👷Talent Thursdays: Higher wages

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Good morning! 🪖 Do you run your site like a drill sergeant? Mexico is sourcing labour like one too. The Mexican army has been deployed to help speed up infrastructure projects that have seen slow progress. It’s not the first time the army has been called to pick up the slack either.

📈 LABOUR BY THE NUMBERS

The Alberta Construction Safety Association (ACSA) is emphasizing the need to protect young, inexperienced workers, who make up over 55% of first-year injury claims in construction, as the industry grapples with a labor shortage. CEO Mark Hoosein highlights that these new workers often hesitate to ask questions, aiming to prove themselves, which can compromise safety.

👷‍♀️ PEOPLE MOVES

Candice White will be the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for Skilled Trades Ontario (STO), effective November 25, 2024. White brings over a decade of executive level experience, including serving as the Chief Administrative Officer for multiple municipalities, most recently the Municipality of Port Hope, and on boards of provincial agencies.

Harold Reinders has been appointed Chair of the League of Champions. The league is a distinguished organization dedicated to promoting safety champions and advocating for a strong health and safety culture within the construction industry. 

Jesse Unke has wrapped up his time as president and CEO of Maven Consulting. He thanked his colleagues at Maven for the opportunity and is excited for his next steps. But before that, he intends to attend an auto show in Las Vegas with his father. 

Ben Martin is Ledcor Industries’ new Senior Vice President, Finance and Risk Management. Martin has more than 15 years of industry experience. 

Nathan Sikkes is McElhanney’s new Energy and Resources Market Sector Vice President in B.C. and Warren Lippitt is their new Prairies South Regional Vice President.

🗞 HEADLINES

New rules: 👷‍♀️ Changes requiring higher wages for Canada’s high-wage temporary foreign worker program could challenge sectors like trucking and construction, which rely heavily on foreign labor. The wage cap increase—20% above provincial median wages—may prevent thousands of job renewals, especially in areas with over 6% unemployment, worsening labor shortages.

Succession plan: 🏗️ PCL Construction has appointed Chris Gower as its new President and CEO, marking him as the ninth leader in the company’s 118-year history. With nearly 30 years at PCL, Gower has held senior roles including Deputy CEO and Chief Operating Officer, contributing significantly to the company's growth and entry into the solar energy sector.

Premier trip: 🛢️ Alberta Premier Danielle Smith is visiting the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to explore investment and economic development opportunities. During her visit, she will attend the Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference (ADIPEC), where she plans to meet with Alberta exhibitors and international partners. She plans to highlight Alberta's efforts to become a sustainable energy producer. 

Anchored: 🚢 The British Columbia Maritime Employers Association (BCMEA) is warning it may reconsider its final offer to over 700 unionized workers, as a lockout halts most port operations on Canada’s West Coast. This lockout, triggered by strike actions from the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) Local 514, has caused a complete shutdown of container cargo traffic across B.C., impacting ports from Vancouver to Prince Rupert.

🏆 AWARDS

Last call: ‘25 Innovators’ nominations close tomorrow

The window of opportunity to apply for this year’s 25 Innovators in Construction program is nearly shut. The final day for nominations is tomorrow. Winners will not only have their accomplishments broadcast to the entire industry, they will be invited to a private event to meet other innovators and celebrate their accomplishments. Click on the link below to nominate your company or others.

🧠 LEADERSHIP

Resources for professional development

• The do’s and don’ts of running a tech pilot

• A playbook for for risk management in public procurement

• What our body language communicates about confidence

• 12 books to turbocharge your communication skills

• 4 Work habits to develop before 2024 is over

🔥HOT JOBS

Project Manager, Warranties - Vancouver, B.C. - Axiom Builders

Project Manager, Mechanical Works - Pickering, Ont. - Aecon Group

Estimating Lead - Montreal, Que. - Bechtel

Project Manager - Vancouver, B.C. - Colliers

Project Manager, Flynn Industrial - Slave Lake, Alta. - Flynn Group

Field Coordinator, Energy Construction - Elkford, B.C. - Kiewit

🔥 Check out all roles up for grabs right now at SiteNews Jobs or put your job post in front of tens of thousands of construction professionals here.

Struggling to fill a role? send us an email at [email protected] to connect with one of our specialized recruitment experts.

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Here’s to a great rest of the week!

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