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Professional Development/Skills Training

May 22, 2013

Hiring of foreign workers for hospital project outrages union

A construction union leader is accusing an Edmonton-based contractor of importing foreign workers to a hospital jobsite in Winnipeg without meeting the federal government's requirements to advertise in the local market and ensuring to Canadians are available to do the work.

May 22, 2013

Festival of Architecture hits Halifax

Architects from across Canada are poised to converge in Halifax June 5 to 8 for this year's Festival of Architecture.

May 20, 2013

Worker at centre of union sign up allegations speaks out

The man targeted by allegations from the open shop contractors association that an electricians' union is signing up apprentices at the B.C. Institute of Technology says the story is a complete fabrication and is demanding an apology.

May 20, 2013

Construction Learning Forum aims to educate

The Vancouver Regional Construction Association (VRCA) is hosting its second annual Construction Learning Forum in Whistler, B.C.

May 20, 2013

Industry reacts to surprise B.C. Liberal majority

Many in B.C.'s construction industry are ecstatic about the election of the provincial Liberal Party, as they foresee stable public capital investment over the next four years, but some are concerned about a shortage of skilled labour on major development projects.

May 20, 2013

Lower Mainland high school trades program is unique

On Vancouver's east side, the Tupper Tech high school program is moving Grade 12 students into the trades in a unique way.

May 20, 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 to transition military veterans into civilian construction careers.

May 20, 2013

Industrial construction supervisor program takes off

In the past, there was no way for industrial construction contractors to know whether their foremen had any kind of training, standard education or certification, according to Peter Pilarski, vice president for southern Alberta for the Merit Contractors Association.

May 20, 2013

Essential skills can play a vital role in an apprentices' success

An apprentice's essential Skill level has a critical role in determining his or her success in the trades.

May 20, 2013

Feds pledge $5 million for Vimy memorial

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 20, 2013

Keyano College building state of the art training facility

Keyano College's Oilsands Power & Process Engineering Lab is not just another post-secondary institute, but a state-of-the-art cogeneration lab replicating real world industrial technologies in the classroom.

May 20, 2013

Calgary program aims to get more people into the trades

New Canadians and Aboriginals are launching careers in trades, with help from a training program by Momentum in Calgary, Alberta.

May 15, 2013

Journal of Commerce Update for the week of May 20th, 2013

In this week's update, we look at some of the stories we'll be covering in the Journal of Commerce for the week of May 20th, 2013.

May 15, 2013

Union threatens to sue over apprentice sign up allegations

The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) in B.C. is threatening to take legal action against the local open shop contractors association for making accusations that the union is signing up apprentices in classrooms at a publicly-funded technical institute.

May 15, 2013

Nominations open for Leaders 2013

Who do you think is leading the way in Canadian construction?

May 15, 2013

Wood looking up in B.C. and Canada

Just as the 12th to 15th contemporary tall wood buildings are nearing completion in Milan, Italy, Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) is throwing its support behind this important global initiative here at home.

May 13, 2013

Allegations of students signing union cards refuted

The B.C. Institute of Technology (BCIT) is denying allegations by the local open shop contractors association that the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) is being allowed to sign up apprentices in classrooms at the publicly funded school.

May 13, 2013

Manitoba building schools

The Manitoba government is planning the construction of a new school in Winnipeg's South Pointe area, as well as an expansion in St. Boniface. Budget 2013 and the Manitoba Building and Renewal Plan include funds to secure the land and finalize designs for an early learning to Grade 8 school in the growing Waverley West neighbourhood.

May 13, 2013

Building infrastructure boosts the economy

The B.C. Road Builders and Heavy Construction Association believes that infrastructure development is the key to growing our economy and for providing a better future for British Columbians.

May 13, 2013

Foreign worker program changes concern the 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 13, 2013

Piping trades recruitment

The United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipefitting Industry of the United States and Canada (UA) is launching a national marketing campaign to recruit 25,000 skilled piping trade professionals over the next five years.

May 13, 2013

VIDEO: Adrian Dix and Christy Clark talk to industry leaders at BCCA Construction Summit

On January 25th, 2013 the British Columbia Construction Association held a "Construction Summit" for B.C. industry leaders in Vancouver featuring a Q&A with both BC Premier and Liberal Party leader Christy Clark and B.C. NDP leader Adrian Dix.

