Wednesday, September 25, 2024 
Manitoba defends choice of lowest energy code for new builds
The Manitoba government has decided to adopt the lowest possible standard for energy efficiency when the newest national model codes take effect next year. “It’s a missed opportunity to reduce the cost of living for Manitobans,” said Laura Tyler, executive director…
Construction labour crunch leaves Canada in need of boosting ranks of home builders
Canada is growing rapidly — and so are its housing needs. In turn, these pressures are testing the construction industry, which finds itself dealing with a mounting labour shortage. There are tens of thousands of unfilled construction jobs across the country — including up to 20,000 open positions in Ontario alone —…
Back Roads Bill: Bridges to depression-era construction
Road construction season is on. While waiting in line for the flag person to eventually give the stopped traffic the go-ahead with the fluorescent SLOW sign, waving back and forth. These are called traffic control paddles. The Romans invented concrete (opus caementicium)…
Here’s what experts say could help keep roofs from blowing off in the event of a tornado
As the cleanup continues after a tornado ripped through the south Ottawa suburb of Barrhaven this week, researchers with Western University’s Northern Tornadoes Project suggest a $200 hurricane strap could have prevented some of the roof damage to homes in the…
Hillcore Group Acquires Ruskin Construction
Hillcore Group recently announced that they have completed the acquisition of control of Ruskin Construction Ltd. Founded in 1989, Ruskin Construction has worked for 34 years to provide clients across North America with quality construction services. Ruskin specializes in temporary resource bridges, as well as…
Sudbury puts new road resurfacing technique on pause
A pilot project using a new technique to replace asphalt in Sudbury on three area roadways is at a standstill. The hot-in-place recycling project started earlier this summer with work on part of the Kingsway, between Moonlight and Third Avenue, but…
B.C. home builders say construction costs and high interest rates are hobbling them
While rents in many B.C. cities are soaring higher every month and house prices continue to rise, the number of homes being built is declining, with home builders saying that interest rates and prohibitive land and construction costs continue to hobble…
ASSE International and CSA Group Release ASSE 1003 / CSA B356
ASSE International and the CSA Group are pleased to announce the release of ASSE 1003/CSA B356, Pressure Reducing Devices, the first of three harmonized standards of which the two standards developing organizations (SDO) recently agreed to develop jointly. The resulting standard will…
Investment in Canadian building construction declines in May
According to Statistics Canada, in May 2023, Canada experienced a decline in investment in building construction, decreasing by 1.2% to $19.9 billion. This decrease was primarily driven by a 1.7% drop in the residential sector, which amounted to $14.0 billion, while…
Canadian housing starts see significant increase in June
In June 2023, Canada experienced a notable upswing in housing starts, marking the largest monthly increase in a decade. The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) reported that the seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR) of housing starts reached 281,373 units, a…
Rethinking the Disaster Recovery Status Quo
Finding a more efficient and proactive way to deal with disaster recovery is a priority for property owners & managers. It can mean staying open for business and truly being able to weather the storm. Most of us never consider the…
J.P. Towner appointed Chief Financial Officer of RONA
RONA inc., one of Canada’s leading home improvement retailers operating or servicing some 425 corporate and affiliated stores under different banners, recently announced the appointment of J.P. Towner to the role of Chief Financial Officer, effective on October 16, 2023. “I am delighted…
Why Forecasting Project Costs is Important for your Construction Business
From day one on a construction project, the number one question everyone has is whether the project will meet the expected budget. You can wait to answer this question at the end of the project when you can’t do anything about it,…
6 Safety Tips for the Potash and Oil Sands Mining Industries
Fertilizer is a fuel that feeds agriculture, and potash (potassium chloride) is a central ingredient in fertilizer. So much so that 95% of all potash produced is used to manufacture fertilizer despite its utility for soap, glass, pharmaceuticals, water conditioners, and other products.…
Fecon introduces new Disc Hawk Compact Disc Mulcher
Fecon LLC, a leading global manufacturer of heavy-duty site preparation attachments and forestry accessories, expands its line of premier attachments with the launch of the Disc HawkTM disc mulcher. Specifically designed for high-flow skid steers and compact track loaders, the attachment increases…
