Home Featured Report Stay Connected: October 16, 2020

Stay Connected: October 16, 2020

These are this week’s top stories, regarding the construction industry in Ontario, that you need to know.

October 16, 2020

INDUSTRY NEWS

Organizations respond to feds $10 billion infrastructure investment announcement

In response to the announcement, CaGBC applauds the government for taking a significant step toward Canada’s low-carbon future and the Residential and Civil Construction Alliance of Ontario (RCCAO) is generally pleased with the initiative.

OGCA members lead a movement to a safer construction industry

OGCA members are amongst the very safest of any industry in Ontario. They have reduced their Lost Time Injuries (LTI) rate by an amazing 10% to .20 in 2019. That rate compares to rates of 1.12 for the construction industry and .98 for all Ontario employers covered by the WSIB.

SNC – Lavalin CEO stresses need for speed on domestic construction projects

In Canada’s last downturn, the global financial crisis that played out 12 years ago, government spending on infrastructure came too late to stimulate the economy and get people back to work.

SNC-Lavalin Group Inc. chief executive Ian Edwards wants to ensure politicians of all stripes learn from past mistakes. The head of one of the world’s largest engineering companies launched a campaign last week that stresses the need for speed on domestic construction projects.

The Canadian Apprenticeship Forum releases a national strategy for supporting women in trades

In celebration of National Women’s History Month, the Canadian Apprenticeship Forum (CAF-FCA) is releasing a National Strategy for Supporting Women in Trades.

In 2019, CAF-FCA led a task force of more than 60 skilled trades stakeholders who came together to guide and inform a strategy to create measurable change for women’s representation in skilled trades careers in Canada.

Province wants to help Hamilton get LRT off the ground, mayor says

Hamilton’s mayor says the province wants to make light-rail transit (LRT) happen with a mix of provincial, federal and private-sector money, and he expects the province will say more “in the coming weeks.” The feds and the province, meanwhile, are in talks, but both say they still need more details before committing.

Canadian Construction Association on interprovincial trade barriers

The Canadian Construction Association (CCA) is urging all levels of government to support and enhance Canada’s economic recovery by maintaining a free-flowing system of trade and labour mobility between provinces.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

S. won’t provide detailed project list for $228M stimulus program

The McNeil government is refusing to provide specific details about how $228 million in COVID-19 stimulus money is being spent in Nova Scotia. Last month, CBC News requested a detailed list of tenders awarded to date and their value as part of the stimulus program. After weeks of promising the list was coming, on Friday a spokesperson for the Transportation Department said that list won’t be produced.

America could really, truly get infrastructure improvements soon

Remember all the hope and hype during the last presidential election about how the United States would soon spend a lot of money on infrastructure no matter who won? Four years later, we’re still waiting for Washington to take action.

But with many investors now betting that Joe Biden will defeat Trump — and some experts even pricing in the possibility of a blue wave that gives Democrats control of the Senate — a big infrastructure deal could have a better chance of getting done sometime next year.

COVID-19

Ontario committee’s COVID infrastructure report a ‘head scratcher’, says Cautillo

Disappointed. A “head scratcher.” Puzzling.

Those are some of the terms being used by several construction industry stakeholders about the recommendations contained in a recently released report from the province’s Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs called The Economic Impact of COVID-19 on Infrastructure.

FROM THE OCS

Have you checked out the 4^th Coronavirus Contractor Survey yet?

The Coronavirus Contractor Survey: Stability & Anxiety was released as the fourth survey in a series of independent studies conducted by the Ontario Construction Secretariat (OCS). Between September 8 and September 18, 2020, the OCS led a Contractor’s Survey of 300 ICI contractors from across Ontario.

The survey provides insights on how the construction industry is showing signs of stability but anxiety of a second wave of COVID-19 persists. Contractors are also expressing some concerns about the outlook of 2021.