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.

Pieridae gets green light to export natural gas

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Pieridae Energy Canada has received approval from the United States Department of Energy to export American natural gas to countries with which the U.S. has free trade agreements. While the proponent for a proposed $8.3-billion liquefied natural gas export terminal in Guysborough County hailed the approval as a “significant milestone,” the important permit is yet to come. Read more.

Video: Making Nova Scotia the Safest Place to Work in Canada

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At the Safety Services Nova Scotia conference on March 23, 2015, the following video was unveiled. We’re seeing real progress – workers, employers, and safety leaders, are all stepping up to help make Nova Scotia the safest place to work in Canada. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EneG7-sBU20&feature=youtu.be

Don’t Miss the CANS Golf Tournament – June 11, 2015

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Limited spaces remain in the CANS 2015 Golf Tournament! Only two weeks until the tournament on Thursday, June 11, 2015 at The Links at Penn Hills & Fox Hollow Golf Club!

Register as a team or an individual!


REGISTRATION CONTEST

Register a team of 4 by Thursday, May 28, 2015 and be entered for a chance to win CANS prize packs for your whole team!

Helping Apprentices Complete Training Sooner, Easier

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October 24, 2014 9:30 AM

Proposed amendments to the Apprenticeship and Trades Qualifications Act introduced today, Oct. 24, will help more apprentices complete their training sooner and easier.

Nova Scotia apprentices who pursue on-the-job-training in another province will no longer have to register in that province. Instead, they can remain registered in Nova Scotia. This lets them start training more quickly, and saves paying extra fees and writing more exams.

The legislation also ensures out-of-province on-the-job and trades training is recognized, meeting a government commitment.

“I think Nova Scotia is taking the right steps,” said Jared Grover, a second-year pipe-trade student at Nova Scotia Community College. “I would absolutely love to stay in Nova Scotia. It’s where my friends and family are. This is always home. Now, if I have to go away, I can come back, start a life, start a family and eventually retire.”Currently, only about half of apprentices registered in Nova Scotia complete their certification.”We know that Nova Scotians want to build a life here,” said Kelly Regan, Minister responsible for the Nova Scotia Apprenticeship Agency. “This legislation helps apprentices get the training they need more quickly and at less cost so they can qualify for the good jobs in Nova Scotia.”Once registered in Nova Scotia, the Apprenticeship Agency will work with the province where the apprentice is, and ensure they are getting the proper training and experience to complete the program. Nova Scotia Community College training will also be recognized elsewhere.

“The role of the new agency is to work with industry to open up more opportunities for Nova Scotia apprentices,” said Marjorie Davison, CEO of the Nova Scotia Apprenticeship Agency. “To accomplish this, we need to make it easier for our apprentices to get the training they need to complete their journey.”

Amendments will also allow the agency to make agreements with other provinces to ensure apprentice experience and training is recognized, and the training meets a quality standard.
These amendments complement work already underway to enhance consistency in apprenticeship programs across the country.

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Dept. Labour and Advanced Education Media Contact: Chrissy Matheson
902-424-0281
Cell: 902-219-3121
E-mail: mathescl@gov.ns.ca

CCA supports release of Asset Management Primer

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The Canadian Construction Association (CCA) applauded the release of the Asset Management Primer, part of the Canadian Infrastructure Report Card, which details the important need for asset management plans for Canadian municipalities, as well as recommendations for implementing asset management practices.  

“The release of the Asset Management Primer as a follow-up to the 2012 Canadian Infrastructure Report Card is a great next step to tracking and monitoring the importance of ongoing infrastructure investment in Canada,” said Michael Atkinson, president of the CCA. “Since what gets measured, gets done, this primer will go a long way to assisting municipalities in their efforts to continually improve and build the infrastructure that drives the Canadian economy.”

The first-of-its-kind Canadian Infrastructure Report Card indicated that fewer than 15 per cent of municipalities could provide asset condition information that was derived from asset management processes. While the condition of aboveground assets is more easily identified, assets not as visible are only more accurately monitored with asset management processes. 

This past year saw increased awareness and promotion of asset management processes, including the federal government highlighting their importance in the New Building Canada Plan, the province of Ontario requiring asset management plans as eligibility for some provincial funding, and a number of municipalities developing their own asset management plans. 

“This primer once again showcases the importance of strong asset management to the long-term viability and sustainability of our core public infrastructure assets,” added Atkinson.

Nova Scotia Apprenticeship Agency Update Event

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The Nova Scotia Apprenticeship Agency invites you to attend an Update Event. This event will be an opportunity for you to network with your colleagues, enjoy a warm meal, hear about our progress and help us identify how to better engage employers in the Apprenticeship and Trades Certification System.

Apprenticeship Agency Update Events are being held at Nova Scotia Community College (NSCC) campuses across the province between October 20th and 29th, 2014. Below, please find a list of the session locations, dates and times. As meeting times vary by location, please make sure to register online for the session that is most convenient for you!

DATES:

October 20th
– Kentville, NSCC Kingstec Campus, 7:30 am – 9:30 am
– Bridgewater, NSCC Lunenburg Campus, 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm
October 23rd
– Yarmouth, NSCC Burridge Campus, 7:30 am – 9:30 am
October 27th
– Dartmouth, NSCC Waterfront Campus, 7:30 am – 9:30 am
October 28th
– Sydney, NSCC Marconi Campus, 7:30 am – 9:30 am
– Port Hawkesbury, NSCC Strait Area Campus, 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm
October 29th
– Stellarton, NSCC Pictou Campus, 7:30 am – 9:30 am
– Truro, NSCC Truro Campus, 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm

Builders’ Lien Act Clarified

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Amendments introduced today, Oct. 2, to the Builders’ Lien Act expand on changes made in 2013, and bring more clarity and consistency to the act. 

The act governs practices by owners, contractors and subcontractors for claims against a property by a business or person who has supplied labor or materials for work on it. The liens protect people from not being paid for their work or goods they provided on a project. 

Previous amendments allow owners and contractors to release holdback money to subcontractors as stages of a large project are completed. Before then, commercial builders would hold back 10 per cent of the total cost and could not fully release the holdback until the entire project was complete. 

Minor amendments now being made include:

— allowing an owner to continue to make payments to a contractor, up to 90 per cent, after receiving notice of a lien 
— requiring an owner to pay interest if they do not make a payment within 65 days of being permitted to, after a subcontract has been certified complete 
— allowing a holdback to be released if a lien has been vacated or cancelled
— aligning language introduced in the 2013 amendments with the language of the act.

To review amendments introduced in 2013, visit http://novascotia.ca/news/release/?id=20130506007 .

152nd Annual General Meeting

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The CANS 152nd Annual General Meeting was held October 3rd-5th, 2014 at Rodd Brudenell River Resort in PEI. Over 130 CANS members attended the weekend-long event and enjoyed networking, keynote speakers, and Strategic Priority Area Committee Reports at the CANS AGM Business Session.

Read more.

Non-Residential Construction Investment 2nd Quarter 2014

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Revised data from Statistics Canada made only small changes to non-residential construction activity for the first half of the year. Nova Scotia’s non-residential construction investment was revised to $175.2 million in the second quarter from the initial estimate of $173.5 million.
In the second quarter of 2014, non-residential building construction in Nova Scotia declined 5.4 per cent from the previous quarter to $175.2 million (seasonally adjusted). Compared with the same quarter in 2013, non-residential building construction is down 7.0 per cent. This decline appears to be more pronounced in Halifax non-residential construction, which declined by 9.6 per cent compared to Q1 2014 and 19.5 per cent compared to Q2 2013 .  Read more.