Ottawa Relaxes Integrity Rules for Firms Doing Business with Government

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The federal government has softened tough anti-corruption rules for companies that want to do business with Ottawa. Read more.

 

Save the Date: Apprenticeship Symposium

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Join CAF-FCA for a two-day symposium on October 22 & 23 at the Delta Ottawa City Centre in Ottawa.  CAF-FCA will host roundtable sessions and face-to-face networking opportunities as we share new research findings on the hottest topics in apprenticeship: demand for skilled tradespeople and the mobility of apprentices. To receive event updates, contact info@caf-fca.org.
The symposium will include opportunities to:
– Learn more about recent research to define the qualifications employers want
– Provide input on labour market intelligence related specifically to apprenticeship
– Share labour market planning strategies related to recruitment and training
– Learn about challenges identified by apprentices and employers when an apprentice moves prior to certification
– Hear how recent harmonization efforts are progressing
– Brainstorm supports and solutions to facilitate apprentice mobility

 

Regional Roundtable Report: Youth Apprenticeship Across Canada

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Promoting skilled trades careers to youth, parents and educators remains an important priority among apprenticeship stakeholders.  CAF-FCA convened a roundtable on May 28, 2015 in Saskatoon to provide insight into the objectives, approaches and design of youth apprenticeship programs in different parts of the country.  Discussion encouraged participants to identify ways they can support youth apprenticeship programs, maximizing the impact of these programs as a pathway into the trades. A report on the event is now available, along with a host of related resources. Read more.

 

 

GDP by Industry – April 2015

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Nova Scotia Daily Stats – Canada’s real GDP was down 0.1 per cent in April, the fourth consecutive monthly decline. Goods production fell the fourth month in a row with a decline of 0.8 per cent while service-producing industries were up 0.3 per cent. Compared to April 2014, real GDP was up 1.2 per cent. Read more.

Adult Learning CANS Works Program – Earn your Grade 12 and Work Towards a Career in Construction

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If you want to prepare for work in the construction industry and complete your high school diploma at the same time, you can do both with our Adult Learning CANSWorks Program at NSCC.

You will be able to complete the course credits you need to earn your High School Diploma, along with the essential hands-on skills and work experience to gain employment in a range of entry level construction positions such as Concrete Finisher, Asphalt Technician, Heavy Civil Construction, Drywall Finisher, General Labourer, Concrete Forming, Reinforcing Steel Rod Person and Restoration Stone Work.

In this program you gain valuable on-the-job work experience, up-to-date safety skills and training required for construction sites, and fundamental construction skills required for entry-level positions. In addition, this program prepares you with skills in critical thinking, professionalism, communication and teamwork, enabling you to be a valuable member of a construction crew.

The CANSWorks program is a partnership between the Construction Association of Nova Scotia, Department of Labour and Advanced Education, the Nova Scotia School of Adult Learning and NSCC.

Admission Requirements

  • Applicants must be 19 years of age or older.
  • Applicants must be out of school for at least 1 year and have not previously completed a high school diploma.
  • Applicants must be Nova Scotia residents who have permanent resident, refugee with protected person, or Canadian citizen status.
  • Applicants must be assessed to have the level IV pre-requisite skills or completed credits at the grade 10 level or equivalent (ex. ALP Level III or GED).

Program Requirements

An additional requirement for your participation in this program is a statement of understanding which you must review and sign before starting the program. This statement describes the work and learning environment and outlines what is expected of students to achieve success in the program and on the job. Details are provided with your acceptance notification from NSCC – CANSWorks Statement of Understanding

Why choose CANSWorks?

  • You benefit from a hands-on approach to learning.
  • You’ll learn the most-up-to-date safety skills and fundamental construction trades skills required to work in a variety of entry level commercial construction trades environments.
  • Gain on-the-job work experience (up to 24 weeks) and connections to employers in the commercial construction trades.
  • Gain an understanding of the construction industry and employment opportunities through presentations from employers, site visits and networking.

Employment Opportunities

The CANSWorks Program qualifies you for employment in entry-level construction. Employers are looking for employees in this sector that have high school graduation diploma, accredited safety skills training and basic industry training. In addition, employers are looking for employees with an attitude of safety first as well as, professionalism and a willingness to continue to learn new skills.

