In recent years, some municipalities have added a tendering clause that changes the rules of the tender. The new clause affects who is allowed to bid on the municipal infrastructure contracts. The clause says that any contractor, who has recently been involved in a lawsuit against the municipality, is disqualified from bidding on any future contracts posted by that municipality. Read more.
Dutch architects work with 3D printers. Watch the Video.
Imagine a robotic machine that builds an entire house out of concrete. If it sounds futuristic, then the future is here, courtesy of University of Southern California engineering professor Behrokh Khoshnevis and his Contour Crafting Robotic Construction System.
Did you know the Canadian Government offers apprenticeship loans, apprenticeship grants and tax credits?
Apprentices can take advantage of interest-free Canada Apprentice Loans up to $4,000 per period of Red Seal technical training. Apply online or download a paper application at www.canada.ca/apprentice. In addition, apprentices can get up to $4,000 through the Apprenticeship Incentive Grant and the Apprenticeship Completion Grant. This information is also available at www.canada.ca/apprentice.
Employers can help their apprentices receive their employment insurance faster by issuing a record of employment using ‘Code J’ in ‘Block 16’ when they leave work. Visit www.canada.ca/apprentice for more information.
This article by the Grand Valley Construction Association gives background to the materials developed by CCA that are available to CCA members through the Members Only section of the CCA website. Read more.
When one looks at the numbers, there’s no doubt that Edmonton-based Women Building Futures (WBF) is making a difference when it comes to attracting, informing and training women to work in the construction, industrial and trades sector. Read more.
Representatives of the British Columbia construction industry were recently on hand at the construction keynote panel at Buildex Vancouver to look into pressing issues facing the industry. Amongst the topics covered with the difficulty of finding skilled labour, the importance of promoting construction as a viable career choice to young people, and the growing role of technology in the industry. Watch the video
If trade is the oxygen of the Canadian Economy, then infrastructure is the lungs.
Without the ability to move good efficiently to and from foreign markets we will suffer. This is not a distant worry. Canada’s system for moving goods to market is under strain and may be inadequate to meet growing future global demand.
Read more from CCA’s report – Building on Advantage: Improving Canada’s Trade Infrastructure.
Canada’s governments should not hesitate to maintain a high level of investment in infrastructure. Sustained and strategic investment in public infrastructure is essential to Canada’s long-term economic growth and is critical to the quality of life enjoyed by Canadians.
Plunging oil prices, an aging workforce set to retire and moderate growth are all factors changing work conditions for Canadian construction, finds BuildForce Canada’s recent forecast. Read more.