GCL makes the switch from construction to sales, rental and repair
No one knows the ups and downs of the Saskatchewan economy better than Treverr Poole. When the oil and gas industry was booming and potash was thriving from 2008–13, his company, Garry’s Construction Ltd. (GCL) was thriving with 50 employees and upwards of 70 pieces of equipment. After oil and gas dried up, potash took a downturn and then the pandemic hit, his crews and equipment sat idle at his facility in Edam.
That’s when he made the crucial decision to pivot into a new business. GCL now specializes in heavy equipment sales and rentals and he formed a complimentary company, Garry’s Heavy Repair (GHR), which provides heavy duty mechanics for truck and trailer sales.
“There was a time when we were making good money and my crew were getting well paid, but it was very stressful. Then in 2014 the oil and gas industry crashed and big projects were cancelled. It got really quiet for about nine months and we didn’t have much income coming in. It was pretty scary. I’d been through ups and downs before but I could tell that this was different and there wasn’t going to be a big comeback like before,” said Poole.
With the construction side fading, the company’s heavy duty mechanical work began to take on more importance. GHR was operating in a 15,000 square foot facility with an overhead crane for repairing his equipment. Poole began expanding into repairing other equipment, such as farm trucks and trailers, and that seemed to be the future.
Another factor that led him to exit the construction business was the death of his two long-term foremen within a few months of each other. One succumbed to cancer and another to a heart attack. Some of the members of his crew found other jobs while the company waited for other work to come in, and while the pay may have been less, they were assured of a paycheque. This discouraged them from returning to the construction industry.
Poole contacted his friends at Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers and decided to sell his construction equipment. Once he recognized the tax implications from the sale, he agreed to keep about 20 pieces that he could use as rentals. The equipment includes dozers, track hoes, scrapers, compactors, rock trucks and much more. Today, his equipment can be found at a provincial government irrigation project near Swift Current, at an elevator site near Kindersley and at various road construction projects in different areas of the province.
Although GCL has been involved in numerous heavy construction projects over the years and Poole has been asked to bid on other projects that have come up, he’s content to stay focused on sales, rentals and repair. He has no intention of returning to the construction side of the business.
“Now I don’t have to deal with projects and timelines that impact my weekends. Now it’s like any other business and we can shut the door at the end of the day. Before it could be seven-days-a-week and sometimes 24-hours-a-day,” he said.
“Now it’s like any other business and we can shut the door at the end of the day. Before it could be seven-days-a-week and sometimes 24-hours-a-day.”
– Treverr Poole, GCL and GHR
GCL Origins
GCL traces its roots back Poole’s father, Gary, who started in the industry in the late 1960s by building roads for a local construction company. After serving as foreman for a while, he decided to strike out on his own and formed GCL in 1974.
“He probably started with five pieces of equipment and had about 10 guys working at any given time. It was all road construction work and a bit of oil. He didn’t go looking for work but rather took work when it came to his door,” said Poole.
Poole started working at the company while just a teenager and began running things when he turned 22 in 1994. Over the years, the company worked on a variety of major projects including Husky Oil fields, the Kramer Tractor facility and an industrial park – all near North Battleford. GCL also constructed the road between Highway 16 and Battleford and did considerable work for the BHP Jansen Potash Mine site.
“We were doing potash work here and then over here we were doing oilfield work. We were really, really busy. I remember those days because people asked me if you’re busy and I would say that it just couldn’t get any busier. There just weren’t any more operators and equipment to work on more projects.”
But by 2015, it was becoming clear to Poole that the days of the major projects were coming to an end. He had also reached many of the goals he had set up for himself when he became the owner – hitting his sales targets and achieving financial independence. So it was time to move onto the next opportunity.
His cousin Darcy took charge of GHR and it has become a successful operation since large vehicles in the area always need to be maintained and repaired.
“There are still trucks going up and down the highway and they need to be repaired. Even combines need to be serviced. Farmers run large operations and they don’t want to fix large equipment so we are able to do that for them.”
The Next Generation
Just like when Poole took over from his father, his own son has shown an interest in the business. Trayton can often be found lending a hand at GHR and visiting auction sales to see if there is equipment that can be purchased and repaired so it can be either rented or sold. As the next generation becomes more involved in the business, Poole says his father still enjoys visiting the company and seeing how things are progressing.
GCL has been a SHCA member for many years and Poole said they likely joined when his father was still in charge. He says it is important to be a member to get the latest information and to know that the industry is being supported and promoted.
“This is a new and exciting time for our business,” he said. “It’s even a little bit scary, but it’s also exciting to see what can be done with this new venture and to see how it will turn out.”
Few sectors can admit it has been business as usual over the past 12 months.
A global pandemic transformed life as we knew it. Mandatory lockdowns, limited capacity for restaurants and retail outlets, working and learning remotely all wreaked havoc on local, provincial and national economies.
Amidst the chaos, the heavy construction industry hummed along relatively unscathed, albeit with a few adjustments.
Overall, the industry enjoyed a productive season in 2020 and expects more of the same this year as much of the world continues to grapple with the coronavirus.
“Despite COVID-19 and all of the additional precautions that were put in place, we actually had a really productive year [in 2020],” said Shantel Lipp, president of the Saskatchewan Heavy Construction Association. “I think we got more built last year than we did the year before (2019). I don’t know if part of that was because there were fewer people on the roads and that meant fewer obstacles and fewer shutdowns at certain times.
