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General and Trade Contracting

March 17, 2010

British Columbia open shop association takes issue with Burnaby’s ‘fair wage’ policy

B.C.’s open shop association is criticizing the city of Burnaby’s fair wage policy for increasing construction costs and taxes, but the mayor said it is just good social policy with a 20-year track record of success.

March 17, 2010

Deaths of five immigrant workers changed jobsites forever

Dusty, dirty and tired, the construction workers sit, swaying side to side with each lurch and stop of the College Steet streetcar. The late day sun streams in through the windows.

March 17, 2010

1960 calamity has parallels to recent swing-stage accident

Fifty years after the Hogg’s Hollow tragedy, much has changed in Ontario workplace health and safety. But the recent Christmas Eve swing-stage tragedy is a reminder more still needs to be done.

March 16, 2010

BC Hydro awards purchase agreements for 19 clean wind, run-of-river energy projects

BC Hydro has awarded the first batch of electricity-purchase agreements in its contentious, government-driven clean-power program. The 19 wind and run-of-river projects will generate 2,400 gigawatt hours of electricity a year, enough to power 218,000 homes.

March 16, 2010

Canadian Construction Association chair bids farewell

As he criss-crossed the country meeting with partner associations during the past year, outgoing Canadian Construction Association (CCA) chair Brad Greene routinely was peppered with questions about the federal infrastructure stimulus programs.

March 15, 2010

Canadian Mechanical Contracting Education Foundation offering Gold Seal course for supervisors

Mechanical contractors’ associations in Kitchener-Waterloo and Hamilton have teamed up to host the Canadian Mechanical Contracting Education Foundation’s (CMCEF) first Gold Seal supervisory program.

March 15, 2010

U.S. construction unemployment could get even worse

It’s not too difficult to see that we have not hit bottom yet as most of us are just finishing up the jobs that we bid and started last year.

March 15, 2010

St. Marys Cement plant workers go on strike in Bowmanville, Ontario

Dozens of workers set up picket lines outside the St. Marys Cement plant in this eastern Ontario town March 14 over proposed changes to their pension plan. The walkout follows two months of intensive negotiations between the Canadian Auto Workers and the Toronto-based company.

March 12, 2010

Guizzetti Developments planning new projects for Richmond Hill, Ontario

Guizzetti Developments is currently planning 814,000 square feet of development at 9076 and 9612 Yonge St. in Richmond Hill, Ont.

March 12, 2010

Alberta team wins silver at U.S. bricklaying championship

Canadian bricklaying team was named among the world’s best at the 2010 Spec Mix Bricklayer 500 National bricklaying championship held at the Las Vegas Convention Center last month.

March 12, 2010

Fraud charges laid against former head of Quebec labour union

Criminal charges against a former high-ranking union official and allegations of intimidation of workers vaulted Quebec’s much-maligned construction industry back into the spotlight Thursday.

March 11, 2010

Ground broken on the Cathedral Centre in Toronto

After a decade of planning, ground has been broken on a project that includes restoration and expansion of the St. James parish house in downtown Toronto.

March 11, 2010

Construction nearing completion on The Avenue condos in Toronto

Work is winding down at The Avenue Condos at St. Clair Avenue West and Avenue Road in Toronto. Toddglen Avenue Ltd. is construction manager of the 19-storey, 73-unit project. There will also be four levels of underground parking.

March 10, 2010

University of Winnipeg aims for LEED Gold certification

The University of Winnipeg’s Science Complex and Richardson College for the Environment will ensure that the school practises what it teaches.

March 10, 2010

Tip Top condos get glass in Toronto

Glass installation continues on the Quay West at Tip Top condominiums in Toronto. Monarch Corp. is owner/general contractor of the 24-storey, 365-unit project; the architect/consultant is architectsAlliance.

March 10, 2010

Ontario architects, general contractor associations issue joint HST bulletin

The Ontario Architects Association and the Ontario General Contractors Association have released a joint bulletin for the design and building communities on the implementation of the harmonized sales tax (HST) in Ontario.

