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General and Trade Contracting

September 1, 2008

Number of deaths climbed in 2007 says B.C. Safety Authority

In 2007, there were 329 reported incidents that were directly related to regulated equipment or operations according to the annual report.

September 1, 2008

Foundation work underway on the Bear Mountain wind farm in British Columbia

The installation of the turbines and commercial production of electricity are scheduled for 2009.

September 1, 2008

Drug treatment facility not included in B.C.’s new drug testing policy

The only residential drug treatment centre in western Canada geared specifically to meet the needs of construction workers with substance abuse problems has not been included in B.C.’s new drug testing policy.

August 27, 2008

EllisDon wins contract for Education Centre in Calgary, Alberta

An $80.5 million contract for an Education Centre for the Calgary Board of Education has been awarded to EllisDon. The project will be LEED certified, targeting Silver.

August 27, 2008

Saskatchewan changes temporary worker program

Some labour unions in Saskatchewan are skeptical about a joint initiative between the federal and provincial governments to make improvements to the Temporary Foreign Worker Program. The Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program allows the provincial government to select skilled workers and nominate applicants for landed immigrant status.

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 27, 2008

Work at Vancouver’s Vita at Symphony Place continues

Vita at Symphony Place will include 29 stories above grade and five below. Construction started in May 2007 and is expected to be complete by early 2009.

August 27, 2008

Vancouver Island construction companies feeling the pinch from rising B.C. Ferries costs

The construction industry on Vancouver Island is being hit hard by rapid increases in B.C. Ferries fares, while escalating costs are contributing to an increase in the cost of living in small island communities.

August 25, 2008

Victoria’s Dockside Green community achieves LEED Platinum certification

The first phase of Dockside Green, a 1.3-million-square-foot community built on a former brownfield site in the heart of Victoria, has achieved LEED Platinum certification from the Canada Green Building Council.

August 25, 2008

Scott Construction’s Opal condo project promises to add sparkle to Richmond’s skyline

General contractor Scott Construction Group is building the Opal condominium for developer Kamdo Tower Inc.

August 25, 2008

Committee begins draft of Canadian building-commissioning standard

A committee that includes representation from building owners, government agencies and the design and contracting communities is gearing up to draft a long-awaited national standard on building commissioning.

August 25, 2008

For a profitable crop, try harvesting the wind

With energy prices soaring and environmental concerns mounting, people everywhere are looking for alternatives to fossil fuels.

August 20, 2008

Contractors, unions disagree on Canadian government’s fast-track immigration proposal

Unions and contractors in Alberta disagree about the merits of a new federal government immigration program.

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.

August 18, 2008

Canadian construction industry steels against rising rebar prices

Steel prices generally are being driven by demand for construction materials as China, India and Russia ramp up building of infrastructure and productive capacity.

August 18, 2008

RAIC members continue to ensure that architecture matters by adhering to values, mission

As the leading voice of architecture in Canada, the RAIC has been doing great work to build awareness and appreciation of the contribution of architecture to the physical and cultural well-being of Canada, writes RAIC president Paule Boutin.

August 13, 2008

Ontario inspectors conduct jobsite safety blitz aimed at younger workers

Ontario inspectors are now blitzing worksites and locations across the province in order to make an immediate impact on improving health and safety, said Ontario’s labour minister.

August 13, 2008

Copper Mountain Mining plans to revive to Princeton-area mine

Copper Mountain Mining Corp. plans to revive its Copper Mountain mine by investing millions of dollars in the construction of basic infrastructure and buildings. The mine is located 15 kilometres south of Princeton, British Columbia.

August 11, 2008

Korky Koroluk: Prospects for concentrated solar power burn bright

Advocates are calling a new concept called “concentrating solar power” — the use of mirrors to increase the amount of power sunlight generates — the most important form of carbon-free power in the 21st Century, writes Daily Commercial News columnist Korky Koroluk.

August 11, 2008

Rely on closely monitored schedules to avoid contract disputes, consultant advises

Matthew Nicholas, a senior consultant with Revay and Associates Ltd., points out that disputes can be avoided when the parties to the construction contract draw up a schedule and adequately monitor its progress.

August 11, 2008

Economic activity in Canada’s construction sector continues to shrink

Economic activity in Canada continued to fluctuate between monthly periods of moderate economic growth and decline in May. All components of the construction sector declined, including residential buildings, non-residential buildings and engineering and repair work.

August 11, 2008

McMaster study looks at link between diesel fumes and diabetes

The operating engineers’ union supports a study looking at possible connections between diesel fume exposure and diabetes among its members.

August 6, 2008

Teamster Local 213 workers sign four-year contract with Tree Island Industries

A new collective agreement has been signed between Tree Island Industries Ltd and Teamster Local 213 to operate a manufacturing plant in Richmond, B.C.

August 6, 2008

KWH Contractors of British Columbia win Suncor contract

KWH Contractors of Delta, B.C. have been awarded a contract for a structural steel modular construction project at Suncor’s Voyageur expansion program in Fort McMurray, Alberta.

August 6, 2008

New Saskatchewan program fast-tracks internationally-trained skilled workers

For Saskatchewan employers struggling to hire people skilled in the mechanical trades, relief will soon be on the way.

August 6, 2008

Enbridge begins early planning of $5-billion Gateway pipeline project

The largest private infrastructure project in the history of British Columbia is in the early planning stages.

August 6, 2008

Ledcor Construction reaches skyward at Centro Towers project

Hotson Bakker Boniface Haden architects + urbanistes designed the building for owner Rize Alliance Properties Ltd. The project includes a parkade with green roof, exercise facilities, garden space, play area and space for outdoor dining.

August 6, 2008

Northland Properties builds new home for the Sandman Signature Hotel

The owner/general contractor on the Sandman Signature Hotel project is Northland Properties Corp.

August 4, 2008

Lockerbie & Hole win $53-million contract to build Keystone pumping stations

Lockerbie & Hole’s industrial group has been awarded a $53 million contract by TransCanada Keystone Pipeline Limited Partnership to construct eight oil pumping stations for the Keystone Pipeline Project.

August 4, 2008

Bilfinger Berger Canada files suit against Metro Vancouver over Capilano-Seymour project

Metro Vancouver hired Bilfinger Berger Canada (BBC) Inc. in 2004 to construct twin tunnels with a combined length of 14.2 kilometres for the Capilano-Seymour water filtration project. BBC suspended work on the $100 million project in January 2008, due to concerns about the safety of underground workers.

August 4, 2008

Fort Edmonton Park’s Welcome Centre aims for LEED Gold

Long known for its view of the past, Edmonton’s historic Fort Edmonton Park now has its eyes set on the future, as it prepares to greet visitors with a new, green Welcome Centre.

July 30, 2008

Korean workers embark on new careers as heavy-equipment operators in Alberta

Hunt International, a world wide recruitment and human resources firm, is providing workers in Korea with training in heavy equipment operation, so they can obtain employment in B.C. and Alberta.

July 30, 2008

Reader Response: Plan to split ironworker trade into three certificates meets with opposition

Here at Journal of Commerce, we asked readers, “Will splitting ironworker trades training into three specialized certificates benefit young apprentices?” Here’s what you had to say...

July 30, 2008

COCA president stands behind WorkSafeBC’s claims statistics

WorkSafeBC 2007 statistics indicate there were fewer claims for injury accidents and survival benefits per 1,000 employees than ever recorded in the history of the construction industry.