CCA Weekly - July 17, 2012

Innovation and Technology

It’s Alive – New Technologies Emerging in Concrete

A host of innovations that are jumping off the drawing board and revolutionizing the world of cement—one of the world’s oldest construction staples. Casey Vander Ploeg, Senior Policy Analyst with the Canada West Foundation explores a few in the latest Let’s TOC blog. Read more

Infrastructure

Federal infrastructure roundtable discussions important, says Canadian Construction Association

The Canadian Construction Association (CCA) says engaging provinces and municipalities will be valuable in creating a stronger national public infrastructure program. “We’re hopeful that engaging the provinces and engaging municipalities … will produce the results that we need to help continue to generate a stronger and more prosperous economy and meet the needs that we anticipate the economy is going to have of our industry for the next decade,” said Bill Ferreira, CCA director of government relations and public affairs. Read more

CCA News

Register Today for CDBI National Design-Build Conference

Registration is open for the 2012 CDBI National Design-Build Conference, taking place from October 10-12, 2012 in St. John’s, Newfoundland. Visit www.cdbi.org to find out more about the conference and register.

Green Building

Backlog on LEED Certification Eliminated

The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Canada’s certification process experienced a significant backlog in 2010, but since that time the CaGBC have implemented a variety of initiatives to get the process back on track. Read more

Labour

Pooled Registered Pension Plans (PRPPs) Available to Those Without a Workplace Pension Plan

A new pension option for the millions of Canadians currently without access to a workplace pension plan, as Pooled Registered Pension Plans (PRPPs) will be available once provinces pass their enabling legislation. Read more

Industry News

New PWGSC Accountability/Integrity Measures

Last week, the Minister of PWGSC announced new measures as part of the Department’s desire to “strengthen accountability and crack down on firms convicted of certain criminal charges.” PWGSC had an existing list of criminal offences that rendered companies and individuals ineligible to bid on PWGSC contracts.  These measures, however, did not apply to PWGSC real property transactions.  The announcement did two things.  First, it adds five (5) new criminal offences to the existing list and secondly, it extends these measures to apply as well to future PWGSC real property transactions. Read more

Canada-Alberta pilot project expanded to include more occupations

Alberta employers looking to hire highly skilled foreign workers in certain in-demand occupations will benefit thanks to the expansion of a Temporary Foreign Worker pilot project, Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister Jason Kenney and Alberta Minister of Enterprise and Advanced Education Stephen Khan announced today. Read more