Proposed Changes Coming to NS First Aid Regulations: Employer input needed.

 

Recent changes to CSA first aid standards may change the First Aid Regulations in Nova Scotia and employers are being asked for feedback. The CSA standard is new and being proposed to all Canadian jurisdictions as a national standard. Two examples include the CSA standard will increase the number of first aid kits a workplace is required to have and will establish training requirements. These changes are being considered for implementation in the fall of 2019!

Nova Scotia employers have expressed a continuing interest to provide feedback on proposed OHS regulations and OEA NS Society will be hosting the first of a number of sessions that Labour and Advanced Education (LAE) will be holding across the province to get your input!

If you are unable to attend in person or want to provide more comments stay tuned to LAE webpage for an online portal which will allow you to be a part of the conversation by providing your comments:
www.novascotia.ca/lae/healthandsafety

 

Office of the Employer Advisor (OEA NS) Sessions: (LIMITED SPACES)

OEA NS Society Office-
36 Brookshire Court, Suite 14,
Bedford, NS

Monday, July 22, 2019                  1:00 PM to 4:00 PM
Friday, July 26, 2019                     9:00 AM to 12:00 PM

To register for one of the OEA NS sessions, please visit our webpage www.oeans.ca or email joy.samuel@oeans.ca

 

LAE Hosted Sessions:

Truro – Truro Fire Hall Community Room
Tuesday, July 23               9:00 AM to 12:00

Port Hawkesbury – Port Hawkesbury Civic Centre
Wednesday, July 24         9:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Halifax – Halifax Central Library
Thursday, July 25               9:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Dartmouth – NSCC Akerley Campus
Wednesday, July 30            9:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Kentville – NSCC Kingstec Campus
Wednesday, July 31             9:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Liverpool – Queens Place Emera Centre
Thursday, August 1              9:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Clare – Université Sainte-Anne Campus, Church Point (EN FRANÇAIS)
Wednesday, July 25             5:00 PM – 8:00 PM

CANSTech 2020 – Call for Speakers/Exhibitors

CANSTech 2020

Presented by:

Procore Logo

CANS is currently seeking sponsors and accepting applications for exhibitors and speakers for CANSTech 2020,  February 27, 2020 at the Cunard Centre.

 

CANS is proud to present CANSTech – Nova Scotia’s Construction Technology and Innovation Tradeshow for the commercial, industrial and institutional construction industry.

We are thrilled to bring back this innovative and experiential conference for a second time as CANSTech 2020. This event is the only conference in Nova Scotia that highlights cutting-edge solutions specifically for the construction industry, as well as provides attendees with opportunities for hands-on experience with leading-edge technologies.

Get the most out of CANSTech 2020, sign up now to be a sponsor, or apply to be an exhibitor or speaker at the event. Your company will be featured throughout promotional materials in the months leading up to the event. Not to mention, you will get the chance to engage with over 1,000 anticipated attendees day-of!

 

Exhibitors:
Is your company breaking new ground in the construction industry? Seeing is believing, so we’re seeking exhibitors who will actively engage attendees with quality experiences and hands-on demonstrations. Let us know how you would stand out from the crowd, APPLY NOW to be an exhibitor at CANSTech2020.

 

Speakers:
Do you have hands-on experience or real-world knowledge about modernizing workflows? We’re looking for speakers who can offer attendees a practical perspective on how to adapt their business in a new, technological landscape. APPLY NOW to be a speaker at CANSTech 2020.

 

Sponsors:
Does your company embrace technological advancements and/or new innovations readily? CANSTech prides itself highlighting new innovations and technologies, so we’re seeking sponsors who will support our mission to keep the construction industry nimble and adaptable to technological growth.

Find out more on sponsoring CANSTech 2020: take a look at our full list of sponsorship opportunities, or REGISTER NOW — no application needed — as a sponsor, contact Natalie Bobbitt, Sponsorship Lead.

 

For more information on how to participate in CANSTech 2020, contact:

Natalie Bobbitt
Sponsorship Lead
902-468-2267 ext. 718
nbobbitt@cans.ns.ca

 

For more information on CANSTech, or to see photos of the inaugral event visit: canstech.ca

Majority of contractors using offsite construction, survey says

Offsite construction has been an ongoing construction trend for the last several years, but with such a large majority of stakeholders reporting that they are using the technique, as they did in the NIBS survey, it might be time to call it a standard industry practice. Read more.

Factory-built load bearing walls help revolutionize building

The new five-storey-plus penthouse condo on the town of Kingsville’s Lake Erie waterfront had its load bearing walls installed so quickly there were virtually no exposed ones left to showcase during a recent tour. Read more.

CANS Industry Education & Training Course Calendar

CANS 2018-2019 Industry Education Course Calendar is now available!

  • View & Download the magazine version of the Industry Education Course Calendar
  • Search Industry Education Courses online and register today

Types of Courses Offered

Business Development 

Many people within the construction industry are uneasy with the role of being responsible for growing the business and being put into a sales and customer service role. This course offers a systematic and logical selling method designed to make sales better, faster and easier.

