Special Feature
COVID-19
The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in unprecedented impacts and challenges for the construction industry to deal with. Explore here the issues, trends, obstacles and solutions you need to tackle this crisis.
Special Coverage of COVID-19
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Feature Articles - COVID-19
Your top JOC headlines: July 6 to 10
This week’s top JOC headlines cover an Alberta government announcement that prop...
Economic , Government , Infrastructure , Labour
Liberals foresee high unemployment, $343-billion deficit due to COVID-19
OTTAWA — Nearly two million Canadians could be without jobs this year under fore...
Economic , Government
Vancouver councillor pushes for corner store revival post-pandemic
One of Vancouver’s oldest local institutions is getting a second look in light o...
Government
Global oil demand rebound from pandemic’s lows prompts price spike forecasts
CALGARY — Oil analysts say a rebound in the world's hunger for oil has already s...
Economic
Canada sees historic drop in construction spending
Statistics Canada is reporting historic drops in construction investment. The n...
Economic
Ottawa commits $49.9 million to northern B.C. infrastructure projects
VICTORIA — Government officials have announced new infrastructure investments fo...
Infrastructure
Your top JOC headlines: June 29 to July 3
This week’s top JOC headlines feature a digital solution for dealing with COVID-...
Infrastructure , Labour , Resource , Technology
Construction industry applauds Alberta government’s recovery plan
Alberta construction industry leaders are praising the provincial government’s n...
Associations , Government
Clark Builders goes digital for COVID-19 questionnaires
Clark Builders is ditching paper questionnaires in favour of QR codes to limit t...
OH&S , Technology
Vancouver Island University gives students jobsite experience
With some quick thinking and assistance from its partners, Vancouver Island Univ...
Labour
B.C.’s Highway 33 slated for repaving upgrades
KELOWNA, B.C. — B.C. officials plan to spend $6.5 million repaving part of Highw...
Infrastructure
Constructors getting a ‘crash course’ in higher tech: Procore panellists
As traumatic as the COVID-19 pandemic has been for the construction sector and t...
Technology
Metro Vancouver officials push for infrastructure spending
METRO VANCOUVER — Metro Vancouver officials are urging the B.C. government to pr...
Government , Infrastructure
New CCA guide updates advice on bid conflicts
The Canadian Construction Association (CCA) has issued a revised guide to dealin...
Associations
Saskatchewan to spend $110 million on school projects
REGINA — Saskatchewan has announced $110.5 million in funding for six new major...
Infrastructure
CaGBC announces program for fall green building series
OTTAWA — The Canada Green Building Council has released details of its upcoming...
Associations
Your top JOC headlines: June 22 to 26
This week’s top JOC headlines cover a Nunavut man’s vision for energy-efficient...
Infrastructure , OH&S , Projects , Resource
BCCR aims to inspire bold infrastructure planning in B.C.
As B.C. begins to plot a course for its economy in the wake COVID-19, the BC Con...
Economic , Infrastructure
The Construction Record Podcast: Episode 86 – Women in Construction, opioids and COVID-19, and an interview with Jesse Unke
This week on the Construction Record podcast, Daily Commercial News and Journal...
Opioid epidemic still plagues trades during COVID-19 storm
In a world already consumed by a global pandemic, an old foe has gathered new st...
Associations , OH&S
The Economy under COVID-19: Notes from my New Hiding Place – Within the Herd (June 17, 2020)
Since we’re all cautiously emerging from sanctuary, the former title of m...
Economic
B.C. wood industry welcomes provincial support for mass timber construction
B.C. wood builders and product manufacturers are applauding the province’s push...
Government , Resource
Industry Perspectives Op-Ed: Favouring unions is ‘bad for Canadian workers, bad for communities’
RE: Robert Kucheran’s Op-Ed of June 9, 2020: “Investing in Infrastructur...
Government , Labour
Alberta forms council to advise premier on economic recovery strategy
The Alberta government has appointed a Premier’s Economic Recovery Council (PERC...
