Archive for category: front

Michael Atkinson, president of the CCA, said reopening NAFTA could be an opportunity to look at how it can be improved. “If president-elect Trump wants to renegotiate NAFTA, having the procurement provisions apply more broadly, I think it would be a positive thing,” said Atkinson. “It would be one way to modernize that agreement, but certainly CETA (Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement), Trans-Pacific (Partnership), any of these newer, international trade agreements, the procurements apply more than just to national procurement, it applies to subnational procurement as well. That is where all international trade agreements are going now.” That is important, he said, because Canadians felt shut out during President Barack Obama’s infrastructure stimulus program when Buy American provisions were imposed on federal projects which meant Canadian products couldn’t be used. Read more

Check out our picks for taking management advice, product reviews, business best practices and more on the go. Read more.

North American wastewater treatment plants could one day turn ordinary sewage into biocrude oil thanks to new research at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Perhaps as soon as 2018, the technology developed could be producing biocrude at a demonstration facility in Metro Vancouver. Read more

Almost all professionals these days provide their clients with a written engagement letter – if they don’t they should. This includes all sorts of professionals including architects and engineers as well as design builders. Many design firms try to limit their exposure in the event of errors or omissions by including limitation of liability clauses in their engagement letters and / or contract terms. However, the professionals who rely on them may not always be as protected as they think they are. Read more

Gilbert Brulotte, head of the CCA, said there are a number of explanations for the funding delays. For one, the Liberal government needed new agreements with the provinces before proceeding. Also, the Alberta government was late giving Ottawa its wish list for water infrastructure and transit projects, which also required funding. “Those are just the realities of the day. It takes time, but in the meantime, the money’s not flowing.” Read more