February 8, 2010
Ontario Road Builders’ Association convention
McGuinty: We can’t take our foot off ‘public dollar gas pedal’ too quickly
The province must be careful how quickly it “takes (its) foot off the public dollar gas pedal,” Premier Dalton McGuinty told the Ontario Road Builders’ Association during the group’s annual convention in Toronto Feb. 1.
“If banks are reluctant to lend and the private sector is not doing that much spending and consumer confidence isn’t where it should be, we’ve got to be very careful about moving too quickly in government to remove public dollars from the economy,” said McGuinty.
He noted that his government has invested $2.4 billion to support the expansion and rehabilitation of roads and bridges, the largest investment of its kind in the history of the province.
“It seems to me you and I have a shared obligation to protect the system we’ve created and in large measure inherited and strengthen this backbone of our economy – our roads highways and bridges – so that when this global recession fully releases us from its grip, the infrastructure that we need in order to find opportunity and success is built and ready to keep our people and our province moving forward,” McGuinty said.
Carpenters’ union official Ucal Powell named to Order of Ontario
The Province of Ontario appointed Ucal Powell, Executive Secretary Treasurer of the Carpenters’ District Council to the Order of Ontario. Powell was recognized 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.