March 10, 2010

EllisDon continues construction on 18 York Street office building in Toronto

Construction is moving up on a new office building at 18 York Street in Toronto, Ont. EllisDon Corp. is construction manager for the 26-storey office, which includes three levels below-grade parking and ground floor retail space.

March 9, 2010

Construction continues on Village Gate West III condo project in Toronto

Construction is moving along on the Village Gate West III condominium/rental project in Toronto. Owner/developer Concert Properties Ltd. - OMERS Sun Life Financial is also an owner - and general contractor Deltera Inc. began the two-tower, 501-unit project in spring 2009.

March 9, 2010

Haiti hydro needs complete distribution grid system rebuild

Weeks after a catastrophic earthquake flattened downtown Port-au-Prince, power has returned to nearly half the city’s neighborhoods.

March 8, 2010

Tax hikes, spending cuts on the radar, OCS told

Ontario’s manufacturing sector may be under stress, but don’t count it out, attendees at the Ontario Construction Secretariat’s 2010 Outlook and State of the Industry and Conference were told.

March 8, 2010

Work continues on Dufferin Street underpass project in Toronto

Construction continues on the Dufferin Street Jog Elimination CN/GO Transit Underpass project at Dufferin and Queen Streets in Toronto. Dufferin Construction Ltd./Holcim Canada have completion of the project scheduled for June 2010.

March 4, 2010

Wawaitin Generating Station taken out of service as new plant built

Ontario Power Generation’s Wawaitin Generating Station, the last 25 hertz generating station in Canada, was taken out of service on this week.

March 4, 2010

Ottawa construction industry survived economic storm, builders told

Buoyed by government infrastructure spending, and university, college and hospital projects, the Ottawa construction industry appears to have weathered the recession in fairly good shape.

March 4, 2010

Photo exhibit focuses on Toronto’s industrial past

The Toronto buildings featured in this year’s Building Storeys photography exhibit tell stories of not just architectural beauty but also of the hard work by construction workers who built them.

March 3, 2010

Construction continues on Trump International Hotel and Tower in Toronto

Construction continues on the Trump International Hotel and Tower in Toronto. Developer Talon International Development Inc. and construction manager Lewis Builds Corp. have completion of the 60-storey project — with 261 hotel guest rooms/suites and 118 condominium residences — scheduled for spring 2011.

March 3, 2010

At Council of Ontario Construction Associations AGM, industry execs express cautious confidence

Although their predictions and analysis couldn’t be described as bullish, a panel of four construction industry leaders conveyed a mood of cautious confidence at the recent annual meeting of the Council of Ontario Construction Associations (COCA) in Toronto.

March 3, 2010

Full text of the throne speech

The following is the unedited text of the speech from the throne delivered by Gov. Gen. Michaelle Jean on Wednesday.

March 2, 2010

Halifax police reviewing union’s donation to Nova Scotia NDP

Halifax police say they are reviewing a report given to them by Nova Scotia’s chief electoral officer.

March 2, 2010

Bird Construction continues work on affordable housing project in Toronto

Work has reached the top floor of the affordable rental housing project for seniors at 717 Broadview Ave. in Toronto. Bird Construction Co. is construction manager of the eight-storey building, with approximately 70 units. Completion is expected by December 2010.

March 1, 2010

Nova Scotia NDP fined for taking union cash

Nova Scotia’s ruling New Democratic Party has been fined $10,000 for accepting an illegal election campaign contribution from a trade union group.

March 1, 2010

Skilled worker shortage leads to rising construction costs on Truro, Nova Scotia hospital project

Experts say the escalating price of a new hospital in Truro, N.S., is symptomatic of growing cost pressures on public and private projects, brought on partly by a growing shortage of skilled workers.

March 1, 2010

With Olympics over, B.C. turns focus to budget

The Olympics party is over and now it’s time to get down to business for British Columbia’s Liberal government as it prepares to table the province's budget.

