SHCA’s president, Shantel Lipp, was recently featured on the Women for Saskatchewan website, discussing the growth of Saskatchewan, the recent announcement from the Saskatchewan Ministry of Highways and Infrastructure that tenders for upcoming projects reached a record $437.4 million and the role that the heavy construction industry plays in rebounding the province’s economy after COVID-19.
Read Shantel’s feature here.
Election Day is Oct. 26
The vote by mail application deadline is Oct. 15 – however you decide to vote, please do so safely.
Visit Elections Saskatchewan for more info.
Saskatchewan Polytechnic is pleased to announce the launch of the Saskatchewan Polytechnic School of Continuing Education. The school will focus on meeting the needs of the local business community by providing training solutions tailored towards industries in which professional training is in high demand. The School of Continuing Education brings together internal expertise to advance professional development programs, corporate training and micro-credential offerings. Courses are market-driven and consistently updated to reflect emerging trends and best practices.
“The launch of the new School of Continuing Education is coming at a critical time in our province’s history,” said Dr. Larry Rosia, Saskatchewan Polytechnic President and CEO. “It will allow for retraining and upskilling for those whose jobs have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The new school will also help businesses ensure their employees continue to have the skill sets they will need to stay competitive as their industries change due to new technologies, shifting demographics and other factors.”
“Having access to highly trained workers will allow Saskatchewan industries to better compete with the consistently changing demand of the global business market,” said Advanced Education Minister, Tina Beaudry-Mellor. “Micro-credential certificates and professional development programs will support Saskatchewan workers and position our local businesses to compete on a global scale, allowing us to meet some of the goals laid out in our 2020 plan for growth.”
To find out more about the Saskatchewan Polytechnic School of Continuing Education and how to access training programs, please visit saskpolytech.ca/continuingeducation.
The Canadian Construction Association’s (CCA) Gold Seal Certification program recently renewed Saskatchewan Polytechnic’s accreditation for the courses in the polytechnic’s Leadership Skills program for another five years. This training, along with work experience and completion of the Gold Seal exam, will allow Sask Polytech graduates to become Gold Seal Certified (GSC).
The Gold Seal Certification program is the construction industry’s most trusted, valued and reliable certification for those in construction management. GSC credentials demonstrate commitment to the construction profession and expertise through education, experience and competency.
“Continuous education is vital for the Canadian construction industry,” said CCA president Mary Van Buren. “Courses such as the ones in the Sask Polytech Leadership Skills program will enable our workforce to build a better Canada.”
“Our partnership with the CCA demonstrates that Sask Polytech is committed to the construction industry and to providing high quality technical training to our students,” said Paul Carter, dean, Joseph A. Remai School of Construction. “GSC is recognized nationally and opens doors for graduates as they start their construction management careers.”
The Gold Seal Certification program represents a commitment to a national standard of excellence and sets a benchmark for the practice of effective construction management. GSC is a clear demonstration of excellence, professionalism, high standards and trustworthiness.
The skills and knowledge developed through the Leadership Skills certificate of achievement program are in demand for the Saskatchewan construction industry. Students in the program build practical skills using real life examples, case studies, research and interactive content. They also learn what makes leaders effective and what management skills work best in different situations. The program is offered completely online which allows students to complete the courses after regular work hours.
Learn more about the Leadership Skills certificate program or register today!
Earlier this summer, Government Relations Minister Lori Carr announced that another 244 projects, representing more than $88.9 million of provincial funding through the Municipal Economic Enhancement Program (MEEP) 2020 has now been approved. This brings the current number of approved projects to 741 and an investment to date of $127 million.
“MEEP is a key component of our government’s economic ‘booster shot,’ in light of these recent unparalleled times due to the pandemic,” Carr said. “These provincial dollars will kick start ‘shovel-ready’ local projects and initiatives to support job creation and help keep Saskatchewan strong.”
Some of the recently approved projects include:
Announced in May, the $150 million MEEP is a key component of the Government of Saskatchewan’s $7.5 billion, two-year capital plan to build a strong province and stimulate its economic recovery from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
MEEP 2020 funding must be used by municipalities by March 31, 2022.
To learn more about MEEP 2020, visit www.saskatchewan.ca/government/news-and-media/2020/july/29/244-meep-projects.
The Saskatchewan Ministry of Highways and Infrastructure recently unveiled fall tenders for projects for a record $437.4 million in highway work. That’s the largest total in Saskatchewan history.
As is the case with every tender schedule, our members wait with cautious optimism to see how and when these projects will hit the market. Needless to say, there’s a lot of work to be had and it’s certainly a welcomed sight for many in our industry.
