Author: Russell Hixson

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.

Key Takeaways:

• The city of Calgary, The province of Alberta, Calgary Sports and Entertainment, and Calgary Stampede have signed agreements to advance the project. 
• The permit process is expected to be completed in 2024, followed by construction beginning the same year.
• Beginning this fall, the development manager, CAA ICON, will begin utility and site preparations 

The Whole Story:

Calgary is one step closer to breaking ground on a new event centre. 

All four parties have formally signed the final agreements, which gives the project a green light to begin the design and construction phase.

The signed agreements signify the partnership between The city of Calgary, The province of Alberta, Calgary Sports and Entertainment Corporation, and Calgary Stampede to deliver the Event Centre project. It’s a commitment that supports Calgary’s downtown revitalization and growing a vibrant and welcoming city.

The project includes new community amenities and infrastructure, including downtown’s only community rink, new public plazas and gathering places, new mobility connections and streets and public realm improvements. 

City officials called the community improvements a “generational investment” in Calgary’s future.

“At this critical moment when we are seeing explosive population growth and increasing private sector interest in our city, the confirmation that the event centre project is proceeding to design and construction phases will generate strong investor confidence in our Culture + Entertainment District,” said Mayor Jyoti Gondek. “This project will create better public gathering spaces, improved transportation networks, a downtown community rink and an arena to drive events that spur hosting and tourism opportunities, along with creation of jobs in the construction, retail and entertainment sectors.”

Beginning this fall, the development manager, CAA ICON, will begin utility and site preparations to make room for the community rink, public plazas and event centre. They will also begin work for the development permit process, which includes designing the community rink, Event Centre and public gathering spaces on the Event Centre Block. The permit process is expected to be completed in 2024, followed by construction beginning the same year.

“Calgary is a city of big dreams, big projects, and big expectations. Our investment in the Rivers District is one that helps build Calgary and continues the momentum of revitalization in the downtown core,” said Premier Danielle Smith. “It’s one more shot of energy for Calgary’s culture, entertainment, and business scenes and the city and province will reap the economic benefits for decades to come.”

The Calgary Construction Association, which has long advocated for the project, stated that it is thrilled at the announcement. 

“The new event centre will serve as a hub for sports and entertainment, attracting major events and acts to the region,” said Bill Black, president of the association. “This facility will not only provide a boost to the local economy through its construction, but also create follow-on jobs, investments and opportunities for businesses in the area.”

The association added that the new event centre is a prime example of how construction can play a vital role in creating economic growth and enhancing the quality of life for Calgarians. It added that new event center facility promises to be a catalyst for economic development, generating job opportunities and fostering growth in the construction sector.

Diversity is a strength when it comes to design and these architects are adding much-needed insight into Canada’s built environment. Many of them have cited nature as a major inspiration for their work as well as Indigenous culture. It’s also worth noting that many of these designers have achieved firsts in their field for Indigenous people and are using their skills to design purpose-built projects for Indigenous communities. This is by no means an exhaustive list, but merely an overview of the impact Indigenous architects are having on the country’s spaces.

Douglas Cardinal

Calgary-born Douglas Cardinal, who has Blackfoot ancestry, has become a forerunner of philosophies of sustainability, green buildings and ecologically designed community planning. His architecture springs from his observation of Nature and its understanding that everything works seamlessly together. Cardinal’s has countless professional achievements including 20 honorary doctorates, Gold Medals of architecture in Canada and Russia, and an award from United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural organization (UNESCO) for best sustainable village. He was also titled an Officer of the Order of Canada and was awarded the declaration of being “World Master of Contemporary Architecture” by the International Association of Architects.

David Fortin

David Fortin of David T Fortin Architect has been on a journey to rediscover traditional Métis architecture. He spent years investigating architecture in the Prairies to uncover what the lives of Métis people were like and how their culture informed the design of their buildings. He is the first Indigenous person to direct a school of architecture in Canada, and was co-curator, with Gerald McMaster, of “UNCEDED: Voices of the Land”, Canada’s official entry to the Venice Biennale in 2018.

