Author: Russell Hixson

Key Takeaways: 

• $1.8 billion in federal and provincial funds combined will go towards creating new housing in Quebec. 
• The contribution corresponds to nearly 23% of $4 billion Housing Accelerator Fund initiative that was launched this summer. 
• The funds are expected to directly create 8,000 social and affordable housing units.
• Quebec has also committed to legislative amendments aimed at speeding up the development process. 

The Whole Story: 

Quebec and the federal government are joining forces to combat the housing crisis.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced an agreement through the Housing Accelerator Fund (HAF), to finance residential projects in the province. Quebec will receive $900 million from Ottawa to get shovels in the ground to create new units.

The contribution corresponds to nearly 23% of the total HAF funding, the aim of which is to add at least 100,000 residential units over and above historical averages across Canada, over four years. 

In its November 7 economic and financial update, the Quebec government announced that it will also invest $900 million, bringing the combined total of the two governments’ contribution to $1.8 billion in new funding for housing construction. This investment is expected to directly create 8,000 social and affordable housing units, 500 of which will be earmarked for clients who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.

Officials say the agreement will result in the creation of tens of thousands of additional housing units over the next few years in Quebec and will encourage regulatory reforms.

“Quebec is resolutely committed to pursuing its efforts to accelerate the construction of residential units in the province, based on the Act respecting land use planning and development and other provisions,” stated a release from the Government of Canada. 

Officials explained that the Quebec government plans to set up an interdepartmental project acceleration unit in co-operation with Quebec municipalities, and will adopt new government policies for land use planning, with housing construction indicators on which municipalities will have to base their targets. 

The province intends to propose legislative amendments – these are currently in the drafting phase and will be subject to adoption by the National Assembly – to improve urban densification and facilitate the authorization of residential building construction.

“We’ve heard Canadians and we’re working hard to build more housing, faster,” said Trudeau. “The agreement announced today is historic and supports Quebec’s efforts to ensure that all Quebecers have a safe and affordable place to live. Together with our provincial and municipal partners, we will continue to cut red tape and build the safe, affordable communities that Canadians need and deserve, from coast to coast to coast.”

Key Takeaways:

• New proposed legislation would require municipalities to designate Transit Oriented Development Areas (TOD Areas) near transit hubs.
• It is expected that approximately 100 TOD Areas will be designated in approximately 30 municipalities throughout B.C. within the first year of the new legislation coming into effect.
• Preliminary analysis indicates B.C. could see approximately 100,000 new units in TOD Areas during the next 10 years.

The Whole Story:

B.C. wants to give transit-oriented development a major boost with new legislation. 

“Building more homes near transit is good for people, communities, and helps make the most of transit, infrastructure and services,” said Ravi Kahlon, minister of housing. “But layers of regulations and outdated rules are stopping this kind of development from becoming a reality in too many municipalities. That’s why we are taking action to remove barriers and deliver more transit-oriented communities, faster.”

The proposed legislation would require municipalities to designate Transit Oriented Development Areas (TOD Areas) near transit hubs. These TOD Areas are defined as land within 800 metres of a rapid transit station (e.g., SkyTrain station) and within 400 metres of a bus exchange where passengers transfer from one route to another (e.g., Newton Bus Exchange in Surrey).

The legislation would build on other work underway to facilitate more transit-oriented development. Earlier this year as part of Budget 2023, the province committed approximately $400 million to deliver thousands of units at or near transit over the next 10 to 15 years by accessing land that is suitable to be acquired near transit hubs and developing it. 

“We’re working to leverage public lands to build more affordable housing in connected, livable communities,” said Rob Fleming, minister of transportation and infrastructure. “This legislation is the next step forward to help remove roadblocks and fast-track more transit-oriented development that works for people in their communities.”

Government officials explained that in some cases in B.C., higher-density neighbourhoods have been established around transit hubs, but in other cases, restrictive zoning bylaws and parking requirements, along with delayed development approvals, continue to slow down the delivery of homes and services near transit hubs. 

In these designated TOD Areas, municipalities will be required to:

• Permit housing developments that meet provincial standards for allowable height and density. The minimum allowable height and density is based on tiers – at its highest in the centre of the TOD Area – and will differ based on the type of transit hub (SkyTrain stop/bus exchange) and a municipality’s size, population and location.
• Remove restrictive parking minimums and allow for parking to be determined by need and demand on a project-by-project basis.
• Utilize standards and details in the provincial policy manual to provide consistency in the approach to developing TOD Areas.

Municipalities will still be able to require builders and developers to add parking to accommodate people living with disabilities. Commercial parking requirements will not be affected within TOD Areas. Builders and developers will be able to build as much parking as desired for a project but will not be required to meet a minimum standard of parking units.

Officials noted that modeling future scenarios cannot account for unforeseen circumstances, the changing nature of housing, real-estate markets and other factors, but preliminary analysis indicates B.C. could see approximately 100,000 new units in TOD Areas during the next 10 years.

To support the legislation, the province plans to create a provincial policy manual to support municipalities with setting their site standards and moving forward with proposed housing projects.

Following the release of regulations and the policy manual in December 2023, the lands that local governments have designated for transit-oriented growth in their official community plans will be immediately captured under the new minimum allowable density requirements included in the legislation.

For the remaining TOD Areas that require local government designation, municipalities will have until June 30, 2024, to designate these areas (pending regulation). It is expected that approximately 100 TOD Areas will be designated in approximately 30 municipalities throughout B.C. within the first year of the new legislation coming into effect.

Where a local government’s current zoning allows for less density than the new provincial minimum, the new increased minimum density must be allowed by the local government. However, local governments can approve higher density at their discretion.

The proposed legislation will advance alongside the proposed small-scale, multi-unit housing legislation (SSMU). Officials noted that while SSMU will add increased density near transit stops, TOD Areas that have higher density will take precedence over SSMU zoning should they overlap.

Construction is dominating Canada’s business scene.

The latest Top Growing Companies list from the Globe and Mail reveals a trend: for the second year in a row, the top spot went to a construction-related company. This sector’s prominence extends throughout the list, with numerous other builders standing out among the 425 top firms.

Our examination centers on the fastest-growing builders, distinct from the engineering, tech, and manufacturing sectors that are also making major strides in Canada’s economy.

Subterra Renewables

Subterra Renewables is an underground underdog that snagged the number one spot as Canada’s fastest growing company. The full-service geothermal drilling provider has over 500 projects completed in multi-res, single family and commercial sectors across Canada and the U.S. Lucie Andlauer, the CEO behind Subterra, has embraced an energy as a service business model that allows developers to install the complete geothermal exchange system at no upfront capital cost. Subterra believes this is the best way to unlock the value of geothermal exchange while mitigating risk. 

HKC Construction 

After more than 10 years in the Greater Toronto Area, HKC is taking off. The contractor tackles commercial, industrial, retail, institutional and other project services. The HKC team attributed their success to three things: putting innovation at the forefront, their culture of excellence and having a customer-centric approach. 

The recognition as the 28th top growing company is a moment of immense pride for the entire HKC Construction team. It validates our efforts, fuels our passion, and motivates us to reach for the stars. We are grateful to our clients, partners, and employees for being a part of this incredible journey.

HKC

Astro Excavating

Sometimes it pays to be a specialist rather than a generalist. Ontario-based Astro chose to go all-in on digging. A quick glance at their project list shows condo after condo, highlighting their role in creating more housing for the Greater Toronto Area. 

Orion Construction 

Orion is no stranger to growth. Last year they took the top spot on the list and are still on an upward trajectory. Helmed by Josh Gaglardi, Orion says that a major part of its success has been mastering the design-build model and assembling a high-quality team.

