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Professional Services: Finance, Bonding, Insurance, Construction Law, Business Practices

July 7, 2008

Brookfield completes financing for acquisition of Itiquira generating plant

Brookfield Renewable Power Inc. announced it has completed a US$120-million project financing related to the acquisition of the Itiquira hydroelectric generating facility in Brazil.

June 20, 2008

Two London, ON healthcare projects reach financial close

Infrastructure Ontario, London Health Sciences Centre and St. Joseph’s Health Care, London, announced on June 18, 2008, that the hospitals and EllisDon Corporation have achieved financial close to build and finance their redevelopment projects.

May 30, 2008

Energem announces investment in African dam

Energem Resources Inc. has announced a memorandum of understanding to take a 40 per cent interest in the proposed 900-megawatt Stieglers Gorge hydroelectric development in Tanzania.

May 28, 2008

Rising asphalt prices cut into Mississippi’s paving plans

The Mississippi Department of Transportation plans to spend between US$55 million and US$60 million on road overlays in fiscal 2009, up about USUS$10 million past few years, according to the Jackson, Miss. Clarion-Ledger.

May 28, 2008

Infrastructure Ontario takes AFP model to the road

In conjunction with the Ministry of Transportation, Infrastructure Ontario (IO) is taking a hard look at opportunities to apply its alternative financing and procurement (AFP) model to road projects.

May 16, 2008

Canadian Construction Association backs changes to Employment Insurance rate-setting process

The Canadian Construction Association recently spoke before a Commons Standing Committee on human resources to express the industry’s views on a proposed Canada Employment Insurance Financing Board.

April 18, 2008

Massachusetts governor unveils $3.8-billion bond proposal for repair of more than 400 bridges

Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick plans to unveil a US$3.8 billion bond proposal to repair 411 deteriorating bridges throughout the state over the next eight years, a project he will argue not only improves road safety but also pumps cash into the economy to buffer Massachusetts from a recession.

April 15, 2008

How employers can avoid liability in disputes over work assignments

Construction industry employers often behave as if they are immune from liability in jurisdictional disputes.

April 11, 2008

BP PLC and ConocoPhillips announce $600-million Denali gas pipeline project

Britain’s BP PLC and ConocoPhillips, based in Houston, announced plans this week to jointly develop a multi-billion-dollar natural gas pipeline to move North Slope natural gas to U.S. markets through Canada.

April 8, 2008

Bondfield Construction wins contract to build, finance Credit Valley Hospital expansion

The Credit Valley Hospital and Infrastructure Ontario have selected Bondfield Construction Co. Ltd. to build and finance the hospital’s Phase II Expansion and Redevelopment Project.

January 19, 2007

Simple steps to maximizing your surety credit

Surety is a form of credit, much like banking. Having spent the past 20 years in both the surety and banking industries, I have developed an appreciation of the characteristics demonstrated by the most successful contractors. Many of these traits happen to be the key areas surety underwriters focus on, and if put into practice, should result in greater credit being made available.

January 19, 2007

Accountability Act casts wide net around work

Depending on how meetings are arranged and their purpose, under changes to Canada’s Federal Accountability Act engineers, construction company employees and members of other professional organizations may find they’re now considered lobbyists — with heavy penalties for failing to identify themselves and their interactions with government.

January 19, 2007

Non-compliance a sticking point in legal battles

In 1981, the Supreme Court of Canada’s decision in Ontario v. Ron Engineering changed the legal landscape of invitations to tender.

January 19, 2007

Digital documents raise legitimacy, storage concerns

In some construction industry contracts, a letter is not deemed to be an official communication if it is sent via email.

January 19, 2007

Study raises questions about actual costs

Public-private partnerships in British Columbia have sparked $4.7 billion in construction projects since 2002, but critics say taxpayers may end up paying more than they bargained for in the long run.

January 19, 2007

Keep those old liability policies

Ever dispose of something one day only to find out the very next day that you could have used it? The construction project has been over for a few years or your annual general liability policy has been renewed several times so there is no need to keep the old policy, right? Wrong!

January 19, 2007

University research takes aim at efficiency

In the overheated Calgary construction market, the last thing one would expect from competing companies is collaboration. In a bid to improve industry efficiency, several construction powerhouses are collaborating for a unique research project.

January 19, 2007

Interior environment requires careful consideration

As the link between adverse health effects and mould exposure grows, liability for insurance and other industry groups – including those in the building sector – are likely to increase.