Author: Russell Hixson

Key Takeaways:

• New solar projects secured by PCL this year exceed $1 billion in value.
• Due to high demand for solar projects, PCL plans to expand its Solar Division team by 25% this year.
• 2023 also saw PCL hit a new record of surpassing 4 gigawatts contracted.

The Whole Story:

PCL Construction has secured more than $1 billion in new solar projects for 2023.

The general contractor announced its new solar division, PCL Solar, late last year. Its base is in Toronto with satellite offices in strategic centres across the U.S. and Australia.

“This year, we officially surpassed 4 gigawatts contracted – marking a new record for the company,” said Andrew Moles, general manager of PCL’s Solar Division. “It’s an exciting time for PCL Solar. This growth reflects the increased demand for renewable energy projects across the world.”

To date, the company has completed nearly 60 solar projects, supplying enough clean energy to power more than half a million average homes and businesses across North America and Australia. 

The projects include Travers Solar, which not only represents the largest solar project in Canada to date but also the first of PCL Solar’s projects to surpass 1 million megawatt hours of production. In 16 months, the project has also offset more than 472,000 tons of greenhouse gas emissions.

PCL Solar stated that it believes the following recent project wins along with other promising projects on the horizon will help the company more than double its impact of powering homes and businesses across three countries in the coming years:

• Peacock: 150-megawatt photovoltaic power station located in Taft, San Patricio County, Texas.

• Azalea Springs: 180-megawatt photovoltaic solar energy installation in Angelina County, Texas.

• Clearview: 145-megawatt solar project in Adams Township in Champaign County, Ohio.

• Goose Prairie: 80-megawatt solar photovoltaic project located in Yakima County, Wash.

• Spring Coulee: 30-megawatt solar facility located in Cardston County, Alta.

• Homestead: 400-megawatt photovoltaic solar energy installation in Claresholm, Alta.

• Stubbo Solar: 400-megawatt solar energy facility located in Gulgong, New South Wales, Australia.

• Gunsynd: 94-megawatt solar farm located in Southwest Queensland, Australia.

PCL Solar also has its sights set on growing Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) opportunities. From increasing global renewable energy demands due to the United States Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and Canada’s Clean Energy Investment Tax Credit, BESS is also on the rise. PCL noted that BESS provides critical infrastructure support by storing energy that can then be deployed at peak times when the grid is experiencing high demand.

With PCL Solar’s growing portfolio comes the additional need for employees.

“We plan to expand our team by 25% this year to support our projects and increase our capacity for future years,” said Rodolfo Bitar, manager of strategic initiatives for PCL Solar.

Jeevan Kalanithi, CEO and co-founder of OpenSpace AI, has seen artificial intelligence grow from a small, emerging field of technology into a powerhouse set to disrupt countless global industries. We spoke with the San Francisco-based tech entrepreneur about how he has seen the field of AI change and what areas of construction it could disrupt.

Be sure to catch Kalanithi and other industry experts in Vancouver, B.C. for the 2023 Independent Contractors and Businesses Association (ICBA) Construction Innovation Summit on Oct. 30th and 31st.

SiteNews: What is OpenSpace?

Jeevan Kalanithi: OpenSpace exists to simplify the lives of builders and what we do is pretty straightforward. Our core capture product makes it really easy to have a full visual record of any space, indoors or out. Think of it like Google Street View. You can image it as much as you want to, every day or every week, so you can see what is there without having to physically be there. And you can see what was there yesterday, a week ago, two weeks ago, five years ago. And the point of it is very simple. We want to create a record of what is actually happening on a job site. You don’t have to wonder what is there and you can replace the opinions, memories and really laborious workflows. Think of any RFI or change order issue, if you could just look and see what’s there you could resolve it in seconds instead of with a mountain of paperwork. What we built on top of it are AI-powered tools to understand what is actually in that imagery and reality data, and then classify and quantify it. We call it OpenSpace Track and with it can do things like tell you how much drywall you’ve hung versus taped versus framing and compute the percent complete and tell you if you are ahead of schedule or behind. You can start to really answer those productivity questions that are really at the heart of what builders do.

How did you get involved with AI?

AI was something I’d been interested in since college really. I did a degree called symbolic systems that was unique to where I went to undergrad. Think of it as a very technical cognitive science major. I did two concentrations, on in philosophy and the other was artificial intelligence. Then I went to graduate school and further pursued studies in artificial intelligence. So I have been doing AI stuff academically since college and, entrepreneurially, I have been applying these techniques to buildings since before OpenSpace. 

What are some misconceptions people have about AI?

First, AI is not just one thing. The way we think about it today is this text-based, generative AI system where you put text in and you get a bunch of text out or an image or something. But AI was a term coined in the 50s. Back in undergrad I took a class from a guy named John McCarthy, one of the “fathers” of AI. And in grad school I had one with Marvin Minsky, the other “father” of AI. It was pretty cool to see what those guys were working on. It was totally different stuff actually than what you see today. If you even go back and think about robotics and autonomy, that’s AI too. And it’s what has powered self-driving cars. Here in San Francisco, they work and I routinely take them around town. But that’s pretty different than generative AI. Even further back to the systems that beat Garry Kasparov at chess. Those were a totally different flavour of AI. It’s not just one thing and the different sub-branches will that different applications for builders. The second misconception is that these systems think like human beings do. They don’t really. The latest AI systems don’t really. One way of thinking about it is that they don’t know what they are talking about. They give very knowledgeable and cogent responses but it’s not clear that they have a deeper conceptual understanding of what they are talking about. The third misconception is that we have a good understanding of how these technologies will influence how we live and work. We don’t. These things are going to evolve in ways that are shocking and surprising and that we can’t even think of today. 

How might these emerging technologies change how we build things?

I think architecture is going to change a lot and engineering too with generative design. These systems are getting really good at taking plainly spoken parameters and turning them into designs. So these armies of junior architects doing detail work, that might go away. It would be great. It would empower architects to do the more creative design work that we actually want them to be doing. I also think there will be applications for robotics on the job site to help alleviate labour shortages, but I don’t think it’s going to be “Terminator” robots building the way people are building. They will just look like tools that are a bit more autonomous. Think about the evolution from hammer to nail gun. That was a big deal. Using a hammer is pretty annoying if you are used to a nail gun. I think these robotic solutions will feel that way. It’s not going to be doing general purpose things, it will be specific. I also think the ability to have a clear, indisputable record of the project to make decisions is going to get a lot better. Computer vision and AI is going to allow us to not need to go to these job sites and make reports. We can have the answer at our fingertips no matter where we are. I think this will really change how labour is distributed. And by labour I mean both white collar jobs and people actually doing the building. Lastly, and I think this will be pretty transformative, I think the amount of paperwork has a chance to go down significantly. Because so much of the reporting and paperwork in construction is based on trying to have an accurate record of what’s there. Think of RFIs as an example of that. AI has the opportunity to put real data at people’s fingertips and get rid of a lot of that unnecessary paper pushing. I think that will change a lot of roles for people who have construction management degrees. They will be able to spend more time out in the field helping get things built. It may even help us contract differently. There could be less need to divy up the risk into buckets. You could have an AI-powered transparency layer that can more effectively allow people to prove their work and share the risk. 

How has AI changed and evolved over the years?

