Follow the Pipeline: NSCC IT Campus expansion – open for tender!
See our Pipeline connection PL19-0222NS about the NSCC IT Campus D-Wing Expansion for more information, or click the associated trade packages for open tenders.
CANS Events, presented by YOU!
CANS hosts six sell-out, marquee events each year. We’re currently looking for presenting sponsors for three of these events, our: De-Icer (April 24, 2020); Softball Tournament (August 2020); and 158 Annual General Meeting (October 2-4, 2020).
You’re Invited to Nova Scotia Construction Curling Association’s Bonspiel!
On February 5 & 6, NSCCA will be hosting their 79th Annual Bonspiel and you’re invited to join! Teams will be made up of the individuals who register, so this is a fantastic chance to mingle and network with fellow construction industry professionals.
REMINDER: You’re Invited to CANS Dartmouth Strategic Planning Session, Jan. 30, 2020!
On behalf of the Construction Association of Nova Scotia’s President & CEO, Duncan Williams, as well as CANS Board of Directors, we invite you to one of our strategic planning consultations throughout Nova Scotia. Join us to provide your input on topics important to your organization and the construction industry. Refreshments will be provided.
CANSTech Exhibitor Spotlight: Exterior Technologies Group
“I applaud the CANS team for initiating CANSTech and we are very excited to be participating Feb. 27, 2020, in Halifax, NS. I feel CANSTech is very important to the Atlantic Region because it offers a new and additional opportunity for suppliers, manufacturers and other stakeholders in the region to get in front of — not only architects but contractors, developers, owners, etc…”
CANSTech Exhibitor Spotlight: Servant Dunbrack McKenzie & MacDonald (SDMM) Limited
“It’s crucially important to host and attend these types of events in Atlantic Canada. It’s inspiring and productive to come together as an industry and collectively “raise each others’ bars,” especially during this transitional time of digital transformation. We understand that digital transformation will result in time savings, increased quality, improved safety, greater sustainability and waste reduction. CANSTech is a venue that supports innovation that will drive economic growth and prosperity for our Region.”
STATS // Nova Scotia Interprovincial Trade (2018)
The trade data in the economic accounts represent provincial total and net expenditures in interprovincial (intP) and international (intN) markets. There are important differences in the characteristics of international and interprovincial trade. In this note, the focus is on interprovincial (intP) trade.
Several components of interprovincial trade are considered separately and in combination. These include exports (E), imports (I), goods (G), and services (S). Total interprovincial trade is the sum of interprovincial imports and exports of both goods and services. It measures the significance of interprovincial markets relative to international and domestic (within province) markets as the destination for the province’s output.
Total interprovincial trade is comprised of four components. In 2018, in order by value, they are:
- Interprovincial Imports of Services: $9.030 billion
- Interprovincial Imports of Goods: $5.544 billion
- Interprovincial Exports of Services: $4.621 billion
- Interprovincial Exports of Goods: $4.042 billion
In total, Nova Scotia’s interprovincial trade with the rest of Canada amounts to $23.237 billion.
By commodity, services are the larger share of Nova Scotia’s interprovincial trade
- Interprovincial Exports and Imports of Services amount to $13.7 billion (62.7% of total interprovincial trade)
- Interprovincial Exports and Imports of Goods were valued at $9.6 billion (41.3% of total international trade)
In its trade with the rest of Canada, Nova Scotia imported $5.911 billion more than it exported:
- Interprovincial Imports of Goods and Services amounted to $14.6 billion (62.7% of total interprovincial trade)
- International Exports of Goods and Services amounted to $8.7 billion (37.3% of total interprovincial trade)
INTERPROVINCIAL TRADE GROWTH
Between 2017 and 2018, the value of Nova Scotia’s GDP increased 3.3% to $44.4 billion. Nova Scotia’s interprovincial goods exports increased faster than nominal GDP on a year-over-year basis, but growth in both interprovincial services imports and services exports were slower. Interprovincial imports of goods to Nova Scotia declined last year.
- Interprovincial Exports of Goods increased 6.0%.
- Interprovincial Imports of Services increased 3.2%.
- Interprovincial Exports of Services increased 2.5%.
- Interprovincial Imports of Goods decreased 0.2%
Between 2010 to 2018, Nova Scotia’s nominal GDP grew at a Compound Annual Growth Rate of 2.3 per cent per year.
- Interprovincial Imports of Services increased 3.3% per year
- Interprovincial Exports of Services increased 2.5% per year
- Interprovincial Exports of Goods increased 0.9% per year
- Interprovincial Imports of Goods decreased 0.1% per year
Nova Scotia’s interprovincial service trade (both imports and exports) increased faster than nominal GDP on a long-term basis (2010 to 2018), while goods trade grew more slowly than nominal GDP.
