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April 30, 2008

Net zero approach vital to energy conservation

The initial choices in designing the building envelope determine the degree to which mechanical systems and excess energy are required to facilitate human comfort.

April 21, 2008

BCIT offers new degree in electrical engineering

The British Columbia Institute of Technology has announced it will offer a new bachelor of engineering degree in electrical eangineering, beginning in September 2008.

April 9, 2008

Unions make presentation to House of Commons Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration

The British Columbia and Yukon Territory Building and Construction Trades Council (BCYT-BCTC) and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local (IBEW) Union 424 Edmonton made a seven-minute presentation to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration.

April 7, 2008

Enmax unveils proposed site of $1-billion natural-gas-fired generating station

Enmax unveiled the proposed site for a $1-billion-plus natural gas-fired power generation station that will provide electricity for Calgary and stabilize the southern Alberta power transmission grid

March 31, 2008

Alberta doubles number of temporary foreign workers

The Alberta Federation of Labour (AFL) held a public forum last week to brief unions about concerns relating to the increase in use of the federal government’s temporary foreign worker (TFW) program.

March 24, 2008

Union calls SLCP-SELI Joint Venture’s Canada Line foreign-worker lay-offs “a set up”

The lay-offs and departures of foreign Canada Line workers before the final March 10 hearing date in front of the British Columbia Human Rights Tribunal affected the manner in which evidence was given, the Construction and Specialized Workers’ Union Local 1611 claims.

March 19, 2008

SLCP-SELI Joint Venture laid off foreign workers within minutes of final Canada Line breakthrough, union claims

“The tunnel-boring machine broke through for a tidy media event. A bunch of foreign workers were used for a photo opportunity and a handshake with the Premier,” said Kevin Blakley, legal council for the Construction and Specialized Workers’ Union Local 1611. “About a half-hour later, they were laid off. The guys who were laid off received a medal and were given a $20 bonus.”

March 12, 2008

Teamsters accuse independent contractors of jeopardizing labour peace in gravel-trucking industry

A spokesman for the BC Teamsters Union has accused the Independent Contractors and Businesses Association (ICBA) of jeopardizing labour peace in the gravel-trucking industry.

March 10, 2008

Stelmach leads Alberta Conservatives to another majority

The people of Alberta voted the Conservatives to an 11th straight majority government, despite a political campaign that said the province was looking for change.

February 27, 2008

Merit Contractors Association of Alberta challenges union coalition once again over election ads

As Albertans get ready to go to the polls on March 3, 2008, another political battle is heating up, one that pits the National Citizens Coalition and Merit Contractors Association of Alberta against the Alberta Building Trades Council (ABTC) and the Alberta Federation of Labour (AFL).

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