Economic , Government
First Nations communities want to benefit from stimulus spending: Edwards
With stimulus programs beginning to roll out from governments as part of the pos...
Government , Infrastructure
Coverage of Community Benefits Agreements revisited, a JOC compilation
It’s no secret that since the B.C. NDP government implemented Community Benefits...
Government , Infrastructure , Labour
Experts discuss the pros and cons of COVID-19 productivity impacts
An architectural firm is looking at new ways of operating business that show a p...
Economic , Technology
City of Winnipeg launches Building Energy Disclosure Project
WINNIPEG — The City of Winnipeg has launched a new project to publicly map commu...
Government
C.D. Howe urges targeted stimulus spending
TORONTO — The C.D. Howe Institute’s COVID-19 crisis Working Group on Business Co...
Economic
B.C. aims to grow mass timber construction and become the ‘Harvard of green building’
VICTORIA — B.C. officials have tapped Ravi Kahlon, the parliamentary secretary f...
Government , Resource
Last survivor of 1958 disaster won’t let COVID-19 stop him from honouring dead
VANCOUVER — A sunny afternoon instantly turned dark for Lucien Lessard on June 1...
Others
McKenna talks supply chains, stimulus at CCA ‘Un-Conference’
Federal Minister of Infrastructure and Communities Catherine McKenna outlined he...
Associations , Government
B.C. holds off on wood export changes to help industry weather COVID-19
VICTORIA — Government officials in B.C. are postponing export regulation changes...
Government , Resource
Canadians want open, fair bidding: ICBA, Merit poll
A new nationwide poll commissioned by Merit Canada and the Independent Contracto...
Associations , Government
City of Vancouver launches virtual open house
VANCOUVER — The City of Vancouver is launching digital tools to facilitate publi...
Technology
First Nations group releases framework for low-carbon prosperity
VANCOUVER — A new draft policy framework has been released by the First Nations...
Resource
COVID-19 spurring a massive shift in real estate, built environment thinking
As cities and businesses around the globe are adjusting to the COVID-19 pandemic...
Projects , Technology
RAIC postpones 2021 International Prize and Scholarship launch
OTTAWA — The Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (RAIC) is postponing the 20...
Associations
The Economy under COVID-19: Notes from my New Hiding Place – Within the Herd (June 12, 2020)
Since we’re all cautiously emerging from sanctuary, the former title of m...
Economic
Your top JOC headlines: June 8 to 12
This week’s top JOC headlines feature an opinion piece on the importance of unit...
Government , Labour , Resource , Technology
Letter To The Editor: Oppressive CBA regimes need to be scrapped and replaced
To the Editor; Re: Investing in infrastructure must mean investing in C...
Associations
Canadian Chamber publishes Roadmap to Recovery
OTTAWA — The Canadian Chamber of Commerce has published a document it calls a Ro...
Economic , Government
Lowe’s strikes deal to build $120 million Calgary distribution centre
CALGARY — Lowe's Canada says work will start this month on a new distribution ce...
Economic , Projects
Industry Perspectives Op-Ed: Construction is an ally of Canadian tech, not an enemy
Is Canada’s technology sector picking a fight with construction? That was the i...
Technology
Partners’ software integration a key to post-COVID-19 recovery: tech guru
Constructors casting about for ways to increase efficiencies and minimize costs...
Technology
BCIT adjusts training to keep trades students on track amidst COVID-19 pandemic
After an intense safety planning and curriculum adjustment, trades students at t...
Labour
Manitoba tops up climate resiliency funding, highlights major upgrades
WINNIPEG — Officials in Manitoba are committing $33 million towards damage preve...
Government
Design community issues COVID-19 main street challenge
OTTAWA — Two design associations are issuing a Canada-wide challenge to develop...
Others
Saskatchewan announces major bridge, culvert spending
REGINA — The Government of Saskatchewan plans to boost spending on bridge and cu...
Government , Infrastructure
Industry Perspectives Op-Ed: Investing in infrastructure must mean investing in Canadians
With governments across Canada considering investments in infrastructure as a wa...