UTILE

The Quebec-based builder boasts that it is the only social economy organization that specializes in student housing in the province. And UTILE’s approach is paying off, ranking them in the top 100. 

“This recognition is particularly dear to us because it illustrates that with the social economy, it is entirely possible to combine the agility and dynamism generally attributed to the private sector with the achievement of social objectives.”

UTILE

Avana

Based in Saskatchewan, Avana is unapologetically female-led and family-focused. President & CEO of Avana, Jenn Denouden, has been outspoken about her company’s mission to provide affordable housing to women and children, particularly those who are fleeing violence. Since its founding in 2014, Avana has proven that you can prioritize social responsibility and turn a profit. The company says it has more than $400 million in assets under management. It also started the Avana Foundation, which supports a plethora of charities. 

Ace of Decks

Started by 14-year-olds riding bikes with bags of tools, Ace has grown into a premier deck builder in the Montreal area. The team says they can handle anything, from roof top terrasses to small balconies. Their portfolios even showcases bespoke work wrapping decks around trees.

Catanzaro Mechanical

The company was founded in 2017 by Guy Catanzaro to serve the industrial, commercial, and institutional construction sector. It has gone on to become one of the most sought-after mechanical contractors in the Greater Toronto Area.

The Catanzaro name had been well-established within the MEP trades for over 50 years. There isn’t a prominent building in Toronto, that we, as a family, have not serviced”

Guy Catanzaro, President and CEO, Catanzaro Mechanical

Luxton Construction

Luxton Construction is a full-service General Contractor based in Vancouver that offers a diverse range of services including general contracting, design-build, and project management services under a variety of contracting methods. The company says it has rooted its growth in seven core values: safety, environment, quality, honesty/integrity, community, people and clients.

Marlin Spring

Marlin Spring is a fully integrated real estate company that strategically acquires, develops, constructs and repositions assets throughout North America. One of its current Canadian projects is a multi-tower development proposed for Etobicoke that would add more than 1,000 units of housing to the city.

miEnergy

miEnergy is on a mission to turn Canada’s prairies green. The geothermal and solar company specializes in turnkey energy projects for residential and agricultural clients in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. They also are a Certified B Corp, an impressive accomplishment for any company. They are currently the largest renewable energy company in Saskatchewan with over 1,500 systems installed.

Vinland Homes

Custom builds to stock plans, infills, and teardowns — Vinland does it all for those looking for a home in Saskatchewan. Vinland says its professionals work with leading, upscale materials to deliver a finished product that outshines the competition and exceeds industry standards.

Black-hart Construction

Led by Jordan Hart, director of operations, and John Black, director of construction, Black-hart says its steady growth is due to reinvesting in its development by attracting new team members. Based in Oakville, Ont. the company says it also focuses on being at the forefront of technology and project management. The team says it offers meticulous process of design, budget and schedule, and subcontracting.

RITESTART

Established in Ontario in 2015, RITESTART is a general contractor, design-builder and construction manager that specializes in institutional, industrial, and commercial construction projects. The company says one its major values and priorities is strong relationships. So far, they have completed more than $65 million worth of work and it’s their fourth time on the Top Growing Companies list.

Vesta Properties

Vesta is no stranger to accolades. It has been awarded the UDI Awards for Excellence- Best of the Fraser Valley, and Canadian Homebuilder Association of BC – Multi-Family and Single-Family Home Builder of the Year. Many have benefitted from their work. The company has been building since 1989 and has created more than 6,000 homes in Alberta and B.C.

Ehrenburg Homes

While their methods are modern, Ehrenburg has a medieval connection. Ehrenburg Homes was named in homage to Ehrenburg Castle in Germany. The castle, which was built around 1100, still stands today as a testament to the longevity of true craftsmanship. When Joe Ehr founded Ehrenburg Homes in 1983, he wanted to create a company dedicated to providing quality in every aspect of home construction.

In-Depth Contracting

In-Depth Contracting is an Ottawa based heavy civil construction company with more than 20 years of experience in large-scale excavations, watermain and sewer installations, culvert replacements, shoring system installations, demolition, bridge rehabilitation, and paving. Its core values include accountability, engagement, innovation, adaptability, communication and integrity.

Jablonski Electric, Plumbing & Heating

Jablonski has been keeping the lights on and the water flowing for Manitobans since 2012. They specialize in electrical, plumbing, heating and cooling for residential, commercial and industrial clients.

VersaPile

When it comes to helical piles, deep foundation solution suitable for supporting light and heavy structures, VersaPile is crushing it in central Canada. Their team specializes in deep foundations for hydro transmission lines, substations, wireless and telecommunication towers, oil and gas facilities, and pipelines, industrial structures, municipal and government projects, and more. VersaPile is also a Certified Aboriginal Business.

Our whole team is proud to receive recognition for the dedication we bring to work every day. I firmly believe it’s our commitment to shockingly-good service and willingness to disrupt the status quo to achieve better results that has led to our rapid growth. We are honoured to be one of Canada’s Top Growing Companies and look forward to serving more customers as we expand to Southern Ontario.

Stan Higgins, VersaPile Founder

VPAC Construction Group

VPAC has spent the past 20 years honing their design and build skills to deliver a full spectrum of pre-construction and construction management, and general contracting services for commercial, multi-family, and seniors’ housing projects. They also are experts in integrated project delivery. Their team is currently nearing completion on a major redevelopment of the Chain and Forge building on Granville Island in Vancouver.

This accomplishment comes as a testament to VPAC’s 22 years of delivering successful construction projects around British Columbia. We’re proud of our continued growth and would like to thank our incredible team, clients, and partners who have supported us throughout this journey. Together, we’re building a better future, one project at a time.

VPAC

Coffrages Synergy Formwork

Coffrages is not messing around when it comes to formwork. Their team has completed 6,800 projects in eastern Canada. They boast a fleet of 16 natural gas-powered trucks that can make daily deliveries from its prefabrication plants. They manufacture roughly 40,000 square feet of formwork material each week. This gives them the capacity to deliver large-scale projects.

Key Takeaways:

• The developments will be delivered by Canada Lands Company.
• More than half the new homes will be in Ottawa.
• Canada Lands Company is also announcing a new minimum affordable housing target of 20% across projects in its pipeline.

The Whole Story:

Federal properties will soon find a new purpose as homes. 

Ottawa announced that six surplus federal properties will be developed into more than 2,800 new homes in Calgary, Edmonton, and St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador and Ottawa.

By March 2024, Canada Lands Company will help deliver the following surplus federal properties to build more homes for Canadians: 

• Calgary: 516 homes at Currie
• Edmonton: 711 homes, at the Village at Griesbach, including 93 affordable homes
• St. John’s: 34 homes at Pleasantville
• Ottawa: 307 homes at Wateridge Village, 600 homes at Carling Avenue, and 710 homes on Booth Street, including 221 affordable homes

With today’s announcement, Canada Lands Company is now on track to support the construction of more than 29,200 new homes over the next six years.

Canada Lands Company is also announcing a new minimum affordable housing target of 20% across projects in its pipeline. The new affordability requirement would apply where a municipal minimum requirement for affordable housing is lower or does not already exist.

As work continues to identify further assets that can be repurposed for housing, the federal government intends to introduce further measures to speed up this process and to identify more opportunities to build more housing.

“Our government is redoubling our efforts in the face of Canada’s housing crisis on several fronts,” said Jean-Yves Duclos, minister of public services and procurement. “We are accelerating and streamlining the process of converting surplus federal properties into housing, and we are continuing to work with Canada Lands Company to enable the construction of additional housing units. Today’s announcement demonstrates our commitment to helping all Canadians have a safe and affordable place to call home.”