Alfred Waugh 

Chipewyan architect Alfred Waugh is the president and founder of Formline Architecture. He and his firm specialize in culturally and environmentally sensitive projects and has extensive experience with First Nations, cultural societies, and educational institutions. Born and raised in Yellowknife, N.W.T, he was the first Aboriginal person to graduate with honours from University of British Columbia’s School of Architecture in 1993 and become LEED certified and a registered architect.

Eladia Smoke

Eladia Smoke, founder of Smoke Architecture, is Anishinaabekwe from the Lac Seul First Nation. She has served on the RAIC’s Indigenous Task Force since its inception, 2015, and is on the UNCEDED international team of Indigenous designers and architects. Her firm focuses on First Nations and Indigenous projects. Most recently, Smoke and her team have been working on a mass-timber, zero-carbon, $112-million addition at Centennial College. The facility will feature a button-activated smudging system that allows for Indigenous people to more easily do traditional smudging traditions. 

Brian Porter

Brian Porter of the Oneida Nation the the principal for Two Row Architect has told reporters that his goal is to incorporate Indigenous values into his designs. Two Row is named after the Two Row Wampum belt, which signifies a centuries-old agreement between settlers and Indigenous peoples.  Since its inception in 1992, the firm has focused on providing services to projects for Indigenous clients as well as those that incorporate Indigenous cultural ideologies and teachings which are manifested in architectural form.

Wanda Dalla Costa

Wanda Dalla Costa, a member of the Saddle Lake First Nation, was the first First Nations woman in Canada to become a registered architect. She has spent nearly 20 years working with Indigenous communities and her company, Redquill Architecture, is based in Phoenix, Arizona. Dalla Costa currently serves as the Visiting Eminent Scholar at the School of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment at Arizona State University.

Patrick Stewart

Nisga’a architect Patrick Stewart was the first Aboriginal president of an Architectural Association in Canada, the first Aboriginal architect to become the president of the Architectural Institute of BC and the first Aboriginal person in the province to own and operate an architectural firm. He is the founding principal of Patrick R. Stewart Architect (PRSA), a full-service architectural firm, with a First Nations community development focus.

Lafarge’s Exshaw plant is harnessing the sun to make cement. 

Canada and ATCO announced that they have entered into a 12.5-year virtual power purchase agreement (VPPA). Under this agreement, Lafarge’s Exshaw cement plant will receive 100% of the solar energy produced by the 38.5-megawatt Empress Solar project, meeting 34% of the plant’s power requirements through 2036.

The Empress solar project covers 280 acres south of the village of Empress, Alberta, and consists of 89,000 solar panels.

“We’re continually assessing ways we can reduce our environmental impact while actively pursuing sustainable solutions within our operations,” said Brad Kohl, president and CEO of Lafarge Canada (West). “Our collaboration with ATCO underscores our commitment to adopting renewable energy at our plants and sites, which is key to reducing our reliance on fossil fuels.”

Lafarge’s continued expansion into renewable energy in Alberta aligns with the company’s broader strategy, Accelerating Green Growth while emphasizing its ongoing investments to lower the carbon footprint of its operations and scope 2 emissions. Notably, Lafarge’s Exshaw cement plant has now committed to power purchase agreements for both wind and solar energy, setting an industry precedent.

“This agreement represents the strides we are making to support our customers in meeting their clean energy goals,” said Bob Myles, COO, ATCO EnPower. “We are proud to be at the forefront of the energy transition, and in a position to provide solutions to customers like Lafarge in reducing their carbon emissions.”

Under the agreement, Lafarge will offtake 100% of the power generated from the Empress Solar project, which is scheduled to commence commercial operations this month. The Empress Solar project is expected to generate enough renewable energy to offset approximately 43,000 tonnes of carbon per year. 

Key Takeaways:

• Engineer Eric Wilson says engineering education needs to be expanded beyond just solving technical problems.
• He believes issues like housing and climate change are too complex and have so many stakeholders that they require a different method of problem solving.
• Currently he is working with a nonprofit and an engineering firm to apply a ‘systems thinking’ approach to First Nations housing projects.