“Despite COVID-19 and all of the additional precautions that were put in place, we actually had a really productive year [in 2020].”
– Shantel Lipp, Saskatchewan Heavy Construction AssociatioN
“It was a banner year for road construction in terms of the amount of work we accomplished.”
Early in the pandemic, road builders and the work they do was considered by the government an essential service. Lipp praised SHCA members for their dedication to adhering to enhanced health and safety protocols that were introduced last year.
Safety meetings became virtual or were altered for those in attendance to be physically distanced. Equipment was frequently sanitized throughout the day, hand-washing stations were added to job sites. Those were just a few of the adjustments that crews made to enable them to safely work a full season during a pandemic.
Because of their actions, there were no major outbreaks of the virus on job sites across the province.
“The guys were extra diligent because they knew that should a COVID outbreak happen on their job site, they were going to be shut down for two weeks,” she said. “And you talk to any contractor, they’ll tell you that they can’t afford to be shut down for two weeks.”
The look was similar in Manitoba, a province that enforced a full lockdown for several months in 2020.
Chris Lorenc, president of the Manitoba Heavy Construction Association, says his members continued working last summer through adjusted procedures. He says daily temperature screening was common on job sites, as were virtual meetings with occupational health and safety officials to ensure everyone knew what was expected.
“Our industry has been permitted to continue providing its construction, maintenance and rehabilitation services throughout the pandemic, so we’re very grateful for that,” he said.
Viewed as an economic driver, the road building industry will be relied upon to stimulate the local and national economies post-pandemic. Provincial governments and the federal government already have indicated additional spending for this sector.
Road improvements are coming to more than 50 rural municipalities across Saskatchewan, thanks to $16.5 million in funding from the provincial government’s two-year, $7.5 billion infrastructure stimulus plan.
The funding is part of a three-year plan with the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities to upgrade municipal roads, bridges and culverts.
In Manitoba, the provincial government unveiled last summer the $500-million Manitoba Restart Program. Of that funding, approximately $150 million is dedicated to resurfacing more than 240 kilometres of provincial highways and $65 million for major projects that will improve highway safety.
Major irrigation projects that will benefit members in both provinces are in the works. The Saskatchewan government plans to embark on a $4-billion irrigation infrastructure project at Lake Diefenbaker.
It’ll be the government’s biggest infrastructure project to date and SHCA will be major players over the next 10 years of construction in three main phases.
The government said it will create more than 2,500 construction jobs per year over the next 10 years, which is welcomed news to our industry.
In Manitoba, Lorenc is waiting to see the outcome of discussions between the provincial government and the federal government over the terms of the Lake Manitoba–Lake St. Martin outlet channel project (a $550-million, multi-year project that aims to mitigate the impacts of flooding).
“The stimulus program announced in 2020 didn’t flow nearly as much as was anticipated, so we assume that it will flow at a healthier clip for the construction season this year.”
– Chris Lorenc, Manitoba Heavy Construction Association
“The stimulus program announced in 2020 didn’t flow nearly as much as was anticipated, so we assume that it will flow at a healthier clip for the construction season this year,” Lorenc said. “There will be a nominal increase to the highways capital program…the Lake Manitoba project…If all of those approvals, along with the Investing in Canada’s Infrastructure program, materialize, I think Manitoba’s economy will get a good shot in the arm with infrastructure programs.”
In Alberta, the province plans to provide more infrastructure dollars to municipalities this year through the Municipal Sustainability Initiative (MSI) with a $1.2-billion investment to provide economic stimulus and create jobs.
But this means a funding drop to $485 million in each of the following two years, where municipalities were initially slated to split $860 million.
Despite the cut to municipalities, a $20.7-billion capital plan will invest in 41 new infrastructure projects across the province and create about 90,000 jobs through 2024.
The 2021 capital plan will include new construction of roads, bridges, overpasses and water projects.
“When you consider that 65 per cent of Canada’s gross domestic product is tied to trade and roughly 18 per cent of Canada’s workforce is tied to trade, it’s really important for Canadians to understand and for governments to understand this,” said Lorenc. “There is the infrastructure we want like our parks, swimming pools and recreation facilities. There’s infrastructure we need like healthcare facilities and schools. And then there’s the infrastructure that pays for all of these things – that is our trade infrastructure.
“We think there should be a significant long-term focus on investing in trade gateways and corridors in Western Canada to allow the region to become an even more prolific global trade partner to keep the economy humming.”
More than 30,000 kids each year experience engineering and science camps through the University of Regina
Little did a group of University of Regina engineering students realize that when they developed a summer camp for kids more than 25 years ago, they were laying the foundation for a program that would engage more than 30,000 kids annually on science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) programming.
That initial idea has grown to become EYES: Educating Youth in Engineering and Science. Not only does it deliver annual summer camps in an inclusive and safe space, but it has also expanded to provide satellite programs in other communities as well as on-reserve locations. The program also features workshops, all-girls camps, field trips, maker days and professional development for teachers.
“Our primary reach is in the summer and that’s where we have between 30 and 40 full-time undergraduate students and between five and seven high school students who assist with the program,” said Megan Moore, manager, engineering outreach. “During May and June, under normal circumstances, we conduct school workshops all over the province. In 2019, we did more than 18,000 km worth of travel.”
The Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science provides space for the summer camps and EYES works with community partners on delivering the program in local schools and community centres. The program has been delivered in communities such as Estevan, Weyburn and Swift Current as well as Indigenous communities including Kawacatoose, Ocean Man, Kahkewistahaw, Whitebear and Cote.
