors. Today the number of people in the labour force has almost reached pre-COVID-19 levels. But the number of qualified workers is not growing nearly as quickly as the number of available jobs. For the first quarter of 2022, Statistics Canada recorded 81,500 job vacancies in the construction sector, an all-time high and more than double what it was in the first quarter of 2020, before the pandemic began.
The labour market has been particularly tight in Ontario, Quebec, British Columbia and Nova Scotia, which all experienced investment increases in residential and non-residential construction. The shortage is widespread in almost all trades, from labourers (up 97 per cent) to plumbers to electricians to carpenters (up 149.1 per cent).
It’s partly a problem of demographics: although more Canadians are working, due to the aging of the population, there are 13,000 fewer 15-to-24-year-olds in Canada than the 600,000 people they might replace who are retiring. This demographic shift, part of a worldwide phenomenon in the global north, has coincided with the pandemic, its strain on supply chain systems and the pent-up demand for construction after a two-year pause. Moreover, as emergency measures have been lifted, many older workers approaching retirement age have been slow to return. At the same time, the pandemic has complicated the training and certification of new workers. All these factors have combined to produce an unprecedented worker shortage. And this shortfall is about to get even more severe. Over the next decade, 259,100 workers – more than 20 per cent of the current construction labour force – will be retiring.
Employment and Social Development Canada estimates that the construction industry will need to recruit 309,000 new workers by 2032, 216,800 just in the next three years. This astounding number is already affecting many of Canada’s 150,000 construction companies. Ninety-nine per cent of these are small businesses with fewer than 100 employees, and most are considerably smaller.
Attracting young people to the industry has been a problem for decades. Today, with unemployment rates at a 50-year low, companies need to take a broader approach to market their organizations, says Matt Erhard, managing partner of the Summit Search Group in Winnipeg, a recruitment agency that also has offices in Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Regina, Toronto, Ottawa and Halifax.
“When candidates are approached for a job, they do so much research now – they check Glassdoor, they check general reviews and comments on that company, and they check the company website out,” said Erhard. “So, the website needs to be the first thing that companies look at–is it current? Does it showcase what it does? Is it just focused on clients, or is there a spot for potential employees to get to know the company?”
Construction workers need to know how to communicate, take initiative and collaborate, aside from their technical skills giggsy25/123rf
Increasingly, construction companies attract candidates by highlighting what they’re doing outside of work, so companies must make sure their online presence is active, he says. In addition to promoting the company’s business, social media platforms should showcase employee engagement initiatives like employee appreciation events or giving back to the community.
Erhard advises employers to use as many job-search sites as possible, including Indeed, “where a lot of construction people go to look for jobs,” and LinkedIn Jobs, which immediately shares the job with qualified candidates. “Further to that, making sure that LinkedIn is really built out,” and encourage current employees to be active on it, he says, “because people check LinkedIn to see who they’re going to be working with,” taking note of current employees’ personal interests and looking for connections or commonalities.
He says internal referral programs are becoming much more common in the construction industry and are “still the no. 1 way that people hire these days – who do your good employees know who might be interested in coming in? Perhaps they’ll get a bonus of some sort if they’re successful in finding someone.
“And, of course, a recruitment firm can manage that entire process, especially for more hard-to-fill positions,” said Erhard. “We’re finding that we need to reach out a lot more than just posting a job and hoping that people will come and apply – we share job opportunities far and wide and go out and uncover everybody who’s available in the marketplace.
These days, flexibility, taking initiative and communication skills are critical even for technically or physically demanding positions.
“We’re getting a lot of requests from employers in the construction space for diversity and inclusivity in the process. That’s prominent with large and small companies. They want to be sure that we’re sourcing people of different genders, races and background experiences, making sure to access any candidates who might be out there.
“People don’t seem to be applying for a lot of positions like they once were,” he said. “They want to hear how this company did during the pandemic and hear about their culture and work-life balance, are they having fun at work – those kinds of things, versus just seeing a static job description.”