When I was studying AI in college, some of its true pioneers were there. It really was the cutting edge at that time. But AI at that time was very much about rules-based logic systems, like a system that can do logical proofs was what people thought of as being AI. That changed a lot once I got to grad school. The focus was really on machine learning or statistical methods. It’s just about recognizing patterns. The math of that was different and it was also enabled by the amount of data generated by the internet. So you could actually start training these pattern recognition systems in a way that wasn’t practical in the 80s and 90s. I remember my first neural network I built as an undergrad. It sounds amazing but it was just a classroom assignment. It was able to recognize pictures of letters and classify them as an “A” a “B” or a “C” and so on and classify it. The level of sophistication for that vs. what I did in grad school vs. what we are doing now is almost the difference between a single celled organism and a tiger. The amount of change is absolutely insane and I would say that the biggest change between grad school and now is the amount of computing power we can dedicate to AI problems now would have been ridiculous and impractical even 10 or 15 years ago. So a lot of the methods and math that people knew about back then was just theoretical. But now you can actually build a system that does that. The amount of data these systems can consume and the amount of computing power we can devote to them was unimaginable even a few years ago. That’s creating huge unlocks where you can create systems with unbelievable sophistication that wouldn’t have been practical even two or three years ago. 

How can builders prepare for the changes AI could bring?

Focus on your business and the actual problems you want to solve. There is so much BS and snake oil out there, which is true of so many industries, including technology ones. Don’t be afraid to focus on your issues and don’t worry too much about missing the boat. Second, pay attention to the more tech-interested folks on your team and see what they are messing around with. That doesn’t mean they will be right about everything but they can be your antennae to hear what’s out there. You don’t need to be going to computer vision conferences yourself. Reading is good. Subscribe to the MIT Technology review. It is written in plain english and has great articles in it. It gives you a sense of what is going on. Thirdly, don’t be afraid to experiment with new things, especially things your team is bringing to you. Give it a shot and see if it actually helps you. Lastly, see what your competitors are doing. You don’t need to be an expert in AI. You are an expert builder. That is what you should focus on and why you are awesome for society. You don’t need to try everything, just things that help you run your business more effectively.

Get tickets to see Kalanithi and other cutting edge construction leaders at the ICBA Construction Innovation Summit here.

This year’s Top 40 Under 40 in Canadian Construction didn’t just showcase some of most accomplished young leaders in the industry. It highlighted some of the incredible women who are helping build some of the country’s largest projects. In fact, 25% of the whole list was women — even more than last year’s list.

As an industry, construction has long sought to increase diversity. According to the latest data from BuildForce Canada, the entire Canadian construction industry includes 12.8% women. To celebrate Women’s History Month we wanted to introduce you to all the female leaders who made the 40 Under 40 List.

Allison Hurley

Director, Design Build (Civil) at EllisDon

Allison Hurley first joined EllisDon as a co-op student in 2010 and has worked her way up by excelling in several positions requiring multidisciplinary leadership, including project coordinator, bid manager, and business development manager. She has been instrumental in a series of successes for EllisDon, from building the company’s reputation in the B.C. market to shepherding successful bids for a wide variety of big-ticket civil projects in Ontario and Quebec. Her educational background is equally diverse. Having earned an honours degree in applied bio-molecular science from Lakehead University and an MBA from Vancouver Island University, and increased her industry knowledge with construction related courses. Hurley also finds time for mentoring, volunteering, contributing to industry groups, and sharing knowledge on new contracting models.

Annik Forristal

Equity Partner and Co-Group Head, National Infrastructure and Construction Group at McMillan LLP

Annik Forristal was an engineer before she became a lawyer, giving her unique perspectives for construction clients. Her clients include Rogers Stadium Limited Partnership (renovation of Rogers Centre) and The Hospital for Sick Children (including its Project Horizon campus redevelopment). Forristal also worked with the Ontario Association of Architects to update their standard form contracts. Recognized by multiple organizations as one of Canada’s leading construction and infrastructure lawyers, she also received McMillan’s in-house Leadership in Mentoring Award. 

Cheryl Labiris

Lawyer at Singleton Urquhart Reynolds Vogel LLP

As a lawyer with Singleton Urquhart Reynolds Vogel LLP in Toronto, Labiris has been using her legal talent to assist some of the country’s largest construction projects. She has been involved in several successful, nine-figure settlement negotiations, and co-led the negotiation and settlement process in relation to resolving over 100 discrete claims totaling over $1 billion. ​​She is also part of Canadian legal history with her involvement in the first-ever COVID-19 application in North America. With Labiris’ assistance, Singleton Reynolds was successful in overturning the contractor’s successful COVID-19 application at the Ontario Court of Appeal, which involved the declaration that COVID-19 was an emergency, and that the owner directed the contractor to perform additional and overriding procedures.

Laura Samson

Director of Infrastructure at Calgary Airport Authority

Earlier this year, Laura Samson made history by becoming the first female director of infrastructure under 40 at The Calgary Airport Authority. Her journey at YYC began in 2013 as a project coordinator.  Alongside her team, she spearheads terminal construction, airside construction and tenant development at both the YYC and YBW airports. This year her team is leading the delivery of 35 capital and 182 tenant projects. This includes the rehabilitation of Canada’s second longest runway, YYC’s West Runway, a $201 million, five-year project from design to completion. Through these projects, Samson’s commitment to sustainability has led to the implementation of sustainable construction practices and pursuit of cutting-edge technologies.

Lauren Cooper

Senior Project Manager at Ledcor Construction Ltd.

Lauren Cooper has taken on many challenging projects during her 11 years in the construction industry. Starting with project managing a 10-million-dollar facility at the Calgary Airport as a student intern, she has overcome everything from COVID-induced delays to poor site conditions to deliver for clients. Taking on increasingly challenging and larger projects, she is now working on a unique multi-hundred-million-dollar tower in downtown Kelowna, B.C. as one of Ledcor’s youngest senior project managers. Outside the job site, Cooper keeps busy organizing and supporting many communities through charity fundraising events.

Lesley Whitten

Operations Manager – Canada at Todd and Sargent, Canada, ULC

With over 17 years of experience in the construction industry, Lesley Whitten has an impressive track record that includes leading project management, field operations, engineering and construction on multimillion-dollar grain handling, fertilizer and processing facilities in Western Canada. Whitten brings a passion for construction execution as she leads the operations for all of Todd & Sargent in Canada, a key and critical player in agricultural industrial construction. Whitten is passionate about the connection between the field staff and the office staff, believing that the key to a successful project is having close connections between the two. Her leadership skills are not only based on experience, but her ability to influence people around her to develop their own soft skills including intuition, conflict management, negotiation and relationship building with the consistent goal of achieving win-win outcomes.

Maraika De Groot

Director of Operations at Maven Consulting Ltd.

Maraika De Groot excels at many things, but perhaps her greatest skill is getting other people to do the same. In addition to leading safety services and project delivery accounts for several clients, she hired 60% of Maven’s workforce in just three years, and her efforts to develop its corporate culture have resulted in multiple “Best Place to Work” awards. She began her career as a geological engineer and has business operations experience in various industries including academia and finance. All of these elements have made her a well-rounded leader with a penchant for recruiting quality applicants, then helping them to fully harness their talents. In addition to her engineering degree, De Groot also holds a masters in management, innovation and entrepreneurship, and her industry and volunteering credits are too numerous to list.

Sarah Haque

Senior Manager, Talent Development & Total Rewards at FLINT Corp.

Joining FLINT in 2013 as a recruitment administrator and quickly growing into a management position, Sarah Haque is a trailblazing human resources professional whose acumen and leadership have helped FLINT successfully navigate a series of high-profile advancements fostering the company’s growth. Haque led the integration of more than 700 new personnel during company acquisitions and has made a tangible impact on retention of certain trade positions by pioneering an apprenticeship program with targeted incentives. Sarah’s influence expanded through the introduction of a company-wide competency framework to improve staff development and implementing efficiencies in the human resources function through the enterprise system. Through Haque’s success in delivering on initiatives to support FLINT’s objectives, she is engaged by all levels of the company for input into strategic objectives.

