November 5, 2009
CanaData Conference 2009
Scotiabank’s chief economist has hope for Ontario
Ontario’s growth might be slower in the years to come as its manufacturing sector struggles, but Scotiabank’s chief economist still sees healthy prospects on the horizon for Canada’s economic centre.
“The reality is manufacturing employment is going to be pretty slow and that’s going to be a drag on Ontario,” Warren Jestin said in an interview with Reed Construction Data at the CanaData Construction Industry Forecasts Conference in Toronto Sept. 24.
“The good news is a lot of our economy is service-focused and that’s going to begin to improve,” Jestin added.
See: Live blog archive from the September 24 CanaData Construction Industry Forecasts Conference.
“I suspect we’ll still lag the national average in terms of growth performance over the next five years, but over the next year or so we’re probably going to get at least a healthy pop in growth from economic decline to at least some period of recovery.”
Jestin also offered insights into what’s in store for Western Canada after the recession and discussed what he believes the greatest threat to economic recovery will be.
Check out the executive summary from the 2009 CanaData Conference.
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.
VIDEO PROFILE: The Peace Bridge in Calgary, Alberta
The Peace Bridge, a pedestrian and cycling bridge crossing the Bow River in Calgary, Alberta is both a bold project in terms of aesthetics and design and a magnet for controversy.
