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Professional Services: Finance, Bonding, Insurance, Construction Law, Business Practices

April 18, 2008

Massachusetts governor unveils $3.8-billion bond proposal for repair of more than 400 bridges

Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick plans to unveil a US$3.8 billion bond proposal to repair 411 deteriorating bridges throughout the state over the next eight years, a project he will argue not only improves road safety but also pumps cash into the economy to buffer Massachusetts from a recession.

April 15, 2008

How employers can avoid liability in disputes over work assignments

Construction industry employers often behave as if they are immune from liability in jurisdictional disputes.

April 4, 2008

Vancouver’s TransLink launches real estate division

Metro Vancouver’s transportation authority is launching a real estate division and plans to develop property as a way to generate financing for public transportation operations.

March 14, 2008

Some U.S. banks look at issuing “green” mortgage-backed securities

There have been rumors both on Wall Street and reported in the press that a handful of Wall Street banks would be bringing to market a “green” mortgage-backed security product in the near future.

February 29, 2008

Merit Contractors Association of Alberta challenges union coalition once again over election ads

As Albertans get ready to go to the polls on March 3, 2008, another political battle is heating up, one that pits the National Citizens Coalition and Merit Contractors Association of Alberta against the Alberta Building Trades Council (ABTC) and the Alberta Federation of Labour (AFL).

February 27, 2008

Atlas Hospitality Group reports that economics are driving U.S. hotel building boom

Hotel construction took off in California in 2007 despite the turmoil in the credit markets and concerns about a changing economy, according to a new report from Atlas Hospitality Group. Alan X. Reay, president of the Irvine-based consulting and brokerage firm, told real estate Web site GlobeSt.com that the industry expansion — a 24% year-to-year increase in the number of hotel rooms under construction and a 74% increase in the number of rooms opened — is maintaining its momentum thus far this year.

February 26, 2008

New chair takes the helm at Grand Valley Construction Association

Insurance industry executive Marianne Micci-Fritz, newly elected chair of the Grand Valley Construction Association (GVCA), is keen on providing members with opportunities to hone their leadership skills.

February 25, 2008

Contractors should benefit from new, less-ambiguous Waiver of Claims provisions in CCDC2

The new Waiver of Claims clause now limits the waiver and release of both the Owner and the Contractor to claims of which they had knowledge or “reasonably ought to have knowledge” at the time of Substantial Performance.

February 20, 2008

Tulsa finds itself short of labour for ice storm clean-up

Two months after a devastating ice storm hit Tulsa, splintered trees, downed branches and piles of wood still litter nearly every neighborhood. Many say the problem can be traced to an immigration crackdown that has reduced the number of undocumented workers available to clean up the mess.

February 15, 2008

University of British Columbia set to begin construction on Faculty of Law building in 2009

Construction is expected to get under way in 2009 on a new Faculty of Law building on the Vancouver campus of the University of British Columbia. The Law School is the fifth project the University of British Columbia has commissioned Diamond + Schmitt to design.

January 19, 2007

Simple steps to maximizing your surety credit

Surety is a form of credit, much like banking. Having spent the past 20 years in both the surety and banking industries, I have developed an appreciation of the characteristics demonstrated by the most successful contractors. Many of these traits happen to be the key areas surety underwriters focus on, and if put into practice, should result in greater credit being made available.

January 19, 2007

Accountability Act casts wide net around work

Depending on how meetings are arranged and their purpose, under changes to Canada’s Federal Accountability Act engineers, construction company employees and members of other professional organizations may find they’re now considered lobbyists — with heavy penalties for failing to identify themselves and their interactions with government.

January 19, 2007

Non-compliance a sticking point in legal battles

In 1981, the Supreme Court of Canada’s decision in Ontario v. Ron Engineering changed the legal landscape of invitations to tender.

January 19, 2007

Digital documents raise legitimacy, storage concerns

In some construction industry contracts, a letter is not deemed to be an official communication if it is sent via email.

January 19, 2007

Study raises questions about actual costs

Public-private partnerships in British Columbia have sparked $4.7 billion in construction projects since 2002, but critics say taxpayers may end up paying more than they bargained for in the long run.

January 19, 2007

Keep those old liability policies

Ever dispose of something one day only to find out the very next day that you could have used it? The construction project has been over for a few years or your annual general liability policy has been renewed several times so there is no need to keep the old policy, right? Wrong!

January 19, 2007

University research takes aim at efficiency

In the overheated Calgary construction market, the last thing one would expect from competing companies is collaboration. In a bid to improve industry efficiency, several construction powerhouses are collaborating for a unique research project.

January 19, 2007

Interior environment requires careful consideration

As the link between adverse health effects and mould exposure grows, liability for insurance and other industry groups – including those in the building sector – are likely to increase.