On this episode of The Construction Record Podcast, digital media editor Warren Frey speaks with Association of Equipment Manufacturers senior vice-president of government and industry relations Kip Eideberg about the state of U.S. immigration and how it affects demand for skilled tradespeople.
Eideberg recently wrote an op-ed for The Hill placing the blame for stalled immigration reform on both parties in Congress. He said with 85,000 job openings in the equipment manufacturing industry there are regions of the U.S. that simply don’t have enough Americans to fill required positions.
He added immigration can revitalize rural areas and that demographic shifts such as an aging population will only exacerbate the problem unless a bipartisan consensus is reached soon.
We also have a summary of recent stories on the Daily of Commercial News and Journal of Commerce with news editor Lindsey Cole including the massive Whitby Sports Complex Community Centre Building as the costs to build the project spike to $159.4 million and second the two-part series about the Port Lands project in Toronto.
From the west, Lindsey talks about the Lake Manitoba/Lake St. Martin Outlet Channels Project and how the Manitoba Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure has submitted and environmental assessment to the Impact Agency of Canada and where it’s at currently as stakeholders wait to begin construction. She also pointed to the British Columbia Construction Association showing optimism as the government of British Columbia seems to be making steps toward prompt-payment legislation.
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 episode’s interview with CAWIC president Lisa Laronde is here. Thanks for listening.
Whitby Sports Complex moves forward following cost spike to $159.4 million
Port Lands deep dive: Creating a new mouth for the Don River
What’s the status on the long-awaited Manitoba outlet channels project?
BCCA sees signs of hope for creating prompt payment legislation