The Whole Story:

In the 1970s, a bridge that served Vancouver Island First Nation was starting to deteriorate. 

Government officials and engineers decided the ideal replacement for the creek would be two culverts as this allowed infrastructure to run through it. 

First Nations people were not consulted and the unintended consequences were devastating. Water flow slowed, causing sediment to drop out early. This destroyed the gravel base at the mouth of the creek, ruining salmon spawning areas. Pollution flowed down the creek into the bay, killing off shellfish. 

Not only did it hurt wildlife, it interfered with the traditions of the First Nation. While the bridge had allowed canoe access, the culverts blocked it, depriving First Nations people of a critical area for teenagers to receive intergenerational knowledge.

“From that one decision you had these cascading downstream effects that are still felt today,” said Eric Wilson, indigenous projects liaison with RJC Engineers and IPCA infrastructure and systems lead with IISAKK OLAM Foundation. “The culverts are still there and it demonstrates the need to understand context and people.”

Improving education

The culvert story was told to Wilson by an Indigenous leader. He believes it highlights the need to expand engineering education to include more holistic way of thinking about problem solving. Wilson says it’s an approach that is particularly important for engineers who work on projects in Indigenous communities.     

Wilson had originally been studying engineering at the University of Victoria with a focus on energy performance but this shifted after taking design thinking classes aimed at business students. 

He was taught about “systems thinking”, an approach that helps one navigate the intricacies of the world by focusing on complete systems and their interconnections, rather than breaking them into individual components.

He believes that many of the problems today’s engineers face, including housing, climate change, have many stakeholders with conflicting values. And implementing the wrong solution, even something small like the culverts, can have massive downstream impacts. 

“One of the things I realized is that the engineering education that is most prevalent is the engineering science model,” he said. “It does a great job of teaching students how to do with the technical components but it is not a good job of dealing with the social aspects of these interconnected challenges.”

Combining engineering and the nonprofit sector

Wilson’s research and studies now focus on exploring collaborative, empathy-driven projects. He partnered with RJC Engineers and the IISAKK OLAM Foundation to apply the systems thinking approach to First Nations communities that are facing complex housing issues. The unique collaboration combines the engineering industry and the nonprofit sector so problems can be addressed in more holistic ways.

The team is currently working on a major project with a Vancouver Island First Nation that has faced flooding issues that have damaged homes. Rather than approaching it just as a technical problem, the team has been listening to the community about the causes of the flooding, how it has changed over the years and what other impacts it’s causing.  

“Right from the start we wanted to go in with this empathy-driven approach,” said Wilson.

The team heard about how the watershed has changed, how logging might be contributing, how the health of residents was being impacted. They also heard a desire for capacity development for sustainable livelihoods. Now apprenticeship programs and watershed restoration are being explored in addition to homebuilding. 

“We don’t pursue any avenue of the project without the approval of the Nation,” said Wilson. “We don’t pursue it unless it’s supported. We are there to support their housing goals and needs.” 

Wilson praised RJC for integrating this approach into their practice and urged other firms to do the same. He noted that more and more RFPs, especially those from government, are now requiring firms to have a plan for working with and benefiting Indigenous communities. 

“It is going to be challenging for organizations who aren’t doing this, but it’s much more than that. It’s just the right thing to do,” said Wilson. “The biggest positive is that it supports First Nations partners, their self determination and being a good ally in industry that answers the call from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada.”

Key Takeaways:

• STACK Construction Technologies was chosen for its platform’s data availability, cloud collaboration, data security, and integration capabilities.
• STACK also features an open API to help streamline workflow.
• The Ohio-based tech company was created by a former roofing contractor who also helped create construction data company ConstructConnect.

The Whole Story:

PCL Construction has chosen STACK Construction Technologies to optimize its preconstruction process. 