Sharelle Dayco

Director of People and Culture at Novacom Building Partners

Sharelle Dayco embarked on her professional journey as an educator but has since dedicated the past 18 years to the world of construction. Her pivotal role at Novacom has been to develop a highly skilled team while fostering a people-centric culture, something that the company says has been instrumental in driving its success and creating a thriving work environment. Beyond her professional achievements, Dayco’s unwavering commitment extends to philanthropic endeavours. She contributes her time and effort to Women in Construction events, building homes in El Salvador, and lending her support to initiatives addressing housing challenges in Canada. Dayco is a strong advocate for fair and equitable hiring practices, particularly in championing the cause of underrepresented groups in the workforce.

Tamara Gavrilenko

Owner/President at TGV Construction Group Inc.

It would be impressive enough if Tamara Gavrilenko simply found success in a project management position at EllisDon where she assisted with applying prefabrication methods to long-term care projects. Instead, she has gone much further, founding and running TGV Construction Group Inc. Over the years she has worked to grow her business into a multi-million-dollar company, expanding it from a focus on emergency restoration to offering general contracting services. She also uses her business to benefit the community, and strongly advocates for underrepresented groups in the construction sector.

Editor’s note: See the full list of 40 Under 40 winners here.

Key Takeaways:

• Three teams have been shortlisted to submit proposals for the competitive selection process to enter into a Design Early Works Agreement for the project.
• The province expects to have a team chosen by spring 2024.
• The $4.15-billion project is being procured through a Progressive Design-Build with Target Price model. Officials say this approach allows design to progress concurrently with the environmental assessment.

The Whole Story:

The Massey Tunnel Replacement is one step closer to getting shovels in the ground.  

Three bid teams have been invited to participate in the next phase of procurement for the replacement of the George Massey Tunnel with a new toll-free, eight-lane tunnel along Highway 99 between Richmond and Delta.

“We are moving ahead on delivering improvements for the thousands of people who rely on this crossing each day and for better goods movement across the region,” said Rob Fleming, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure. “Advancing the new tunnel will also increase trade to the United States and support a vital link to Vancouver International Airport.”

The teams invited to submit proposals for the competitive selection process to enter into a Design Early Works Agreement with the province are:

Cross Fraser Partnership

• Bouygues Construction Canada Inc.
• Fomento de Construcciones y Contratas Canada Ltd.
• Pomerleau BC Inc.
• Arcadis Canada Inc.
• Boskalis Canada Dredging and Marine Services Ltd.

Daewoo-GS JV

• Daewoo Engineering and Construction Co., Ltd.
• GS Engineering and Construction Corp.
• Hatch Ltd.
• Ramboll A/S

Fraser River Tunnel Constructors

• Acciona Infrastructure Canada Inc.
• Aecon Constructions
• Flatiron Constructors Canada Limited
• Strukton Immersion Projects B.V.
• AECOM Canada Ltd.
• Tunnel Engineering Consultants VOF

Following the evaluation of submissions to the request for proposals, the province will choose the project’s design-build team. It is anticipated the team will be on board in spring 2024.

Concurrent with procurement, the Fraser River Tunnel Project continues to work its way through the B.C.’s environmental assessment process. The project received its readiness decision in September 2023.

The new crossing will be an eight-lane immersed tube tunnel with three general-purpose travel lanes and a dedicated transit lane in each direction. The new tunnel will also feature a separate multi-use path to support pedestrians, cyclists and other active transportation options.

The project also includes replacing the existing Deas Slough Bridge and the addition of a southbound general-purpose lane on Highway 99 between Westminster Highway and Steveston Highway in Richmond.

With the new tunnel and approaches in place, travel is expected to flow at 80 kilometres per hour, unlike the current average of 30 km/h.

Construction of a new five-lane Steveston Interchange is underway and on track for completion in 2025. Cycling and transit improvements along the corridor, including an extension of bus-on-shoulder lanes south of the existing tunnel, are nearing completion.

The Fraser River Tunnel Project is being procured through a Progressive Design-Build with Target Price model. Officials say this approach allows design to progress concurrently with the environmental assessment. The estimated cost of the project is $4.15 billion.

Key Takeaways:

• Umicore is proceeding with the first phase of the project, which is worth $2.1 billion.
• The facility will manufacture cathode active materials (CAM) and precursor cathode active materials (pCAM), critical components for producing electric vehicle (EV) batteries.
• Together, the federal government and Ontario are contributing $975 million for the project.
• Work is expected to begin later this year and commissioning is expected to occur in 2025.

The Whole Story:

Umicore is proceeding with the construction of a $2.1 billion battery materials production plant in Ontario. 

The full $2.7 billion project will be executed in multiple stages. Umicore announced it will proceed with the first $2.1 billion stage, of which $1.8 billion is capital expenditures. It will create a battery materials production capacity of 35 GWh annually.

Umicore stated that combining the production of precursor (pCAM) and CAM, the most critical components for a rechargeable battery’s performance, the production facility will complete the missing link in North America’s EV battery value chain, from natural resources to EVs. The plant will be fully equipped to produce advanced high-nickel technologies and is prepared for future battery chemistries, including manganese-rich HLM and solid-state batteries.

The engineering and permitting process is ongoing and Umicore expects to begin construction on the 350-acre plot of land later this year. The plant is expected to be commissioned at the end of 2025.

The project will receive substantial support from the government. Based on the full scope of the envisioned project, the Government of Canada is contributing up to $551.3 million, while Ontario is supporting the project with up to $424.6 million.

“Umicore is proud and delighted with the unwavering support and financial backing of Canada and Ontario. Their readiness to co-fund our investment coupled with the announcement of our first customer contract for the Loyalist plant mean we can forge ahead with the construction,” said Mathias Miedreich, CEO of Umicore. “We are committed to being a reliable transformation partner for the automotive and battery industry and a trustworthy neighbor for the communities in Ontario.”

The project site is located at about 25 km from Kingston in Loyalist . Umicore says this puts it at the heart of Canada’s automotive technology cluster. They added that Its location offers critical advantages such as customer proximity, access to a highly skilled workforce, key infrastructure and renewable energy.

The company stated that the plant’s production will be carbon neutral from the start using renewable energy only. During the construction phase, the plant is expected to generate approximately 1,000 employment opportunities, while several hundred highly skilled positions will be created in operations. 

“Umicore’s investment represents another strong vote of confidence in our rapidly growing electric vehicle and battery supply chain,” said Ontario Premier Doug Ford. “Together, with our government, industry and labour partners, we’re putting our auto sector back on the map, attracting billions of dollars in new investments, creating thousands of new good-paying jobs and ensuring the cars of the future will be made in Ontario, from start to finish.”

Key Takeaways:

• The fifth Woodrise International Congress will take place Sept. 22-26 in Vancouver in 2025.
• This year’s congress is taking place in Bordeaux, France and has 3000 participants from 20 different countries.
• FPInnovations will serve as the Canadian organizer for the 2025 event.

The Whole Story:

The world’s mass timber community is coming to B.C. 

Global experts in mid- and high-rise timber construction will gather in Vancouver from Sept. 22-26, 2025, for the fifth Woodrise International Congress.

Started in 2017, Woodrise brings diverse stakeholders together around a shared goal of low-carbon construction and sustainable cities.

“I am proud that Vancouver will host Woodrise 2025. B.C.’s entrepreneurs and construction industry professionals are excited to showcase their work and our local talent,” said Premier David Eby. “Our province is a leader in wood and mass-timber construction. This is a perfect match between event and location.”

