After hearing from Nova Scotians during province-wide twinning consultations, government is investing an additional $390 million in capital funding over seven years to improve highways without the use of tolls. Read more.
Stoned employees are likely to become more common if Canada legalizes recreational pot next year. And the extra legal liability that will come with that is something employers need to nip in the bud, says a Halifax lawyer. Read more.
Les White of Fundy Construction passed away on Friday, April 28, 2017. Les served as President in 1983. To view his obituary, click HERE.
Fundy Construction (Halifax, Nova Scotia) itself has had a long tradition of involvement and support for the Construction Association of Nova Scotia. Six individuals from the company served as president — A.S. MacMillan in 1932, G.W. Miller in 1941-43, A.E. MacMillan in 1959, Earle Bowman in 1966; Wilf Giffin in 1973; and Les White in 1983.
Click HERE to complete the survey.
The Labour Board is seeking new labour and management members with construction experience.
Most Trade Union Act (“TUA”) matters require a full panel (chair, labour representative, and management representative) under Part II of the TUA. Experienced members bring a valued perspective to Board matters and thus it is essential that the Board has a roster of members with experience in the construction industry. Construction industry experience may be gained in many contexts, including the collective bargaining process on either the labour or management side; executive experience in the construction industry; or experience in a senior position with a construction union or trades council. The Board provides an orientation to all new members to familiarize them with the Board’s processes.
Read more HERE.
Nova Scotia Provincial Budget 2017-2018 – Impact on Construction Industry
Dear CANS member,
On Thursday, April 27, the government of Nova Scotia released its 2017-2018 budget. There are a number of good news announcements for our industry:
Labour and Education
As part of the 2017-2018 budget, government announced an additional $2 million investment in the Apprenticeship START program. The incentive will be available to small and medium sized businesses and organizations (not-for-profit and social enterprises) who hire diverse apprentices or apprentices in rural areas.
Typically, apprentices attend 6-10 weeks of training a year, which equates to between $540 – $900 in tuition costs. Some employers also provide financial supports to apprentices. As part of the 2017-2018 budget, government announced that tuition will no longer be charged to apprentices for their technical training. This represents an investment of $1.3 million annually.
$1.7 million increase to the Graduate to Opportunity program and $1.7 million to fund a new program for employers to hire recent Masters and PhD graduates.
Taxation
The government had previously announced an increase to the small business tax rate threshold and we are pleased to see that in the budget. The threshold moves from $350,000 to $500,000.
There has been an improvement in the basic personal allowance for income earners under $75,000 however, this does not represent general indexation, leaving Nova Scotia as one of two provinces that do not provide indexing on provincial income tax.
Infrastructure
Undertake planning, design and construction of three new twinned highways over the next seven years, plus construction of four new interchanges.
Provide new and upgraded healthcare facilities in Halifax, Dartmouth, and Hants County to support the QEII redevelopment project.
Repair and rebuild gravel roads – $10 million each year of new multi-year program.
Build new schools in Spryfield, Tatamagouche, Bridgetown, Bible Hill, Sheet Harbour, Eastern Passage, Dartmouth, Halifax, and Yarmouth.
$40 million for municipal clean water and waste-water projects.
$38 million for affordable housing, including creating new affordable housing units and
improving affordable housing options, in partnership with the federal government.$14.5 million for rural high-speed Internet.
$1.3 million to increase opportunities for more export and trade, including a new export accelerator program.
$4 million to support innovation initiatives, including a new rebate program and more support for business start-ups.
$500,000 in additional funding to double the Small Business Development program.
$2 million to revitalize the province’s key tourism sites.
CANS has and continues to work hard behind the scenes to advance our priorities. I am pleased to report that many of those efforts are reflected in this budget. We will continue to work hard on your behalf to encourage investment in labour, education, apprenticeship, infrastructure and improved taxation.
As always, we want to hear from you. We want to know what is keeping you up at night as a member firm. Please reach out to my or any of our CANS team at any time.
Sincerely,
Duncan P. Williams, ICD.D
President, Construction Association of Nova Scotia
On your behalf, we have been working hard to build relationships with all levels of government, ensuring we are at the table and part of the decision making process on public policy and issues that affect the construction industry.
CANS and the industry has long supported the Province of Nova Scotia and worked with various Departments, partnering together on numerous and important items in the construction industry. We are committed to ensuring that you are aware of the very collaborative working relationship we share with government.
Here is an updated on the Builders’ Lien Act and OH&S Act:
Builders’ Lien Act
CANS is pleased with the Province of Nova Scotia’s decision and recent announcement to include all three industry recommended amendments to the Builders’ Lien Act that have been proclaimed and will take full effect on June 30, 2017.
In 2012, CANS, with broad-based industry support, put forward amendments to the Builders’ Lien Act as part of the public consultation and review. While industry recommendations were accepted and the Act was amended in 2013, they had been awaiting acceptable regulations to support those amendments and their proclamation into law.
Those recommendations included:
– The adaptation of the amendments to progressive release of holdbacks.
– Amendments to the disbursement of finishing holdback.
– A single-central point of publication for public notice of substantial completion.
While the first two of three amendments were welcomed early on, the third amendment was the final piece needing to be defined. CANS recommendation was to use a mandatory industry- based centralized site where contractors could register for an automated message advising them of the milestone being achieved, saving a substantial amount of time for all parties concerned. By adopting this method, industry would be better equipped to police itself while at the same time providing them with an industry-based site that would feel familiar to its participants.