Government , Infrastructure
National unemployment rate hits new record even as economy adds jobs
OTTAWA — Statistics Canada reports a record high unemployment rate as the econom...
Economic
Winnipeg aviation museum begins construction of new facility amidst COVID-19
Construction on a brand new 86,000-square-foot facility for Winnipeg’s close to...
Projects
Edmonton launches environmental rebates programs
EDMONTON — The City of Edmonton is launching several environmental rebates and t...
Government , Projects
PCA embraces B.C. Builders Code
VANCOUVER — The Progressive Contractors Association of Canada (PCA) has announce...
Associations
Saskatchewan invests $28 million in rural road improvement
REGINA — The Government of Saskatchewan is investing $28 million towards road im...
Government , Infrastructure
National associations united in federal recovery roundtable discussions
Leaders of national construction associations now have a federal government foru...
Associations
Can HVAC systems transmit COVID-19?
A team of researchers at the University of Alberta (U of A) is investigating the...
Others
MCAC says it’s pressing the feds hard on stimulus
A consultant for the Mechanical Contractors Association of Canada (MCAC) told co...
Associations , Government
What’s in store for post-COVID-19 design and construction?
Although we can’t predict the future, no one will be surprised if, a few years f...
Projects
Trudeau promises to speed $2 billion in funding for strapped cities
OTTAWA — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says the federal government is rushing $2...
Government , Infrastructure
Trans Mountain reaches ‘key milestone’ as pipeline construction begins in B.C.
KAMLOOPS, B.C. - Trans Mountain says it has reached another “key milestone” in t...
Projects , Resource
Saskatchewan construction associations team up for COVID-19 food bank drive
Construction is coming together to keep Saskatchewan fed during the pandemic. S...
Associations
Oilpatch advocates tell MPs help needs to be faster, easier to get
OTTAWA — Representatives from Canada's oilpatch said they don't know of a single...
Economic , Government , Resource
Technical safety regulator takes new approach to move through COVID-19
While COVID-19 has upended the construction industry, along with the rest of soc...
OH&S
Your top JOC headlines: May 25 to 29
This week’s top JOC headlines cover pandemic discussions, designs and debates. A...
Economic , Infrastructure , OH&S , Projects
Industry Perspectives Op-Ed: Shovel-ready lessons from New Zealand
What constitutes “shovel-ready” is a topic much under debate as government’s aro...
Economic , Government
COVID-19 and mental health: Construction is not immune
As both a medical pandemic and a scary idea inside our heads, COVID-19 is unprec...
Labour , OH&S
The Construction Record Podcast: Episode 84 – a new era for the Daily Commercial News, 3D printing and coming together for a good cause in Saskatchewan
This week your hosts for the Construction Record Podcast are Daily Commercial Ne...
Edmonton senior centre project shaping up despite COVID-19 challenges
EDMONTON — The Government of Alberta has released an update on the Gene Zwozdesk...
Projects
Saskatchewan government invests $10.3 million into park renewal projects
REGINA — The Government of Saskatchewan is investing $10.3 million into several...
Government , Infrastructure
PCL designs ‘Quaran-Tin’ pods to expand COVID-19 hospital spaces
PCL Construction is putting its modular construction expertise to use in the fig...
Projects
Highway 1 resurfacing in Burnaby set to begin
BURNABY, B.C. — Resurfacing work is scheduled to start May 31 on Highway 1 betwe...
Infrastructure
Gathering limits make it a ‘great time to be building a pipeline’: Alberta minister
EDMONTON — Alberta's energy minister says it's a good time to build a pipeline b...
Infrastructure
Alberta construction leaders push back on Biden Keystone rejection
Alberta industry leaders are condemning Joe Biden’s rejection of the Keystone XL...
Government , Infrastructure , Resource
B.C. begins new round of affordable housing projects
VANCOUVER — Government officials in B.C. are asking non-profit and Indigenous ho...
Government , Projects
Deal struck to dismantle blockades at Manitoba Hydro site, Indigenous group says
SPLIT LAKE, MAN. — A Manitoba Indigenous group says there's a deal with the prov...
