Construction industry embraces unlikely source of growth: shifting work off the job site

With high-capacity gantry cranes overhead, 65,000 sq. ft. of well-lit floor space and products at various stages of completion strung out along a tidy assembly line, PCL Constructors Inc.’s Agile operation in the Toronto suburbs looks more like it’s run by a manufacturer than by one of the country’s largest construction contractors. Read more.

2018 a year of disruption and evolution for construction

Disruption? Evolution? Either of these two words could describe the changes in the construction industry landscape in 2018. Which word it actually is likely depends where one stakes their claim within the industry itself. Read more.

 

Targeted relief on aluminum and steel: Stability is still needed

The Canadian construction industry is encouraged by the Canadian government’s decision to provide relief on specific aluminum and steel products.

“Our industry has been hit hard over the last few months, and this relief will bring some much needed good news as we are working hard at building the infrastructure that Canadians need,” said Mary Van Buren, Canadian Construction Association (CCA) president.

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Liberals hope infrastructure funding change solves construction delays, cost concerns.

Canada’s infrastructure minister says an overhaul of how the government approves funding for projects should solve concerns about construction delays and escalating costs. Read more.

Infrastructure Minister ‘laser-focused’ on construction projects for 2019

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau built a successful 2015 election platform around a core promise: Short-term deficits will boost the economy through a massive increase in infrastructure spending.

With less than a year to go before voters cast their judgment in the next federal election, the deficits have materialized. The promised return to balance by 2019 has not. Whether the Liberal government fully delivered on the infrastructure front remains an open question.

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Who will rebuild after a climate disaster as workers retire and weather worsens?

When flood waters recede and hurricane-force winds die down, Canadians can expect it will take longer for their homes to be rebuilt or their power to be restored if the country’s labour market doesn’t soon catch up to the realities of climate change. Read more.

Top 10 Canadian construction trends to watch in 2019

There is no shortage of changes, both positive and negative, the industry faces as 2018 comes to a close.

On-Site caught up with Mary Van Buren, the president of the Canadian Construction Association, to discuss the trends the industry association will be watching closest over the next 12 months.

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Hire ‘mad scientists’ to spark change in construction firms

When technology comes into play in the construction industry, it’s often associated with the word disruption. But it’s important to define the term to truly understand its effect. In a recent webinar, “Fostering Mad Scientists: How Construction can Create a Culture of Innovation,” JBKnowledge CEO James Benham borrowed Brett Young’s definition: Disruption is a business model change within a particular industry to which specific companies or segments cannot adapt. Read more.

Industry slams Trudeau on ‘gender impacts’ comment about male construction workers

A comment made by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at the recent G20 Summit in Argentina has caused a stir in the Canadian construction industry, with several stakeholders taking to social media to voice their views and opinions on the matter. Read more.

Give the gift of access this holiday season

Donate your used phones to CNIB’s Phone It Forward campaign. Read more.