Moore says EYES places an emphasis on diversity and inclusion, and it provides financial assistance to children for whom the camp fee is a barrier. It also provides free camps and workshops to selected community schools in Regina, which are situated in neighborhoods with low household incomes and a high Indigenous population. EYES also works with the Open Door Society to provide a weeklong camp for newcomers to Canada.
Although the university faculty is supportive of the program as it encourages students to consider STEM careers, EYES is self-supporting and relies on corporate support, donations and registrations for its operating costs. Moore says EYES also recognizes that every community is different and strives to ensure that as many students can participate in their programming as possible.
For Regina community schools, for example, Moore says EYES worked with the Regina Public Library to provide technical equipment and curriculum materials so teachers could sign out these materials through their library cards. Other communities may require corporate partners in order to deliver the camps.
“On-reserve camps may be completely sponsored in that community. We recognize that there may be barriers so we provide things like breakfast and lunch, and bring our tech out there so the kids can use them,” explained Moore.
Instructors develop programming
The program is targeted at students in Grades 2 through 9 and the programming varies per age group. The instructors can develop their own projects based upon a base curriculum, but typically students will be involved in creating their own experiments such as growing their crystals, creating forensic fingerprinting and developing marble rollercoasters.
When they start their program, the instructors will review their program goals, decide what they want the kids’ experiences to be like, and discuss their own strengths and weaknesses in developing a camp. It also means that each camp will be a unique experience for both the instructors and the participants.
When Pokémon hunting was at its height in 2019, an instructor adapted Pokémon cards into cards featuring different flora and fauna, which the kids had to find. They even got to battle each other, just like in the real game. Students also have the opportunity to dissect frogs, use 3D printers and place table tennis balls in garbage cans filled with liquid nitrogen to watch them explode.
“We take all of these projects and then make sure that they are applicable to real life,” said Moore. “It’s one thing to blow up a garbage can, but it’s another thing to attribute that experiment to exothermic explosions in Saskatchewan mining. We need to explain the importance of these explosions so when they go home they will understand how the cracks in stone allow miners to extract potash.”
“We take all of these projects and then make sure that they are applicable to real life.”
– Megan Moore, Manager, Engineering Outreach
Moore says she can personally relate to how the program impacts young people. She came from a rural community and attended a two-day, all-girls EYES camp, which helped spark her interest in STEM. Many student instructors attended EYES camps and have now come full circle in delivering the program to other kids. One instructor has been involved with the EYES for 13 years – starting as an elementary student at a day camp and eventually becoming an instructor.
More than 30,000 kids and upwards of 40 high school and university student leaders participate in the EYES program each year Photo courtesy of EYES Program, University of Regina
“When we pitch summer work to the university students, one of the questions we always ask is who has attended an EYES camp. It’s always surprising to see at least a third of the students raise their hands that they have been EYES campers,” said Moore.
She adds that now that the program has been in existence for so long, one of the new priorities is to better determine the impact that EYES is having on STEM recruitment at the university. EYES camps help students go beyond traditional school programs such as chemistry and biology and delve into areas such as geology, geography, epidemiology and other science and engineering fields.
Benefitting more than kids
But it’s not just the kids who benefit from the EYES program. Moore says the undergraduate students learn skills like managing programs, conducting risk assessments and understanding safety concerns, which they will be able to use after they graduate in their professional lives.
SHCA members can support the program in several different ways. Moore says they are always looking for mentors who can (virtually) meet with the kids and discuss what they do. The kids will know very little about construction so the chance to discuss the opportunities and challenges with someone in the profession will be a rewarding experience for the students.
And, of course, EYES is always on the lookout for corporate sponsors for any members who would like to lend their financial support. The program is particularly interested in organizations that would be willing to sponsor a camp in an Indigenous community.
Milestone School may take on a new look by the end of this school year, thanks to a community initiative spurred by students.
For the past several months, Rebecca Carson’s Grade 4 class has been drawing, designing, fundraising and pitching their plans for an outdoor classroom to school board officials, local businesses and community groups.
Their hope is to construct a gazebo-style structure adjacent to the school that would be used as a classroom setting and double as a community meeting room outside of school hours.
“Through COVID, the school’s goal is to be outside as much as possible when learning,” Carson explained of the project her students have taken on. “When we’re outside, students are able to space out and learn without wearing their masks. When we’re in the classroom, we try to space out as best we can. Sometimes we’re just not able to be six feet apart and, therefore, not able to take off our masks.”
Ideally, Carson said a local construction crew would construct their desired outdoor classroom. The students voted to build a rectangular, partially enclosed gazebo with two walls with stadium-like seating and a third open wall with a chalkboard. The structure would seat roughly 25 people.
The Saskatchewan Heavy Construction Association drew inspiration from the students and the work they’re doing and donated to the project.
As of the end of February, the class was still searching for a local construction company to complete the project.
The hope is to have the Saskatchewan Outdoor Classroom – named by the class – standing by the end of June, with the finer details like painting and tree planting to follow.
“I’m hopeful that any business that is able to help us out for the actual construction aspect, if they wouldn’t mind having Grade 4 students in little hard hats and safety vests helping out where they could,” she said. “I would love if the students could play a small role in that part of the construction to continue with their learning process.
“I would gladly sacrifice a day of class time if the students were able to learn in a different way by doing something with that.”