May 8, 2013

NDP victory won't change everything

"Goodness gracious me," said Henny-penny, "The sky's a-going to fall; I must go and tell the king."

May 8, 2013

Infrastructure spending may be best way to ensure training

Some industry leaders believe the most effective boost the federal government budget initiatives can give Canada's apprentice training system is ensuring there is work and finding new means of helping apprentices complete their journey person status.

May 8, 2013

Alberta announces a slew of school construction projects

The Government of Alberta is moving forward with construction of 24 new schools and several modernization projects across the province.

May 8, 2013

Journal of Commerce Update for the week of May 13th, 2013

In this week's update, we look at some of the stories we'll be covering in the Journal of Commerce for the week of May 13th, 2013.

May 8, 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.

May 8, 2013

Union threatens legal action over allegations of signing apprentices at BCIT

The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) in B.C. is threatening to take legal action against the local open shop contractors association for making accusations that the union is signing up apprentices in classrooms at a publicly-funded technical institute.

May 6, 2013

B.C. hosts launch of NAOSH week

Across B.C., Canada, and North America, workplaces will be marking North American Occupational Safety & Health (NAOSH) Week, May 5-11, with events, competitions, and public awareness campaigns.

May 6, 2013

NDP victory would bring risks for industry

What's at risk when British Columbians head to the polls May 14 is the progress the construction industry and open shop have built over the past 12 years.

May 6, 2013

Industry reacts to foreign worker program changes

Canadian union leaders say reforms to the Temporary Foreign Worker (TFW) Program highlight the need for full involvement of all stakeholders in the consultation process, but some are concerned the changes will harm the construction industry.

May 6, 2013

Manitoba unveils its new safety plan

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

May 6, 2013

Open shop opposes apprenticeship quotas for public projects

Open shop associations in Western Canada don't want to see mandatory or prescriptive quotas for apprentices imposed on government contracts, whether they are provincial or federal.

May 1, 2013

Feds start consulting 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

Possible project labour agreements a concern to open shop

The open shop contractors association in B.C. is concerned an New Democratic Party (NDP) government will use project labour agreements to allow trade unions to dominate major public sector construction projects, but others argue this view is nonsense.

April 29, 2013

Risk management is critical for success

Who is best qualified to manage the risk on major capital projects?

April 29, 2013

New student residences to take shape in Regina

The construction of a new $73.7 million residence for students at the University of Regina is scheduled to begin this spring, but current financing doesn't cover the cost of the project.

April 29, 2013

Canada lends a hand for Afghan hospital project

The Bamyan Provincial Hospital project in Afghanistan is entering the next stage after holding a foundation-laying ceremony recently.

April 29, 2013

Grand Prairie dinosaur museum back on track

The construction of the Philip J. Currie Dinosaur Museum in the County of Grande Prairie is moving forward with the help of the local council, after the project's tendering process was delayed due to a budget shortfall.

April 24, 2013

B.C. union leaders meet with Royal Bank CEO

B.C. trade union leaders met recently in Vancouver with the head of the Royal Bank of Canada to discuss their threat to withdraw pension funds over the practice of outsourcing and the use of temporary foreign workers (TFWs) to replace Canadians.

April 24, 2013

B.C. NDP unveil apprenticeship training platform

The B.C. New Democratic Party (NDP) is promising to invest millions of dollars in skills training and the apprenticeship system as the provincial election campaign gets underway, but critics say the plan will only increase the skilled labour shortage.

April 24, 2013

Feds unveil eligible occupations for new immigration stream

Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) has released a list of priority occupations that are eligible to immigrate to Canada under the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP). This list includes several new construction occupations.

April 22, 2013

Manitoba budget slightly increases capital spending

The Manitoba Budget 2013 will change balanced budget legislation to increase the provincial sales tax (PST), in order to boost spending on critical infrastructure including flood prevention measures.

April 22, 2013

Labour market opinions under scrutiny

A labour group is calling for a review of a federal program designed to help employers quickly hire temporary foreign workers for high-skill jobs.