Other Info

  • Tuition & Fees – There is no tuition for students accepted into this program. However, there are some additional program costs. Required textbooks are available for loan (at no charge to the student). Students also have the option to purchase textbooks. To help with your planning, view the detailed program costs on the NSCC website.
  • Classes will begin in September 2015. After two terms of courses, work placements are scheduled to begin in April and May 2016 and will run up to 24 weeks, depending on the employer. Year two studies will resume in the Fall of 2016 and end in the Spring of 2017.
  • Additional personal safety equipment is required. Some of the basic equipment will be supplied and students may be required to purchase (at discount) additional equipment, depending on the specific work placement. Students will be supported through this process by the Partners and the Project Lead.
  • All mandatory ALP courses, trades electives, NS Safety Suite and Work Experience must be successfully completed in order to graduate.
  • Employers will require an interview before accepting students for work placement.
  • Students are required to provide their own transportation to and from the work placement.

Apply Now

To apply, download the CANS Works Application and submit the completed application to:

NSCC Admissions
P.O. Box 220
Halifax, NS B3J 2M4 

Questions?

For more information, contact: Michelle Fievet – email mfievet@cans.ns.ca or call 902-468-2267 Ext. 711.

CANS 2015 Delayed Payment Survey Results

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Late payment practices are an important issue for Nova Scotia’s construction industry and CANS has been lobbying the provincial government to enact appropriate payment legislation that would establish minimum norms for payment schedules. In an effort to substantiate our assumptions, CANS surveyed members to solicit their feedback and help guide us on their behalf.

View CANS Delayed Payment Survey results here.

Check out this week’s must-read Industry News!

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Dalhousie students develop chemical-based heating system
A space heater that works like a hand warmer. That’s the principle behind a new type of thermal energy storage being developed by a pair of graduate engineering students at Dalhousie University in Halifax. Louis Desgrosseilliers and Moe Kabbara recently formed NeoThermal Energy Storage, which is working on technology for use in home heating. Read more.

WCB Releases Strategic Plan
The Workers’ Compensation Board of Nova Scotia has released its Strategic Plan which will help guide the organzation for the next five years. Download the Plan here.

Construction and Maintenance Looking Forward Nova Scotia 2015-2024 Report
While total construction investment and employment fluctuate in a narrow band over the 2015–2024 Construction and Maintenance Looking Forward scenario for Nova Scotia, important demographic challenges and shifts across markets tighten labour market conditions for several trades and occupations between 2019 and 2022. From 2008 to 2013, the province’s construction industry was sustained at record levels, as work shifted from residential peaks in 2011 and 2012 to engineering peaks in 2013. The record employment level reached in 2013 will act like a ceiling across the scenario period, as work ebbs and flows close to, but below, that level. Read the full report.

CCA President on the Canadian Construction Industry
Few Canadians know that Canada’s construction industry contributes close to seven percent of Canada’s GDP, that it employs over 1.3 million Canadians, (1 in every 14 working Canadians), or that it is in fact the fifth largest construction market in the world. Read more.

The Construction Industry’s Financial Future
The word “fascinating” could best describe a comparison of Canadian put-in-place investments versus trends statistics when it comes to construction’s investment forecast. Read more.

Canada Must Do More to Keep Cities Moving, Executives Say
Strong municipal infrastructure is critical to attracting people to our economic hubs, improving the quality of life for our work force and remaining globally competitive. However, according to this quarter’s C-Suite survey, Canada is only partly succeeding in addressing these needs, despite a growing focus by all levels of government on this backbone of our economy. Read more

Infrastructure Grapples with Climate Change
With groundbreaking research now supporting climate change, sustainable leaders in the industry have been encouraging municipalities and building owners to grapple with potential risk and protect the value of assets. Read more.

Canada’s Top Construction Firms Evolve, Adapt to Change
It is interesting to compare the Top Contractors list of 25 years ago with the one in this issue. There have been changes, but a surprising number of the companies that were on the list then, still dominate it. It is not as if the industry has not changed – the companies that have survived and thrived at the top have had to adapt to very challenging circumstances. Read more.

Developing Great Leaders in the Construction Industry
Leaders in the industry today deal with many challenges on a daily basis—finding and winning work, managing large and complex projects, meeting deadlines, satisfying clients, addressing near-continuous obstacles and much, much more. In the midst of the daily whirlwind, it can be easy to overlook one of the most critical aspects of leadership—developing others. Read more.

The Construction Pro’s Guide to Managing Millennials
While the economy rebounds and the projects roll in, Baby Boomers are leaving but Millennials (the generation born between 1980ish and 2000ish) aren’t taking their place. Read more.

Dexter Construction Receives an Award for Refugee Initiatives
Dexter Construction will receive Citizenship and Immigration Canada’s Refugee Employment Award for its leadership role in improving the employment outcomes of refugees in Halifax Regional Municipality. Read more.