The Saskatchewan Heavy Construction Association drew inspiration from the students and the work they’re doing and donated to the project.
“I think what caught my eye was when the story aired how ‘Saskatchewan’ it was and how well it tied into the belief of the association and our members on giving back to the community,” said SHCA president Shantel Lipp. “It was also a great reminder of the prairie-born ‘fix it on the farm’ mentality that lives here. If there’s a problem, we look at ways to find a solution and that’s what those kiddos are doing with this project.”
Carson’s class, along with others from the school, took advantage of the warm fall weather and shifted much of their learning outdoors in September and October. However, with the exception of a large play structure, the majority of the school grounds is bare – no trees to provide shade or barriers to protect from the wind.
The students occasionally would grumble about being outdoors and exposed to the elements.
They soon started talking about wanting a structure where they could be sheltered from the sun and the wind, all the while being outside and learning.
Carson was on board with the idea. But rather than taking control of the situation, she deferred to her students to address the problem and find solutions. Carson would simply act as a guide.
The students split into groups and got to work.
“The kids started doing their research. They looked into structural designs, drew their own designs and presented all of their work to the class and to school board officials,” Carson said, adding the students factored in wheelchair accessible paths and ramps leading to the structure and which trees they’d like planted on the school property.
Water drainage from the roof of the new structure would filter into a water collection jug, with the collected water used to help grow the newly planted trees, all of which would be native to Saskatchewan.
There’s a catch, however.
Approximately $60,000 is needed to build the structure. Plus, Grade 4 students aren’t exactly equipped for such a job.
This hasn’t deterred the students.
Carson is using this as a learning opportunity and grading the students on various steps throughout this process. They’re being graded on their designs, collaborative work in groups, math-related tasks like adding donation totals and their oral presentation to school board officials.
Students worked with architecture firm Crosby, Hanna and Associates to create concept drawings.
They’ve also been calling local businesses and pitching their outdoor classroom plan and asking for donations.
“I asked the students, ‘How are we going to get the money to pay for this?’” said Carson.
The kids suggested different themed food days – selling ice cream treats, hosting a sandwich or a pizza day, a bottle drive and selling tickets to raffle baskets.
At the end of February, the class had received more than $6,500 in donations to raffle baskets from several local businesses like Redwing Shoes and gift cards to Temple Gardens Hotel & Spa in Moose Jaw.
Every dollar received through donations will go into the Saskatchewan economy.
Anyone interested in making a monetary donation or donating items to raffle baskets or purchasing raffle tickets can phone Milestone School (306-436-2292) or contact Rebecca Carson (rebecca.carson@pvsd.ca).
April is Dig Safe month, as proclaimed by the province of Saskatchewan. And for more than 30 years, the Annual Contractor Dig Safe Awareness Breakfast program is held across dozens of communities around the province.
The Saskatchewan Common Ground Alliance (SCGA) and 21 of its member sponsors, including our province’s pipeline and utility companies, make this the unofficial start to our digging season for the year.
The events educate the frontline workers, safety managers, emergency personnel and the general public about the importance of digging safely around underground and overhead infrastructure.
An anchor of the program is the locally made and produced safety videos where a number of digging awareness topics are covered, such as:
Costs to you, your family and your community when you contact underground facilities
What to look for before you dig
Proper pressures when day lighting
Safe excavation practices and tolerance zone
A powerful story of a man who sets himself on fire when he inadvertently pushes a pipe up into an overhead power line
The 2021 Contractor Dig Safe Breakfast program will look a little different due to the ongoing global pandemic. There will be no face-to-face sessions but there will be a chance for those frontline workers to win breakfast when our made-in-Saskatchewan safety video is watched.
Additional stimulus dollars will improve rural roads and bridges while contributing to economic recovery
Earlier in March, Premier Scott Moe announced that the province will advance $11.2 million in economic stimulus funds for the Rural Integrated Roads for Growth (RIRG) program. The funds will give RIRG a head start on getting projects approved for the 2021 construction season.
RIRG will continue to assist RMs with the cost of construction and upgrading municipal roads, bridges and culverts to support growth. With the additional dollars, government is contributing more than $39 million to the program in 2020–21.
The Rural Integrated Roads for Growth program is an important component of the province’s plan to rebuild 100 roads over the next three years and 100 bridges over the next four years.
“Rural municipalities play a significant role in our plan to build a Strong Saskatchewan,” said Moe. “This funding will ensure projects will be ready for this construction season to help build rural infrastructure while protecting and growing jobs across our province.”
RIRG is an important component of the province’s plan to rebuild 100 roads over the next three years and 100 bridges over the next four years. Through the first two phases of funding, 89 road projects and 45 bridge projects have been provincially approved, receiving nearly $38 million in support. Several of the bridge projects are still going through the federal approval process.
“Our rural municipalities greatly value this continued financial support through this time of economic recovery,” said Ray Orb, president of the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities. “Well maintained rural infrastructure is critical to the sustainability and growth of Saskatchewan’s economy and the rural-based industries using it daily.”
The Government of Saskatchewan is meeting its target of improving more than 1,000 km of provincial highways this year, the first of its 10-year Growth Plan goal to build and upgrade 10,000 km of highways. Another $300 million in highways stimulus funds is being invested over two years in thin-membrane surface upgrades, passing lanes and improvements to municipal roads and airports.