Officials noted that per capita, B.C. has 11 times more mass-timber buildings than the rest of North America and is a leader in wood and mass-timber construction. In addition, Vancouver is a centre for North America’s leading timber design and engineering professionals.

“Mass timber is a strong, clean building technology that is at the centre of our province’s future construction blueprint,” said Brenda Bailey, minister of jobs, economic development and innovation. “Through our Mass Timber Action Plan, the B.C. government, First Nations and industry are taking a leadership role in wood construction.”

FPInnovations is part of the international Woodrise organizing committee, along with FCBA, a technological institute dedicated to promoting the forest and wood products sector in France, and the Japan International Association for the Industry of Building and Housing. As the Canadian organizer of Woodrise, FPInnovations is a private non-profit organization specializing in the creation of solutions that support the global competitiveness of the Canadian forest sector.

FPInnovations’ team of researchers has produced numerous guides and reference tools that have helped evolve building standards in Canada and around the world in recent years. FPInnovations has research and development laboratories in Quebec City, Montreal and Vancouver, and technology-transfer offices across Canada.

“Canada has a rich portfolio of projects in the field of mid- and high-rise timber construction,” said Stéphane Renou, CEO, FPInnovations. “The construction of the Brock Commons Tallwood House building, an innovative 18-storey hybrid building, which was the tallest mass-timber building in the world, was the just the beginning of innovative leadership for B.C. in the mass-timber industry.”

It is not the first time Canada has hosted. The conference was held in Quebec City in 2019.

Construction workers on B.C. job sites will soon be getting upgraded bathrooms.

Premier David Eby announced his government will be bringing in a legal requirement for flush toilets on all construction sites with 25 workers or more.

The move comes after years of pressure from groups like the BC Building Trades.

“The ability to go to a clean bathroom with a flushing toilet is a basic requirement for a decent job site,” said Eby. “Thank you to the [BC Building Trades] for their advocacy on this issue. Current conditions are unacceptable and we will take action on that.”

I’ve been at a lot of jobs where the washrooms are so bad that you just have to hold it. Being forced to use porta-potties is degrading and dehumanizing.

Peter White, ironworker

The union group published its first report on job site bathroom sanitary conditions in 2021. It examined the existing approaches used by employers in providing washrooms to workers on B.C. construction sites, and the governing regulatory framework under the Workers Compensation Act and the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation (OHSR) together with the related guidelines.

Following the report, WorkSafeBC conducted a washroom facility inspection initiative. Additionally, WorkSafeBC has issued an updated guideline on construction site washroom facilities pertaining to maintenance. 

“Enough is enough. Nearly every other industry from film to events and tourism has found a way to bring clean, flushing toilet facilities to mobile sites,” said Brynn Bourke, BC Building Trades executive director, just days before the announcement. “Construction workers deserve flush toilets now.”

Job site bathrooms have been a major issue in other provinces as well. 

In 2015, Quebec passed an amendment to the Construction Code, addressing the requirement for flushed toilets for construction sites where there are or will be more that 25 workers. The Code also includes specifications covering the following: one toilet for every 30 workers, portable washrooms will only be used where flushed toilets cannot be connected to a water or sewer system, they must be within 500 feet of the worksite and have specific levels of maintenance, lighting, location, temperature, ventilation, supplies and general cleanliness.

Porta-potties make you feel like a second-class citizen. Office workers wouldn’t accept these kinds of conditions.

Matt Baron, electrician

According to the BC Building trades, in practice, contractors use toilet trailers or single units where connection to the sewer system is not possible. Both options allow users to activate a flushing system with a foot pedal. They also provide for hand washing stations in the unit and overhead lighting. Many include heating as well. 

In 2022, the Building and Construction Trades Council of Ontario passed a resolution calling for a Canada-wide washroom improvement program. In response, the province embarked on a bathroom inspection blitz at more than 1,800 locations that uncovered 244 violations.

Ontario introduced the following requirements that went into effect this summer:

• Doubling the number of washrooms on construction sites
• At least one female-only bathroom
• Adequate lighting stipulations
• Hand sanitizer where there is no running water
• Single toilets to be completely enclosed
• Repair for urinals and facilities, including additional sinks

Key Takeaways:

• Vancouver is looking to speed up development processes with digital tools.
• Last month they launched the interactive digital Project Requirement Exploration Tool (PRET) and its first iteration is streamlining laneway home development.
• Vancouver is also asking the province for statutory changes to simplify procedural requirements for rezoning so more projects may proceed without the need for rezoning.  

The Whole Story:

The city of Vancouver is looking to streamline laneway home construction. 

Last month the city launched the interactive digital Project Requirement Exploration Tool (PRET), which allows applicants to research and understand all regulations and requirements associated with their site. 

The first iteration of PRET’s digital features helps applicants in residential, single-family zones explore if a laneway house is allowed on the property, identify required permits and determine if construction of their laneway is feasible, all before they submit an application. PRET helps applicants ensure their projects are consistent with zoning requirements, which officials say will significantly reduce the time required to process and issue those permits. 

“We’re proud to unveil a digital permitting tool to simplify, speed up and modernize permitting,” said Mayor Ken Sim. “By launching the PRET for laneway homes we are taking an important step, bringing us closer to the 3-3-3-1 goals for permitting approval timelines and meeting the provincial housing targets, underscoring our all-hands-on-deck approach to getting homes built faster.” 

As part of the launch process, the city invited frequent laneway house applicants to evaluate the interactive technology and provide feedback. Participants commended how the tool’s eligibility check and tailored list of required documents supported them in submitting complete permit applications.

“We are grateful to industry members who took part in testing the Project Requirements Exploration Tool (PRET),” said Andrea Law, general manager, development, buildings and licensing. “The City will continue to work with residents and businesses as we evolve PRET to include more project types in more zones in Vancouver.”

Upcoming improvements to Vancouver permitting in the near term include:

• Expanding PRET to include more project types and areas in Vancouver.
• Expanding the fast-track renovation permits to include commercial renovations. 
• Further simplifying land use policies and guidelines, and recommending council revoke several existing land use policies.
• Eliminating a significant number of additional development permit conditions.
• Expanding the auto-issuance of some sprinkler permits online.  

In addition to this work, the city is advocating to the province for statutory changes to simplify procedural requirements for rezoning so more projects may proceed without the need for rezoning.  

This year’s best and brightest young construction leaders have been announced for the Top 40 Under 40 in Canadian Construction, now in its fourth year.

To view winners and learn their stories visit our 40 Under 40 winner list.

The annual list is a collaboration between On-Site Magazine, a publication that covers Canada’s construction sector and SitePartners, a marketing firm that specializes in industrial clients. The winners were chosen by a panel of judges based on professional achievements, innovation, leadership and community involvement.

This year’s list featured professionals from companies like PCL Construction, Kiewit, EllisDon, Pomerleau, Aecon Group, Graham, Deloitte and more. The winners included lawyers, human resource experts, engineers, project managers, supervisors, contract specialists, entrepreneurs, apprenticeship trainers and others.  

We are so proud of the men and women who are becoming the next generation of construction leaders. They represent some of the incredible opportunities this industry has to offer and we want to make sure that their achievements don’t go unnoticed.

Andrew Hansen, CEO and Founder of SitePartners

Russell Hixson, editor of SiteNews, assisted in judging the competition. He noted that it was encouraging to see diversity not only in the career paths of applicants, but in their backgrounds as well. 

“Construction is for everyone,” said Hixson. “It was amazing to see so many women, immigrants and other diverse professionals reaching some of the highest levels in their respective fields. I hope that this inspires other underrepresented groups to consider a career in the industry.”