Key Takeaways:

• Calgary is seeing significant year-over-year increases in housing projects values.
• Multi-residential building went up 30% and and secondary suite work increased 80%
• From July to September of 2023, Calgary builders and developers submitted 1,565 single/semi-detached residential, 281 multi-family residential and 543 commercial building permit applications.
• The largest increase in applications for multi-residential building permit applications was seen in the townhouse and rowhouse categories

The Whole Story:

Calgary is seeing massive investment in a variety of residential construction types.

City officials reported that Q3 saw a continued increase year-over-year compared to 2022. Much of this value was driven by an increase in multi-residential buildings and secondary suites with an increase of 30% and 80%, respectively.

“Providing Calgarians with housing options is very important. On Sept. 16, Council approved Home is Here: The City of Calgary’s Housing Strategy, to address the housing crisis. The upward trend in values for multi-residential building and secondary suite construction demonstrates the demand for different housing options,” said Ulrik Seward, manager of business and building safety approvals with development, building and business services. “We will continue to work with the development industry to enable them to provide more affordable homes for everyone.”

From July to September of 2023, Calgary builders and developers submitted 1,565 single/semi-detached residential, 281 multi-family residential and 543 commercial building permit applications. Proposals to redesignate land increased by 80% over the same period last year, with 119 applications submitted. Also, 128 applications to subdivide land were submitted, an increase of 45% during that time.

In new communities, applications for secondary suites are up by 114% over the same period last year, with 762 building permits applied for. In established communities 351 secondary suite building permit applications were received, an increase of 33% compared to Q3 2022.

“The growth in applications for secondary suites across Calgary are for both new builds and existing homes. This has helped us reach over 11,000 safe, registered secondary suites,” said Seward. “This will help us continue to increase the number of available safe and affordable housing options for renters and owners.”

The largest increase in applications for multi-residential building permit applications was seen in the townhouse and rowhouse categories. There has been a year-over-year increase of 35 % for townhouse applications and a 58% increase in rowhouse applications.

The city of Calgary received an overall 5,219 residential building permit applications (which includes, single/semi-detached, multi-family residential, residential improvements and renovation projects) from July to September of 2023, and 1,027 non-residential building permit applications. Year over year, building permit applications were 25 % higher than last year. During that same period construction values increased by 4% from $1.41 billion to $1.46 billion.

“The increase in building permit applications is a testament to our commitment to partnering with the development industry to build a great City,” said Seward. “Over the past several years we have been continuously improving our processes and offering new ways to make it easier for development to take place in Calgary.”

During the third quarter of 2023, the top 10 construction projects listed below were completed. These projects demonstrate a $797.6M investment.

• YYC4 Project Maverick, a 2.6 million square foot Amazon warehouse in East Shepard Industrial, valued at $400M.
• Arris Towers, a 42 storey, multi-residential building providing 500 units in East Village, valued at $131.1M.
• North Calgary High School in Coventry Hills, valued at $52.6M.
• Vivo For Healthier Generations Expansion in Country Hills Village, valued at $42.2M.
• Shawnessy Station, a six storey multi-residential building located in Shawnessy, valued at $38.9M.
• Alt Hotel at University District is a 15-storey hotel with 155 units in University District, valued at $33.2M.
• Saddletowne Circle Multi-Family is a four-storey building with 175 units located in Saddle Ridge, valued at $30.6M.
• Northland Residential Village – South Building and Parkade, which is six-storeys with 113 units, is in Brentwood and valued at $27.1M.
• West District – Block 3 is a five-storey residential building with 78 units in West Springs, valued at $17.9M.
• Nolan Hill Apartments Phase Two Building Four, which is four-storeys with 86 units in Nolan Hill and valued at $16M.

QuadReal Property Group, a global real estate investment, operating and development company headquartered B.C. announced it has acquired the U.S. student housing business of CA Ventures. Under QuadReal’s ownership CA Student Living (CASL) will operate as a new brand, Article Student Living.  

QuadReal first became a real estate partner of CASL in 2017 and has held an indirect passive stake in the business since September 2020.  

“We are thrilled to launch Article Student Living, which represents a key part of QuadReal’s long-term investment strategy in the U.S. Article’s 500 employees are passionate about elevating student living and delivering operational excellence, and we will continue to build on their existing momentum and commitment to bring a best-in-class experience to our residents and partners,” said Dennis Lopez, CEO, QuadReal Property Group. 

QuadReal explained that the full acquisition will enable it to combine capabilities, resources, and best practices and create the leading real estate investment manager dedicated to U.S. student housing.

“We have witnessed firsthand QuadReal’s unwavering commitment to the success of our team since we first partnered,” said Thierry Keable, president, Article Student Living. “Today marks an important milestone in our journey together. Our new brand represents our commitment to deliver quality and strong performance. At Article Student Living, we strive to offer students more than a place to stay. We build and provide vibrant hubs of learning and connection.” 

*Editor’s Note: Contact us at hello@readsitenews.com with your fundraising details so we can add you or your company to the list.

Men’s health issues are construction issues.

More than 86% of the construction workforce is male, making the industry acutely impacted. For many, November is a month to highlight the many struggles men face and raise money to combat them. Many of these efforts are organized by Movember, a leading charity for men’s health. Since 2003, Movember has funded more than 1,250 men’s health projects around the world.

Here’s what men are up against:

• 1 in 9 Canadian men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime
• Testicular cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in young Canadian men
• In 2019, over 3,050 men died by suicide, nearly 59 men per week
• In Canada, 3 out of 4 deaths by suicide are men
• Suicide is the second leading cause of death among Canadian males aged 15–44 years

Canadian builders aren’t sitting idly by. Check out some of the companies and individuals doing their part to raise funds for Movember:

The Canadian Construction Challenge

Before we dive into a few of the companies that are raising funds, it should be noted that dozens and dozens of construction teams are fundraising together in friendly competition, the Canadian Construction Challenge. The challenge consolidates the industry’s fundraising efforts in one place. As of Nov. 7, Canadian construction companies listed had raised a combined $71,317.

Gillam Group

Progressive construction management company Gillam Group has emerged as an early juggernaut for this year’s Movember fundraising efforts. These efforts have been led by Craig Lesurf, Gillam Group president and cancer survivor, who personally has raised more than $11,000.

In most cases, the outcome for men with testicular cancer is positive, but 1 in 20 won’t make it. I’m one of the 19 lucky ones & now 10 + years cancer free. Know the facts and take action early.

Craig Lesurf, Gillam Group President

Ledcor Group of Companies

Ledcor stated that its safety slogan “Think Safety, Work Safely” describes not only what they do, but its values and culture. Their Movember team explained that the company’s most important asset is its people, so they strive to ensure that each and every worker makes it home safely. This includes addressing men’s health issues. This year, Ledcor will match all employee donations up to $50,000.

Ritchie, was a Husband, Father, Brother and Friend. He taught us what it was to be a family and a friend. He was proud to have joined our family, instilling qualities in all of us that we will all cherish. He enjoyed the simple things in life, such as opening presents, puzzles, and yard projects. Island Boy at heart, and craftsman, Ritchie struggled internally with an illness that none of us could see, and we lost him Feb 2017. This charity will be ongoing until there is a cure.

Bryce Borgel, Project Coordinator, Ledcor

Team Cinnamon & Oak

Taylor Smith, pre-con & estimating manager at Tahltan Nation Development Corporation, is continuing his long tradition of organizing friends for Movember fundraising with Team Cinnamon & Oak. Many members have been directly impacted my suicide, cancer and other men’s health issues during the 15 years they have been fundraising.

