🏗️ Construction cabinet

Together with

Good morning! 🦉 Here’s a nice hoot to ease back into work after the long weekend. Toronto’s new 30-foot wooden owl has topped off near Don River. The structure features a stage in its belly, its eyes serve as windows, and the surrounding seating is shaped like a nest.

⏰ Today’s read: 5 minutes

MARKETS

Economy: Despite a challenging economic climate marked by rising borrowing costs and market uncertainties, findings from a Canadian Construction Association report found that construction’s small and medium-sized enterprises have demonstrated remarkable resilience to maintain stability in the marketplace.

THE BIG STORY

Does construction need its own minister?

B.C. builders are advocating for the creation of a new provincial cabinet role, the Minister of Construction, to provide a dedicated voice for the construction industry in B.C.’s legislature.

Why do it: With B.C.’s construction industry contributing $27 billion to the province’s GDP and the total current value of construction projects sitting at $160+ billion, the associations argue it’s high time the sector had its own dedicated voice at the legislature.

Fragmented responsibility: Nationally, construction responsibility is spread out between various ministers, including minister of infrastructure and communities, minister of housing, and the minister of public services and procurement. 

Solving problems: Construction issues bleed into everything and we are lagging behind. According to the 2020 World Bank's Doing Business report, Canada ranked 34th out of 35 OECD countries for its permitting approval periods. The average time to get a general construction permit in Canada increased from 75 days to close to 249 days. In the U.S. the average was 81 days. 

A seat at the table: Construction employs over 1.6 million people in Canada, creating an employment creation ripple effect in other sectors like engineering, manufacturing, technology and retail. The industry contributes about $151 billion to the economy annually, accounting for 7.4% of Canada’s GDP. For contrast, recent data shows quarrying and oil and gas extraction represented 7.8%. They receive representation from the minister of energy and natural resources of Canada. Why not construction?

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH COOPER EQUIPMENT RENTAL

Decarbonization project tour announced

At the Construction Leaders Forum in Toronto this September, we won’t just be talking about construction. We will be experiencing it. We are excited to announce that attendees will be able to take part in a guided tour of the Fairmont Royal York’s recent decarbonization project. This historic project retrofitted the 94-year-old facility and will reduce the hotel’s annual carbon emissions by 80%. Click on the link below to secure your tickets to attend the event and join the tour.

NEED TO KNOW

The week's headlines

🏗️ Still life: Construction on the new Vancouver Art Gallery (VAG) has stalled due to a significant cost increase, with the project budget rising from $400 million to $600 million, largely driven by inflation over the past two years. This unexpected rise has prompted the VAG to revisit the design through value engineering to reduce costs. Consequently, the gallery's completion and opening, originally slated for 2028, will be delayed. 

⚡Gas expansion:  Linde has signed a long-term agreement for the supply of clean hydrogen to Dow’s Fort Saskatchewan Path2Zero Project. The company will invest more than $2 billion to build, own and operate a world-scale integrated clean hydrogen and atmospheric gasses facility in Alberta. Linde’s new on-site complex will use autothermal reforming and HISORP carbon capture technology to produce clean hydrogen and will also recover hydrogen contained in off-gasses from Dow’s ethylene cracker.

💰 Powering up: BC Hydro plans to invest approximately $1 billion in capital projects over the next decade to upgrade and expand the electricity grid in the Fraser Valley, covering Chilliwack, Abbotsford, Mission, Hope, and Harrison Hot Springs. This investment is part of BC Hydro's updated 10-Year Capital Plan, which includes $36 billion in infrastructure investments across British Columbia, reflecting the growing demand for electricity due to population growth, industrial development, and a shift from fossil fuels to clean energy.

🏠 Need for speed: The governments of Canada, Quebec, and the City of Montreal are supporting a fast-track housing program that will result in the construction of 1,001 affordable homes in Montreal and Rimouski, Quebec. These homes will remain affordable for at least 35 years, with rent prices set by the provincial housing agency. The fast-track program prioritizes experienced developers with a proven track record.

PROJECT SPOTLIGHT

Revitalize NBM

The New Brunswick Museum has officially begun the next phase of its Revitalize NBM project with a groundbreaking ceremony. Designed by Diamond Schmitt in collaboration with EXP, the project will partially rebuild and expand the historic building in Saint John, preserving its façade while integrating it with the site's unique topography.

PROJECT UPDATES

Construction work complete on Bay of Quinte Skyway Bridge

Ontario supports Makwa Waakaa’igan Cultural Centre construction 

Construction begins on Burke Mountain school in Coquitlam

Ontario announces largest energy procurement 

Manitoba funds waste disposal site

WHAT WE’RE TALKING ABOUT

PHOTOS: 📸 The best construction shots from August

READ: 🤝 B.C. Conservatives meet with builders

PHOTOS: 🖍️ Work crews receive ‘thank you’ drawings

READ: 🚀 America’s largest contract has a space division 

READ: 💰 How much the Jasper wildfire will cost insurers

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Here’s to a great rest of the week!

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