by SHCA SHCA

CCA Unveils New Gold Seal Certification Portal and Directory

Canadian Construction Association

The Canadian Construction Association (CCA) has launched a new online portal and directory to improve the user experience for current and future Gold Seal Certified industry professionals. The new directory also allows employers and industry partners to easily verify and identify accredited professionals across Canada, supporting the program’s credibility and visibility.

“This portal and directory have been a very important project for our Gold Seal team over the last year as part of our ongoing commitment to digitize first,” said Rodrigue Gilbert, president of the CCA. “The Gold Seal portal joins our various digital resources and directories, which help to maintain and increase integrity and transparency within our services.” 

CCA’s Gold Seal Certification is a nationally recognized standard of excellence for construction management professionals. Earned through industry experience, education and examination, Gold Seal Certification enhances professional development, improves job mobility and demonstrates skills, competence, and experience.  

“In our industry, we have to keep raising the bar – and that is exactly what our Gold Seal Certified workers and Gold Seal Employers do each and every day,” said Gilbert. “We will continue to make it easier for construction professionals to become Gold Seal Certified and encourage them to continue leading with the highest standard of excellence so our industry can continue to build a stronger Canada.” 

Employees who enroll and complete Gold Seal Certification take pride in their work and expertise. As we seek to develop and enhance our workforce, programs like Gold Seal help to not only ensure confidence in the industry, but to set a standard to which new workers can model during the early stages of their career. 

Photo: Canadian Construction Association

Tractor loader machine uploading dirty snow into dump truck. Cleaning city street, removing snow and ice after heavy snowfalls and blizzard. Snowplow outdoors clean pavement sidewalk road driveway
by SHCA SHCA

Proposed Amendment to Snow Hauling Tarping Regulations Open for Feedback

Tractor loader machine uploading dirty snow into dump truck. Cleaning city street, removing snow and ice after heavy snowfalls and blizzard. Snowplow outdoors clean pavement sidewalk road driveway
gorlovkv/123rf

The Government of Saskatchewan is proposing an amendment to The Security of Loads Regulations, 2013 to clarify tarping rules for equipment hauling snow. The change would remove the 80 km/h speed limit exemption and possibly extend the rule to private snow haulers.

The Ministry of Highways is consulting municipalities, agencies, industry groups and commercial operators before finalizing the amendment. 

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Industrial containers with flags of Canada making a rising graph. Economic growth related 3D rendering
by SHCA SHCA

Procurement Update

Industrial containers with flags of Canada making a rising graph. Economic growth related 3D rendering
moovstock/123rf

The Government of Saskatchewan returned to its standard procurement processes and documentation, effective June 9, 2025.  This means the changes put in place in response to U.S. tariffs are no longer in effect. As of June 9, procurements no longer have additional clauses, declarations or rated criteria and reporting the use of U.S. products for capital projects in progress is not proceeding. 

For procurements that are open as of June 9, 2025, an addendum may be added to remove the U.S. declaration form and rated criteria requirements. Procurements that are closed as of June 9, 2025, will be awarded based on the requirements that existed when the competition closed. 

Government will continue to focus on delivering capital projects while supporting industry efforts to source local products. These changes will reduce administrative burdens while continuing to make efforts to support Saskatchewan and Canadian businesses. 

For information on procurement, visit sasktenders.com.

Shantel Lipp
by Shantel Lipp Shantel Lipp

Nation-Building Begins with Us

Shantel Lipp

With the busy season for construction underway and no elections on the horizon, we turn our sites to what the federal and provincial governments have in mind with respect to infrastructure funding. 

It was encouraging to hear the results of the Western Premiers’ Conference that recently took place in Yellowknife, N.W.T. The premiers indicated that they had received consensus on ways to identify, plan and develop new economic corridors to connect provincial resources to international markets. This is something our industry has been advocating for a very long time. 

In a joint statement, the premiers wrote, “Nation-building infrastructure in Western Canada, such as highways, railways, ports, airports, pipelines, nuclear projects and electricity transmission systems, are crucial for driving Canadian productivity growth, energy security and economic competitiveness.”  

SHCA could not agree more.

The premiers also advocated for the west to become the economic engine for the country. They said that the only thing holding Western Canada back is the lack of infrastructure required to transport our resources to new markets. 

These statements are encouraging for our industry. Building the means to get our products to market around the globe is key to economic success in the face of the ongoing tariff fight. The premiers also called on the federal government to ensure that Western Canada receives its fair share of funding toward infrastructure and economic development projects and flexible, predictable and long-term federal infrastructure funding from the federal government. 

On the heels of this meeting, the Prime Minister and provincial premiers met in Saskatoon on June 2 to hold a First Ministers’ meeting, the first in Saskatchewan in over 40 years. The premiers brought with them a list of nation-building projects for consideration that could be funded to help build some economic resilience for the country in the face of economic challenges. The order of the day is to get Canada back to building its economy, which cannot be done without proper investment in infrastructure. For more than a decade, we have been working toward this goal, and hopefully, it is not too late. 

While these words by the Prime Minister and the premiers are music to our ears, it is incumbent upon the industry to follow through and keep the pressure on our elected officials to ensure that these pronouncements go beyond the paper that they are written on.

SHCA | Saskatchewan Heavy Construction Association
by SHCA SHCA

60 Million Reasons to Check the Highway Hotline This Past Year

Highways Minister David Marit announced the Highway Hotline’s digital platform was checked by motorists over the last year more than 60 million times – a new record for Saskatchewan’s provincial road information service.