Each year, Movember becomes more and more personal, and the mission to stop men dying too young gains additional meaning. Just over 2 years ago, my dad was diagnosed and passed away from cancer in a less than 4 month span. I have an uncle who is living with cancer. I have friends, family, and coworkers who have been impacted by prostate and testicular cancer. I’ve worked with and been friends with people who have lost their lives to suicide. Too many lives lost far too soon.

Taylor Smith, Pre-Con & Estimating Manager, Tahltan Nation Development Corporation

Hall Constructors

Hall Constructors, part of the Hall Group of Companies, has come out the gate swinging. Their team has already raised more than $5,000 for men’s health issues. Hall is also helping build the Cowichan Hospital in Duncan, B.C. which is another win for men’s health.

Axiom Builders

Axiom Builders, or should we say Moustaxiom Builders, have come up with a slight rebrand for the month of November. Check out their team and donate here.

My motivation for raising funds for Prostate Cancer is my Father. He lost his battle with prostate cancer in 2019 when the cancer spread from his prostate to the rest of his body. He was pivotal in my life, and I miss him every day. Globally, more than 1.4 million men are diagnosed with prostate cancer each year. Movember is working to reduce the number of deaths from prostate cancer, and I want to help them get there. Help me stop men dying too young.

Ford Chamberlain, Project Manager, Axiom Builders

Graham Construction

Graham’s bearded employees in Winnipeg gathered in the cold earlier this month to reset their beards for Movember. They plan to grow fresh facial hair for the cause and move 60 km for the 60 men who are lost to suicide each year globally. The various Graham teams will be documenting their weekly beard moustache progress to see who can grow theirs the quickest. Which office will take the win?

Pitt Meadows Plumbing & Mechanical

The Pitt Meadows team is in its fourth year raising money for Movember. The company is challenging all its employees team to raise funds during the month of November that will be donated to a charity focused on men’s health. The company noted that men’s health issues are particularly important as approximately 85% of its workforce is male. All donations up to $10,000 will be matched by the company. From 2020 to 2022, the team was able to raise over $72,000.

My Motivation this Movember is my Nephews Kayden and Kohyn. I want them to grow up in a world where men don’t feel uncomfortable talking about their feelings or their health. Where it’s braver to be honest about how you are doing as opposed to hiding it to seem stronger. I love these boys so much and want them to always have the resources for help readily available.

Marisa Anglin, Welder, Pitt Meadows Plumbing & Mechancial

Multiplex

Things are getting fuzzy for Multiplex’s Canadian operations. Terry Olynyk, president and managing director of Canada for the company, announced that the group’s Movember campaign is in full swing. Established in Australia in 1962, Multiplex has delivered more than 1,100 projects with a combined value in excess of US$100 billion.

Fort Modular

Fort Modular is continuing its support of Movember with its own unique fundraiser. In addition to traditional fundraising, the portable building manufacturer has special Movember branded units for rent that support the cause.

JEN-COL Construction

JEN-COL is holding it down in Alberta for Movember. The commercial construction company specializes in building schools and critical public facilities. Support their team here.

To me Movember is a time to remember the men we’ve lost along the way. The men that have struggled with cancer and the terrible affect it has on us physically and mentally. We sometimes forget that it’s ‘OK not to be OK’.

George Legault, IT Manager, JEN-COL Construction

PCL

It’s no surprise that PCL, one of the country’s largest general contractors, is getting in on Movember fundraising efforts. The company, with teams across the nation, has already raised nearly $10,000 but they are looking to raise $50,000 by the end of the month.

My father beat prostate cancer last year. Luckily, we caught it early enough to take action. Unfortunately, in generations before our family wasn’t so lucky. Prostate cancer runs in our family, and I feel the need to encourage my fellow brothers out there to get checked early. We need to break the stigma behind Men’s Health and take action.

Steven Webber, HSE Coordinator at PCL Industrial Management

Vanessa Werden is a partner at construction law firm Jenkins Marzban Logan LLP. Named one of the Top 40 Under 40 in Canadian Construction in 2020, she is licensed to practice in B.C., Alberta, the Northwest Territories, and Ontario. Earlier this year she was ranked by Lexpert as one of two “Leadings Lawyers to Watch” in Construction Law in BC, and one of five “Lawyers to Watch” in Infrastructure Law in Canada.

Whether a small residential development or a complex infrastructure upgrade, many factors contribute to the overall success of a construction project: relationships, weather, site conditions, labour productivity, availability of materials, and cost escalation – to name a few. One of the most challenging phases of embarking on a new project is negotiating risk allocation in the contract. Consider the following strategies to put your project team in a better position to anticipate and manage risk allocation at the outset and throughout project delivery.

Proactively negotiate the contract

Disputes arise, and are often protracted, as a result of inconsistencies and gaps between the intentions of one or more project participants. While it may be tempting to accept a contract as presented, there is often an opportunity to negotiate and make changes. A project team can be well positioned for the successful management and execution of a project when the contract documents have been carefully reviewed and negotiated prior to entering into the contract. A large part of dispute prevention is setting expectations at the outset of the relationship.

Review each contract and its supplementary conditions with a view to your risk tolerance. Consider the willingness of the other party to consider amendments and approach contract negotiations with a list of priorities, much like you would a Christmas wish-list. Even if only a few of the most burdensome provisions are struck or modified, you will be in a better position to protect your bottom line.

Drafting and re-use of old forms of supplementary conditions are often problematic. Terms that modify standard form contracts are often rife with inconsistent language, provisions that conflict with the delivery model set up by the standard form, and wholesale reallocations of risk. Review proposed supplementary conditions with an eye for provisions that:

• Limit or preemptively waive claims, and in particular claims for delays, changes, site conditions, and toxic or hazardous substances;
• Unreasonably shorten notice periods;
• Impose obligations that are inconsistent with standard form contract terms; or
• Reallocate risk for design errors to a party that had no role in the preparation of the design.

Training and legal education

Many industry associations offer courses, and conferences often have a legal education component. Take advantage of these continuing education opportunities. Having an understanding of fundamentals such as key terms, how to read supplementary conditions, the importance of contractual notice requirements, change order processes, and dispute resolution procedures can make your team more confident, prepared, and effective when issues inevitably arise under the pressures of schedule and budget constraints.

Read the contract – and keep it handy

Do not let the contract collect dust. On projects of lengthy duration, the project management team should review the contract at regular intervals. The contract should serve as the primary resource to determine rights, obligations, and process concerning payment, changes, extras, schedule, and claims.

While the contract often holds the answers in terms of legal liability and primary obligations, consider creating internal policies or protocols for specific situations so that the project team understands the precise steps to follow to preserve contractual entitlements and comply with obligations. These may include:

• Creation of notice letter templates;
• Assigning responsibilities to specific team members for considering potential claims;
• Diarizing time limits and notice periods that reflect the contract terms;
• Creating and updating your project accounting system to include event or condition-related cost codes; and
• Keeping a real-time journal of events.

Implement document management policies – and follow them

Construction disputes are inherently document-intensive. The rights and interests protected by the contract terms are often only as effective as the contemporaneous documents available to support them. Project records are necessary to establish time and cost-related claims. Baseline and updated schedules, weekly look-ahead and other planning documents are critical to delay claims. Timesheets, labour and equipment invoices, and other cost records are critical to cost overruns, extras and change order disputes. At the outset of each project – and as the project evolves – ask the following questions:

• What documents do we need to generate on this project?
• Who is responsible for generating, tracking, organizing, and preserving the documents?
• What systems or software will the responsible personnel use for document management?

Comprehensive and consistent document management practices can sometimes expedite dispute resolution processes, and most importantly, place a party in the best positon possible to advance or defend a claim. If it becomes necessary to engage a lawyer, these practices will also help limit legal fees to locate and reorganize tens of thousands to millions of project records. It is far more cost effective to create and maintain a system to organize contemporaneous documentation.