PCL officials stated their team connected with STACK after they recognized a more powerful preconstruction solution was needed to support their continued growth and profitability.

“As we broaden our capabilities and move further into the GC space, this partnership validates that STACK is a serious player in construction technology,” said Phil Ogilby, CEO and co-founder of STACK, cloud-based construction platform. “STACK is one of the most intuitive and collaborative preconstruction platforms in existence today. We’re thrilled to be able to offer STACK’s open API to help streamline the PCL workflow in a way that no other solutions on the market can.”

PCL said it chose STACK based on the platform’s data availability, cloud collaboration, data security, and integration capabilities. They added that STACK is streamlining the preconstruction processes with its innovative and hyper-accurate takeoff feature that enhances estimating capabilities.

“As part of a modernization of our estimating solutions, experts within the PCL estimating team did a broad market scan for quantity takeoff solutions,” said Brad Ens, preconstruction manager for PCL in Calgary. “Our hands-on approach of evaluating several competing products included functional verification that ultimately led us to select STACK as our tool of choice for quantity takeoff.”

By leveraging STACK’s open API, PCL is able to easily integrate their existing workflow to produce better estimating data. STACK explained that PCL will have unparalleled flexibility and accessible data, increasing the precision of estimates, minimizing manual processes, and supporting better-informed decision-making. With over 30 offices across the U.S., Canada, Australia, and the Caribbean, STACK will also further empower PCL’s team collaboration.

“A key decision criterion for PCL was based on the fact that STACK is built on a modern cloud technology platform which enables improved collaboration during the quantity takeoff process,” said Kevin Sundquist, senior relationship manager, business technology at PCL Construction. “Equally important, STACK comes with a modern integration layer that allows us to realize efficiencies for our estimators by integrating takeoff into the rest of our estimating solution suite. This cloud-first approach aligns with our overall technology strategy, driving both technology and business efficiencies.”

Key Takeaways:

• The construction industry is increasingly embracing technology, moving from digitizing workflows to adopting tools that fundamentally change the nature of work.
• While there is a need for flexibility and adaptation to remote work, maintaining in-person collaboration is crucial for innovation in the construction industry.
• As companies grow, maintaining a culture of innovation and involving employees in decision-making becomes increasingly important. 

The Whole Story:

The Canadian construction sector’s most cutting edge companies were celebrated in downtown Vancouver last week with an evening of in-depth discussions, networking and awards. 

More than 100 construction leaders gathered for the 25 Innovators in Construction Awards Celebration, hosted and organized by SiteNews. 

SiteNews Co-Founder Andrew Hansen questioned some of the 25 Innovators In Construction award winners about their thoughts on the future of construction and some of the issues the industry faces. 

The first panel, made up of large general contractors and specialized contractors, discussed the shift from merely digitizing workflows to adopting transformative technologies that fundamentally alter the nature of work. It included PCL, Chandos, ETRO Construction, and Pitt Meadows Plumbing and Mechanical Systems. 

The speakers emphasized the significance of making jobs easier for individuals and fostering a culture of innovation that prioritizes collaboration and team dynamics.

“For us it was always about people. How do we make people’s jobs easier? How do we make our team’s jobs easier? How do we make it easier to collaborate as a group? And so that was the focus of innovation for us, and it continues to be our focus as we move forward,”

Mike Maierle, president of ETRO Construction. 

The concept of “standard work” was also highlighted as a cornerstone for innovation, establishing agreed-upon processes and encouraging continuous improvements.

“We do standard work so at the end of two weeks we have measured it, we know how long it takes, and now we are looking for a change to make it better,” said Steve Robinson, owner of Pitt Meadows Plumbing and Mechanical Systems. “And once you have encouraged young people to see what real change is and how they can be involved in it, the ideas that come from the floor are mind boggling.” 

The speakers also expressed reservations about remote work, emphasizing the critical role of in-person collaboration for fostering innovation. The discussion explored the need to balance the benefits of remote work with the historical culture of on-site presence in the construction industry.

