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May 22, 2013

Hiring of foreign workers for hospital project outrages union

A construction union leader is accusing an Edmonton-based contractor of importing foreign workers to a hospital jobsite in Winnipeg without meeting the federal government's requirements to advertise in the local market and ensuring to Canadians are available to do the work.

May 20, 2013

Taking a closer look at the risks in green building for contractors

As British Columbia's construction industry becomes more familiar with the principles of green building, questions are being asked about the roles and responsibilities of the builder in realizing sustainable building goals.

May 20, 2013

Worker at centre of union sign up allegations speaks out

The man targeted by allegations from the open shop contractors association that an electricians' union is signing up apprentices at the B.C. Institute of Technology says the story is a complete fabrication and is demanding an apology.

May 20, 2013

Veterans battle barriers into the trades

Creating a link between military qualifications and provincial apprenticeship requirements is one of the ways Helmets to Hardhats Canada (H2HC) is trying to transition military veterans into civilian construction careers.

May 20, 2013

High schools looking for more industry participation

While high schools are attempting to get students ready for the jobsite, there is a lack of employers willing to provide job placements.

May 20, 2013

Lower Mainland high school trades program is unique

On Vancouver's east side, the Tupper Tech high school program is moving Grade 12 students into the trades in a unique way.

May 20, 2013

Midrise in the City

Kindred Construction Ltd. is the construction manager for South Creek Landing, a new mixed-use midrise taking shape in Vancouver, B.C.

May 20, 2013

Skills Canada BC Competition

The British Columbia Institute of Technology sent a large contingent of students to compete in the Skills Canada B.C. skilled trades and technology provincial competition.

May 20, 2013

Colleges conduct construction research in addition to teaching

Colleges in western Canada offer a great many courses where students can learn enough about the construction industry to enable them to go out and get a good job.

May 20, 2013

Saskatchewan bill passed

The Saskatchewan government has passed labour legislation that overhauls and melds 12 pieces of legislation into one omnibus law. The new Saskatchewan Employment Act allows for people to work either five eight-hour days a week or four 10-hour days a week

May 20, 2013

Keyano College building state of the art training facility

Keyano College's Oilsands Power & Process Engineering Lab is not just another post-secondary institute, but a state-of-the-art cogeneration lab replicating real world industrial technologies in the classroom.

May 15, 2013

Journal of Commerce Update for the week of May 20th, 2013

In this week's update, we look at some of the stories we'll be covering in the Journal of Commerce for the week of May 20th, 2013.

May 15, 2013

Walterdale Bridge budget balloons

Edmonton city council has increased the budget for the construction of the new Walterdale Bridge by $19.5 million, which brings the total cost of the structure to $155 million.

May 15, 2013

Union threatens to sue over apprentice sign up allegations

The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) in B.C. is threatening to take legal action against the local open shop contractors association for making accusations that the union is signing up apprentices in classrooms at a publicly-funded technical institute.

May 15, 2013

Associations weigh in on closed tendering

The Progressive Contractors Association of Canada (PCA) and the Christian Labour Association of Canada (CLAC) took to Ottawa to provide their views on closed tendering in the construction industry.

May 15, 2013

Structural Steel

Construction workers are busy with the structural steel frame for a new Ford Dealership in Okotoks, Alberta.

May 15, 2013

New partnership to bid on Fort McMurray transmission project

A new strategic partnership is being created between TransAlta Corporation and MidAmerican Transmission, which will participate in the competitive bid process for the construction of the Fort McMurray West Transmission Project.

May 13, 2013

Labour federation takes issue with some political donations in Alberta

The Alberta Federation of Labour (AFL) is accusing the construction industry of using political donations to influence government changes to the provincial labour code, but one company argues these contributions are helping facilitate the democratic process.

May 13, 2013

Finding new tools for soil remediation

The science of environmental soil sampling and remediation spurred demand for a whole new set of tools.

May 13, 2013

Allegations of students signing union cards refuted

The B.C. Institute of Technology (BCIT) is denying allegations by the local open shop contractors association that the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) is being allowed to sign up apprentices in classrooms at the publicly funded school.

May 13, 2013

Seasons of Tuxedo

Manshield Construction LP is the general contractor for a new Mr. Lube in the Seasons of Tuxedo development in Southern Winnipeg, Manitoba.

May 13, 2013

Work begins on Saskatchewan kids' hospital

Work is underway to prepare the site for the eventual construction of the Children's Hospital of Saskatchewan (CHS), as the design development is approved.

May 8, 2013

Vancouver Tower

A pair of construction workers are busy building the MNP Tower in downtown Vancouver, B.C.

May 8, 2013

Union threatens legal action over allegations of signing apprentices at BCIT

The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) in B.C. is threatening to take legal action against the local open shop contractors association for making accusations that the union is signing up apprentices in classrooms at a publicly-funded technical institute.

May 8, 2013

Journal of Commerce Update for the week of May 13th, 2013

In this week's update, we look at some of the stories we'll be covering in the Journal of Commerce for the week of May 13th, 2013.

May 8, 2013

NDP victory won't change everything

"Goodness gracious me," said Henny-penny, "The sky's a-going to fall; I must go and tell the king."

May 8, 2013

$120 million grain terminal expansion is underway

Richardson International Limited has started construction on an expansion project at its port terminal facility in North Vancouver, but the new concrete grain storage annex could have a serious impact on nearby residents.

May 6, 2013

Richmond Residential

The construction is nearly complete for the first phase of the massive River Green development near the Olympic Oval in Richmond, B.C.