Be ready to adapt as the project and potential claims evolve. Do you need to establish a different coding system to track an ongoing impact? Do you need daily photographs to document the discovery of a geotechnical site condition? Do the superintendents need to create a separate daily report specific to a disputed change? Should you update a particular item at weekly site meetings?

Be mindful of the notice and dispute resolution provisions in the contract

Construction contracts often require strict compliance with dispute resolution steps on short timelines, including notice in writing within a fixed period of time, in a specific form, delivered to a specific person or place. Construction contracts often contain strict mandatory steps – in other words, non-compliance may be a bar to recovery. While you may be able to put together an argument that the other party had substantive notice, the best approach is strict adherence to contractual notice provisions so that you can avoid adding the unnecessary layer of non-compliance to a dispute. Consider diarizing deadlines and creating checklists to make the procedures more intuitive for the project team.

When in doubt, send a letter

A well-drafted and thoughtfully considered contract can go a long way to early resolution of disputes, or prevent disputes altogether. Regardless of the project records generated and the relationship between the parties, never assume that the parties have agreed to waive a contractual requirement for formal notice. Protect your interests and preserve claims by committing the details to contemporaneous correspondence that complies with the contractual requirements.

• Senior Estimator – Montreal, Que. – PCL
• Continuous Improvement Manager – Vancouver B.C. – Aecon Group
• EPCM Project Director, Minerals & Metals – Vancouver, B.C. – Wood
• Regional Director, Operations – Montreal Que. – BGIS
• Director, Rail Fleet Projects – Toronto, Ont. – Metrolinx
• Consulting Director, Impact Assessment (Director Level) – Calgary, Alta. – ERM Group
• Project Director – Vancouver, B.C. – Pomerleau
• Managing Principal – Vancouver, B.C. – HDR
• Vice President, Water Market Lead – Calgary, Alta. – Mott MacDonald
• Construction Manager, Water – Vancouver, B.C. – WSP

The construction industry needs to work together if it wants to address its many challenges. 

This was one of the main messages to come from the first-ever Construction Innovation Summit in Vancouver. The event, organized by the Independent Contractors and Businesses Association, brought together hundreds of the nation’s leaders for a two-day conference focused on pushing the industry forward. The event featured panels, keynotes and talks from some of construction’s brightest minds.

Getting better together

“Collaboration across everything — from architects, engineers, sub-trades, owners, and general contracts — was a very strong theme,” said ICBA President Chris Gardner. “To tackle the challenges that emerge in any project, the foundation is cross-discipline collaboration.”

The group organized the two-day conference in response to the increasing pressures builders face. 

“The theme of innovation in construction is a timely one because when you look at Canada as a whole, we have a big productivity and innovation challenge,” said Gardner. “It has been decades in the making.”

However Gardner noted that construction’s reputation for lagging when it comes to innovation isn’t completely justified. 

“I do think there’s a lot more technology and innovation in the industry than it gets credit for,” he said. “There’s roughly $5 billion invested each year across North America in software directly related to construction.”

But he believes more can be done and, with the multiple challenges the industry is facing, innovation is becoming a necessity. Gardner explained that in 2020 when the global pandemic hit it forced construction to rethink how it operates. This crisis was then followed by global supply chain disruptions. Then material costs rose, inflation became a national issue and interest rates are at record highs. This is on top of an ongoing labour shortage impacting construction and other industries. 

“We’ve sort of gone from one crisis to another and as a result, all these factors are driving contractors and construction leaders to do things better, build more with less and be more efficient,” said Gardner. 

It’s a challenge that trickles down to all Canadians. Gardner noted that the rising costs and risks associated with construction and development are contributing to the housing affordability crisis. 

“Part of dealing with affordability and bringing costs down is building more supply and using innovation to take some of the cost out of the building process,” said Gardner. 

He noted that government also has its own role to play by cutting red tape and approving projects faster. 

Following the pandemic, many have wondered if the industry will be getting back to normal. With the ongoing challenges, Gardner believes that this is the new normal. 

“We actually never got back to normal. COVID was the first big shock,” he said. “There have been lots of other shocks. One right now is the uncertainty of geopolitics. Turn on the news feed and it’s right there. I think everyone accepts that getting back to normal is something that doesn’t seem to be a path right now.” 

But he hopes that events like the Construction Innovation Summit can help galvanized industry leaders.

“There is a whole group of uncertainties but at the same time we need to build more housing and infrastructure,” he said. “The need for that isn’t going away. So it was great to bring everyone together and ask them how we can tackle these challenges.”     

Making construction’s voice heard

Dave Baspaly, president and CEO of the Council of Construction Associations (COCA) in B.C., focused on analyzing government action’s in the province and how the industry can make their voices heard. 

“There certainly has been a labour-leaning force right now that has moved a lot of things into play that have not been good for the industry,” said Baspaly. “And we have not been able to express the consequences because of the speed of the regulatory calendar.”

Baspaly explained that traditionally, changes moved more slowly. This gave the industry more time to react, give input and help shape health and safety regulations. Some of the rapid changes happening include topics like mental health, asbestos, soft tissue damage and job site bathrooms. 

“You have to slow it down and go at the pace of the people,” said Baspaly. “COCA is has been working hard with association members to slow things down. There is no need to go 100 mph with all these regulations concurrently. There is no prize for speed and it will just cause issues.” 

Baspaly also fears that B.C.’s approach could threaten the financial stability of WorkSafeBC. He believes rates will go up and the reserve will be bled down, undermining failsafe features. He also fears that rushed decisions could set precedents that will impact the industry for decades. 

“Once we enter into these situations, even with the best intentions, we end up with some regulations becoming really unworkable in the real world because it’s effectively just a cash transfer — moving money to move out benefits,” he said. “There is no way to repatriate those claims back to where they should be and eventually you have insolvency down the line. We need sustainable regulations that work for labour and the employer long-term. There is not point trying to win at the other’s expense.”

Baspaly stressed that writing emails and letters voicing industry concerns matters, especially when there are large numbers of people and companies doing so. He strongly encouraged the industry to voice their concerns directly or through associations that they are a part of. 

Taking the first steps toward innovation

Amy Marks, executive vice president of Symetri USA and YouTube’s “Queen of Prefab”, spoke about how builders can take their first steps towards innovation and her vision for the near future of construction. 

“I was incredibly impressed by this event,” she said. “You had leaders from all around the region coming together, having conversations, learning from each other. I think it’s important. It’s not about one company doing well when we are trying to address issues around needing more hospitals, data centres, roads and homes. All the boats need to rise and we have to get everybody to change as an ecosystem.”

Marks explained that this ecosystem includes architects, sub trades, general contractors, product manufacturers, engineers, lawyers, risk managers, procurement arms, government, owners and anybody else that touches the construction process. 

“It really takes an ecosystem’s attention and maturity to really enable business to be done differently,” she said.

Her talk also zeroed in on some small steps builders can take to begin industrializing their process. She demonstrated how Revit can integrate with a program called Naviate to start fabricating parts from BIM models. 

She also noted that many are looking to take advantage of AI, machine learning and other emerging tools. But she explained that one first needs to get a concrete idea of what their business goals are so they can begin structuring and organizing their data to accomplish those goals. 

“It’s almost like asking someone if they want to build a library for a third-grade class or if they want to create the Library of Congress. Those are very different,” she said. 

According to Marks, charging ahead with technology changes without a clear idea of what you want can just reinforce bad processes and lead to more waste. 

Looking to the future, Marks sees construction, like many other industries, shifting from being a process to being a product. She envisions an industry where parts of a building can be chosen by designers at the start of a project and that product’s performance, specifications, environmental impacts and other meta data is readily available. 