The Government of Saskatchewan has invested more than $9.8 billion in highways infrastructure since 2008, improving more than 15,800 km of Saskatchewan highways.
Canadian Construction Association welcomes its new Board of Directors for 2021–22 with Ray Bassett at the helm as chair
The Canadian Construction Association (CCA) is pleased to announce that Ray Bassett is the chair of the 2021–22 Board of Directors. CCA sincerely thanks outgoing chair, Joe Wrobel, for his dedicated leadership.
Bassett is the vice president and chief underwriting officer at Travelers Insurance Company of Canada, where he manages client relationships with national and larger regional construction companies, leads strategic initiatives in product development and technology and guides the business strategy of the Construction Services Group for Travelers in North America.
A 37-year veteran of the construction surety industry, Bassett has led both claims and underwriting practices for leading national surety companies in Canada and is focused on improving collaboration and value among stakeholders in the construction industry, including public and private project owners, the construction and project finance lending community, financial ratings agencies, consultants, the construction law bar and the surety industry.
Bassett joined the CCA Board of Directors in 2010, has chaired the Manufacturers, Suppliers & Services Council, as well as an executive committee focused on federal prompt payment, which was instrumental in having industry concerns and recommendations addressed in the Federal Prompt Payment for Construction Work Act.
In his address to members at the annual general meeting, Bassett articulated one of CCA’s advocacy focuses for the association over the next year.
“(We need) a long-term federal infrastructure plan, that is evidence-based and is better aligned with the needs and priorities of provincial and municipal governments, and has a clear and uncluttered funding mechanism – this will bring more public and private projects to the market in a more predictable flow,” he said. “This is good for our industry and good for Canada.”
Joining Bassett on CCA’s 2021–22 Board of Directors are:
Jean François Arbour, President, Groupe SCV
Andrew Arnill, Operations Manager, West-Can Seal Coating Asphalt Products
David Bowcott, Global Director, Growth, Innovation & Insight, AON
Rob Carvell, Chief Operating Officer, Trane
Charles Caza, Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary, Bird Construction
Nicole Chabot, Vice President, L. Chabot Enterprises Ltd.
Leslie Doka, Director of Construction, Wright Construction
Trevor Doucette, Vice-President Stakeholder Management, Graham Construction & Engineering
Wayne Ferguson, Senior Vice President, EllisDon Corporation
Branden Kotyk, Division Manager, Western Canada, Victaulic
Patrick Lafrenière, Director of Projects, Atlantic, JCB Construction Canada
John Mollenhauer, President & CEO, Toronto Construction Association
Brendan Nobes, Director Major Projects, Rcs
Francis Roy, President, Groupe Humaco
CCA thanks these leaders for their generous commitment to the industry and to advance our united vision to Build a better Canada.
New SHCA affinity partner: Shamii
A new partner to the SHCA affinity program is Shamii, a pickup/drop-off full service for your vehicles. By using Shamii, SHCA members can avoid lineups, wait times, arranging pickups, drop-offs or awkward courtesy car rides with strangers. Shamii chauffeurs pick up your vehicle from wherever you are, detail your car with the package you choose and then deliver it back to you.
SHCA members, use the promo code “SHCA21” and receive a 10 per cent discount on all packages.
Changes to the WCB’s Employer Initial Report of Injury (E1) form
To continuously improve its customer service, the Saskatchewan Workers’ Compensation Board (WCB) has made changes to the online E1 form.
The new features of the online E1 form include:
A document upload feature – Employers will be able to attach documentation with the E1 form submission. This could include pictures related to the worker’s injury, incident reports or medical notes.
Fewer required fields – This will allow users to get the E1 form submitted to the WCB faster so injured workers can get the support they need sooner.
Fewer questions – Based on the feedback from users, the E1 form was redesigned so the WCB is not asking questions that did not provide value for an injured worker to receive support.
An enhanced dashboard that gives the users a better view of what E1s are submitted and saved.
When you submit your E1 form online, the form is automatically entered into the WCB system, which eliminates delays that can occur if mailed.
Government announces increased funding for channel clearing
Premier Scott Moe recently announced $2 million over two years in funding to expand channel clearing for rural municipalities across Saskatchewan.
“As we work through economic recovery, investments in our communities will help build our future,” said Moe. “Increased funding for water management in rural communities will not only help protect essential infrastructure but also help our producers grow Saskatchewan’s economy.”
The Water Security Agency originally budgeted $600,000 over two years for channel clearing. This increase in funding will allow for the program to grow to $500,000 for the 2020–21 fiscal year. In 2021–22, funding will increase again to $1.5 million for a total investment of $2 million over two years. This is an additional $1.4 million over two years to support RMs with channel clearing activities.
Channel clearing involves removing beaver dams, debris, trees and shrubs, and the removal of silt and blow dirt from and along natural channels, lessening the possibilities of blockages that can cause flooding and damage to infrastructure.
Obstructed creeks and channels cause flooding and erosion problems to many RMs and local landowners. This program supports RMs in the removal of these obstructions.
“Our members welcome the news of this timely additional support for a needed program, especially as we enter the spring season,” said Ray Orb, president of the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities. “Our communities are concerned not only about proactively dealing with situations like flooding, but also practicing good water management that protects our ratepayers’ investments.”
Clearing dense vegetation can also reduce unwanted nutrients from water bodies and is an essential component of any long-term water management plan.
Channel clearing involves removing beaver dams, debris, trees and shrubs, and the removal of silt and blow dirt from and along natural channels, lessening the possibilities of blockages that can cause flooding and damage to infrastructure.
