Sexual harassment, harassment and bullying: Can it be prevented?

Growing media attention to, and increasing public interest in, workplace bullying, harassment and sexual harassment has raised awareness of the issue everywhere, including in the construction industry. Read more.

Government seeking recommendations on federal prompt payment legislation

The Government of Canada is committed to growing the economy, strengthening the middle class and helping those working hard to join it. As part of this commitment, action is underway on multiple fronts to ensure that construction contractors and subcontractors who do business with the federal government are paid promptly. Read more.

Canadian Construction Association mobilizes members to oppose government-owned enterprises

The Canadian Construction Association (CCA) announced in an email to its board members, partner associations and corporate members that it has advised the government of Canada of its opposition to government-owned or controlled entities competing for construction contracts. Most recently, Chinese state-owned CCCC International Holding Limited’s (CCCI) announced it is seeking to acquire Aecon Group Inc., a Canadian publicly-traded construction firm. Read more.

Insulating bricks with microscopic bubbles

The better a building is insulated, the less heat is lost in winter—and the less energy is needed to achieve a comfortable room temperature. The Swiss Federal Office of Energy (SFOE) regularly raises the requirements for building insulation.

Read more at: https://phys.org/news/2018-01-insulating-bricks-microscopic.html#jCp

Let your MP know that protecting Canada’s underground infrastructure is important!

Let your MP know that protecting Canada’s underground infrastructure is important! Read more.

Lafarge and partners testing low-carbon construction materials

Lafarge Canada Inc. has announced it is embarking on a million-dollar study with partners to research lower-carbon fuels at its Exshaw Cement Plant in Exshaw, Alta.

Eight lower-carbon fuels will be researched, including construction renovation/demolition waste, nonrecyclable plastic, carpets and textiles, shingles, treated wood products, wood products, rubber and tire derived fuels, said a recent statement.

Read more.

Stakeholders urge further steps as feds unveil asbestos plan

The federal government has followed through on its 2016 commitment to ban asbestos with a series of regulations and other initiatives involving at least four different ministries to further control exposure to the carcinogen. Read more.

CIRP fighting ‘fentanyl explosion,’ helping construction workers

The demand for mental health and addiction services for construction workers at a B.C. treatment centre has “almost tripled” in the past year — largely driven by the fentanyl overdose epidemic. Read more.

Liberals’ two year infrastructure plan set to take five: documents

Late last year, officials warned that a federal spending spree to repair crumbling roads and water systems could take three years longer than expected to complete, based on internal documents outlining issues with the first tranche of cash in the government’s infrastructure program. Read more.

Non-residential capital stock remaining service life, 2015

Statistics Canada released data on the age of the non-residential capital stock in the provinces. The assets are measured by the “remaining useful service life of non-residential capital stock” which is estimated as a percentage of service life remaining relative to the total service life of the asset. It is measured as the ratio of the average asset age to its expected service life. Changes to the remaining useful service life can come from changes in the investment level or in the investment mix. Read more.