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General and Trade Contracting

August 27, 2008

Unionized construction workers in British Columbia subject to new drug policy

Unionized construction workers, who have a problem with drinking or getting high on the job, are being targeted by a new drug testing program, which is the first of its kind in Canada.

August 20, 2008

British Columbia construction unions and employers reach agreement on drug testing

On August 21, 2008, the Construction Labour Relations Association (CLRA) of B.C. and the Bargaining Council of British Columbia Building Trades Unions announced that the province’ construction unions and their employers have developed a substance-abuse testing and treatment policy.

July 2, 2008

Widow of worker killed in Alberta finally gets compensation

The widow of a Chinese temporary foreign worker killed at an oilsands project in Alberta is finally receiving her death benefits.

June 30, 2008

Alberta unions call for public enquiry into treatment of Chinese workers

Representatives from some of Alberta’s construction unions say the case of Chinese temporary foreign workers having their paycheques siphoned by their employer reveals huge flaws with the federal government program that need to be addressed by a public enquiry.

June 30, 2008

Alberta union challenges credentials of some foreign industrial electricians

The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) 424 in Alberta is checking the references and the work histories of Chinese and Indian immigrants before they obtain jobs in the Alberta oilsands.

June 25, 2008

Labour unions strike back at Alberta’s Bill 26, the Labour Relations Amendment Act 2008

The political battle over the passage of controversial changes to Alberta’s labour laws is heating up.

June 18, 2008

Alberta labour code changes applauded

Letter-to-the-editor writer Brian Lundy responds to article entitled “Alberta labour code changes draw criticism” from the Journal of Commerce, June 9, 2008.

June 11, 2008

Merit Alberta vice-president lauds government’s new Bill 26

“This is good news and its been a long time in coming,” says Bill Stewart, vice president of Merit Alberta

June 9, 2008

Alberta labour code changes draw praise, criticism

In the wee hours of the morning on June 5, the Alberta government passed new legislation which it says will improve the provinces labour code, but critics claim it is an attack on the basic rights of workers.

June 4, 2008

Alberta government quickly passes controversial changes to labour laws

The Alberta legislature ended the spring session early on June 5 with the passage of controversial changes to the province’s labour laws.

March 28, 2007

Traffic Control Regulation Changes - what do they mean for you?

On January 1, 2007 changes to WorkSafeBC’s Occupational Health & Safety Regulation Part 18 Traffic Control came into effect.

March 28, 2007

New research centre for UBC Okanagan

A 68,000 square foot research centre adjacent to the existing science building at the two-year-old campus of UBC Okanagan is just one of the several projects slated for the site over the next five years.

March 28, 2007

New Proccesses needed for certifying LEED structures

Rather than thinking of building LEED accredited homes or structures, “we need to think of building whole communities” that achieve the LEED standard, Thomas Mueller, president of the Canada Green Building Council told delegates attending the Vancouver Valuation Summit held in Vancouver recently.

March 28, 2007

Cutting corners can boost long-term costs

Controlling construction costs shouldn’t mean cutting corners on subtrade contracts that promise long-term savings on building operations, but that’s what British Columbia insulation contractors face regularly.

March 28, 2007

Call for submissions for VRCA annual awards

The Lower Mainland construction industry is once again gearing up for its annual awards season.

March 28, 2007

Niche markets lead to creative new housing design

One of the challenges that developers and contractors building for today’s market face is the diversity of the modern family. That leaves sectors of the market under-served and Aragon Development Corporation saw one such niche when it set out to build Moda, a Yaletown-like townhouse complex on Vancouver’s west side.

March 28, 2007

Affordable luxury offered for starter market

The starter market in housing is often neglected by developers and doesn’t offer the luxury that first-time buyers usually feel they want. But, developer and contractor Tien Sher Group has come forward with the Quattro project in North Surrey (see rendering opposite page), an 1,100 unit residential and commercial development which offered bachelor apartments for as little as $119,000 with luxury features that surprise buyers.

March 28, 2007

Master plan communities offer buyers transitions

While master plan communities springing up throughout B.C. and Alberta provide economic advantages for both municipalities and developers, they also give social advantages for those residents living within the housing mix.

March 28, 2007

Construction sector not a hotspot for claims fraud

Despite the number of workers active in the booming B.C. construction sector, fraudulent or suppressed injury claims are no more a problem than in any other sector, WorksafeBC says.

March 28, 2007

Tight scheduling ups risk for subcontractors

Scheduling delays on construction projects are increasing the financial and logistical risks borne by mechanical contractors and other subtrades in British Columbia