March 1, 2010

Hungarians call on government to suspend funding for racetrack build

Civic groups have asked Hungary’s government to suspend financial support for Balatonring, the country’s MotoGP racetrack under construction.

February 26, 2010

Painters’ union member rescues six from blaze in Texas

The International Union of Painters and Allied Trades has heralded one of its Texas members as a hero thanks to his daring rescue attempt at the site of a recent suicide attack on an Internal Revenue Service building in Austin.

February 26, 2010

Cutting time, maintaining quality wins Graham Bros. Paver of Year award

Meeting stringent performance standards while finishing a provincial contract seven months ahead of schedule has landed Graham Bros. Construction Limited of Brampton the Ontario Ministry of Transportation (MTO) Paver of the Year award.

February 25, 2010

Injured workers file suit over Connecticut plant explosion

Two workers injured in a power plant explosion filed a lawsuit Feb. 22 alleging that proper safety procedures were not followed, and an attorney said that included live electricity running through the site, workers welding and a gas-fueled torch heater running when the blast happened.

February 25, 2010

B.C. Industry Training Authority retains roadbuilding veteran

Over the past four years, Kent Orrock has made a name for himself in the roadbuilding industry by creating, managing and overseeing the development of training programs for the B.C. Road Builders and Heavy Construction Association.

February 25, 2010

TransAlta, EPCOR finishing construction on Edmonton-area coal-fired plant

The construction of one of Canada’s most advanced coal-fired power generation facilities is nearly complete, despite serious skilled labour and material shortages, as well as disruptions in the supply of equipment.

February 25, 2010

Industry groups prepare members for new disability training requirements

Associations in the province’s design and construction sector are alerting their members to a pending provincial requirement to train staff to meet the needs of customers with disabilities.

February 24, 2010

Construction continues on James Cooper Mansion condo project in Toronto

A section gets lifted at the James Cooper Mansion condominium project on Sherbourne Street in Toronto. Tridel Corp. is general contractor of the 32-storey tower, which will connect to the heritage mansion by a glass podium. The refurbished mansion will be used for amenity space.

February 24, 2010

Work continues on Crystal Blu condos in Toronto

Exterior work continues on the Crystal Blu condominiums on Balmuto Street in Toronto. Bazis International Inc. is owner/general contractor of the 35 storey, 135-unit project, which includes six levels of underground parking. Completion on the project has been scheduled for early 2010.

February 24, 2010

Cranes move trees to clear way for construction at White House

On an otherwise quiet Saturday at the White House Feb. 20, there was quite a sight along the driveway: the careful unearthing of two trees to make way for some construction underneath the front lawn.

February 23, 2010

Cenovus accelerates construction of Christina Lake oilsands project

An oilsands company is leaving nothing to chance and is taking charge of building its own facilities. Cenovus has its own construction management team, which helps accelerate construction on the Christina Lake, Alta. oilsands project.

February 23, 2010

Work continues on Niagara Convention & Civic Centre

Steel work continues for the Niagara Convention & Civic Centre in Niagara Falls, Ont. Bondfield Construction Co. Ltd., along with MHPM Project Managers Inc., have the opening of the two-storey, design-build centre scheduled for January 2011.

February 22, 2010

Construction continues on The Bayview in Toronto

Outside ground work continues on Rean Dr. for The Bayview project in Toronto. Daniels Corporation is owner/construction manager of the nine-storey, 74-unit project. The work also includes a separate retirement residence building.

February 22, 2010

Work moves upward on expansion of Royal Victoria Hospital in Barrie, Ontario

Construction continues on the expansion and addition to the Royal Victoria Hospital in Barrie, Ont. Vanbots has completion of the project scheduled for winter 2013. The work includes a new four-storey residential lodge for cancer patients, space for 101 additional beds and a coronary care unit.

February 22, 2010

Ontario, construction industry working to clarify HST language

A clearer understanding of when Ontario’s harmonized sales tax is to be included in bids was established in a recent meeting between industry stakeholders and the province.