Key Takeaways:

• The court found that the law grants the federal government powers that allow it to go beyond the bounds of its jurisdiction as laid out in the Constitution.
• Alberta and industry groups celebrated it as a win for Canadian workers and the economy. 
• Government officials said they accept the ruling and will work quickly to improve the legislation through Parliament.

The Whole Story:

The Supreme Court has ruled that the Impact Assessment Act, which grants Ottawa powers to approve or block major energy or infrastructure projects, is unconstitutional. 

The act, which went into effect in 2019, granted federal officials the ability to determine if projects were in the best interest of the country by taking into account their positive or negative impacts on the environment, economics, health, Indigenous groups and society. 

“Environmental protection remains one of today’s most pressing challenges, and Parliament has the power to enact a scheme of environmental assessment to meet this challenge,” the court said in the ruling. “But Parliament also has the duty to act within the enduring division of powers framework laid out in the Constitution.”

The 5-2 ruling determined that the law granted the federal government power to permanently halt projects for reasons that go outside the bounds of federal jurisdiction, calling it “an unconstitutional arrogation of power by Parliament.”

The two dissenting justices wrote that the environment is complex and shared responsibility in Canada, involving various levels of government. They argued that this approach recognizes overlapping powers and emphasizes cooperation. They argued that legislation should be interpreted with respect for constitutional limits, and courts should favor statutes enacted by both federal and provincial governments. 

“This shared responsibility is neither unusual nor unworkable in a federal state such as Canada,” they wrote. “Rather, it reflects the Court’s flexible approach to federalism.”

After it was passed, the law was soon challenged by the Alberta government, with former Alberta Premier called it the “No More Pipelines Act”. The province’s top court determined it was unconstitutional and requested that the Supreme Court take a look. The morning of the ruling, Premier Danielle Smith and Minister of Justice Mickey Amery issued a joint statement applauding the deicision and lamenting the opportunities the act halted. 

“This legislation is already responsible for the loss of tens of billions in investment as well as thousands of jobs across many provinces and economic sectors,” they said. “The ruling today represents an opportunity for all provinces to stop that bleeding and begin the process of reattracting those investments and jobs into our economies.”

Smith and Amery added that the decision is also a massive win for the protection of sovereign provincial rights under the Constitution.

“The federal government, through passage of Bill C-69, and continuing now with their proposed electricity regulations and oil and gas emissions cap, is blatantly attempting to erode and emasculate the rights and authorities of provinces as an equal order of government under the Canadian Constitution,” they said. 

Some construction groups also celebrated the ruling. The Independent Contractors and Businesses Association (ICBA), which supported Alberta as an intervenor in the case, called it an unequivocal victory for Canada’s economy and workers.

“We are thrilled with this decision and what it means for Canadian workers, their families, and everyone who stands to benefit from Canada’s responsibly-produced natural resources during a global energy crisis,” said Mike Martens, president of ICBA Alberta. “The ill-advised and heavy-handed Impact Assessment Act damaged Canada’s economy, prosperity, and the families that depended on it, driving away investment and creating uncertainty. It has been tossed in the trash can, where it belongs.”

Martens added that the group felt it was important to add the voice of Alberta’s construction and resource workers to the province’s case.

“It would have been irresponsible to simply sit on the sidelines and hope for the best in something as damaging to the economic prosperity of Canada as this Act was,” he said. 

According to an analysis from the Canada West Foundation, 25 proponents have submitted projects for review under the new regime since it came into force less than four years ago. All of these projects remain in the first two phases of a four-step process, noted Martens. 

At a press conference, Environment and Climate Change Minister Steven Guilbeault said the federal government accepts the ruling and acknowledged the bill needs to be “tightened.”

“We will now take this back and work quickly to improve the legislation through Parliament,” Guilbeault said. “We will continue to build on 50 years of federal leadership in impact assessment.”

Key Takeaways:

• The plan will fast track 2,600 housing units over the next three years.
• Halifax will make sweeping changes that relax zoning requirements, speed up permitting and encourage pre-approved building plans. 
• The plan is expected to generate 8,866 new homes over the next decade.

The Whole Story:

The Government of Canada and the Halifax Regional Municipality announced that they have reached an agreement to fast track 2,600 housing units over the next three years. This work is expected to help spur the construction of over 8,866 homes over the next decade.

The agreement, under the Housing Accelerator Fund (HAF) will provide over $79.3 million to eliminate barriers to building housing. Through its Action Plan, Halifax aims to improve permitting processes, reduce upfront costs for permitting and incentivize the use of pre-approved building plans. 

It will also develop an incentive program for conversions from commercial to residential and create incentives for small scale residential. Halifax will also encourage development along transit corridors, expand the current Affordable Housing Grant program, update its heritage preservation policy and resource a program to identify surplus land for affordable housing.

Through the agreement, Halifax will also allow for the construction of four residential units on one lot, increase density and student rentals within walking distance of post-secondary institutions, and create an affordable housing strategy, including a non-market component, with staff dedicated to it. 

Additionally, Halifax has committed to zoning changes that will increase density via greater height, reduced parking requirements and increased as-of-right development approvals. 

The goal of the Housing Accelerator Fund is to cut red tape and fast track at least 100,000 new homes for people across the country. To receive funding, local governments must submit innovative action plans that include accelerating project timelines, allowing increased housing density and encouraging affordable housing units.

“Today’s announcement will help fast track over 2,600 permitted units in the next three years and 8,866 homes over the next decade,” said Sean Fraser, minister of housing. “By working with cities, mayors and all levels of government we are helping to get more homes built for Canadians at prices they can afford.”

Key Takeaways:

• B.C. is working on developing a new digital building permit tool to position it as a North American leader in digital permitting and construction.
• The tool is intended to simplify the submission of building permits, speeding up the approval process and ensuring compliance with the BC Building Code.
• The tool is expected to begin testing in partnership communities by March 2024, with plans to expand its use to other communities. 

The Whole Story:

B.C. is working on a new digital permitting tool to speed up the development of homes. 

“People will soon see new homes approved faster as we make good on our commitment to position B.C. as a North American leader in digital permitting and construction,” said Ravi Kahlon, minister of housing. “We are excited to start work together with our partners to design and then implement this new digital building permit tool, so we can speed up the delivery of new homes and create the types of housing options people need in B.C.”  

Currently, many jurisdictions in B.C. rely on a paper-based application process for new housing developments that leads to delays and slow approval times. The latest municipal benchmarking study commissioned by the Canadian Home Builders’ Association of BC found that it takes on average 13-14 months to approve rezoning and development permits and over 20 months for a subdivision application.

Once completed, the new digital building permit tool is expected to make it faster and simpler for builders and developers to digitally submit building permits for new housing and for local governments to receive and process the application. The tool will also automatically review the submission to ensure it is compliant with key parts of the BC Building Code to prevent any delays with the submission process.

Officials stated that establishing a provincial building permit submission tool is the first step toward a modern housing development process that embraces innovation and digital collaboration technologies like building information modelling (BIM). 

The Ministry of Housing is also working with the National Research Council of Canada to make construction codes machine readable, which will allow for more automated and faster permit reviews in the future.

“A fast, efficient permitting process is key to ensuring infrastructure projects are able to move forward in a timely manner,” said Lisa Beare, minister of citizens’ services. “Citizens’ Services staff are lending their expertise to help develop the new digital permitting tool which will help make this happen.”

The tool is being developed through a pilot partnership between the province, 16 local governments and one First Nations government that will implement the new digital building permit tool. The tool is expected to begin testing in partnership communities by March 2024, following which it will be expanded into other communities.

In addition, the province has also created a new digital advisory council to provide strategic advice. The council will include representatives from 12 leading organizations across the housing development system, such as construction organizations, engineers, architects, local governments and the tech sector. The council will begin regular meetings this fall.