May 6, 2013

Repeal of Fair Wages Act could save feds some cash

Trade unions are outraged by the federal government's decision to repeal the Fair Wages and Hours of Labour Act, but open shop associations say it will save taxpayers money and will encourage more hiring.

May 6, 2013

Merit Canada seeks open tendering on federal projects

The national open shop association in Canada is calling for open tendering on all federal projects.

May 6, 2013

Saskatchewan labour laws radically overhauled in Bill 85

Updating labour legislation in Saskatchewan has become a contentious issue in the province.

May 6, 2013

Federal legislation rankles unions, but pleases open shop

If a divisive bill forcing Canadian labour unions to make public their finances and activities gets through the Senate and into law, expect a court challenge, says the second-in-command at the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC).

May 6, 2013

Industry reacts to foreign worker program changes

Canadian union leaders say reforms to the Temporary Foreign Worker (TFW) Program highlight the need for full involvement of all stakeholders in the consultation process, but some are concerned the changes will harm the construction industry.

May 6, 2013

Alberta's best contractors recognized at gala

The Contractor of the Year Award winners were recently announced at a gala in Edmonton, Alberta.

May 6, 2013

NDP victory would bring risks for industry

What's at risk when British Columbians head to the polls May 14 is the progress the construction industry and open shop have built over the past 12 years.

May 6, 2013

Open shop opposes apprenticeship quotas for public projects

Open shop associations in Western Canada don't want to see mandatory or prescriptive quotas for apprentices imposed on government contracts, whether they are provincial or federal.

May 6, 2013

Guards back at work after strike about prison design

The union representing Alberta prison guards has reached an agreement with the provincial government, after launching a wildcat strike over design flaws and safety concerns at the newly constructed Edmonton Remand Centre (ERC).

May 6, 2013

Merit Canada launches new website

In support of its lobbying for open tendering on public projects, Merit Canada has introduced www.opportunitytowork.ca. It is a website that advocates for open shop construction workers to be able to work on public infrastructure projects.

May 6, 2013

Building Trades of Alberta executive director named

Warren Fraleigh has been named as the new executive director of the Building Trades of Alberta.

May 6, 2013

On the Spot

A worker welds the bucket of an excavator as construction work gets underway in downtown Okotoks, Alberta.

May 1, 2013

Possible project labour agreements a concern to open shop

The open shop contractors association in B.C. is concerned an New Democratic Party (NDP) government will use project labour agreements to allow trade unions to dominate major public sector construction projects, but others argue this view is nonsense.

May 1, 2013

Prison guard union found in contempt of court after striking over design flaws at Edmonton Remand Centre

The union representing Alberta prison guards has been found in contempt of court and ordered to return to work, after launching a wild cat strike over design flaws and safety concerns at the newly constructed Edmonton Remand Centre.

May 1, 2013

Heat from waste is a growing market

There's a fortune in waste heat flowing beneath the streets of the world's cities.

May 1, 2013

Fallen workers remembered across the country

The construction industry in Alberta and B.C. accounted for the highest number of work related deaths last year, as a number of ceremonies were held across Canada to recognize and mourn workers, who died on the job.

May 1, 2013

Kitsilano Project

A new mixed-use lowrise is taking shape in the trendy Kitsilano neighbourhood of Vancouver, B.C.

May 1, 2013

Journal of Commerce Update for the week of May 6th, 2013

In this week's update, we look at some of the stories we'll be covering in the Journal of Commerce for the week of May 6th, 2013.

May 1, 2013

Feds start consulting on Canada Job Grant

The federal government has launched consultations on the Canada Job Grant, an initiative announced in the recent budget that is meant to transform the way Canadians receive skills training.

April 29, 2013

Montreal official says gifts are not a conflict of interest

The City of Montreal's former No. 2 admits he accepted gifts from businessmen and says there's nothing wrong with that as long as no rules are broken.

April 29, 2013

Transition back to the PST is proving to be difficult

For contractors in the B.C. construction industry, the transition back to the provincial sales tax (PST) is proving to be more confusing and difficult than expected, says a local accountant and management consultant.

April 24, 2013

Feds unveil eligible occupations for new immigration stream

Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) has released a list of priority occupations that are eligible to immigrate to Canada under the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP). This list includes several new construction occupations.

April 24, 2013

B.C. union leaders meet with Royal Bank CEO

B.C. trade union leaders met recently in Vancouver with the head of the Royal Bank of Canada to discuss their threat to withdraw pension funds over the practice of outsourcing and the use of temporary foreign workers (TFWs) to replace Canadians.

April 24, 2013

Highrise in the City

A new tower is taking shape in Mount Pleasant. ITC Construction Group is the general contractor for the highrise in Vancouver, B.C.

April 24, 2013

Government can reject bids due to a conflict of interest

In its December 2007 determination in Serco Facilities Management Inc. v. Defence Construction Canada, the Canadian International Trade Tribunal found that the government breached the Agreement on Internal Trade by failing to properly disclose its conflict of interest rules.

April 24, 2013

SNC-Lavalin faces 10 year penalty from World Bank

Alleged corrupt business practices by SNC-Lavalin in Bangladesh have resulted in the cancellation of a critical development project and the company being prohibited from bidding on World Bank construction contracts.

April 22, 2013

Highrise Rental

Granville and 70th is a new mixed use development in south Vancouver, B.C. Icon Pacific is the construction manager for the project, which includes a 19-storey highrise with rental apartments, a stepped 14-storey condo tower and a seven-storey condo midrise.

April 22, 2013

Resilient communities start with homes

The deeper one delves into the related concepts of resilience and sustainability of buildings and cities, the more apparent contradictions one finds.