February 19, 2010

Rehabilitation of Darlington nuclear plant could cost $10 billion

It will cost between $6 billion and $10 billion to refurbish the Darlington nuclear power station to extend its life by another 30 to 40 years.

February 19, 2010

Construction continues on Solaris at Metrogate in Toronto

A section gets a hoist at the Solaris at Metrogate Phase I and II in Toronto. Deltera Inc. is general contractor for the two, 40-storey towers with 868-units, ground floor retail and six-levels of parking above and below grade.

February 19, 2010

Ontario General Contractors Association welcomes Supreme Court tender contract ruling

A Supreme Court of Canada decision that found that British Columbia breached its own tender contract preserves the integrity of tendering and bidding, states the Ontario General Contractors Association.

February 18, 2010

Innovative compaction solves instability issue at Calgary pipe plant

The first fully automated concrete pipe plant in Western Canada was built in Calgary using dynamic compaction and includes environmental engineering solutions, such as water- and vapour-management systems.

February 18, 2010

Construction continues on The Republic condos in Toronto

Glass work continues on The Republic condominiums at Yonge St. and Eglinton Ave. in Toronto. Tridel Corp. has completion of the two-tower project scheduled for late 2011.

February 17, 2010

Construction continues on Legacy at Heron’s Hill condo project in North York, Ontario

Construction is moving along on the Legacy at Heron’s Hill condominium project in North York, Ont. Owner/developer Monarch Corp. has completion for the 25-storey, 254-unit project — which includes a five-storey podium with 88 units — scheduled for late 2010.

February 17, 2010

Construction could lead British Columbia out of recession

B.C.’s construction industry is predicted to lead the charge out of the province’s worst recession since 1982.

February 17, 2010

Ontario Power Generation announces plans to refurbish Darlington nuclear station

Ontario Power Generation announced Tuesday that it will spend $300 million to keep the Pickering nuclear station open for another decade before it's mothballed, and will spend an undisclosed amount to refurbish the Darlington nuclear station.

February 17, 2010

Ontario electrical industry reaches agreement for labour peace

Ontario electrical employers and employees have strongly supported a joint proposal that ensures the renewal of upcoming collective bargaining negotiations procedures without a work stoppage.

February 17, 2010

Finland OKs Baltic natural gas pipeline

Finnish environmental officials have given permission for a Baltic natural gas pipeline, paving the way for construction of the US$10.6 billion project between Russia and Germany.

February 16, 2010

New Toronto Construction Association chair sees a growing role for lawyers

During the course of a legal career that has spanned two decades, newly elected Toronto Construction Association (TCA) chairman Glenn Ackerley has seen his fair share of change.

February 16, 2010

Ontario Electrical League accuses safety councils of union bias

The terms of reference for new Infrastructure Health and Safety Association advisory councils contain a union bias in worker representation, states the Ontario Electrical League (OEL).

February 16, 2010

Saskatchewan gets new natural gas trades training centre

A new natural gas trades training centre has been established through a unique partnership between the Mechanical Contractors Association of Saskatchewan (MCAS) and SaskEnergy.

February 16, 2010

Construction continues on York Region police facility in Aurora, Ontario

Work continues on the York Region Police Investigative Services and Support Services facility in Aurora, Ont. General contractor Bondfield Construction Co. Ltd. has completion of the four-storey project scheduled for late 2010.

February 16, 2010

Glass installation continues at iLoft condo in Toronto

Glass installation moves along at the iLoft condominiums on Legion Road North in Toronto. Toddglen Construction Co. Ltd. is construction manager of the 28-storey, 230-unit project, which includes an exercise room, pool/sauna, squash courts and a party room.

February 16, 2010

Conference Board public-private partnerships report is biased, flawed, labour says

A recent study by the Conference Board of Canada on public-private partnerships (P3s) is seriously flawed and biased, according to some critics of this procurement method.