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June 29, 2009

Alberta construction labour outlook not so bright

The Construction Sector Council (CSC) predicts that after more than a decade of extraordinary growth in Alberta, construction employment is about to fall off the table.

June 24, 2009

Calgary construction projects posted online

The city of Calgary has launched an infrastructure website to track all of the city’s construction projects. “By viewing the website, you can find out where the money is coming from and, more importantly, where it is going,” said Calgary Mayor Dave Bronconnier.

June 24, 2009

$10 million steel dragon makes a grand entrance in Chilliwack, British Columbia

After almost two years of extensive work, British Columbia's Kevin Stone has unveiled one of his most ambitious projects, a stainless steel rendering of the Chinese Imperial Water Dragon. The 10-metre long sculpture took Stone 12,000 hours to make and is valued at $10 million.

July 1, 2009

How to get security clearance for federal contracts

Defence Construction Canada is holding a series of seminars across B.C. to help contractors and consulting engineers understand the process of gaining security clearance for work on federal government contracts.

June 29, 2009

Canadian temporary foreign workers bill still has a low profile

The Canadian Construction Association has received very little feedback about recently introduced federal legislation designed to help protect foreign workers such as live-in caregivers and exotic dancers. The bill is intended to strengthen Canada’s immigration system by helping to prevent situations where temporary workers in Canada may be abused, exploited or possibly become victims of human trafficking.

June 24, 2009

British Columbia Supreme Court rules market recovery funds were collected improperly

British Columbia’s open shop construction association and an electrical workers union can’t agree on what a B.C. Supreme Court ruling on market recovery dues really means.

June 29, 2009

Contractor gets a homegrown lesson in LEED

Dan Bulley, executive director of the green construction institute, was unprepared for coordinating the construction of the LEED certified headquarters of the Chicago Mechanical Contractors Association. Bulley's experience prompted him to write a booklet offering tips on working with LEED from an owner’s perspective.

June 29, 2009

Reed Construction Data economist sees recovery in the next year

Recovery from the recession will stretch out longer than most would like, but there is improvement on the horizon, says CanaData’s chief economist. Construction costs and prices will begin to pick up because commodity prices and the market will be picking up within a year.

June 24, 2009

New pipeline construction goes green in Alberta

Innovations in Alberta pipeline construction are creating a greener way to do business. The new building method disturbs less topsoil by making a trench just slightly wider than the pipe.

July 1, 2009

Non-technical skills development a priority for engineers

Due to changing demographics in the workforce, senior leaders in the technical world of engineering are paying greater attention to essential non-technical skills.

June 29, 2009

Multinational pilot project takes building plans digital in Vancouver

An innovative pilot project running in Vancouver, Salzburg, Vienna and Incheon, South Korea aims to take the planning and permits process deeper into the digital realm with 3D technology heavily borrowed from video games. Autodesk, the dominant player in Computer Assisted Design software, is working with the three cities to learn how best to put digital 3D data into plans for buildings submitted for approvals.

July 1, 2009

Smart grids key to alternative power

Alternative power — especially wind power — has been in the news quite a bit lately, which is good news. After all, anything that can provide non-fossil energy is welcome.

June 29, 2009

Calgary court not yet in session

The new $50 million Calgary Court Centre is taking shape.The project involves the restoration of the Court of Appeal building, construction of a 700-stall parkade and an urban park on the Queen’s Bench site.

July 1, 2009

National P3 office focuses on education

Canada’s new public-private partnership office is as much about educating provinces and municipalities about the project model as it is about building itself.

ALEX’S ECONOMICS BLOG

Reed Construction Data Chief Economist Alex Carrick discusses current developments in the North American economic environment with emphasis on the construction industry.

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