In national news, the Canada Revenue Agency has published a backgrounder on the new Canada Worker Lockdown Benefit, which runs from December 19 to February 22 and provides targeted income support to workers who cannot work due to lockdowns in their region.
In Ontario, Daily Commercial News reports that the RAP (“Reclaimed Asphalt Pavement”) Report & Best Practice Guide, intended to advise the industry with regard to the stockpiling, processing, and use of reclaimed asphalt, will be published this spring by the Ontario Asphalt Pavement Council. RAP, which is acquired from plant waste, demolition, and milling projects, reduces the cost of construction projects and more efficiently recycles industrial material, but is regarded with some wariness by Ontario municipalities, many of which either do not allow the use of RAP in their projects or sharply restrict its use.
In Alberta, the provincial government has issued an advisory that extreme cold is workplace hazard that employers have a responsibility to mitigate. The advisory also contains advice on how to do so, such as using a buddy system, ensuring the job site contains heated shelters, and implementing a warm-up schedule.
In Alberta, the CBC reports that the province will likely have transitioned away from coal-fired power years ahead of schedule, and is making excellent progress toward renewable energy targets set by the Renewable Electricity Act, which directs that 30% of the province’s power must come from renewable sources by 2030.
In industry news, Canadian Construction Association president Mary Van Buren provided her top ten predictions for Canadian construction trends and hot topics in 2022, including changes to procurement models, an increasing focus on acquiring personnel via apprenticeship programs, and continued lobbying for a long-term infrastructure plan by the federal government.
In industry news, Daily Commercial News has published a series of graphs reflecting on residential construction in 2021, which it calls an “outstanding year” for residential construction.
In industry news, Graham Construction’s vice-president of health, safety, environment, quality and sustainability gave an interview discussing his company’s strategy regarding sustainability and environmental issues. Measures include the creation of project-specific environmental plans, which incorporate the planned facility’s construction methods, materials, landscaping, and the project owner’s specific environmental rules and requirements. Graham considers this sort of planning critical for building future business, which increasingly requires bids that address such concerns.