Daily Commercial News
On this episode of the podcast Daily Commercial News staff writer Angela Gismondi looks at the current state of the labour market in Atlantic Canada. She spoke with Construction Association of Prince Edward Island general manager Sam Sanderson about the challenges faced by the industry that resonate around the country, such as shifting attitudes towards the trades as well as labour shortage issues inherent to PEI.
Angela also spoke to ConstructConnect chief economist Alex Carrick about Atlantic Canada from an economic perspective and he reflected on how the pandemic contributed to people moving to the Atlantic provinces in search of more space and affordability. He also addressed how despite a rapidly rising population and the possibility of an increasing labour pool, construction will still have towards modular, automation and other technologies to meet demand.
She also spoke with Duncan Williams, the president and CEO of the Construction Association of Nova Scotia about housing and immigration into the province, including residents of large Canadian cities moving during the COVID-19 pandemic to more affordable locations in the province.
We also have the latest headlines from the Daily Commercial News and the Journal of Commerce, including Angela’s story about Graham Construction’s work on the Lawson Centre for Sustainability, a four-storey, hybrid mass timber and concrete structure and The Independent Electricity System Operator launching its Save on Energy’s BizEnergySaver in Ottawa to help industrial, commercial, institutional and multi-unit residential building owners and operators make equipment improvements that increase energy efficiency and reduce energy consumption.
Angela also has a story from the west about The Canadian Wood Construction Research Network’s major initiative, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada-Alliance Grant Next-Generation Wood Construction research program, and digital media editor Warren Frey has a story about how B&B Contracting in Surrey, B.C. and LiUNA Local 1611 were able to train high school students right after graduation so they have a fast track into the construction industry.
Economic stories highlighted include John Clinkard’s look at how while Canada is welcoming more international immigrants than ever before, it may be imperiling the goal of improving housing affordability, and new Top 10 ConstructConnect project lists for both Canada and the United States.
You can listen to The Construction Record on the Daily Commercial News and Journal of Commerce websites as well as on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Amazon Music’s podcast section. Our previous interview with City of Vancouver green building manager Sean Pander and clean energy engineer Brenda Scott Castro about how Vancouver can adapt aging architecture to changing climate conditions is here. Thanks for listening.
Graham outlines what goes into constructing the U of T Lawson Centre for Sustainability
Local energy efficiency program launched for businesses in Ottawa
Insurance Essentials: Liability risk mitigation tips for electrical contractors
Ground broken on second Surrey hospital, new cancer centre
Eliminating misconceptions, filling gaps focus of national mass timber research project
Surrey high schoolers fast-track into apprenticeship roles
Exceptional Immigration Imperils Goal of Improved Housing Affordability
Top 10 major upcoming educational and medical construction projects – Canada – September 2023
Top 10 major upcoming Midwest and Northwest construction projects – U.S. – September 2023
The Construction Record Podcast – Episode 301: training the next generation of construction workers