“You should start thinking about how to make a product out of what you make and how you can digitize it so someone can consume it in an organized manner,” she said.

She believes the mechanical, electrical and plumbing portions of buildings are especially ripe for this kind of innovation. 

“You want people to be able to design with certainty and have little waste,” she said. “A lot of money is made from wasteful business processes. People make money on the lack of information silos. I believe pressure has to come from the top down — the big owners, governments and others — and they have to start incentivizing people not to do that.”  

Key Takeaways:

• The new legislation would allow one secondary suite or one laneway home (accessory dwelling unit) in all communities throughout B.C.
• Municipalities will also be required to allow up to six units on lots currently zoned for single-family or duplex use, depending on size.
• The legislation would shift local planning and zoning processes to happen up front and require municipalities throughout B.C. to expedite and streamline permitting by updating community plans and zoning bylaws on a regular basis. 
• The legislation would also phase out one-off public hearings for rezonings for housing projects that are consistent and aligned with the official community plans.

The Whole Story:

B.C. is opening up home development with sweeping zoning changes. 

The province is introducing new legislation that would mandate that municipalities allow a minimum level of housing density and streamline the development process.

Officials say the changes will result in more small-scale, multi-unit housing, including townhomes, triplexes and laneway homes.

“Anyone looking for a place to live in a community they love knows how hard it is – and outdated zoning rules are making that even harder,” said Premier David Eby. “Constructing mostly high-rise condo towers or single-family homes means B.C. isn’t building enough small-scale multi-unit homes that fit into existing neighbourhoods and give people more housing options that are within reach. That’s why we’re taking action to fix zoning problems and deliver more homes for people, faster.”

Officials explained that historical zoning rules in many B.C. communities have led most new housing to be built mostly in the form of condos, or single-family homes that are out of reach for many people, leaving a shortage of options for the types of housing in between. They added that zoning barriers and layers of regulations have also slowed down the delivery of housing, making people go through long, complicated processes to build much-needed housing.

“The housing crisis has made it harder for growing families looking for more space, seniors looking to downsize, and first-time homebuyers who can’t find a home that meets their needs and budget,” said Ravi Kahlon, minister of housing. “This legislation strengthens the vibrancy of our communities, while building the type of housing that will help us address the housing crisis.”

The proposed legislation and forthcoming regulations will permit one secondary suite or one laneway home (accessory dwelling unit) in all communities throughout B.C.

In most areas within municipalities of more than 5,000 people, these changes will also require bylaws to allow for:

• three to four units permitted on lots currently zoned for single-family or duplex use, depending on lot size;
• six units permitted on larger lots currently zoned for single-family or duplex use and close to transit stops with frequent service.

Municipalities covered by the legislation may permit additional density if desired, but cannot have bylaws that allow for fewer permitted units than the provincial legislation.

The province also plans to speed up local housing development approvals by shifting local planning and zoning processes to happen up front. It will require municipalities throughout B.C. to expedite and streamline permitting by updating community plans and zoning bylaws on a regular basis. 

New proposed changes will also phase out one-off public hearings for rezonings for housing projects that are consistent and aligned with the official community plans. Instead, there will be more frequent opportunities for people to be involved in shaping their communities earlier in the process when official community plans are updated. 

“Modelling future scenarios cannot account for unforeseen circumstances, the changing nature of housing, real estate markets and other factors, but preliminary analysis indicates the province could see more than 130,000 new small-scale multi-unit homes in B.C. during the next 10 years,” said officials.  

To support implementation, the province said it will continue to provide local governments with resources to speed up approval processes, including the recently announced $51 million to support local governments in meeting the new density zoning requirements, and $10 million for the Local Government Development Approvals Program.

The province added that additional legislation to support housing, transit-oriented development and infrastructure will be introduced in the coming weeks. 

Key Takeaways:

• Ontario plans to remove the 8% provincial portion of HST for purpose-built rental home construction.
• Combined with federal cuts, this removes the full 13% HST on qualifying new purpose-built rental housing in Ontario. 
• Ontario is also investigating how to leverage modular construction to meet its goal of building 1.5 million homes by 2031.

The Whole Story:

Ontario plans to cut taxes for construction to get more rental homes built.

The province announced it is taking steps to remove the full 8% provincial portion of the Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) on qualifying new purpose-built rental housing to encourage rental home construction. 

“There has never been a greater need to get rental housing built across the province. This is why our government is taking steps to tackle the housing crisis so that all Ontarians can have an affordable place to live,” said Peter Bethlenfalvy, minister of finance. “Tomorrow, I will provide an update on our plan that will continue with our government’s targeted, responsible approach so we have the flexibility needed to build Ontario and address the uncertainty of today while laying a strong fiscal foundation for future generations.”

Cutting taxes

The removal of the provincial portion of the HST would apply to new purpose-built rental housing such as apartment buildings, student housing and senior residences built specifically for long-term rental accommodation that meet the criteria. The enhanced rebate would apply to qualifying projects that begin construction between September 14, 2023 and December 31, 2030, and complete construction by December 31, 2035.

To qualify for the enhanced HST New Residential Rental Property Rebate, new residential units must be in buildings with at least four private apartment units or 10 private rooms or suites, and have at least 90% of residential units designated for long-term rental.

Currently, the Ontario HST New Residential Rental Property Rebate is equal to 75% of the provincial portion of the HST paid, up to a maximum rebate of $24,000. The enhanced rebate would be equal to 100% of the provincial portion of the HST, with no maximum rebate amount.

In the example of a two-bedroom rental unit valued at $500,000, the enhanced Ontario HST New Residential Rental Property Rebate would deliver $40,000 in provincial tax relief. When combined with the enhanced federal GST New Residential Rental Property Rebate, this would amount to $65,000 in tax relief.

Since fall 2022, Ontario has called on the federal government to remove the HST for certain purpose-built rental housing. In September, Ottawa announced it would totally remove GST for purpose-built rental housing projects. Trudeau then encouraged provinces to do the same.

Together, the provincial and federal actions would remove the full 13% HST on qualifying new purpose-built rental housing in Ontario. 

Developing a modular strategy

The province is also working on the development of a comprehensive modular home strategy. This strategy includes exploring the use of a Request for Qualification process that will identify and pre-qualify companies that contribute to modular housing construction on the scale that can help meet housing goals.

The government is also working to leverage surplus provincial lands and partnering with municipalities to leverage surplus municipal lands in order to help reduce the cost of building attainable homes, including modular homes.

The finalists have been named for this year’s Canadian Centre for Public-Private Partnerships’ (CCPPP) 2023 National P3 Awards.

Since 1998, the awards have celebrated and recognized Canada’s cutting-edge infrastructure projects involving public sector entities like governments and educational institutions partnering with the private sector. Individual leaders in the sector are also celebrated in the Champion Awards, which will be announced at the P3 2023 gala luncheon.

This year, the Council has retooled its project award categories to better reflect the changing dynamics of Canada’s P3 infrastructure pipeline and to highlight the need to create better, more resilient and longer lasting infrastructure for our communities. 

“The awards committee is pleased to recognize a broad range of successful P3 partnerships in this year’s awards shortlist,” said Brad Nicpon, partner, McCarthy Tétrault LLP, and chair of the national awards committee. “We congratulate the partners of each shortlisted project for demonstrating the efficiency and flexibility of the P3 model and look forward to formally announcing award-winning projects and individuals at P3 2023 next month.”

