Professional Services

July 21, 2008

Supreme Court sides with owners in three construction contract disputes

Glenn W. Ackerley, a partner with legal firm WeirFoulds LLP of Toronto, says three recent cases stand to have an impact on Canadian construction contract law: Double N Earthmovers Ltd. v. Edmonton (City); Design Services Ltd. v. Canada; and Tercon Contractors Ltd. v. British Columbia (Transportation and Highways).

July 21, 2008

Master Builders Queensland calls for Australian safety blitz after scaffolding deaths

Master Builders Queensland (MBQ) has labelled a recent fatal scaffolding collapse a “catastrophic failure” and has called on all its members to undertake urgent safety checks.

July 21, 2008

Federal government launches Wage Earner Protection Program

The federal government announced that the Wage Earner Protection Program (WEPP) is now in force.

July 16, 2008

Korky Koroluk: GPS-based telematics drive fleet-management plans

Fleet-management systems have been around for a while: handy software programs that help with such things as scheduling routine maintenance and managing lease/purchase payments and insurance. Now GPS-based telematics are providing a new tool to help companies manage their fuel consumption.

July 16, 2008

Total Canadian housing starts remain at high levels in June 2008

Housing starts in Canada have remained strong, even though markets in most of the major industrial countries, in particular the United States, are declining.

July 9, 2008

Cement industry appeals for carbon tax relief

The new carbon tax in B.C. may be revenue neutral for taxpayers, but representatives of the concrete and cement industries say the tax threatens domestic producers

July 7, 2008

SNC-Lavalin acquires Nova Scotia engineering firm C.J. MacLellan

SNC-Lavalin has agreed to purchase all shares of C.J. MacLellan & Associates in Antigonish, Nova Scotia.

July 7, 2008

Open-pit Ruby Creek mine gets approval from British Columbia government

The development of a $750-million mine at Ruby Creek in British Columbia’s northwestern corner is on track.

July 2, 2008

Export Development Canada plans to map construction supply chain

Export Development Canada plans to map the construction industry’s supply chain in order to help Canadian construction find new business efficiencies.

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.

July 2, 2008

Why work for bad clients?

The Consulting Engineers of Ontario president John Gamble has some advice for firms saddled with lousy clients: tell them to take a hike.

July 2, 2008

Initiative aims to educate workers in Alberta

Temporary foreign workers in Alberta are being encouraged to learn their workplace rights.

June 29, 2008

Fuel Management: Ten ways for businesses to cut fuel costs

Any business can improve its fuel efficiency. It starts with a commitment from the head office and cooperation to your people on the road and at the job sites. More and more companies are making changes in their operating practices to cut costs now and to be prepared for even higher costs in the future, writes Jack Lee.

June 25, 2008

CCA sets up P3 task force

The Canadian Construction Association (CCA) is setting up a task force to ensure its members are up to speed on public-private partnerships, also known as P3s.

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.