The complex process of implementing new regulations for the Builders’ Lien Act has taken nearly six years. Over this period of time, CANS has worked closely with industry stakeholders and the Province to finalize these regulations, as they have important implications for the non- residential construction industry in Nova Scotia.
Read CANS media release HERE.
Read the Province of Nova Scotia’s backgrounder HERE.
The text of the new regulations is available HERE.
Occupational Health and Safety Act
This week, the Provincial government introduced and passed Amendments to the Occupational
Health and Safety Act to help keep Nova Scotians safe at work.
Most employers in Nova Scotia operate safe workplaces. However, there are some who repeatedly break serious health and safety rules, putting Nova Scotians at risk of serious injury or death. The amendments hold those employers more accountable, and were passed by the legislature with a commitment by the Department to work with stakeholders on next steps. That work is complete, and we’re ready to put the changes into place.
The amendments will come into force on June 12, 2017.
The changes will better define when, how, and what injuries and incidents must be reported, and give government additional tools and authority to enforce safety requirements for those who repeatedly disregard safety regulations, putting people at risk of serious injury or death.
The Occupational Health and Safety Director now has the authority to deal with repeat offenders by:
– Issuing stop-work orders at all their sites where there is potential for serious injury or death;
– Applying to the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia for an injunction to prohibit them from working in an industry where they have a repeated history of causing serious injuries or deaths;
– Requiring them to advise the department of future work locations and activities so that an inspection can be conducted as needed.
Over the past decade, the construction industry in Nova Scotia has invested heavily to improve safety in the commercial industrial industry. CANS has worked closely with the Office of the Employer Advisor, industry stakeholders and the Province, holding public consultation and information sessions for members to review regulations and to discuss the impact to employers and Nova Scotia business.
Read the Province of Nova Scotia’s press release HERE.
For more information, contact:
Colleen Fiske
Communications & Marketing Lead
C: 902-818-0835 E: cfiske@cans.ns.ca
NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
Construction Association of Nova Scotia pleased with the Province of Nova Scotia’s decision to apply all three recommended amendments to the Builders’ Lien Act.
Halifax, NS – (04/27/2017) The Construction Association of Nova Scotia (CANS) is pleased with the Province of Nova Scotia’s decision to include all three industry recommended amendments to the Builders’ Lien Act that have been proclaimed and will take full effect on June 30, 2017.
“The process of implementing new regulations for the Builders’ Lien Act has taken nearly six years, a complex process that industry has been very supportive and patient of,” says CANS President Duncan Williams. “Finalizing these regulations will be viewed very positively by the 30,000 men and women who build our province.
In 2012, CANS, with broad-based industry support, put forward amendments to the Builders’ Lien Act as part of the public consultation and review. While industry recommendations were accepted and the Act was amended in 2013, they had been awaiting acceptable regulations to support those amendments and their proclamation into law.
Those recommendations included:
While the first two of three amendments were welcomed early on, the third amendment was the final piece needing to be defined.
“The third amendment pertains to the notification of substantial performance/completion to prime and trade contractors,” says Williams. “Having a single central point of publication will minimize confusion in the marketplace for all parties concerned, minimize the opportunity to practice unethically and/or illegally, and have a significant and positive impact on productivity for all parties.”
CANS recommendation was to use a mandatory industry-based centralized site where contractors could register for an automated message advising them of the milestone being achieved, saving a substantial amount of time for all parties concerned. By adopting this method, industry would be better equipped to police itself while at the same time providing them with an industry-based site that would feel familiar to its participants.
“The majority of companies engaged in the industrial commercial sector are small to medium sized enterprises. A central site enables them to better direct their resources, invest in their employees and ultimately grow the economy,” says Williams.
CANS and the construction industry has long supported the Province and worked with various Departments, partnering together on numerous and important items in the construction industry. Continues Williams, “The Builders’ Lien Act has important implications for the non-residential construction industry in Nova Scotia and we are committed to ensuring that industry is aware of the very collaborative working relationship we share with government.”
CANS represents more than 780 large and small companies that build, renovate and restore non-residential buildings, roads, bridges and other engineering projects. We are an industry trade association representing the interests of contractors, suppliers and service providers throughout Atlantic Canada and across the country. Construction is a $3.8 billion a year industry in Nova Scotia and employs over 30,000 men and women from across the province. For more information about the Construction Association of Nova Scotia visit www.cans.ns.ca.
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Media Contact:
Colleen Fiske
Communications and Marketing Lead
Construction Association of Nova Scotia
Cell: 902-818-0835
Email: cfiske@cans.ns.ca
On April 28, Nova Scotia joins the rest of Canada and more than 80 countries worldwide to remember those who died, were injured or became ill at work. The Day of Mourning offers employees and employers the opportunity to publicly renew their commitment to improve health and safety in the workplace.
Day of Mourning Story: Glenn Martin – 26 coal miners were tragically lost in the Westray Mine disaster of 1992. Glenn Martin, a man who loved friends, family and fishing, was one of them. Allen Martin remembers his brother 25 years later. Watch the video below.
On April 28, join other Nova Scotians in observing the Day of Mourning by remembering those who have been lost to a workplace tragedy and honouring those who have been affected. Visit the Day of Mourning website for more information.