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General and Trade Contracting

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 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 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 21, 2013

New Perspective

Family-run Pianosi Development Corp. has broken ground on the estimated $50 million first phase (at right) of the Perspective condominium development at Scarlett Road and Eglinton Avenue West in Etobicoke.

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

Building Up On Bayview

Construction progresses on the Blythwood at Huntington Condominiums Phase One on Bayview Avenue in Toronto.

May 16, 2013

Streamlined standards a focus for CIPH and MCAC in Ottawa

Anti-counterfeiting issues and streamlining of industry standards in North America were front and centre on the agenda when the Canadian Institute of Plumbing & Heating (CIPH) and the Mechanical Contractors Association of Canada (MCAC) met recently with federal politicians.

May 16, 2013

St. Marys Cement Inc. fined $75,000

St. Marys Cement Inc. of Toronto has been fined $75,000 and a supervisor was fined $3,000 for violations of the Occupational Health and Safety Act after a worker was injured.

May 16, 2013

Resurgent United States housing market impacted by lack of qualified workers

The resurgent U.S. housing market has sent builders calling again for Richard Vap, who owns a drywall installation company. Vap would love to help. And he would if he could hire enough qualified people.

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

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

Deltera continues work on Hullmark Centre in Toronto

Glass work is progressing on the Hullmark Corporate Centre in North York, Ont.

May 16, 2013

Double Duty

Construction gets closer to the top floor of the second tower at Electric City Phase 1 and 2 condominiums in Toronto, Ont.

May 15, 2013

Who’s on Three?

Workers install precast panels at the Cranbrooke Village condominium project at Bathurst Street and Lawrence Avenue in Toronto, Ont.

May 15, 2013

Breaking Hearts in Windsor

Jim Lyons, executive director, Windsor Construction Association (WCA) and his three daughters entered as a team in the Heartbreaker Challenge in Windsor recently.

May 15, 2013

Newspaper building converted for original builder’s new offices

What goes around comes around.

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 14, 2013

Heron Hill Hoist

A concrete bucket rises up at the Yorkland at Heron’s Hill condominium project in North York, Ont.

May 14, 2013

Alliance contracting and construction projects

In the world of government procurement today, buyers who frequently hear the terms “alliance contracting”, “strategic alliance arrangements” and “industry alliance programs” must wonder what those terms mean and how the ideas that they represent can be put to use.

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

Workin’ on the Five

Work is progressing on the Five Condos project at 5 St. Joseph St. in Toronto, Ont. Graywood Developments Ltd. along with 5SJ Construction Management have completion of the 48-storey, 539-unit project with top two floors for mechanical room scheduled for spring 2015.

May 13, 2013

Hockey legend Jean Beliveau surprised to hear his name dragged into Quebec corruption inquiry

Montreal Canadiens great Jean Beliveau was surprised to hear his name come up on May 1 during the Quebec construction corruption inquiry testimony of a crooked political organizer who shmoozed celebrities.

May 13, 2013

USW makes Bangladesh donation

The United Steelworkers (USW) is donating $15,000 to aid the workers and their families who were affected by a factory building collapse in Bangladesh.

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 13, 2013

PCL Constructors works on Humber River Regional Hospital in Toronto

Work is moving along at the Humber River Regional Hospital’s new acute care complex in Toronto, Ont.

May 10, 2013

Tower Hill unveils 56-storey condo tower project

Tower Hill Development Corp. has unveiled plans for a 56-storey modernist condominium tower in midtown Toronto that it says will transform the district with its “stunning, cantilevered” terrace design. A date has not been set for groundbreaking.

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 9, 2013

Keep an eye out for mandatory requirements

Many times contractors will get disqualified by missing one of the mandatory requirements set out in the procurement documents.

May 9, 2013

Dominus continues construction of Pier 27 Condominiums in Toronto

Construction progresses on the Pier 27 Condominiums phases one and two in Toronto, Ont.

May 9, 2013

New Merit Canada focus on open tenders

Merit Canada has launched a new website and advertising campaign as part of its fight to require open tendering on public projects in all Canadian jurisdictions.

May 7, 2013

Address on the Corner

Construction is ongoing for The Address at High Park condominiums on Bloor St. W. in Toronto, Ont.

May 6, 2013

Using niche markets to develop Sudbury’s condominiums

The condo market is growing in Sudbury — and in some instances it is being developed in unusual places. Take the city’s old General Hospital as an example.

May 6, 2013

Ottawa Convention Centre wins top award from CEO

Consulting Engineers of Ontario (CEO) has recognized outstanding contributions by the industry to the social, economic and environmental quality of life in Ontario in its 2013 awards.

May 3, 2013

Bird Construction works on Berczy condos in Toronto

Exterior work continues on the Berczy condos on Front Street in Toronto, Ont. Owner Concert Properties Ltd. and general contractor Bird Construction Company have completion of the 13-storey, 166-unit project designed to meet LEED Gold certification mid-2013.