SOURCE: Statistics Canada Tables 36-10-0222-01
CCA displeased by Supreme Court of Canada decision to dismiss appeal on use of reprisal clauses in British Columbia
Our colleagues at the Canadian Construction Association (CCA) have issued the following press release to voice their displeasure with the recent decision by the Supreme Court of Canada to reject the appeal brought forward by J. Cote & Son Excavating. This ruling has serious implications for contractors as it effectively upholds the use of reprisal clauses in tender documents.
From CCA’s press release on J. Cote & Son Excavating appeal:
OTTAWA, December 16, 2019 – The Canadian Construction Association (CCA) is displeased to learn that the Supreme Court of Canada has dismissed an appeal brought forward by contractor, J. Cote & Son Excavating.
Last week’s decision effectively upholds the use of “reprisal clauses” in tender documents. The clause used by the City of Burnaby against J. Cote & Son Excavating stated that the city would not accept tenders from any party that is, or has been within the last two years, involved in legal proceedings initiated against Burnaby arising out of a contract for works or services.
“The clause effectively forces consultants or contractors who may have a dispute with the city to choose between pursuing their legal rights and bidding on city contracts for the next two years,” said Mary Van Buren, CCA president.
This ruling has serious implications for contractors; it condones placing contractors on a two-year blacklist that bans them from bidding on city projects.
“The inclusion of these types of clauses in contracts essentially allows contractors to be financially punished for exercising their legal rights,” explains Van Buren. “The result is contractors are deterred from accessing the courts to enforce their legal rights because they fear being banned from future participation in projects.”
The decision by the Supreme Court of Canada effectively means that there is no constitutional barrier to municipalities using reprisal clauses. CCA will continue to closely monitor any developments as the association believes this case ruling could have major implications for the construction industry in all of Canada.
If you have any questions or comments about this release, please contact CCA’s vice-president of public affairs, Rodrigue Gilbert, at rgilbert@cca-acc.com or 613-236-9455, ext. 432.
Workforce Development: CANS gives keynote address at career expo
On Friday, November 29, 2019, the Construction Association of Nova Scotia (CANS) attended the West Hants Middle School Career Expo. The event brought together more than 500 middle-school-aged (grades 6-8) students to explore future career paths.
STATS // GDP by Census Metropolitan Area (2016)
GDP BY CENSUS METROPOLITAN AREA, 2016
Today, Statistics Canada released Gross Domestic Product (GDP) data for Canada’s Census Metropolitan Areas (CMAs) and the areas outside of CMAs for 2016 and revised previous estimates for 2009-2015. All data are benchmarked to provincial nominal GDP at basic prices.
These results continue to show that just over half of Canada’s GDP is generated in the six CMAs: Toronto, Montréal, Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton and Ottawa–Gatineau. Like population, economic activities primarily focus in cities. In 2016, CMAs accounted for 71.1 per cent of Canada’s population and generated about 74.4 per cent of Canadian GDP. In Nova Scotia, Halifax accounted for 43.9 per cent of provincial population and 54.4 per cent of provincial GDP.
Overall in 2016, GDP per capita in reported CMAs was $54,683. Halifax’s GDP per capita was $49,638. Across Canada, the largest GDP per capita among CMAs is reported in Calgary, Regina, Edmonton and Toronto. However, results may be sensitive to fluctuations in commodity prices. The lowest GDP per capita among reported CMAs was observed in Oshawa ($32,259).
Outside CMAs, GDP per capita was $46,217. The highest non-CMA GDP per capita was observed in Alberta at $77,383 (higher than CMA GDP per capita) while the lowest was reported for Nova Scotia ($32,613). Per capita GDP outside Canada’s reported CMAs averaged 85.6 per cent of CMA GDP per capita.
From 2009-2016, GDP growth has averaged 3.9 per cent inside CMAs and 2.9 per cent outside CMAs. Halifax’s GDP grew by 2.4 per cent on average over this period, the same pace of growth for Nova Scotia outside Halifax. The fastest growing economies over this period were observed in Guelph, St. John’s, Kelowna and Lethbridge. GDP growth outside CMAs was faster in Manitoba, Ontario and British Columbia.
Nova Scotia’s GDP in 2016 was $37.80 billion, of which $20.55 billion was generated in Halifax and $17.25 billion was generated outside of Halifax. GDP has been rising in both Halifax and the rest of the province, but growth outside the city has been faster for all years except 2012, when two paper mills were shuttered.
On a per capita basis, GDP in Halifax remains significantly higher than in the rest of Nova Scotia. However, except for 2012, per capita GDP growth outside Halifax has been faster than inside Halifax, narrowing the gap in GDP per capita between urban and rural areas of the province.
Source: Statistics Canada. Table 36-10-0468-01 Gross domestic product (GDP) at basic prices, by census metropolitan area (CMA) (x 1,000,000); Table 17-10-0135-01 Population estimates, July 1, by census metropolitan area and census agglomeration, 2016 boundaries; Table 17-10-0005-01 Population estimates on July 1st, by age and sex