Melfort STARS heliport project
Redhead Equipment is pleased to announce that it was named the Mission Lead Pilot Donor of the Melfort Heliport Fundraising Campaign with a contribution of $100,000.
“Since acquiring the dealership in Melfort, we have strived to support our customer’s needs and to give back to Melfort and its surrounding communities. The health and safety of our customers, staff and community is of great importance to Redhead Equipment, and we hope this $100,000 donation reflects our commitment to the people of northeastern Saskatchewan,” said Gary Redhead.
The Melfort Hospital serves approximately 12,200 people and previously did not have a heliport. All patient transfers occurred by ground EMS directly or through the Melfort Airport via fixed wing air ambulance or STARS service. The City of Melfort proposed developing a heliport beside the Melfort Hospital. The landing area would be a certified area used by STARS for the transport of patients from the emergency department at the hospital.
The heliport is an important service for the growing community of Melfort and area. The greatest risk for patients being transported is during handover. With STARS service, the care team can come right to the patient, get a report from the team providing care and transfer directly to tertiary care in Saskatoon.
A heliport will save STARS critical time, in some cases up to 50 minutes from Melfort to Saskatoon’s hospitals.
“When I reached out to Gary Redhead about supporting the Heliport Project in Melfort, there was no hesitation,” said Heliport Fundraising Committee member, Rod Gantefoer. “Redhead Equipment is a proud, active member of all the communities they serve throughout Saskatchewan and is committed to supporting charities and community organizations across the province, through sponsorship, donations and participation.”
Thanks to the support of businesses and families in the Melfort area, the campaign has raised more than $750,000.
Peggy George, chairman of the North Central Health Care Foundation stated, “Raising funds during a pandemic had its own special challenge, but with the support of all our donors, we have been able to exceed our fundraising goal by over $100,000. Excess funds from this campaign will further the work of the foundation. The foundation plays an important role in supporting our local healthcare professionals by providing funding for equipment in the facilities throughout the district.”
As of Dec. 1, 2020, the helipad was completed and certified by Transport Canada, making it operational. Redhead Equipment is happy to know that every time STARS lands in Melfort, their team helped make it happen.
“Redhead Equipment is a proud, active member of all the communities they serve throughout Saskatchewan and is committed to supporting charities and community organizations across the province, through sponsorship, donations and participation.” – Rod Gantefoer
Municipalities of Saskatchewan elects new president
Municipalities of Saskatchewan delegates recently elected Naicam Mayor Rodger Hayward as their newest president.
“It is an honour to be elected Municipalities of Saskatchewan president,” said Hayward. “I look forward to continuing to work with Municipalities of Saskatchewan’s Board of Directors as president, and our member municipalities, to ensure our hometowns have the resources we need. We are stronger when we work together.”
Hayward has served as Municipalities of Saskatchewan’s vice-president of towns since 2012. He was first elected to the Board of Directors in 2010 as northeast regional director. Hayward has represented the community of Naicam since 1996, and has served six terms as mayor.
Municipalities of Saskatchewan’s towns and villages, resort villages and northern municipal sectors also elected their sector representatives. Nipawin Mayor Rennie Harper will serve as the new vice-president of towns, and incumbent Mike Strachan, Mayor of Torquay, will continue to serve as vice-president of villages, resort villages and northern municipalities.
SGI scam warning
SGI warns the public that scammers could be targeting SGI customers by sending them an email posing as their bank and asking them to provide a photo or scan of their driver’s licence.
If you come across a similar request in your inbox, take steps to verify that the email is coming from a trusted source before providing any personal information. Be sure to use publicly listed contact information, not a phone number or email address included in the suspect email.
SGI warns the public that scammers could be targeting SGI customers by sending them an email posing as their bank and asking them to provide a photo or scan of their driver’s licence.
If you have provided this information to someone who shouldn’t have it, you should contact the police and take steps suggested by the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre, such as gathering information about the fraudulent activity and contacting your financial institutions and reporting the incident.
SGI asks that customers who suspect they’ve fallen victim to a fraud to please notify SGI of the potential issue. You can have your SGI information password protected – in order to do so, customers will have to go to any SGI motor licence issuing office.
Saskatchewan’s economy has demonstrated incredible resiliency over the past year. Our province was not immune to the effects of the global COVID-19 pandemic, but we have implemented a number of strategies and programs to ensure economic and labour market recovery.
As part of our government’s commitment to stimulate economic recovery, we launched the Re-Open Saskatchewan plan to provide a phased-in and methodical approach to ensure the safe operation of businesses in Saskatchewan. The Business Response Team was established to provide Saskatchewan businesses and organizations with critical information and advice on operating within the current public health orders, as well as the various business support programs available to them. The programs include the Saskatchewan Small Business Emergency Payment, the Re-Open Saskatchewan Training Subsidy and the Strong Recovery Adaptation Rebate.
These programs have shown to be effective, as our province leads Canada’s economic recovery with the strong export growth figures and the lowest unemployment rate among the provinces. Our strong export numbers are a good indication of the huge demand around the world for our products. In addition, as of early March, the Canadian Federation of Independent Businesses (CFIB) Small Business Recovery Dashboard cites Saskatchewan as having 74 per cent of private sector businesses fully open, compared to only 51 per cent nationally.