Here’s who is in the running:

P3 Transaction 

Ontario Line – Rolling Stock, Systems, Operations & Maintenance Contract

Partners: Metrolinx, Infrastructure Ontario and Connect 6ix General Partnership (Plenary Americas, Hitachi Rail, Webuild Group, Transdev Canada, IBI Professional Services (Canada) Inc., NGE Contracting Inc., National Bank Financial Inc., and Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation)

Ontario Line – South Civil, Stations and Tunnel Contract

Partners: Metrolinx, Infrastructure Ontario and Ontario Transit Group (Ferrovial Construction Canada Inc., VINCI Construction Grands Projets, AECOM Canada Ltd., COWI North America Ltd., GHD Limited, SENER Group, Janin Atlas Inc., and Agentis Capital)

South Niagara Hospital

Partners: Niagara Health, Infrastructure Ontario and EllisDon Infrastructure Healthcare (EllisDon Corporation, EllisDon Capital Inc., EllisDon Infrastructure Healthcare, EllisDon Facilities Services Inc., and Parkin Architects Limited)

Thunder Bay Correctional Complex

Partners: Infrastructure Ontario, Ontario Ministry of the Solicitor General and EllisDon Infrastructure Justice (EllisDon Capital Inc., EllisDon Corporation, Zeidler Architecture Inc., DLR Group, and EllisDon Facilities Services Inc.)

P3 Design & Construction

Highway 104 Sutherlands River to Antigonish Twinning Project

Partners: Nova Scotia Department of Public Works and Dexter Nova Alliance GP (Municipal Enterprises Limited, Nova Construction Co. Ltd., BBGI SICAV S.A., DNA Design Build Limited, a joint venture between Dexter Construction Company Limited and Nova Construction Co.; and DNA Operations Limited, a joint venture between Municipal Enterprises Limited and Nova Construction Co. Ltd.)

Ontario Court of Justice – Toronto

Partners: Infrastructure Ontario, Ontario Ministry of the Attorney General and EllisDon Infrastructure (EllisDon Capital Inc., EllisDon Design Build Inc., Renzo Piano Building Workshop, NORR Limited, EllisDon Facilities Services Inc. and SNC-Lavalin O&M Inc.)

Environmental, Social and Governance

Forensic Services and Coroners Complex

Partners: Infrastructure Ontario, Ontario Ministry of the Solicitor General and CSS (FSCC) Partnership (Concert Infrastructure Ltd., Concert Infrastructure Fund and Dexterra Group) 

Gordie Howe International Bridge

Partners: Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority and Bridging North America General Partnership (ACS Infrastructure Canada Inc., Fluor Canada Ltd. and Aecon Concessions)

Library and Archives Canada’s Gatineau 2 Project

Partners: Library and Archives Canada, Public Services and Procurement Canada and Plenary Properties Gatineau (Plenary Americas, PCL Investments Canada Inc., PCL Constructors Eastern Inc., B+H Architects, and EQUANS)

South Niagara Hospital

Partners: Niagara Health, Infrastructure Ontario and EllisDon Infrastructure Healthcare (EllisDon Corporation, EllisDon Capital Inc., EllisDon Infrastructure Healthcare, EllisDon Facilities Services Inc., and Parkin Architects Limited)

Key Takeaways:

• Surrey’s Illegal Construction Enforcement Team was formed in 2022.
• It’s mission is to enforce its bylaws and target residential construction that is done without permits, inspections, or compliance with safety standards.
• Six demolitions were ordered after a recent enforcement blitz.

The Whole Story:

Surrey’s Illegal Construction Enforcement Team has been cracking down on unlawful construction work. 

The city recently launched successful legal actions against six property owners who have illegally constructed buildings without permits, and in many cases have occupied the structures without permits and violated the BC Building Code. In all court cases, the building structures were ordered demolished.

“Building without proper permits is not only illegal but extremely reckless as it endangers the builders, occupants and neighbours,” said Mayor Brenda Locke. “The Illegal Construction Enforcement Team was put into place in 2022 to ensure construction projects comply with BC building safety codes and zoning regulations. The City of Surrey will continue to enforce its bylaws to the full extent whenever necessary. Property owners who engage in illegal construction should be aware that they may face legal action, demolition costs, and insurance problems.”

Here are the six cases:

Case 6 – Two property owners built an extension and laneway house that violated lot coverage, density, and setback restrictions. The structures were constructed without any building permits or requisite inspections and despite a stop work notice posted by the City. A court decision was made on Oct. 24, 2023 ordering the structures be demolished within 60 days of the city issuing a permit for demolition.

Case 5 – The property owners built an addition to their home and added a secondary suite without permits. The court order prohibited occupancy or use of the addition and secondary suite.  The owners subsequently breached the court order and found them in contempt and ordered the owners to pay a fine totalling $6,000, plus a contingent fine of $13,000, and pay the City’s legal costs.  A new hearing was set and heard on October 18, 2023 and the owners were ordered to demolish the home additions built without permits. 

Case 4 – The property owners built an addition to their existing home without a permit. The property owner agreed to a consent order that required them to demolish the addition by December 16, 2022.

Case 3 – A property owner-built structures without permits, dumped fill on their land, and damaged trees. The court ordered them to vacate all the structures, demolish them within 90 days, remove the fill, and plant 16 new trees. The court order was issued on June 24, 2022.

Case 2 – A property owner added a second storey to their existing home without a permit and occupied the addition. The court ordered them to stop the occupancy, apply for a demolition permit within 30 days, and demolish the addition within 60 days after getting the permit. The court decision was made on July 18, 2023.

Case 1 – A number of property owners built a detached building on their land without permits and allowed someone to live in the building. The court ordered them to stop the occupancy, apply for a demolition permit within 15 days, and demolish the structures within 60 days after getting the permit. The court decision was made on July 11, 2023.

In 2022, the Illegal Construction Enforcement Team was put into place to enforce its bylaws and target residential construction that is done without permits, inspections, or compliance with safety standards. Beyond seeking compliance in court, the City of Surrey has also increased fines for illegal building activities.

Key Takeaways:

• Metro Vancouver has voted to implement significant development cost charge increases to fund infrastructure projects in a ‘growth pays for growth’ strategy.
• The move has drawn stern criticism from Federal Housing Minister Sean Fraser.
• The fees are set to increase starting in 2025.

The Whole Story:

Construction fees are about to jump in the Lower Mainland and the federal government is not pleased. 

Officials with Metro Vancouver, a federation of 21 municipalities in the region, have voted in favor of significant development cost charge (DCCs).

Rising fees

The fees associated with building new residential and non-residential buildings across the region will go up significantly over a three-year period between 2025 and 2027. The fees vary between municipalities and by project type, but will triple in some cases. 

Metro Vancouver plans to use the revenue generated by the fees to fund billions of dollars worth of growth-related park, water and sewer infrastructure over the next 30 years.

While consulting with industry leaders, Metro Vancouver found opposition to the raises, but determined that the impacts were comparable or less impactful than other factors. 

“Many in the development industry expressed the rate increase would have a negative effect on residential and industrial development,” reads Metro Vancouver documents. “Given the challenges industry is already facing, such increased financing and construction inflation and other DCC increases and building code changes, the development industry expressed the proposed DCC is another charge adding a burden to development.”

Metro Vancouver commissioned a study to examine the financial impact of the proposed DCCs. The findings in the study concluded that the proposed DCCs will have a “commensurate impact” to the financing rate changes over the past 12 months, but “significantly less of an impact” than the construction inflation and changes in unit prices over the past 12 months.

Criticism from Ottawa

Even before they were approved, the increases drew the attention of Federal Housing Minister Sean Fraser, who wrote to the board asking them to rethink the plan as it goes against Ottawa’s strategy.

“Significant increases to development charges have the potential deter development by offsetting the impact of other measures that reduce the cost of building,” wrote Fraser in a letter to Metro Vancouver. “When projects do advance, increased charges on development can lead to higher housing costs for renters and homeowners, making it more difficult to find somewhere affordable to live.”