“Digitizing the BC Building Code and building permit processing will help builders more efficiently obtain approvals to deliver the homes and job spaces British Columbians need,” Anne McMullin, president and CEO, Urban Development Institute. “UDI is pleased to participate on the digital advisory council for this pilot partnership and is committed to working with the government on innovative solutions like this.”

These projects follow efforts to digitize the BC Building Code and establish a single-application portal for provincial housing permits and authorizations, which was launched in September 2023. Ministries are working to integrate different types of permits across the housing development process, with a common goal of making permitting processes for housing more transparent and easier for homebuilders and developers to understand how to comply with permit and regulatory requirements.

“This is an important initiative that is designed to help get more housing built faster and to mitigate costs related to delays,” said Tom Dyas, mayor, Kelowna. “The City of Kelowna has been working on a similar system over the past year and is eager to share our learnings as well as learn what else can be done by working collaboratively across governments.” 

Kelowna has partnered with Microsoft to develop AI tools to help developers get through the permitting process faster. 

Ontario’s Greenbelt scandal is unfolding at a rapid pace. But it’s not the only major drama that has emerged from the construction sector and it certainly isn’t the largest. Although, take that with a grain of salt as the criminal investigation has only just begun. In the meantime, check out some the other recent scandals that grabbed headlines across the country.

Winnipeg Police Headquarters 

The city of Winnipeg won a civil case against its former chief administrative officer after accusing him of conspiring with builders to manipulate procurement, drive up costs and get rid of undesirable contractors for the city’s downtown police headquarters project. The court found that Phil Sheegl worked to extend deadlines, lower bonding requirements, leak confidential information and sever a design contract to benefit Caspian Construction. The civil case came following a five-year RCMP investigation into Caspian Construction that resulted in no criminal charges. Despite the long investigation, officials felt there was not enough evidence. Sheegl lost his appeal of the civil case was ordered to pay $1.1 million. Other defendants related to the scandal agreed to settle lawsuits for no less than $21.5 million.   

The SNC-Lavalin corruption case

The scandal involved allegations of corruption, fraud, and bribery related to SNC-Lavalin’s business dealings in Libya. The massive Quebec-based construction and engineering firm was rebranded as AtkinsRéalis this year. It was revealed that the company had allegedly paid bribes to secure contracts in Libya, violating Canadian law. In 2015, the RCMP charged SNC-Lavalin with corruption and fraud in connection with over $48 million in payments to Libyan officials between 2001 and 2011. The Trudeau government faced criticism for attempting to pass legislation that would allow SNC-Lavalin to avoid a criminal trial and instead enter into a deferred prosecution agreement (DPA). The scandal resulted in multiple high-level goverment resignations. The company was found guilty of fraud and corruption after a criminal trial in 2019.

The Charbonneau Commission

The Charbonneau Commission was a Quebec public inquiry established in 2011 to investigate the province’s construction industry after growing concerns of corruption, bid rigging and collusion. The commission found that organized crime groups had infiltrated the construction sector, exerting influence and seeking to profit from corrupt practices. It also highlighted connections between corrupt practices and political financing, suggesting that construction companies made contributions to political parties in exchange for favorable treatment in the awarding of contracts. The commission called for enhanced transparency in public contract awarding, improved regulation and oversight, and establishing measures to prevent corruption and collusion. It’s hard to overstate the impact of the commission. The resulting crackdown was massive, resulting in many arrests and convictions of construction leaders as well as government officials. 

Investors Group Field 

Back in 2011, The NDP approved $160 million in loans to build a new stadium for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. The resulting project has led to lawsuits, allegations of poor construction and millions of dollars in repairs that have taken years. The various parties have argued in court over who is responsible for water damage caused by insufficient drainage in the building, as well as inadequate insulation, widespread cracking in the concrete and dozens of other issues. Following the completion of the project one year later than expected, the province approved $35 million in loans for fixes.  

The McGill University Health Centre

The McGill University Health Centre (MUHC) bribery scandal revolved around the construction of the MUHC, a large healthcare facility in Quebec. The project was estimated to cost over $1 billion and aimed to centralize several hospital facilities into a single state-of-the-art medical complex. SNC-Lavalin (now known as AtkinsRéalis) faced allegations of offering bribes to secure the contract. Arthur Porter, a Montreal doctor and the hospital’s CEO, received more than $22 million in consulting fees from the firm before awarding them the contract. He died of Cancer in a Panama prison while awaiting extradition back to Canada. In total, nine were charged.

Tony Accurso case

A Quebec judge called it one of the worst examples of municipal corruption to ever come before a Canadian court. The case centered on allegations of corruption and collusion in the awarding of public contracts. Construction mogul Tony Accurso was accused of being part of a network of businesspeople who engaged in fraudulent practices, including bid-rigging and bribery, to secure public contracts in the construction sector. The kickback and fraud scheme lasted between 1996 and 2010 and involved former Laval, Que. Mayor Gilles Vaillancourt, who eventually pleaded guilty to fraud-related charges and received a six-year sentence. In 2018, Tony Accurso was found guilty on several charges related to corruption and fraud. He was sentenced to four years in prison. Just this year, his appeal in the case was denied. This is just one of several major cases that stemmed from the Charbonneau Commission crackdown. 

Ontario’s Greenbelt

Ontario’s Greenbelt is a special zone that was created to protect farmland, communities, forests, wetlands and watersheds. It also preserves cultural heritage and supports recreation and tourism in Ontario’s Greater Golden Horseshoe. In an effort to address the province’s growing housing issues, officials decided to open up part of the Greenbelt to development. However, when the dust settled, the auditor general found that the deals were rushed, did not follow proper protocols, heavily favoured a small group of developers and did not consider environmental impacts. The scandal resulted in the resignation of several cabinet members, the deals being reversed and the launch of an investigation by the RCMP. Get a timeline of scandal here.

Alberta is getting its court infrastructure in order with a series of construction projects.

Red Deer is getting a new building with additional courtrooms while Brooks, Hinton and Peace River will see renovations to the existing courthouses to make them more user-friendly and to provide updated security, privacy and accessibility features. 

Red Deer Justice Centre

With an investment of more than $200 million, construction of the new Red Deer Justice Centre is nearing completion. Once finished, it will have 12 courtrooms ready for use, an increase from eight at the current facility. This will allow more cases to be heard at one time so matters can proceed faster. A $200,000 investment in Budget 2023 will support a planning study to build out four additional courtrooms, which, when complete, will bring the total number of courtrooms to 16.

The justice centre will also have spaces for people taking alternative approaches to the traditional courtroom trial process, with three new suites for judicial dispute resolution services, a new Indigenous courtroom with dedicated venting for smudging purposes, and a dedicated suite for alternative dispute resolution services such as family mediation and civil mediation.

Albertans continue to access court services at the existing Red Deer courthouse while the new centre is being built.

“Upgrading our province’s courthouses gives Albertans a more secure and comfortable experience when they need to visit court. By building a new justice centre in Red Deer, we are taking steps to increase capacity in the justice system to keep up with demand,” said Mickey Amery, minister of justice and attorney general

Brooks courthouse

The upgraded Brooks courthouse is fully operational, as renovations were completed in August. 

A $4.6-million investment by Alberta’s government enabled many improvements to the courthouse, including a new public waiting area, vulnerable witness room, holding cells, prisoner dock and other updates. Alberta’s government is also investing in upgrades to courtroom audiovisual equipment at the Brooks courthouse.

Hinton courthouse

Alberta is contributing $2.7 million for accessibility improvements to the Hinton courthouse. Improvements include wider entrances and more accessible handicap buttons at the main entrance and public washrooms, and more space at security screening areas. Renovations began in July and are expected to be complete by the end of the year. In the meantime, Albertans are accessing court services at the nearby Pembina Place building.

