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Professional Development/Skills Training

May 27, 2013

Opposition tackle Harper government on lack of youth employment

Whether jobs are created or lost on any given month, the one constant in Canada’s post-recession employment record has been that for young people, the news has always been bad.

May 24, 2013

Prompt payment bill headed to committee

In what is being billed as a win-win for the province’s construction industry, landmark prompt payment legislation has been tabled at Queen’s Park.

May 24, 2013

George Brown College building named after Tridel CEO

George Brown College's construction management school will be named the Angelo Del Zotto School of Construction Management after the chief executive officer and chairman of the Tridel Group of Companies and Tridel Corporation which pledged a $3 million gift to the college's Success at Work fundraising campaign.

May 23, 2013

Future tradespeople put to the test

The chair of the Council of Ontario Construction Associations (COCA) said it is “thrilling” to see what the students and young apprentices accomplish at the annual Ontario Technological Skills Competition (OTSC).

May 22, 2013

New ETFO headquarters a benchmark design

The Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario (ETFO) has set a benchmark in sustainable design with its recently completed headquarters.

May 22, 2013

Trying to define the “lowest price”

As we all know the “lowest price” at the start of each project is sometimes very different at the end of the project.

May 21, 2013

Multi-employer approach needed in apprenticeships

A multi-employer approach to apprenticeship training results in higher apprenticeship completion rates, according to a new study commissioned by the Ontario Construction Secretariat (OCS).

May 17, 2013

Provinces need to loosen up apprenticeship rules

Provinces that want to encourage more workers to enter into the trades should allow companies to hire more apprentices as strict regulations act as barriers to entry, concludes a new report by the C.D. Howe Institute.

May 17, 2013

Vimy Ridge memorial gets new visitor centre

The federal government has set aside $5 million to help in the construction of a permanent visitor centre at the Canadian war memorial in Vimy, France.

May 16, 2013

Clarity for voluntary trades and OCOT membership

Voluntary trades workers do not have to be members of the Ontario College of Trades (OCOT) if they received their Certificate of Qualification (C of Q) prior to April 8, 2013.

May 16, 2013

Ontario prompt payment bill to get second reading today

In what is being billed as a win-win for the province’s construction industry, landmark prompt payment legislation has been tabled at Queen’s Park.

May 16, 2013

Partnership will streamline apprenticeship program in Atlantic Canada

A new regional approach to apprenticeship will create greater mobility and a stronger labour force in Atlantic Canada.

May 15, 2013

Goderich Carpenters’ union help train Habitat project trades

Pass by the site of a 1,200-square-foot house being built this summer in Goderich, Ont. by Habitat for Humanity and you might notice something different: the volunteer corps constructing the house is made up of women.

May 15, 2013

OCOT has been extremely open and transparent, says Dillon

I am writing in response to the March 19 contributed column entitled “Stopping the trades tax necessary, says Thurston,” in the Daily Commercial News.

May 14, 2013

Architecture festival hits Halifax in June

Architects from across Canada are poised to converge in Halifax June 5 to 8 for this year’s Festival of Architecture. The event is being hosted by Architecture Canada/Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (RAIC) in partnership with the Nova Scotia Association of Architects (NSAA).

May 14, 2013

Value of buildings permits up for third straight month in March: StatsCan

Building permits in Canada rose 8.6 per cent in March, beating expectations, but economists say the gains were driven mostly by demand for new institutional buildings.

May 14, 2013

Veterans battle barriers into the trades

Creating a link between military qualifications and provincial apprenticeship requirements is one of the ways Helmets to Hardhats Canada (H2HC) is trying transition military veterans into civilian construction careers.

May 14, 2013

U.S. unemployment reaches five-year low

The unemployment rate for construction workers in the United States fell to the lowest April level in five years as contractors added more than 150,000 employees in the past year despite a dip in employment last month, according to an analysis of new government data by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials noted that, despite the monthly drop, the industry is likely to continue adding jobs for much of 2013.

May 13, 2013

U of T selects architects to design engineering and entrepreneurship building

The University of Toronto has chosen Toronto-based Montgomery Sisam Architects (MSA) and U.K.-based Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios as the architects for the 15,000-square-metre Centre for Engineering Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CEIE).