“Thank you to all drivers who take the time to check the Highway Hotline to make an informed decision before heading out on the road,” Marit said. “Understanding what may be on the road ahead can help you plan safer and more efficient trips, which supports our quality of life and export-based economy.”

From April 2024 to March 2025, the Highway Hotline website had over 40 million pageviews, while its mobile app had a total of more than 20 million. A key contributing factor to this record was more storms this winter than previous years. From April 2023 to March 2024, the Highway Hotline website had over 10 million pageviews, while its mobile app had more than 3 million for a total of 13 million views overall. The previous winter was milder.

The Highway Hotline began more than 50 years ago as a telephone service answered by staff. It continues providing that service via modern automated audio reports of road conditions by dialing 1-888-335-7623 (across Canada) or 511 (within Saskatchewan) and using touch tone technology. About 33,000 calls are received a year. The service has evolved to include the latest version of the Highway Hotline mobile app available for free in the Google and Apple online stores.

The service has more than 50 camera locations that can be seen online at hotline.gov.sk.ca/cctv or by using the mobile app, while the Track My Plow is a Highway Hotline winter feature showing motorists where a snowplow has recently been clearing snow or treating ice. Motorists are reminded to continue checking the Highway Hotline throughout the year at hotline.gov.sk.ca/map as it provides information such as construction zones, weather, ferry crossings, parks, along with closures and incidents related to vehicle collisions and forest and grass fires.

white, yellow and blue hard safety helmet hat for safety project of workman as engineer or worker, on concrete floor on city.
by SHCA SHCA

Day of Mourning Remembers 27 Workers Who Lost Their Lives

white, yellow and blue hard safety helmet hat for safety project of workman as engineer or worker, on concrete floor on city.

Every year on April 28, Canada marks the National Day of Mourning. Provincially, flags at all government buildings are lowered to half-mast from sunrise to sunset.

April 28 was first declared as the National Day of Mourning by the Canadian Labour Congress in 1984. The day is now annually observed across Canada as a way to pay tribute to individuals killed, injured or stricken with illness in the workplace. In 2024, 27 workplace fatality claims were accepted by the Saskatchewan Workers’ Compensation Board.

“Our condolences are with the friends, families and colleagues of those who lost their life to a workplace injury or illness,” Deputy Premier and Labour Relations and Workplace Safety Minister Jim Reiter said. “Safety must be a priority in everything we do.”

“Today is an important day to reflect on how we can create safer workplaces, so each worker can return home safely at the end of the day,” Saskatchewan Workers’ Compensation Board Chairperson Gord Dobrowolsky said. “There is always more work to be done to prevent workplace injuries and illnesses.”

In 2023, WorkSafe Saskatchewan, a partnership between the Saskatchewan Workers’ Compensation Board and the Ministry of Labour Relations and Workplace Safety, released the 2023-2028 Fatalities and Serious Injuries Strategy to help prevent and reduce serious workplace injuries and fatalities.

Copies of the 2023-28 Fatalities and Serious Injuries Strategy are available at www.worksafesask.ca.

Canadian Construction Association
by SHCA SHCA

Canada’s Construction Industry Congratulates the New Liberal Government, Reiterates the Importance of Construction for all Canadians

Canadian Construction Association

The Canadian Construction Association (CCA) congratulates Prime Minister Mark Carney and his new members of Parliament from across the country for winning the confidence of Canadians. 

“For Mark Carney and his administration, now is the time for action,” said Rodrigue Gilbert, president of CCA. “A strong, sustainable and resilient Canada needs a strong, sustainable and resilient construction industry. To support Canadians, the next federal government must support construction.” 

During the federal election, CCA launched Construction for Canadians, a campaign supported by Canada’s national, provincial and regional construction associations to emphasize the importance of construction to building the strong Canada that Canadians deserve.  

“Beyond the economic impact, the construction industry builds the critical infrastructure Canadians rely on every day,” said Gilbert. “We build the schools where our children learn; the hospitals that care for us; the roads and highways that connect our communities and economies; and the housing that becomes our homes.” 

Over the course of the campaign, Construction for Canadians received an outpouring of support from dozens of candidates across Canada and was featured in hundreds of media publications, discussing the priorities of the Canadian construction industry.  

“This campaign has never been just about our industry – it’s about Canada and Canadians,” said Gilbert. “We cannot grow our economy or develop the infrastructure we need to compete globally and respond to political and economic challenges without construction.”  

During this election, Carney and his candidates made various commitments which involve the construction industry. These commitments include:

  • Investing in critical, community-enabling infrastructure to connect Canadians and grow regional, provincial and economic economies. 
  • Investing $5 billion for the new Trade Diversification Corridors Fund to support the development of trade infrastructure, including, but not limited to, ports, railways, airports and highways. 
  • Deploying a made-in-Canada procurement strategy that prioritizes Canadian suppliers and supply chains. 
  • Increasing labour mobility for skilled trades people between provinces and territories to address labour shortages. 

 “CCA will continue its work in close collaboration with the new government to ensure that Prime Minister Carney and his new administration keep their promises to the construction industry,” said Gilbert. “Only together can we build a strong foundation for Canada’s future.”

Concept of industrial education with hard hat
by SHCA SHCA

SHCA’s Catalogue of Courses

The SHCA has created a Catalogue of Courses for those interested in bolstering their education in the heavy construction industry. All courses qualify for Continued Professional Development Credits from the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Saskatchewan. 

View the full Catalogue of Courses here.