Peace River courthouse

To increase accessibility, Alberta is providing $250,000 for a barrier-free access project at the courthouse in Peace River. Operations are expected to continue without disruption during renovations, which will begin next month.

“The Canadian Bar Association – Alberta Branch has long been calling for upgrades to Alberta’s court infrastructure through our Agenda for Justice, including improving courtroom technology to make virtual appearances more widely available, improving physical accessibility to ensure that all Albertans can safely access court facilities, and improving capacity to address our province’s growing population,” said Kyle Kawanami, president, Canadian Bar Association – Alberta Branch. “We are pleased to see these improvements underway, and look forward to continued investments in Alberta’s court infrastructure and modernization.”

The Government of Canada and the city of Hamilton announced that they have reached an agreement to fast track over 2,600 housing units over the next three years. Officials say the work will help spur the construction of over 9,000 homes over the next decade.

The agreement, under the Housing Accelerator Fund (HAF) will provide over $93.5 million to eliminate barriers to building the housing we need, faster. It is the largest agreement so far made with the fund. It will allow for high-density development near rapid transit, including the future Hamilton LRT stations and make city-owned lands and brownfields available for development. 

Hamilton has also committed to expanding as-of-right zoning permission for housing, including amending a zoning by-law to allow for the construction of four residential units on one lot.

The Housing Accelerator Fund asks for innovative action plans from local governments, and once approved, provides upfront funding to ensure the timely building of new homes, as well as additional funds upon delivering results. Local governments are encouraged to think big and be bold in their approaches, which could include accelerating project timelines, allowing increased housing density, and encouraging affordable housing units.

“Today’s announcement will help fast track over 2,600 permitted units in the next three years and 9,000 units over the next decade,” said Sean Fraser, minister of housing. “By working with cities, mayors and all levels of government we are helping to get more homes built for Canadians at prices they can afford.”

Key Takeaways:

• Private sector housing construction is currently at a lower level than during the worst period of the pandemic .
• The Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives says this is due to high interest rates.
• The think tank believes government needs to become more directly involved to address the housing affordability crisis.

The Whole Story:

A new report suggests that high interest rates are stifling home construction in Canada. 

David Macdonald, senior economist with the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, found that private sector housing construction is currently at a lower level than during the worst period of the pandemic economic shutdown when parts of the industry were closed.

According to his report, when compared to April 2020, investments in new single-family homes have dropped by 21%. Row homes have seen an 8% decline, and new apartment construction is down by 2%. 

More notably, compared to February 2022 when the interest rate hikes began, the situation is even worse, with a 36% decrease in single-family home investment, a 27% decline in semi-detached houses, a 2% drop in row home construction, and a 19% decline in apartment buildings.

The Bank of Canada’s estimate suggests that the full impact of rate increases on the housing sector takes approximately two years to materialize, with housing being the primary sector affected by these rate hikes. 

“The Bank of Canada estimates that the worst impacts of rate increases take two years to hit the housing sector and the housing sector is the main vehicle for rate hikes to hit the economy,” wrote Macdonald. “Right now, it has been 18 months since the first rate increases, but most of the bigger rate increases have occurred in the past 12 months—so the worst is yet to come.”

He added that the effectiveness of various government efforts to improve housing supply and affordability is diminishing rapidly, as the construction industry faces a significant decline in investment due to high interest rates. He said this should be a cause for alarm for governments if they are serious about increasing housing supply.

Macdonald argued that in this high-rate environment, governments must reconsider their approach to housing supply as relying on the private sector alone is no longer feasible. 

But Macdonald believes there is a path forward. 

“There is a way out—don’t rely on the private sector to build,” he wrote. “With higher interest rates, governments need to shift focus to filling in for the missing private sector themselves. This isn’t a time for more private incentives—it’s time to get your hands dirty.”

Macdonald called on the federal government to directly build non-market housing, or buy and convert units to non-market rent. He says they could build them directly or provide 0% mortgages to non-profit providers to do it. However, he noted that these are longer term solutions and unfortunately, building takes time. It can easily take ten years from land acquisition to people moving in.

In the shorter term, he offered the following advice:

• Non-profit housing providers and universities/colleges could buy existing for-profit apartments and convert them into non-market buildings with lower rent. 
• Governments could outlaw Airbnb and other short term rental platforms from big cities for five years to provide some breathing room for new builds. 
• Municipalities could implement rapid city-wide upzoning to allow for new builds.

“Governments at all levels have been shouting about the housing crisis, and the need to build new housing supply, but their solutions are stuck in an era when the private sector was actually building homes,” he wrote. “With private sector investments collapsing in housing construction, governments need to fill that gap.”

Key Takeaways:

• The case was referred to the RCMP by the Ontario Provincial Police.
• The investigation comes after several resignations in the Ontario government and a reshuffling of the cabinet.
• Premier Doug Ford apologized for opening up the Greenbelt to development and is in the process of reversing the land swap decision.

The Whole Story:

The RCMP is officially investigating controversial deals to develop parts of Ontario’s Greenbelt. 

“Following a referral from the Ontario Provincial Police, the RCMP O Division’s Sensitive and International Investigations (SII) unit has now launched an investigation into allegations associated to the decision from the Province of Ontario to open parts of the Greenbelt for development,” said officials in a statement. “While we recognize that this investigation is of significant interest to Canadians, the RCMP has a duty to protect the integrity of the investigations that it carries out, in order to ensure that the process leads to a fair and proper outcome. Therefore, no further updates will be provided at this time,”

According to the RCMP, Sensitive and International Investigations (SII) investigate “sensitive, high risk matters that cause significant threats to Canada’s political, economic and social integrity of its institutions across Canada and internationally”. Jurisdiction over offences investigated is not limited by a territory/region but by the nature of the offence.

The investigation comes after months of political turmoil for the province’s leadership. In August Auditor General Bonnie Lysyk released a blistering report that found the Greenbelt deal heavily favoured a small group of developers and did not consider environmental impacts. The report came with a list of recommendations that include revisiting the deal in a way that follows proper procedures.

Weeks later, Integrity Commissioner J. David Wake released his report on the Greenbelt deal, recommending that Housing Minister Steve Clark receive a reprimand for his role in the land swap. Last month, Clark resigned, stating that it was his responsibility to adhere to the principles of ministerial accountability.

MPP and Kaleed Rasheed resigned from Premier Doug Ford’s cabinet after reports emerged of him spending time with developers while on a trip to Las Vegas. Ford also apologized for opening up the Greenbelt to development and announced that he would be reversing the deal. The plan would have taken 3,000 hectares out of the 800,000-hecatare Greenbelt that surrounds the Greater Toronto Area to build housing. 

Struggling to keep up with the Greenbelt saga? The ongoing scandal around Ontario’s land swap has been moving at a furious pace. Here is a timeline of major Greenbelt events going all the way back to 2005 when it was first created.

2005:

• The Greenbelt Plan is officially launched by Premier Dalton McGuinty, designating protected land in Southern Ontario to prevent urban sprawl and promote agricultural and environmental conservation. It establishes the world’s largest Greenbelt, encompassing the Niagara Escarpment, the Oak Ridges Moraine, and nearly one million acres of farmland: “Our government made a choice to preserve greenspace and plan intelligently for growth. This will improve the quality of life for the people of Ontario and make this province the place to be for years to come.” – McGuinty

2006:

• The Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe is introduced to complement the Greenbelt Plan, focusing on urban development, transportation, and infrastructure. Officials noted that the region is a massive economic driver for the province and the country, generating upwards of 25% of Canada’s Gross Domestic Product.

