March 2, 2010
Interview
Post-recession activity a concern for construction industry: EllisDon CEO
Most mid- to large-sized general contractors will likely weather the worst of the great recession by working through their backlogs and relying on government stimulus projects.
But EllisDon’s chief executive admits he’s concerned about what awaits the construction industry farther on down the road.
“We are very worried about 12 to 18 months out,” Geoff Smith told Reed Construction Data in a recent interview at the company’s Mississauga head office.
“It just seems to me that governments can’t maintain stimulus spending forever to a really significant degree without getting themselves into all sorts of fiscal trouble.
“And if the private sector doesn’t come back, and there’s no sign of it yet, then I think we could be looking at a crunch about 18 months from now, or earlier.”
As of early June, the federal government said it has committed approximately $2.8 billion of the $4-billion Infrastructure Stimulus Fund, and more than 1,700 projects have federal approval to start work.
Geoff Smith
“I have to tell you, I’ve been very impressed with how fast they’ve gotten the money into the market,” Smith said.
“In this current recession, we’ve seen the construction projects, and therefore the stimulus monies, come to market faster than in the last recession, and certainly way faster than the recession before that in the early 1980s.”
Turning his focus to new technologies, Smith said that Building Information Modeling (BIM) is the way of the future, adding that those contractors who don’t adopt it will be left behind.
“If you don’t (embrace BIM), you’re not going to make it down the road,” he said. “It’ll take a little while to take hold, because it requires some upfront investment on the part of the clients and the builders. But it’s coming. Everybody has got to embrace it as soon as they can find a way to.”
The same applies to social networking, which Smith has embraced — he’s on Twitter, Facebook and he blogs.
Social media is a key element of the company’s forward-looking strategy, he said.
“The construction industry over past generations has always been about people — we sell people; we put people on a project.
“Now there is the opportunity and the means to sell knowledge, intellectual capital and to create a competitive advantage doing that — and we see the social media facilitating that and creating that opportunity.”
Carpenters’ union official Ucal Powell named to Order of Ontario
Province of Ontario recognizes Ucal Powell, Executive Secretary Treasurer of the Carpenters’ District Council of Ontario, for building a world-class apprenticeship program and earning a reputation as a giving and compassionate organization, with the Order of Ontario.
VIDEO: Buildex Vancouver 2012 at the Vancouver Convention Centre
Buildex Vancouver brings together the construction, design and real estate industries on an annual basis into a giant, two day show at the Vancouver Convention Centre.
VIDEO: Pre-Construction begins on the Evergreen Line
Pre-construction work has begun on the Evergreen Line, an extension of the Skytrain rapid transit system that currently spans Vancouver, Richmond, Burnaby and some of Coquitlam. The new line will extend from Coquitlam all the way to Port Moody, alleviating traffic and offering a green alternative to motorized vehicles.
VIDEO: The Vancouver Regional Construction Association's U35 initiative
Construction industry experts have long warned of an "experience gap" between senior management and young workers just entering the sector. Due to the bottoming out of the industry in the 1990s, the industry has lacked a core group of younger managers and executives to take over once the baby boomer generation retires.
Toronto IIDEX trade show to have renewed focus
The Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (RAIC) will be a co-presenter of this year’s IIDEX/NeoCon Canada conference and expo, which has traditionally been a contract furniture show but will start placing a greater emphasis on construction products, architecture and technology, the event organizer has announced.
Brook Restoration safety training includes swing stage, hazardous materials
Brook Restoration recently opened its own safety centre. In addition to regular safety training like WHMIS (Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System), Brook offers training in aspects such as swing stage, boom and elevated work platform, asbestos, lead, Bobcats and confined spaces.
VIDEO: Remembering the Bentall Four
On January 7, 1981, Gunther Couvreux, Brian Stevenson, Donald W. Davis and Yrjo Mitrunen fell thirty-six floors to their deaths when a fly form attached to the Bentall building in downtown Vancouver came loose.
Efficiency is Ontario trades college goal
Ontario’s current apprenticeship system has failed the province’s youth, says the Ontario College of Trades new chair, Ron Johnson.
Ontario College of Trades chair hopes ratios will be reviewed in first two years
Ron Johnson, the new Chair of the Board of Governors of the Ontario College of Trades and Deputy Director of Interior Systems Contractors Association of Ontario and the Interior Finishing Systems Training Centre, said every individual who has an issue with a compulsory certification and ratio review application will have an opportunity to represent their arguments to a review panel.