May 3, 2013

Dominus continues construction on 57-storey L Tower condos in Toronto

Glass installation nears the top floor of the L Tower condominium on Front Street in Toronto, Ont. Dominus Construction Group Ltd. is construction manager of the 57-storey, 600-suite project with a fitness centre, spa, indoor pool and adjacent underground parking.

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

Day of Mourning about reflection

About 150 people from a variety of professions and trades, including Carpenters’ Local 27, attended the Day of Mourning ceremonies at the memorial in front of the Woodbridge Pool and Memorial Arena recently.

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.

May 1, 2013

Alberta labour group calls for probe into construction industry donations

A union group and opposition political parties want a review of donations to the Alberta Progressive Conservative party by a coalition of construction companies seeking changes to labour laws.

May 1, 2013

On the Trowel

A worker smooths concrete at the Goldring Centre for High Performance Sport at the University of Toronto St. George Campus.

April 30, 2013

Construction continues on York Harbour Club Condos in Toronto

Concrete trucks are lined up at the York Harbour Club Condominiums on Bastion Street in Toronto, Ont.

April 29, 2013

Waste Diversion Act fails Ontarians, say stakeholders

Ontario’s current Waste Diversion Act (WDA) lacks accountability, transparency, oversight, and effective enforcement mechanisms, say the Recycling Council of Ontario (RCO) and the Ontario Waste Management Association (OWMA).

April 29, 2013

Muskrat Falls project receives Moody’s AAA credit rating

The financing of the Muskrat Falls hydroelectric development in Labrador has received a AAA credit rating from Moody’s Investors Services.

April 29, 2013

CIPH and MCAC join forces for a day on Parliament Hill

The Canadian Institute of Plumbing & Heating (CIPH) and the Mechanical Contractors Association of Canada (MCAC) are joining forces to host an inaugural Day on the Hill in Ottawa April 30. Meetings are being lined up with members of Parliament as well as senators.

April 29, 2013

Key Quebec corruption inquiry witness once courted for Montreal mayor job

As Quebec’s corruption inquiry awaits to hear from ex-Montreal mayor Gerald Tremblay, his former right-hand man explained he never wanted the top job in his final day on the stand.

April 29, 2013

Tucker Hi-Rise continues work on X2 Condos in Toronto

Construction is moving upwards at the X2 Condos in Toronto, Ont. Tucker Hi-Rise Construction Inc. is construction manager of the 49-storey, 560-unit project that will include fitness facilities, a library and lounge, a pool, retail space and six levels of underground parking.

April 29, 2013

Nova Scotia biomass plant expected to produce power next month, says utility

Construction is now complete on $183-million biomass-fueled plant in Cape Breton, which is expected to start generating electricity next month.

April 26, 2013

Direct push drills expand soil remediation options on projects

The science of environmental soil sampling and remediation spurred demand for a whole new set of tools. Geoprobe Systems of Salina, Kansas entered that market in 1987, with a series of small profile direct push drill rigs that provided an alternative to augers. Today the drills perform tasks that range from soil sampling, to direct injection of soil remediation chemicals such as oxidizers, and complex analyses of groundwater systems and contaminants.

April 25, 2013

Darcon works on Liberty Development World on Yonge project in Thornhill, Ontario

A worker assists a hoist at the World on Yonge residential and commercial development at Yonge Street and Steeles Avenue in Thornhill, Ont.

April 25, 2013

A Tasty Project

Construction is moving along for the Design Build of Whitby Phase 3 Expansion - Durham College Centre for Food in Whitby, Ont.

April 25, 2013

Gifts are fine if you follow the rules, Zampino tells inquiry

The City of Montreal’s former No. 2 admits he accepted gifts from businessmen and says there’s nothing wrong with that as long as no rules are broken.

April 25, 2013

Ontario toxic exposure rule upgrades anticipated

The Ontario Ministry of Labour is considering upgrading the rules and guidelines for exposure to toxic substances on construction and demolition sites.

April 25, 2013

Engineering focus in revamped Federal Skilled Worker Program

Foreign engineering managers, civil engineers and mechanical engineers are among those that will qualify for the revamped Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) when it re-opens on May 4.

April 25, 2013

Workplace safety a year long priority

Though the National Day of Mourning is held on April 28, the Infrastructure Health & Safety Association (IHSA) hopes that workers will keep the message of safety and prevention with them all year long.

April 24, 2013

Zampino proud of municipal record, corruption inquiry hears

A former influential Montreal politician called to testify at Quebec’s corruption inquiry is defending his appearance at the wedding of a mobster’s son in 1991.

April 24, 2013

Windsor university steel collapse investigation

Tacoma Engineers of Guelph, Ont. is continuing an investigation of the partial collapse of the steel skeleton of the University of Windsor’s new Innovation Centre.

April 24, 2013

Construction a buyers’ market, says Russ

With bidders’ lists getting longer and contract terms becoming increasingly onerous, it’s “clearly” a buyers’ market in the province’s construction sector, says insurance industry veteran Gerry Russ, the Toronto-based managing director at Marsh Canada Ltd.

April 23, 2013