Our government deserves praise for delivering an early schedule and for its willingness to work with industry to effectively deliver the work set to come out this year. We can believe this is a result of our tireless lobbying to government officials to have the tender schedule released as early as possible.
Clearly, the government understands the importance of kickstarting the economy as it took a massive blow earlier this year from the COVID-19 stimulus package. Our industry plays a major role in the restart of the economy.
As we’re well aware, early tendering is critical. More importantly, expediting the awarding of contracts is even more so to allow contractors to bid responsibly. Our members take on an extreme amount of risk during a routine construction season. However, this year is anything but routine.
With stimulus money granted to various municipalities and government agencies, a quick procurement process will be the key to our industry’s success or failure in the delivery of the program.
We’re aware much of the work will hit the market later in the year. But having an early game plan helps in planning for the year ahead. There will be bidding on stimulus projects tendered by RMs, cities and towns, as well as by the Water Security Agency. This is why it’s important that these upcoming projects are sequenced properly integrated where possible.
We are now working with the province to ensure that happens both for the success of our industry and also for the economy. The quicker we can get to work, the quicker we can get people back to work.
Canada United is offering small business relief grants of up to $5,000 to help small Canadian businesses with recovery efforts as a result of COVID-19. The grant funds will grow over the next several weeks as every video watched and social post liked from Canada United will result in a five-cent contribution from RBC. Funds can be used for PPE, renovations, or e-commerce capabilities.
To determine if you’re eligible to apply for a relief grant or learn more about this program, visit occ.ca/canadaunited-sk. Conditions apply.
The #CanadaUnited campaign is a nationwide small and local business campaign encouraging Canadians to buy local. RBC, “corporate Canada,” business associations and major media partners have teamed up to start a movement, Canada United™, where everyday Canadians and large businesses come together in support of small and local businesses. The movement will start with a #CanadaUnited campaign where Canadians are asked to complete “micro-actions” (likes, views, etc.) in support of small and local businesses on social media. In short, Canada United encourages action from everyday Canadians and corporate Canada and kick-starts the recovery of local economies and small businesses.
Learn more at GoCanadaUnited.ca.
The Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce (SCC) has officially launched its Indigenous Business Directory, as part of its Indigenous Engagement Charter. The Indigenous Business Directory will ensure that more Indigenous-owned businesses can participate in the Saskatchewan supply chain and will allow for increased engagement between members of the Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce and Indigenous-owned businesses in the province.
The SCC’s Indigenous Engagement Charter was launched in January 2020 and serves as a road map to provide businesses with tools to achieve engagement and assists the business community in demonstrating the role it must play in reconciliation. The Indigenous Business Directory is an important addition to the resources offered by the Indigenous Engagement Charter and is a valuable tool for businesses that are wanting to meaningfully engage with the Indigenous business community in Saskatchewan.
“We are pleased to announce the launch of our Indigenous Business Directory. This is an important addition to the toolkit provided in the Indigenous Engagement Charter and we are excited to offer this service to Indigenous-owned businesses and those looking to engage with Indigenous-owned business alike,” said Steve McLellan, CEO of the Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce.
“There is huge potential for industry in all sectors across our province to benefit from this directory. It’s time for business to work with Indigenous-owned businesses and create long-lasting, meaningful partnerships that will benefit all Saskatchewan residents. The goal is to connect industry with Indigenous-owned businesses, and in turn benefit the communities and families they serve,” said Nick Crighton, Director of Indigenous Engagement at the Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce.
The Indigenous Business Directory focuses on Indigenous-owned businesses, defined as 51%+ Indigenous-owned, and includes verified and non-verified businesses. The online portal allows for businesses to set up a profile and provide additional information such as locations, services offered and contact details. Businesses in the directory have been contacted and encouraged to claim their profile and update all details. Adding verified Indigenous-owned businesses to the directory will open up the market and provide an opportunity for more connections to be made.
The Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce is encouraging all Saskatchewan businesses to use the Directory in their procurement and partnership plans. By doing so, businesses will gain quality suppliers and help the overall economy grow.
Find out more about the Indigenous Engagement Charter, its investors and signatories, and the Indigenous Business Directory on the Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce website here.
Infrastracture stimulus supports economic recovery
By: Lisa Danyluk, SaskBuilds
In early May 2020, the Government of Saskatchewan announced that it will invest $7.5 billion (B) over two years in infrastracture projects like schools, hospitals, municipal infrastracture, highways and more to stimulate the province’s economic revobery. This funding included a new $2B “booster shot” over and above what the province had originally intended to spend on infrastracture over the next two years.