May 13, 2013

Sudbury Construction Association’s voice strengthens

For a number of years, the Sudbury Construction Association (SCA) was one of the best-kept secrets in town.

May 10, 2013

CVC recognized for engineering excellence

Credit Valley Conservation (CVC) and partners’ innovative stormwater management retrofit project at Elm Drive in Mississauga was recognized with an engineering award of excellence during the 11th annual Consulting Engineers of Ontario (CEO) awards gala.

May 10, 2013

Nominations open for The Leaders 2013

Who do you think is leading the way in Canadian construction? Nominations are now open for which companies we could feature in our 2013 edition of The Leaders and Reed Construction Data (RCD) would like to hear from you. The Leaders is now entering its seventh year in its current format and nominations run through the month of May.

May 9, 2013

Construction cautious on 2013 Ontario budget

The Ontario government’s plan to make a significant investment toward public infrastructure has left industry leaders cautiously positive.

May 9, 2013

Construction begins on O-Train expansion

Construction of the $59-million O-Train Service Expansion Project has officially begun in Ottawa, temporarily shutting down service to complete major upgrades.

May 9, 2013

Cross-laminated timber first in Ottawa

In what is thought to be the first such commercial installation in the city of Ottawa, cross-laminated timber (CLT) is being utilized on a Playvalue Toys warehouse/retail facility.

May 3, 2013

Non-residential construction up to $12.4 billion: StatsCan

Investment in non-residential building construction grew to $12.4 billion in the first quarter, up one per cent from the previous quarter, led by higher spending in the commercial and industrial sectors, reports Statistics Canada.

May 3, 2013

Federal labour tool changes a concern, says CCA

Changes to the federal Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) and the Labour Market Opinion (LMO) program will “significantly impair” the construction industry’s ability to fill the increased demand for construction services across the country, says the Canadian Construction Association (CCA).

May 3, 2013

First-ever hot mix Roads Scholars awards in Ontario presented

The Ontario Hot Mix Producers Association (OHMPA) handed out awards for its first annual Roads Scholars program to six college students who exemplified leadership in their programs and displayed interest in the asphalt paving industry.

May 3, 2013

Fake P.E.I. newscasts used to attract labour

How to attract young people to careers in the building trades is a perplexing problem facing many construction trade groups. The PEI Residential Construction Sector Council has come up with an unusual approach — one that is bound to catch the attention of many of the island province’s youth.

May 2, 2013

Ontario unveils $295 million Youth Jobs Strategy

Core to Ontario’s 2013 budget is a $295 million Youth Jobs Strategy designed to drive employment among 15 to 24 year olds in the province.

May 2, 2013

Construction asks: How much for infrastructure?

Despite encouraging talk from the Ontario government about the importance of sustained infrastructure investment, construction industry leaders are waiting to see how the numbers break down in today’s budget before they get their hopes up.

May 2, 2013

Ontario rolls out economic revival plan, deficit at $11.7 billion

Ontario will eliminate this year’s projected $11.7 billion deficit in five years and a six-part economic renewal plan will help reach that goal and drive job creation, stated the province’s finance minister.

May 2, 2013

$13.5 billion for infrastructure in 2013 Ontario budget

The Ontario government has reaffirmed in its 2013 budget its commitment to building and improving roads, transit and municipal projects by investing $13.5 billion in infrastructure.

May 2, 2013

Ontario 2013 budget by the numbers

The 2013 Ontario budget projects an $11.7 billion deficit for 2013-14 however the province has confirmed its commitment of $35 billion over three years for infrastructure. Charles Sousa, Ontario’s finance minister, stated that in order for the province to grow its competitive edge it will need to invest in infrastructure.

May 1, 2013

Manitoba unveils new strategic plan to improve workplace safety

Manitoba has a new five-year strategic plan to prevent workplace injury and illness that includes doubling the funding for prevention services.

May 1, 2013

Canadian government set to hold consultations on Canada Job Grant

The federal government has launched consultations on the Canada Job Grant, an initiative announced in the recent budget that is meant to transform the way Canadians receive skills training.

April 30, 2013

Gold Seal certification turns 20

Gold Seal certification of construction management professionals has lasted for 20 years, in part, because it is a program built by the industry for the industry, says a former committee chair.