“You cannot get collaboration through a screen,” said Maierle. “However, we are company that is focused on families and we understand that there are things that happen. They have kids, they have lives, so you have to have some flexibility.”

The second panel focused on tech startups and more niche companies with a variety of focuses. It included Brickeye, Crewscope, SALUS and 505-Junk. Much of the discussion focused on how companies can attract and retain employees. 

Calvin Benchimol, co-founder and CEO of Crewscope noted that companies need to think differently about how to motivate their workforce. 

“Fear doesn’t work anymore,” he said. “We’re in a labor shortage world and it’s easier to find another job. Not sharing information with workers, that doesn’t fly either. We live in a technology age. We expect information to be really quick and accessible and transparent.”

He added that he believes there’s also a misalignment of incentives in the industry.

“Construction projects make money when they stay on schedule, but hourly workers get paid for the time they put in,” he said.

505-Junk Co-Founder Barry Hartman explained that his strategy has been to create skilled workers rather than go find them. He noted that there is no “university of junk” and his company is more interested in someone’s attitude than their resume.

“We’re not hiring really based on skill sets or experience,” he said. “We’re hiring based on people that want to join a fast growing company, an innovative company, and just trust that we have training processes in place to help them get to the next level.”

The event also marked nearly one year of launching SiteNews, a digital publication focused on equipping, educating and elevating the construction sector. The SiteNews team stated that they believe organizing the competition and the event reflected those goals and plan to build on that success going forward. 

Event Photos

Wright Construction

Crews with Wright Construction are transforming Evergreen Crossing in Saskatoon into shopping centre.

CarbonCure

CarbonCure is supporting bee colonization at their headquarters in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia.

Gerry Enns Contracting

Gerry Enns Contracting honours the Stó:lō Coast Salish peoples, specifically the Ch’íyáqtel First Nations.

Faber Construction

Faber Construction lifts pieces into place at the Duffner Ditch Fish Passage Project on the Guide in Lynden, B.C.

Aecon Group

More green nuclear power is on the way for Ontario. Aecon Group has successfully connected Bruce Power’s Unit 6 Ontario’s electricity grid on ahead of schedule. The life extension of each unit will add approximately 30 to 35 years of operational life.

Metric Civil Contractors

Crew carry out utility installs at the Kitselas Community Centre project site.

The Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat

The Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat is treated to a tour of The One, a 91-storey condominium, hotel, and retail tower by Mizrahi Developments.

DSM Excavating and Contraction

Sometimes the light hits the dirt perfectly. DSM Excavating and Contraction is moving earth at Guildford Town Centre in Surrey, B.C.

Jakes Construction

It never hurts to double check your plans. A Jakes Construction worker reviews documents at a job site.

Scott Construction

A seen dog is a safe dog. A pup wears a high visibility vest while visiting a Scott Construction Site.

Wilco Contractors Southwest

A worker makes saw cuts to create joints in concrete. This controls where potential cracks might occur, and encourage them to form in the cut rather than randomly in the sidewalk. This allows the concrete to contract while curing without damaging the surface.

The Shot of the Month goes to:

Kiewit

An excavator digs at the Raglan mine Nunavik in frigid weather as the Northern Lights dance above. The mine is in one of the world’s most important nickel sulphide deposits.

*Editors note: If you want your shots featured in the next edition of SiteViews, email hello@readsitenews.com

Coordinating technology at one of the country’s biggest general contractors is a big job.

As chief information officer for PCL, Bryant is responsible for the strategic and innovative advancement of information technology (IT) within the PCL family of companies. He has more than 30 years of IT expertise, having served in the financial services, software, manufacturing, and AEC (architecture, engineering, and construction) industries.

He is a recipient of numerous awards over the last decade including being named one of ENR’s Top 25 Newsmakers in 2018, and in 2019, Canadian CIO of the year for the private sector category, by the Information Technology Association of Canada.

We spoke with Bryant about how large contractors are implementing technology, what sort of technology is on PCL’s radar and how we can make construction smarter.