Fraser argued that as part of their Housing Accelerator Fund applications, cities in the region have proposed various initiatives to help get more homes built, more quickly, including waiving their own development charges. 

“While I also appreciate that some hold the perspective that ‘growth pays for growth,’ we will all pay for stagnation as a result of a lower pace of construction,” wrote Fraser. “A ‘growth pays for growth’ approach ignores the value that new development, new property tax bases, new businesses, and new neighbours bring to our communities.”

Increasing scrutiny

It hasn’t just been talk. In September, Fraser announced he would postpone the announcement of Housing Accelerator Fund deals in Surrey and Burnaby due to the DCC increase plans. 

Following Fraser’s comments, the Vancouver Regional Construction Association asked its members for their thoughts. 

“We sent a survey to our members in September in response to the Federal Government postponing the Housing Accelerator Fund announcement in Surrey and Burnaby,” said Jeannine Martin, VRCA president. “The general response was that we need to find ways to fund aging infrastructure. However, increasing developer fees to fund aging sewer systems and parks is not going to help alleviate the housing crisis.” 

Fraser said he will be re-examining the proposed initiatives in each city’s application, and will make “necessary adjustments” where the initiatives conflict with Metro Vancouver’s DCC plans.

Brickeye, a construction data analytics technology company, has announced the successful first closing of a $10 million investment round.

The company welcomed new investors BDC Capital’s IP-backed Financing Fund and Graphite Ventures, with additional funding from existing investors GreenSky Ventures, Brightspark, EDC, and MaRS Investment Accelerator Fund. Brickeye intends to use the funds for continued growth of its risk mitigation and productivity platform for the construction and insurance industries.

“We are excited about the opportunities that lie ahead as we continue to innovate and empower the construction industry with our technology,” said Tim Angus, CEO of Brickeye. “This investment round reaffirms our commitment to providing game-changing solutions that reduce risk and drive productivity, ultimately benefiting everyone involved in construction projects.”

Harnessing the power of Internet of Things (IoT) technology, Brickeye’s suite of solutions enable job site monitoring, intelligent alerts and analytics, and smart automations. The company says this approach empowers general contractors, owners, developers, and insurance providers to better mitigate risk, boost productivity, and safeguard margins of high-rise building and infrastructure construction projects. Brickeye is transforming how insurance providers place, underwrite, and protect policies by helping insureds de-risk projects in pre-construction and mitigate risk during construction.

“Brickeye has enormous potential to positively disrupt the construction and insurance industries with its job site IoT platform which optimizes data capturing, risk management, productivity, as well as reducing the environmental footprint of construction sites,” said Anne-Marie Bourgeois, Partner, Intellectual Property-Backed Investment at BDC Capital. “The company’s IP strategy will be an important asset in its growth journey.’’

Key Takeaways:

• Quebec plans to pay students training in critical trades $750 per week to get a professional studies certificate.
• Officials noted that province is short about 6,500 construction workers.
• The province hopes the funds will help training 4,000 to 5,000 new tradespeople.

The Whole Story:

Quebec wants to fast-track construction careers by paying aspiring tradespeople to get training. 

Premier François Legault announced the province’s new plan to train 4,000 to 5,000 new carpenters, excavator operators, heavy machinery operators, refrigeration technicians and tinsmiths. 

Legault told reporters that this will be supported by accelerated training programs where students in those trades will receive $750 per week to obtain a professional studies certificate.

Those who enrol could be eligible for scholarships of between $9,000 to $15,000 upon graduation.

Legault said the program is important as the province is short about 6,500 construction workers.

The announcement was celebrated by the Association de la construction du Québec (ACQ)

“For the ACQ, being able to count on a well-trained workforce in the construction sector is fundamental to building the Quebec of tomorrow,” said the group. “In this sense, the training announced will allow, among other things, those wishing to redirect their career towards the construction sector to realize this dream while being paid. This initiative highlights the Quebec government’s commitment to promoting the growth of the construction industry while offering new professional opportunities to workers.”

The program is expected to cost roughly $300 million. 

Key Takeaways:

• The final weld was done near Kitimat, B.C.
• The milestone was achieved after five years of construction.
• The work is the last step before mechanical completion which the team says is well on track for their year-end target.

The Whole Story:

After five years of construction, the Coastal GasLink project has achieved 100% pipe installation across the entire project route, connecting northeastern B.C. to LNG Canada’s facility on the west coast. 

The final “golden weld” took place at the base of Cable Crane Hill in Section 8 West near Kitimat, B.C. earlier this month.

With that weld, all 670km of pipe has been welded, coated, lowered into the trench, tested, and backfilled. From the Wilde Lake Compressor Station near Dawson Creek to the Metering Station in Kitimat, physical construction on the project is now complete.

The work is the last step before mechanical completion which the team says is well on track for their year-end target.

While completion activities advance, the Coastal GasLink said its team continues to work on clean-up and reclamation along the route, including time sensitive work that must take place prior to the onset of winter. 

This work will continue post mechanical completion and commissioning and also factors in erosion and sediment control (ESC) measures as required to protect the environment and meet commitments. Following mechanical completion, the team will be planning the introduction of gas.

The pipeline is designed to deliver 2.1 billion cubic feet per day (bcf/d) of natural gas with the potential to deliver up to 5 bcf/d, through additional compression along the route.

The project runs from northeastern B.C. to the LNG Canada facility in Kitimat, B.C. From there, LNG Canada will prepare the gas for export to global markets by converting the gas to a liquefied state (LNG).

Graham

Graham’s Daly Overpass team admires a prairie sunrise in Brandon, Manitoba. The project will include a new four-lane bridge with a separate pedestrian and active transportation bridge. 

Ontario Line

Crews excavated 15 metres of a new sewer tunnel as part of the Ontario Line project. The 15.6-km subway line in Toronto will run from Exhibition Place, through downtown, all the way to the Ontario Science Centre.

Diamond Schmitt

Crews have officially topped off the Ottawa Public Library – Library and Archives Canada joint facility. The project team can now begin working on the building’s curved roof.

Clark Builders

Indigenous leaders help break ground on the Kainai Peacemaking Centre for the Blood Tribe near Cardston, Alta. According to Clark, new centre will serve a beacon of restoration, preserving communal bonds through traditional Blackfoot practices.

Wildstone Construction

Some wild critters leave their mark at a Wildstone Construction site.

Wales McLelland

Wales McLelland shows off construction progress on its TransCold Distribution project. The 79,200 sq. ft. building will contain a state-of-the-art 51,000 sq. ft. freezer and cold dock. It also includes 10,500 sq. ft. of office and 10,100 sq. ft. of dry warehouse.

Pitt Meadows Plumbing & Mechanical Systems

A helicopter delivers a Viessmann boiler to the Royal Inland Hospital Phase 2 project roof. According to Pitt Meadows Plumbing, Viessmann boilers are renowned for their energy efficiency, reliability and sustainability. EllisDon, Coldstream Helicopters Ltd, and EagleWest Cranes worked with Pitt Meadows Plumbing to achieve a successful delivery.

Axiom Builders

Axiom crews have completed ground-floor slabs for the Archetype Vancouver | Main + First, developed in collaboration by QuadReal Property Group and Hungerford Properties.

JEN COL Construction

JEN COL Construction finishes the last few details on the new Theresa C. Wildcat Early Learning Centre in Maskwacîs, Alta.

Fraser Crossing Partners

A group of students from the UBC Steel Bridge engineering design team visit the Pattullo Bridge Replacement Project.

The shot of the month goes to…

Aecon

Aecon announced that the NouvLR team on the Réseau express métropolitain (REM) project has completed the central wall of the REM tunnel under Mount Royal – revealing the two distinct tracks.