November 30, 2009
Real estate outlook
Will Vancouver experience the post-Olympic blahs?
Vancouver and its thriving real estate market will get a boost from the upcoming Winter Olympics. The big question is what will happen after the flame is extinguished, says the author of a new report on North American real estate trends.
"Will (Vancouver) have a case of the post-Olympics blahs that a lot of markets that have had the Olympics suffer from, or will it benefit from all the world focus?" said Jonathan D. Miller, author of ‘Emerging Trends in Real Estate 2010,‘ in a presentation to the Urban Land Institute in Toronto earlier this month.
"I think the expectation of interviewees is that it may not matter,” he said. "Vancouver will hold up one way or another."
Miller went on to discuss Toronto’s prospects for the year ahead.
The city is Canada’s global gateway, he said, but there are concerns about overdevelopment in the office building market and the ever-growing number of new condos slated for construction.
"You have to wonder how long this condo boom can continue," Miller said.
Check back here in the coming days for more video from the Urban Land Institute presentation.
Pursuit of LEED could result in professional negligence, insurance executive warns
By adhering to a “recipe” or “formula” in order to earn points toward LEED certification, design professionals might be at risk of neglecting their responsibility to clients, says an insurance company executive.
The head of the Ontario General Contractors Association is praising a report from Workers Safety & Insurance Board chair Steven Mahoney that looks at ways to reform the WSIB
‘You don’t create job opportunities by cutting off business:’ Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters CEO
The new Buy America agreement between Canada and the U.S. doesn’t offer Canadian firms access to stimulus contracts that have already “gone out the door,” says the head of the Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters.
WSIB shouldn't rush rate hikes to cover unfunded liability: COCA president
In its effort to eliminate the unfunded liability, the Workers Safety & Insurance Board should not hike premiums too quickly or it could make Ontario an unattractive place to do business, says the president of the Council of Ontario Construction Associations.
Canadian Construction Association strengthening research and innovation efforts
The Canadian Constrruction Association has made progress in the past year in its efforts to nurture connections with educational and research institutions across the country, reports CCA chair Brad Greene.
Construction worker’s fatal fall didn't involve swing stage
A construction worker is dead after falling as much as six storeys from a building in east Toronto Thursday. Police say a piece of metal may have fallen and hit the worker, knocking him off the building.
Is the U.S. recovery sustainable?
The U.S. might be starting to mend its economy, but there are still a number of uncertainties about whether a recovery will be sustainable, says CanaData chief economist Alex Carrick.
Ontario Road Builders’ Association launches green award
The Ontario Road Builders’ Association has announced a new green award to recognize efforts made by the industry to protect the environment.
Canadian Construction Association eyes international reciprocity for Gold Seal
The Canadian Construction Association plans to explore the idea of negotiating international reciprocity agreements for its Gold Seal certification.