As we move through and ultimately into a post-COVID-19 world, our government will remain focused on key actions to grow our trade and export infrastructure in support of our Growth Plan over the next decade, including the goal to build and upgrade 10,000 km of highways by 2030. Saskatchewan’s two-year, $2 billion stimulus program is an investment that will help drive economic recovery from the global pandemic.
We are proud to work with the Saskatchewan Heavy Construction Association to a build a strong economy, supporting the growth of our families and our communities.
I’m pleased to have this opportunity to report “behind the headlines” Ottawa updates to the members of the Saskatchewan Heavy Construction Association.
Although all Saskatchewan MPs have a role to play in promoting construction in Saskatchewan, I have the duty and privilege to play a particular role. I sit on the House of Commons Standing Committee on Transportation, Infrastructure and Communities, which studies many of the federally funded or regulated infrastructure projects in Saskatchewan and elsewhere.
In this report, I’ll try to bring you the latest news on construction-related discussions going on in our nation’s capital.
Coming up in the transportation and infrastructure committee
Since the new year, much of the time of the transportation and infrastructure committee has been taken up with transportation issues, as we have grilled the transportation minister over pandemic threats to many of Canada’s airports, including Regina’s.
In March, the committee moved on to examine the Canada Infrastructure Bank (CIB), a Crown corporation mandated to manage federal infrastructure investments. This is actually the second time the Trudeau Liberals have attempted to start the CIB. They previously announced it in 2017 and gave it a budget of $35 billion. But, like many Liberal initiatives, it was long on press releases but short on actual accomplishments. After three years in operation, it had spent only $1.7 billion. With CIB 2.0, the Liberals have promised a more streamlined, less bureaucratic decision-making process. We’ll see how that turns out – the Liberals, after all, don’t have much of a track record for reducing bureaucracy.
A negative sign for the prospects of the new CIB is that the Liberals have given it a mandate to pursue a number of their favourite boutique issues, such as renewable energy. One mandated area of potential interest to Saskatchewan heavy construction is a priority to invest in large-scale agricultural irrigation projects. But again, we will have to wait to see if that goal gets beyond an announcement and into actual shovels in the ground.
In April, the committee will be studying the potential for targeted infrastructure investments in underserved or disadvantaged communities. At the moment, this is quite broadly defined although there is some talk that Liberal members will focus mainly on Eastern priorities, such as extending subway lines in Toronto. For my part, I’ll be advocating for projects that produce benefits for Saskatchewan, such as improving transportation connections to tidewater.
Pipelines
When I ran for office in 2019, I campaigned on three principles – pipelines, balanced budgets and an end to the carbon tax. It’s looking like I’ll be able to recycle those slogans in the next campaign, considering that the federal deficit is out of control, the carbon tax has gone up and the federal Liberals have failed to get pipelines built. In fact, pipelines are being shut down under their watch.
We all remember the ill-fated Transmountain Pipeline, which the Liberals bought for $4.5 billion after the previous developer pulled out due to never-ending protests and court challenges. Two years later, the project continues to be plagued with protests and delays as well as a near-doubling of its estimated construction costs.
In the two leaders’ first virtual state visit, officials familiar with the meeting said Biden told the prime minister that he understood the hardship the Keystone cancellation caused Canada but that he was simply fulfilling an election promise. In other words, “tough luck, Justin.”
Michael Kram, MP for Regina-Wascana
There was, for a time, great hopes for advancement of the Keystone XL Pipeline after it was approved by the previous U.S administration. Unfortunately, one of President Biden’s first acts in office was to cancel it. Despite Trudeau’s cozy relationship with Biden, there is little evidence that Trudeau is having much influence on this topic nor even that he’s making much of an effort. In the two leaders’ first virtual state visit, officials familiar with the meeting said Biden told the prime minister that he understood the hardship the Keystone cancellation caused Canada but that he was simply fulfilling an election promise. In other words, “tough luck, Justin.”
Much the same pattern has played out with the Enbridge Line 5 Pipeline in Eastern Canada. This pipeline, which ships oil and natural gas from Western Canada to Ontario, has been operating safely for over half a century. Recently, Michigan’s environmental activist governor ordered the line closed, causing a diplomatic furor not only between Canada and the U.S. but even among U.S. states. In response, the natural resources minister delivered chest-thumping rhetoric that sounded almost identical to the language the Liberals used with regards to Keystone…and we know how that turned out.
Given the Liberals affection for renewable energy projects, it’s easy to see why their efforts to defend pipelines are failing. They want them to fail and are paying only lip-service to efforts to save them.
Airports
Although it doesn’t directly relate to construction, I would like to close by touching on my campaign to save Regina’s airport. Like airports all over, the Regina Airport Authority has seen its revenues drop nearly to zero during the pandemic. Unlike other G7 countries, Canada has offered virtually no sector-specific aid to help the nation’s air infrastructure survive. As well, NavCanada, the agency that regulates air traffic, appears poised to close Regina’s air traffic control tower. Combined, these assaults on the airport could threaten southern Saskatchewan’s capacity for business travel and cargo shipment, which would hurt businesses in every sector including construction. To help with my campaign, visit saveyqr.ca.
Construction requirements across Canada are expected to rebound in 2021 in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and rise through the coming decade – albeit at more muted levels than in the past 10 years. The strength and pace of recovery, however, will vary among provinces, and will depend significantly on the rollout of COVID-19 vaccines, the recovery in consumer and business confidence, the global demand for Canadian exports and the lifting of restrictions on international travel. This is according to the latest labour market forecast released at the end of March by BuildForce Canada.