Raising Health and Safety Awareness in the Construction Sector
Working in construction involves dealing with ever-changing hazards: new technologies, newly developed work practices, and projects that are constantly evolving. Read more.

Homes in Future Will Feed Us
Rachel Armstrong, medical doctor and architect, tells Toronto conference that buildings in the future will be less inert artifacts than organic structures designed to incorporate natural processes. Read more.

Developing Great Leaders in the Construction Industry

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Leaders in the industry today deal with many challenges on a daily basis—finding and winning work, managing large and complex projects, meeting deadlines, satisfying clients, addressing near-continuous obstacles and much, much more. In the midst of the daily whirlwind, it can be easy to overlook one of the most critical aspects of leadership—developing others. Read more

The Construction Pro’s Guide to Managing Millennials
While the economy rebounds and the projects roll in, Baby Boomers are leaving but Millennials (the generation born between 1980ish and 2000ish) aren’t taking their place. Read more

CANS has partnered with Dalhousie University’s Faculty of Management to deliver world-class leadership development training right here in Nova Scotia, helping organizations become more productive and efficient, develop their capacity and the capabilities of their people, and attract and retain the future leaders of the construction industry. learn more.

CANS is hiring!

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CANS is currently seeking a qualified individual to fill the position of Industry Education and Training Lead.

Scope and summary:

This position is responsible for the day to day planning, promotion, delivery and administration of CANS educational programs. This position works with various program advisory committees to design an annual education and general information program in response to membership needs, as well as liaises with industry organizations to assist in the development and delivery of appropriate programming.

This position provides continuing educational support and opportunities in a variety of formats for individuals currently employed in the construction trades in order to improve general business skills, personal performance, attain industry recognized certifications and address shifting client requirements.

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

  • Meeting budget requirements while continually developing the program by meeting the needs of industry.
  • Promotion of IET program, including private and customized training, to industry stakeholders.
  • Work with various stakeholders, appropriate CANS staff and committees to implement and assess an industry education strategy on an annual basis.
  • Identify potential trainers and training partners, and monitor the performance and delivery of programs for the membership.
  • Participate in the delivery of training programs as appropriate.
  • Develop, distribute, collect and evaluate surveys and other methods of obtaining feedback on training needs from the membership.
  • Maintain records including creation of a database of individuals participating in training and other education events to assist in supporting applications to various certification bodies.

Requirements:

  • Post-secondary degree/diploma in Business or related field.
  • Demonstrated success in program development and relationship building.
  • Experience in marketing, communications, business development and sales would be an asset.
  • Demonstrated understanding of the principles of adult education.
  • Knowledge of the structure and organization of the non-residential construction industry.
  • Strong computer skills. Competent in the use of Microsoft Office Suite. Knowledge of MS Project would be an asset.
  • Excellent oral and written communication skills.
  • Minimum 3 years experience in a similar role.

Salary and benefits commensurate with experience and education.

Only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.

Closing date: 10 July 2015

About CANS

The Construction Association of Nova Scotia (CANS) is an industry trade association representing the interests of contractors, suppliers and service providers throughout Atlantic Canada and across the country. We represent more than 750 large and small companies that build, renovate and restore non-residential buildings, roads, bridges and other engineering projects.

Check out this week’s Industry News

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Contractors Can be Victors and Not Victims Every Tax Season, Says Expert
As we gather our receipts and get ready to prepare our taxes, many of us start to feel a ‘cash crunch’ to pay HST and make instalment payments towards income taxes owing. Read more
 
Tories to Roll Out Pre-election Infrastructure Spending Spree
The Conservative government is preparing an infrastructure spending spree in the runup to the fall election, as federal and provincial sources confirm work is heating up to announce new projects under the New Building Canada Fund. Read more

Election Platform Supports Construction: Trudeau
Working with municipalities to support the construction of affordable housing, public transportation and critical infrastructure are elements of federal Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau’s upcoming election platform. Read more

Canadian Cities Caught Between Crumbling Infrastructure and Growing Calls for Transit
As a decision looms on part of Toronto’s aging Gardiner Expressway, cities across the country are facing their own difficult choices about building for the future, and what to do with infrastructure nearing the end of its lifespan. Read more

Corporate Social Responsibility a Focus for the CCA
The Canadian Construction Association is looking to take a more active role in educating its members on the growing issue of corporate social responsibility (CSR). The shift is the result of a report prepared by a task force struck by the association’s business and market development committee. Read more

View From the Board: Working Collectively to Deal with Silica Exposure Limits
Years back, WorkSafeBC slashed the current eight-hour time-weighted average Permissible Exposure Limits (PELs) for Respirable Crystalline Silica (RCS) in general industry by 50 per cent. Read more