2007:

• The Niagara Escarpment Plan, Canada’s first large-scale environmental land use plan and another component of Ontario’s land use planning framework, is revised to align with the Greenbelt Plan.

2015:

• The Greenbelt is expanded to include additional land in the Lake Simcoe area.

2017:

• The province of Ontario releases the Coordinated Land Use Planning Review, which includes proposed changes to the Greenbelt boundaries.

2018:

• February: The Ontario government, under Premier Doug Ford, announces plans to open up the Greenbelt for development, which sparks controversy and opposition from environmental groups and the public.

• May: After intense public outcry, the Ontario government reverses its decision to open up the Greenbelt for development: “I looked at it as making sure we have more affordable housing. The people have spoken. I’m going to listen to them, they don’t want me to touch the Greenbelt, we won’t touch the Greenbelt.” – Ford

2020:

• The Ontario government releases the final report of the Coordinated Land Use Planning Review, which includes changes to the Greenbelt boundaries, such as minor expansions and adjustments.

2022

• Municipal Affairs and Housing Minister Steve Clark announces plans to cut 7,400 acres in 15 different areas of the Greenbelt to construct 50,000 homes. However, he notes that the province also intends to add 9,400 acres in other areas, in order to build 50,000 homes. It contradicted a pledge he made in 2021 not to open up the Greenbelt “to any kind of development.”

2023:

• August: Auditor General Bonnie Lysyk releases a blistering report that finds the Greenbelt deal heavily favoured a small group of developers and did not consider environmental impacts. The report comes with a list of recommendations that include revisiting the deal in a way that follows proper procedures.
• Premier Doug Ford accepts all recommendations but one, refusing to undo the deal: “I have admitted numerous times that the process could have been a lot better and we are moving on that, but the good news story is that there are going to be 150,000 people with a roof over their heads.” -Ford
• Integrity Commissioner J. David Wake releases his report on the Greenbelt deal, recommending that Housing Minister Steve Clark receive a reprimand for his role in the land swap: “Minister Clark’s lack of oversight led to some developers being alerted to a potential change in the government’s position on the Greenbelt, resulting in their private interests being furthered improperly.” – Wake
• In conducting the inquiry, the commissioner, general counsel and office staff received evidence from 62 witnesses and reviewed more than 2,300 documents.
• The RCMP consider whether or not to investigate the land swap after a referral from provincial police in Ontario.

• September: Facing intense pressure in the fallout of the Wake report, Clark resigns from his position as minister: “As someone who has given my life to serving the people through our democratic institutions, it is my responsibility to adhere to the principles of Ministerial accountability.” – Clark
• Ford reshuffles his cabinet after Clark’s resignation.
• Ford announces a sweeping review of the Greenbelt lands and development applications. The province already has a mandate to review the Greenbelt lands every 10 years. This decision bumps up the mandatory review by two years.
• Ford reverses decision to allow development in the Greenbelt: “I made a promise to you that I wouldn’t touch the Greenbelt. I broke that promise. And for that I am very, very sorry.” – Ford
• Mississauga East-Cooksville MPP Kaleed Rasheed resigns from Ford’s cabinet after reporting shows he spent time with developers while on a trip to Las Vegas.

• October: The RCMP O Division’s Sensitive and International Investigations (SII) officially launches an investigation into the land swap deal after a referral from Ontario Provincial Police.

Key Takeaways:

• Canada is facing a major shortage of construction leaders that is forecast to only get worse. 
• The ICBA’s Construction Leadership Program was created to begin training workers that are on track for leadership roles. 
• The program was designed to be flexible, allowing students to work at their own pace and take courses online or in person. 

The Whole Story:

Skilled construction leaders don’t just walk onto the jobsite or the office. They are built by years of hard work, mentorship and experience.

But with many older workers retiring, Western Canada is facing an unprecedented deficit of these leaders. 

To address this, the Independent Contractors and Businesses Association (ICBA) is offering construction companies a streamlined, a modern solution to train up the next generation: the ICBA Construction Leadership Certificate Program

“There’s a shortage of workers across our entire economy and it’s being acutely felt in construction,” said Chris Gardner, ICBA president. 

He noted that without immigration, B.C.’s population is shrinking. 2022 was the first year the death rate outpaced the birth rate. In construction, you have about 250,000 men and women working in B.C. and the work they do is roughly 10% of the province’s GDP. Across the whole country, the industry is seeing roughly 60,000 to 80,000 job vacancies. But that’s just part of the challenge. The existing construction workforce is aging; roughly 20% of construction professionals are 55 or older. 

“Retirement age is 60 so in the next five years we could have 20% of the workforce retired,” said Gardner. “Combine that with the shortage of workers and you have a dual challenge that’s putting significant pressure on construction.” 

In B.C. and Alberta alone it’s expected that around 100,000 construction professionals will retire within the next five years.

Finding workers

Gardner explained that the issue can be addressed in three main ways: immigration, technology and training. 

While Canada’s population is growing through record numbers of immigrants, students, refugees and temporary foreign workers, only a fraction are entering the construction sector.

“When you look at it from an economic and labour force perspective, government is not doing a good job at matching skills gaps with the economy,” said Gardner. 

On technology, Gardner believes that while construction could adopt it faster and become more efficient at how it builds, it unfairly gets a bad rap for being unsophisticated and slow. 

“In reality, we are probably in the middle of the pack as we perform better than entertainment, education, food services and others who have not been as quick to adopt technology as we have,” he said. “Despite that, we can do a better job.” 

The final piece is education. But even when workers want to improve their skills, it’s a struggle. Gardner noted that while it should take someone 4 years on average to get their Red Seal, in B.C., it often takes 8 to 10. Training spaces often have long wait lists, and many of the training providers are located in the Lower Mainland, making it challenging for those in other parts of the province. 

Streamlining education 

After the issue was raised by ICBA members, the association worked with them to develop the ICBA Construction Leadership Certificate Program. The program offers specialized streams to train Project Estimators, Site Supervisors, and Project Managers so companies can get up-and-coming employees the skills they need for leadership roles. 

The program is tailored for today’s busy construction professionals familiar with digital tools. Students can advance at their own pace and complete the programs online or in person. If time allows, they can be completed in as quickly as six months, or busy students can space things out over several years. 

Participants start with 11 core courses relevant to all streams, and then complete the courses tailored specifically for their career path. The program uses Gold Seal and/or BC Housing-approved course offerings that the construction industry has endorsed.

“A lot of the content and focus was the result of dialogue with construction professionals. We asked them what they are experiencing in their business. And when they think about preparing the company for leadership transition, what skills younger workers will need to assume higher levels of responsibility and leadership,” said Gardner. “We then worked with program and curriculum specialists to make sure these people come out with the practical skills they need to succeed.” 

To get started, participants just have to provide a letter of approval from their ICBA employer and begin the program any time. ICBA members get discounted rates. Courses are pay-as-you-go, scheduled several times a year and the ICBA accepts program applications year-round. 

Creating well-rounded leaders

Gardner explained that the program is perfect for someone in their 20s or 30s who managers believe has leadership potential.

“When they get to their late 30s or 40s and the time comes for them to take on more responsibility, they not only have the practical experience, but they can have training that fills in the gaps,” said Gardner.

He explained that many workers are great with the technical aspects of construction, but the training program can give them other skills that are needed for managing teams, communicating effectively, addressing someone’s mental health struggles, and more. 

“There’s a whole host of soft skills this training involves to help you lead a team, as we know to be an effective leader, you need to understand how to support that team. This is guided by technical expertise and is underpinned by some of those soft skills to ensure well-rounded, capable leadership.”

Learn more about the program and apply for your spot here.