Communications

Several workshops designed to help improve communication skills among different levels of employees, from administrative to superintendents learn how to effectively communicate with others and deal with negative situations.

Construction Documents

Presented jointly by Construction Specifications Canada (CSC) Atlantic Chapter and CANS, these courses  enable participants to have a better understanding of construction documentation, products, bidding procedures and contracts. It also improves construction contract administration by providing education related to the administration and enforcement of contract requirements during the construction phase of the project.

Construction Fundamentals

A number of workshops are held throughout the year to equip participants with the fundamental skills and understanding needed within the construction sector. These workshops are ideal for individuals new to the industry or those requiring a refresher.

Construction Law

A basic understanding of construction law is extremely important for individuals employed in the construction industry. All law sessions are delivered by knowledgeable lawyers in the construction sector.

Leadership Management

For those making the transition into leadership roles such as Project Manager and Superintendent for the first time, this program is an opportunity to build confidence and skills to take on the management role. This program covers the fundamentals of leading and working in a team environment and assists with refining and enhancing one’s ability to manage and motivate individuals and groups.

Healthcare Construction

Construction is an industry where technologies and regulations are constantly changing, particularly in the healthcare sector. These courses plays a crucial role in providing training when health regulations are modified or there is new technology to learn.

Technical Skills

In these workshops are designed to teach participants the fundamentals of various technical skills such blueprint reading and construction estimating. CANS also offeres several computer application courses, such as MS Project and various levels of Microsoft Excel to enhance your already existing knowledge and take your skills to the next level.

 

 

For more information contact:

Chantal Arsenault
Industry Education & Training Lead
902-468-2267 ext. 706
carsenault@cans.ns.ca

How industry pressure points drive tech innovation

Construction firms looking to improve productivity should align technology investments with business objectives and seek buy-in from end users, according to panelists of an FMI webinar.Read more.

Why construction inadvertently became the last frontier for tech disruption

One might assume that digital disruption has infiltrated all the industries today. But it turns out that construction has some serious catching up to do.

There is no shortage of business to be had. The construction industry, in fact, ranks as one of the fastest growing sectors globally. Statistics Canada reports investment in non-residential building construction totalled $14.1 billion the first quarter of 2018, up 3.1 per cent from the previous quarter. This was the fourth consecutive quarterly rise, leading to a 9.0 per cent year-over-year increase in construction investment. U.S. data shows similar growth rates.

Read more.

Construction industry strives to bring injured workers back to the job site

The construction industry is facing a serious labour shortage and is looking for ways to replace workers who are at the end of their careers and retiring in great numbers. One source of new — or at least renewed — blood has been receiving attention lately: injured workers who can be brought back to work relatively quickly. Read more.

Thirteen recent advances in robotic building technology

The buildings and infrastructure of the not-so-distant future might look like they were dropped here from an alien planet thanks to the complex geometries and curvaceous surfaces robotic building technologies are able to produce. Read more.

2018-2019 Federal Budget Highlights – Impact to the Construction

Apprenticeship / Women in Construction             

  • $65.9 million in targeted grants and commitments to apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programs have been announced for over the next five years.
  • $19.9 million over the next 5 years has been earmarked to pilot an ‘Apprenticeship Incentive Grant for Women,’ resulting in increased support for women in red seal trades. Women in male-dominated Red Seal trades would receive $3,000 for each of their first two years of training. This is in addition to the existing Apprenticeship Completion Grant of $2,000. About 90 per cent of Red Seal trades would be eligible for the new grant.
  • A new ‘Pre-Apprenticeship Program’ is being funded beginning in 2018 with $46 million over the next 5 years, changing to $10 million per year after that.  The program will assist underrepresented Canadian groups in entering the trades, gaining work experience, accessing skills development opportunities, and ultimately making informed career choices.
  • The announcement of the new ‘Women in Construction Fund’ includes a committed $10 million to attract women to the trades over the next 3 years by investing in the further development of existing models designed to attract more women to the trades.

Infrastructure

  • Short-term infrastructure spending is once again lower than expected with more budget reallocations toward departmental spending. The projected infrastructure spending lapse in this past year was $2.67 billion, with budget projections showing the lapse hitting $2.19 Billion in 2018/19.

Small Business Tax Reform

  • The budget unveiled new details on the taxation of passive investment income inside private corporations. When companies earn between $50,000 and $150,00 in a given year from passive investments, a reduced amount of their active business income will be eligible for the small business tax rate, which will be 9 per cent in 2019. (The upper limit for business income that can be taxed at the small business rate is $500,000.) The reduction will occur on a straight-line basis, with eligible income decreasing by $5 for every $1 of passive income above the $50,000 threshold.

Rental Housing Construction

  • Potential construction of affordable rental housing has received a $1.25-billion boost over the next three years. The federal government expects the extra investment will spur the construction of 14,000 new rental units across Canada.