Government , Infrastructure , OH&S
BC Building Trades call for public inquiry into COVID-19 health and safety
The BC Building Trades Council (BCBT) is asking the province to launch a public...
Government , OH&S
Vancouver couple prints PPE to push back on pandemic
A Vancouver couple with backgrounds in interior design and engineering are combi...
OH&S , Technology
Your top JOC headlines: May 18 to 22
This week’s top JOC headlines cover a COVID-19 outbreak that stems from the Kear...
Government , Infrastructure , Labour , OH&S
Alberta Energy Regulator suspends environment monitoring for oilpatch over COVID
CALGARY — A wide array of environmental monitoring requirements have been suspen...
Government
UPDATE: Indigenous group continues blockade over COVID-19 concerns in northern Manitoba
SPLIT LAKE, MAN. — Members of northern Manitoba First Nations who are worried ab...
Government , Infrastructure
Kearl Lake outbreak cases continue to rise
FORT MCMURRAY, ALTA. — A COVID-19 outbreak at the Kearl Lake oilsands project ne...
OH&S
Vancouver planners advocate for COVID-19 housing recalibration
Vancouver planners are looking at the pandemic as a possible reset button for th...
Economic
Oilpatch M&A expected to pick up after pandemic’s dampening of demand eases
CALGARY — The financial stress caused by low oil prices from plummeting fuel dem...
Economic , Resource
Injunction calls for removal of Manitoba blockade set up over COVID-19 concerns
SPLIT LAKE, MAN. — A court injunction is ordering members of a Manitoba First Na...
Government
BCCA’s Builders Code, ‘Cool or Tool’ content goes digital
VANCOUVER — The COVID-19 crisis isn’t stopping the BC Construction Association (...
Associations , Technology
ACEC cancels fall leadership conference
OTTAWA — The Association of Consulting Engineering Companies – Canada (ACEC) has...
Associations
Union criticizes Manitoba worksite inspections since COVID-19 pandemic
The Manitoba Government and General Employees' Union (MGEU) is calling on the pr...
OH&S
Construction COVID-19 stimulus welcome, but details are needed
National construction associations are applauding the federal government’s plan...
Government , Infrastructure
Industry Perspectives Op-Ed: Gender equity on jobsites needs legislation
If federal Infrastructure Minister Katherine McKenna needs any assistance prepar...
Labour
Industry Perspectives Op-Ed: Why the construction trades are the pandemic-proof career choice
To call these challenging times for job seekers would be an understatement. COV...
Labour
The Construction Record Podcast – Episode 83: Construction copes with COVID and the future of building post-pandemic
This week Daily Commercial News and Journal of Commerce national managing editor...
Your top JOC headlines: May 11 to 15
This week’s top JOC headlines delve into fines, fever monitoring and major proje...
Infrastructure , OH&S , Projects
B.C. construction leaders back federal COVID-19 infrastructure stream
Western Canadian construction leaders are reacting positively to a new COVID-19-...
Associations , Government , Infrastructure
Manitoba announces $500-million infrastructure plan
WINNIPEG — Manitoba has unveiled $500 million in infrastructure spending to help...
Government , Infrastructure
Trudeau cites uncertainty around pandemic as reason for budget delay
OTTAWA — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau isn't saying when his government will pro...
Government
Kearl Lake oilsands outbreak rises to 83
An outbreak of COVID-19 at the Kearl Lake oilsands project near Fort McMurray, A...
OH&S , Resource
Manitoba builders urge infrastructure spending boost as COVID-19 measures lift
As provinces across Canada begin to relax some safety measures related to COVID-...
Associations
B.C. Premier John Horgan set to announce slow reopening of economy today
VICTORIA — British Columbia is expected to announce plans today for a gradual re...
Economic , Government
Safety software steps up to work past COVID-19
Salus CEO and co-founder Gabriel Guetta says Salus Pro, his Vancouver-based comp...
Technology
Lunch box challenge supports local business and treats workers
Builders in B.C. have found a delicious way to support the communities they work...