BuildForce Canada’s 2021–2030 Construction and Maintenance Looking Forward national report forecasts construction employment to rise by 64,900 workers over the next decade. This represents an increase of 6 per cent over 2020 workforce levels. While the outlook forecasts much of that growth to take place through 2025, by the end of the decade, the respective provincial industries will have to cope with the need to replace nearly 259,100 workers, or about 22 per cent of the current labour force, due to retirement.
“Canada’s construction outlook is strong for 2021 and well into the middle portion of the decade thanks to gains in the residential and non-residential sectors,” said BuildForce Canada executive director Bill Ferreira. “And while we forecast growth to slow over the later years of our forecast period, we nonetheless expect that the industry will be challenged to recruit more than 309,000 new workers to replace retirees and keep pace with demand.”
BuildForce Canada anticipates that the non-residential sector will lead industry growth between 2021 and 2023 and be driven by a large list of public transit, health care, education, roadwork and other civil infrastructure projects. Overall, non-residential employment is projected to increase by more than 39,800 workers between 2021 and 2025, and another 5,000 to 2030.
Activity across the Atlantic provinces is expected to vary. Newfoundland and Labrador will see a modest recovery through 2021, but long-term growth will be constrained. The forecasts for New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, meanwhile, will be bolstered by in-migration trends. Prince Edward Island was the only province of the four to experience a rise in construction employment in 2020, and that increase is expected to continue through 2022.
Quebec’s market is expected to rebound from the pandemic in 2021 and grow through 2024 on the strength of private-sector spending and strong levels of government investment.
Ontario will be driven by a growing pipeline of major infrastructure projects across all regions. An additional recovery in commercial and industrial investment will bring labour demands to a peak in 2026.
In 2020, Manitoba experienced its first year of negative construction growth in several years. Declines in major-project requirements and lower levels of institutional and residential growth may cause employment levels to drop slightly – by 1 per cent – over the forecast period.
A broad-based recovery is expected to take hold in Saskatchewan in 2021, as education, health care, utility and mining investment combine to boost growth across most construction segments to an expected peak in 2023.
Alberta, which was among the provinces hardest hit by the pandemic, could see further challenges ahead. Ongoing uncertainty in the energy sector and further deferrals and cancellations of major investments have significantly tempered expectations for a strong near-term recovery. A more material expansion is expected after 2023.
Finally, British Columbia is poised to enter the steepest period of growth in its forecast period. The province will add more than 11,400 non-residential workers through 2022, before shedding as many as half of those gains through 2026, before renewed growth later in the period adds new jobs. By 2030, employment is expected to increase by 9,900 workers compared to 2020.
“The unevenness with which provinces and even regions within those provinces will experience construction growth over the forecast period suggests that intra- and interprovincial mobility, as well as drawing workers from other industries, will be key to meeting construction demands,” said Ferreira.
The development of skilled tradespersons in the construction industry takes years, and often requires participation in a provincial apprenticeship program. As such, replacing retiring workers typically requires several years of pre-planning to avoid the creation of skills gaps.
Clearly, an ongoing commitment to training and apprenticeship development will be necessary to ensure there are sufficient numbers of qualified tradespeople to sustain a skilled labour force over the long term. What is yet unclear is how the pandemic will impact registration rates going forward. Limited data collected to date suggests that the pandemic has resulted in a steep decline in new registrations relative to employment across the country. It has also imposed significant obstacles to the in-person delivery of training, testing and certification, which may impact near-term completion rates.
Building a sustainable and diverse labour force will require the construction and maintenance industry to increase recruitment from groups traditionally underrepresented in the current construction labour force, including women, Indigenous people and new Canadians.
BuildForce Canada is a national industry-led organization that represents all sectors of Canada’s construction industry. Its mandate is to provide accurate and timely labour market data and analysis, as well as programs and initiatives to help manage labour force requirements and build the capacity and capability of Canada’s construction and maintenance industry. Visit www.constructionforecasts.ca.
Even at the best of times, social media platforms can be a minefield. But that shouldn’t deter you from sharing your content with the online community.
Social media can be challenging to navigate, yet it’s also the most efficient means of travel for your blogs, newsletters and videos. Social media is where you’ll find clients and customers.
Your presence in social media circles is equally as important as sharing your message and interacting with your audience.
Here are a few things to keep in mind if your company is struggling to find relevance among communication epicentres like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and TikTok:
Play to your strengths.
Know who you are. Don’t get swept up in a blitz that steers you away from what you’re good at. People follow platforms that align with their core values and interests. Straying from your identity would only confuse your followers.
Listen to the voices.
Read the comments. Listen to what the online community is saying to you or about you.
Adapt.
Your audience has made the effort to read your post and leave a comment or retweet and share with a wider network. Take advantage of that attention and interact. Learning and adapting from your audience is a key to success.
Be original. Be authentic.
Choosing neutrality gets you nowhere.
Brand authenticity connects you with your desired audience. Being open and honest with your audience should dictate your social media presence.
Decide on a moral direction and be true to those beliefs. Go all in on authenticity.
Creativity for the win.
No risk, no reward. Don’t be afraid to take a risk with your posts and be creative and interesting.
Being unique on social media with fresh ideas will help cut through the noise and get you and your company noticed. Be creative and punchy with your words and pair them with attractive visuals like photos and videos that will catch anyone’s attention.