Be sure to catch Bryant in Vancouver, B.C. for 2023 Independent Contractors and Businesses Association (ICBA) Construction Innovation Summit on October 30th and 31st. He and many other industry experts will be discussing how to push the construction sector forward.

SiteNews: How do you approach modernization efforts at PCL?

Mark Bryant: I am in my 11th year now with PCL. When I joined, we were called systems and technology. But we rebranded and rethought how to deliver technology. Internally, today, we are called business technology. That is critical because my approach has always been to not deliver IT products from a technology perspective. It has been to partner with the business and their needs and marry with the business process by working with people. I get my hard hat and boots on and I walk the site with the team. I bring people that write code, people that do the help desk and others, we ask questions and we see how people in the field use our technology and software. We get to hear from people in the field: “I wish I could do this.” 

What do you think are some of the most promising new technologies that have applications in the construction sector?

Microsoft recently announced Copilot. It’s not available in the wild right now and it uses ChatGPT. We actually just signed an agreement with them recently. We will be able to onboard a private preview for 300 users and the license lasts a year. It’s all shiny and new. I think the term “AI” gets thrown around quite a bit without actually being AI. It’s just mining data. What ChatGPT and Microsoft are doing with Copilot will allow us to mine our data easier. That’s what I am really excited about. I believe it’s going to enable knowledge management to adeptly and smartly mine PCL databases so we can make smart decisions and access knowledge across the company. I see it as an internal knowledge platform where we can privately and securely mine our own databases. That excites me. It’s akin to having Google but just for PCL. Copilot allows us to connect disparate data sources and ask PCL-specific questions. 

What are some of the biggest challenges construction companies face when they begin digitizing their operations?

The cost of digitization and taking that leap to make the investment. The second, and it’s not necessarily in this order, is the change management component of people. You have people who have always done something a certain way and when you replace that with technology, that change is a challenge, a big one, and it’s not unique to construction. When you are investing in technology projects, you have to make sure it includes training employees. And you also have to make that training consistent, attainable and available years down the road. What happens in 12, 24 or 36 months when you hire hundreds more people? How do you get those people trained? 

What prompted PCL to create its own team to develop software in-house?

We are an underserved market and now companies are wanting to service it. They see a massive amount of capital but they don’t understand the margins in construction. They see big numbers like $500-million buildings, but margins are relatively low and that’s why digitization hasn’t seen a major pickup. Startups often over-price their product and they often don’t understand construction. Our take on this is if our people have the intellectual property of what they want and if we have people internally that can build it, we can do it cheaper and better than the market can. We have multiple vertices and very unique construction products. When we build something internally we have more knowledge, so let’s just take out the middleman and the headache.

What steps do you think the industry needs to take to make construction smarter?

Lots of information is passed around and the efficiency of how that information passes isn’t great. Standardizing how things get handed off and built is one of the first things that should be tackled. In the UK, BIM is mandated but there is no structure around that in North America. It’s a free-for-all. Certain business processes could be leaned and the technology could be used both more effectively and efficiently. When it comes to safety, many use different products from a tech perspective. And probably all have slightly different processes. Maybe 80% are similar and 20% do something different based on things that have happened. It’s not necessarily a framework that drives consistency. And you have companies like Procore and Autodesk trying to own the complete lifecycle that compete. So there’s a lot of bifurcated standards and products from job to job which makes things challenging. There is no easy button. I would also say that if you look at the engineering space, it’s been consolidating rapidly. When I was at MMM Group, there were about seven acquisitions and then they got swallowed up by WSP. In Canada there are essentially two major ones: WSP and Stantec. You haven’t seen much of that in construction and there are pros and cons to that. The industry is very complicated, large and diverse. You have big and small players, thousands and thousands of companies. It’s a completely bifurcated industry with a complex supply chain. It’s mind boggling and it’s the oldest profession in human kind. We have always built as humans. And that’s what excites me… it’s constantly evolving and maturing and we will get there one day. 

Sign up to attend the Construction Innovation Summit Oct. 30-31 where you can hear more from Bryant and other construction leaders.