Others
Industry Perspectives Op-Ed: Charting a road to recovery
A deep sense of resignation and inevitability has settled in as we have watched...
Economic
City of Winnipeg continues capital plan despite pandemic
Manitoba’s capital city is combating COVID-19 with capital planning. The City o...
Economic , Government
Calgary construction companies on front lines of pandemic fight
Two innovative Calgary construction companies who teamed up to provide rapid hea...
Projects
WorkSafeBC starts COVID-19 focused inspections
British Columbia’s safety enforcement authority is stepping up inspections as CO...
Labour , OH&S
2020 CAPP Energy Symposium goes virtual
CALGARY, ALTA. – The Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP) announce...
Associations , Resource
More Articles - COVID-19
Liberals foresee high unemployment, $343-billion deficit due to COVID-19
OTTAWA — Nearly two million Canadians could be without jobs this year under fore...
Economic , Government
Vancouver councillor pushes for corner store revival post-pandemic
One of Vancouver’s oldest local institutions is getting a second look in light o...
Government
Total U.S. Put-in-place Construction to be -4.5% in 2020 versus 2019
U.S. put-in-place construction spending, during the coronavirus health crisis, h...
Economic
Canada sees historic drop in construction spending
Statistics Canada is reporting historic drops in construction investment. The n...
Economic
Ottawa commits $49.9 million to northern B.C. infrastructure projects
VICTORIA — Government officials have announced new infrastructure investments fo...
Infrastructure
Construction industry applauds Alberta government’s recovery plan
Alberta construction industry leaders are praising the provincial government’s n...
Associations , Government
U.S. Economy Claws Back 29% of Earlier Big Drop in Jobs
With today’s June Employment Situation report from the Bureau of Labor Statistic...
Economic
Clark Builders goes digital for COVID-19 questionnaires
Clark Builders is ditching paper questionnaires in favour of QR codes to limit t...
OH&S , Technology
10 Pandemic Impacts on Construction Costing
As with most things pandemic-related, it’s hard to know where the cost of...
Economic
Metro Vancouver officials push for infrastructure spending
METRO VANCOUVER — Metro Vancouver officials are urging the B.C. government to pr...
Government , Infrastructure
Constructors getting a ‘crash course’ in higher tech: Procore panellists
As traumatic as the COVID-19 pandemic has been for the construction sector and t...
Technology
Alberta cuts business tax, boosts infrastructure spending to reboot economy
EDMONTON - Alberta is cutting business taxes and pumping $10 billion into infras...
Economic , Government
More Editorial Features
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Inflation - What's Costing You More!
Consumer Price Index - Inflation U.S. & Canada What's costing you more!
Retail Sales Strong Growth!
Strong job growth = more spending U.S. vs. Canada Retail Sales (Summer 2017)
Global Currency Values Moving into Better Balance!
The world economy is in better balance and the U.S. and Canada are doing well.
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Canada sees historic drop in construction spending
Statistics Canada is reporting historic drops in construction investment. The n...
Economic
10 Pandemic Impacts on Construction Costing
As with most things pandemic-related, it’s hard to know where the cost of...
Economic
Fast + Epp tackling tall wood with innovative Vancouver office project
A new code change is pushing wood engineering forward in Vancouver and beyond....
Projects
WSP, Altus Group officially launch geomatics firm GeoVerra
EDMONTON — GeoVerra, one of the country’s largest geomatics firms with offices i...
Economic
Constructors getting a ‘crash course’ in higher tech: Procore panellists
As traumatic as the COVID-19 pandemic has been for the construction sector and t...
Technology
New CCA guide updates advice on bid conflicts
The Canadian Construction Association (CCA) has issued a revised guide to dealin...
Associations
Burnaby Hospital shortlists teams for $577-million expansion project
BURNABY, B.C. — Three teams have been shortlisted to construct a $577-million ex...
Infrastructure
Sponsored Content: How to Qualify as a Red Seal Welder and Why
The job opportunities for Red Seal welders are endless in Canada. At the moment...