Given the last couple of years with the COVID-19 pandemic, employers are looking for people “who aren’t afraid of change,” whether that means learning a new technology or working from home, says Erhard.
He says historically, technical skills have been emphasized in the construction industry. “For obvious reasons – it was more about ‘Can they do the job?’” But these days, flexibility, taking initiative and communication skills are critical even for technically or physically demanding positions.
“Everyone is busy, so they want somebody who doesn’t need a lot of handholding – maybe who doesn’t know everything but can find out where to go to get that information,” he said. “They don’t have to be as outgoing as a salesperson might be, but they need to be able to communicate.”
Representing over 20,000 member firms, the Canadian Construction Association (CCA) is proud of our mission to inspire a progressive, innovative and sustainable construction industry.
The key to our success is working with valued partner associations like SHCA. We are powered by your engagement. Together, we are driving change on key issues that make a real impact, not only for the industry but for all Canadians.
Smart infrastructure plan backed by investment
As the industry’s national advocate, CCA has been working to help shape a long-term plan for sustainable infrastructure investment. CCA understands that one size does not fit all. Every region and municipality, including our Indigenous communities, have different needs and priorities.
Working with our partners at the WCR&HCA, we released a report, From Shovel Ready to Shovel Worthy, to strengthen our case for a national trade-enabling infrastructure plan. It identifies key trade gateways and corridors across the country, including Western Canada, that will link resources to industry, people to jobs and products to market. We are also supporting a media and government relations outreach campaign to create more momentum and support for this initiative.
Workforce an urgent priority
Members from across Canada have told us they need a skilled workforce to deliver on the many infrastructure projects underway or in the pipeline.
Even the best laid plans can be derailed without the workers we need to keep us on track. There are over 81,000 open jobs in construction that the industry is struggling to fill nationwide because of baby boomer retirements, pandemic aftershocks and, quite simply, a public misconception about careers in construction.
CCA has been very public about the need for an overhaul of the current immigration points system – one that does not value skilled trades, or many civil sector workers who are skilled, but not considered trade workers. The Temporary Foreign Worker program could also be utilized to address the need for seasonal labourers.
The Canadian construction industry recognizes the benefits of a diverse, inclusive and equitable work culture. In 2020, we launched our Talent Fits Here initiative, a national public awareness campaign designed to attract workers by positioning construction as a career of choice. Afterall, “[construction] is the foundation of our world.”
We are also thrilled to be partnering with the Canadian Apprenticeship Forum on a federal government initiative offering financial incentives to employers who hire first-year apprentices in 39 Red Seal trades. This program will provide support to employers wanting to hire apprentices and promote the skilled trades as a first-choice career for youth, women, Indigenous peoples, LGBTQ+, immigrants and foreign workers.
Fair procurement
CCA’s semi-annual Meech Lake meeting with government leaders resulted in a commitment to establish a working group on procurement and project delivery methods. We also embarked on a fact-finding mission last summer to learn first-hand from members about their challenges with current procurement practices. Dubbed the Standard Practices Tour, CCA visited Vancouver, Edmonton, Winnipeg, St. John’s and Montreal in June 2022.
As outlined in our report, we intend to educate owners on the challenges identified by our members. Procurement needs to adapt to encourage innovation, account for long-term value and sustainability, promote the use of alternative delivery models and support shared risk. Too often contractors take on the risk of project costs and delays due to the shortage of workers, materials and supply chain disruptions.
Action-backed policies to support green infrastructure
As a result of the united advocacy of CCA and our integrated partner associations, federal procurement strategies are on the agenda. We all know that construction has a major role to play in achieving Canada’s net zero targets, and the federal government must act now to support businesses’ decarbonization efforts over the coming decade.
This includes updating building codes, providing incentives for businesses, sharing climate data and creating a list of approved “green” materials.
