Visit Professional Services at Journal of Commerce

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

March 23, 2010

Wood ‘first’ policy in legislature

Earlier this month, a private member’s bill asking that wood be the preferred construction material for federal projects briefly held the parliamentary floor for second reading and debate.

March 22, 2010

Construction Sector Council’s firm-capacity survey to identify challenges

The Construction Sector Council’s current contractor capacity survey aims to help fully capture Canada’s construction industry landscape as it faces new trends and pressures.

March 19, 2010

Canadian Construction Association awards highlight excellence

The Canadian Construction Association (CCA) has recognized outstanding contributions of both individuals and companies in the non-residential construction industry at its annual awards.

March 19, 2010

Las Vegas CityCenter general contractor Perini Building suing MGM Mirage

The primary general contractor for the $8.5 billion CityCenter project on the Las Vegas Strip plans to sue the project’s owners for $492 million.

March 19, 2010

Ex-Quebec minister says Liberals got ‘generous’ donations from construction sector

A former Quebec Liberal justice minister says his ex-party received generous donations from business leaders in the province’s much-maligned construction sector.

March 19, 2010

New Brunswick to cover debts of troubled Atcon Group

The Province of New Brunswick will have to pay $50 million to cover loan guarantees made last summer to the Atcon Group of companies, a government lawyer has confirmed.

March 18, 2010

Nova Scotia officials ‘comfortable’ covering cost of $60-million wind plant

The Nova Scotia government is downplaying the risks taxpayers face in their equity stake in a manufacturing plant in Trenton that is going to make wind turbine components.

March 16, 2010

Canadian Construction Association chair bids farewell

As he criss-crossed the country meeting with partner associations during the past year, outgoing Canadian Construction Association (CCA) chair Brad Greene routinely was peppered with questions about the federal infrastructure stimulus programs.

March 15, 2010

As prices surge, China may raise interest rates

China’s inflation spiked higher in February, adding to pressure on Beijing to prevent overheating and keep the recovery in the world’s third-largest economy on track.

March 12, 2010

Fraud charges laid against former head of Quebec labour union

Criminal charges against a former high-ranking union official and allegations of intimidation of workers vaulted Quebec’s much-maligned construction industry back into the spotlight Thursday.

March 11, 2010

Ontario General Contractors Association applauds plan for WSIB advisory committee

The call for creating permanent stakeholder advisory committees at the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board is a progressive move by the WSIB, says the head of a construction industry task force.

March 10, 2010

Ontario architects, general contractor associations issue joint HST bulletin

The Ontario Architects Association and the Ontario General Contractors Association have released a joint bulletin for the design and building communities on the implementation of the harmonized sales tax (HST) in Ontario.

March 9, 2010

Haiti hydro needs complete distribution grid system rebuild

Weeks after a catastrophic earthquake flattened downtown Port-au-Prince, power has returned to nearly half the city’s neighborhoods.

March 5, 2010

Stimulus spending tap shuts off March 2011

The federal government is standing firm on seeing through the second year of Canada’s Economic Action Plan, which includes $19 billion this year to be complemented by $6 billion from provinces, municipalities and other partners.

March 5, 2010

South Korea to finance Cambodia temple road

South Korea has provided US$9.2 million to Cambodia to build a new road that will circle the famed Angkor temple complex and reduce traffic in the area, officials said Monday.

March 4, 2010

Full text of Finance Minister Jim Flaherty’s budget speech

As I rise in this House today, our nation is at a crossroads. We have passed through some steep and rocky terrain. Much of the territory was uncharted. We were prepared, and we protected ourselves. We are making our way through, and our compass has not failed us.

March 4, 2010

Report unsafe work sites, Building and Concrete Restoration Association of Ontario says

The Building and Concrete Restoration Association of Ontario (BCRAO) Safety Task Force continues to encourage anyone who sees any health and safety violations at a work site to call the Ministry of Labour.

March 3, 2010

Full text of the throne speech

The following is the unedited text of the speech from the throne delivered by Gov. Gen. Michaelle Jean on Wednesday.

March 3, 2010

Workplace Safety and Insurance Board should establish industry advisory committees, chair says

Creation of permanent stakeholder advisory committees at the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board is a progressive agency recommendation, says the head of a construction industry task force.

March 3, 2010

At Council of Ontario Construction Associations AGM, industry execs express cautious confidence

Although their predictions and analysis couldn’t be described as bullish, a panel of four construction industry leaders conveyed a mood of cautious confidence at the recent annual meeting of the Council of Ontario Construction Associations (COCA) in Toronto.

March 2, 2010

Environmental assessments are holding back construction, report says

Ontario’s municipal class environmental assessment system adds $232 million in extra project costs and holds back 10,000 jobs through delays, finds a Residential and Civil Construction Alliance of Ontario report released today.

March 2, 2010

Atcon Group facing possibility of receivership

One of largest employers in northern New Brunswick is facing the possibility of receivership, and taxpayers in the province could be on the hook for more than $50 million.

March 2, 2010

Halifax police reviewing union’s donation to Nova Scotia NDP

Halifax police say they are reviewing a report given to them by Nova Scotia’s chief electoral officer.

March 1, 2010

Federal contracts may require fully bilingual documents

A proposed move by the federal government to expand requirements for posting of bilingual contract documents on the MERX electronic tendering system is creating concern in design industry circles.

March 1, 2010

With Olympics over, B.C. turns focus to budget

The Olympics party is over and now it’s time to get down to business for British Columbia’s Liberal government as it prepares to table the province's budget.

March 1, 2010

Haitian politician owns shares in GDG Concrete and Construction

Haiti’s top reconstruction planning official owns part of the country’s largest concrete company, which stands to reap major gains from the coming wave of international rebuilding aid.

March 1, 2010

Nova Scotia NDP fined for taking union cash

Nova Scotia’s ruling New Democratic Party has been fined $10,000 for accepting an illegal election campaign contribution from a trade union group.

February 26, 2010

Financial services sector leads corporate profit recovery

Canadian corporations experienced an increase in operating profits of 7.9% in fourth-quarter 2009 versus third-quarter 2009, Statistics Canada says in a report released this week.

February 24, 2010

Deficit, debt pinch a global concern

Several national governments around the world are in a severe financial bind, with actual and projected budgetary deficits in double digits as percentages of gross domestic product.

February 24, 2010

Incoming Ontario Road Builders’ Association president familiar with new delivery models

For newly elected Ontario Road Builders’ Association president Paul Quinless, a career in construction was almost a foregone conclusion. “I guess it was in my blood,” says the executive vice-president of Carillion Canada Inc.

February 22, 2010

Culture, contract clash hits Iraq airport

Najaf’s airport was meant to be a symbol of Iraq getting back to business, and in many ways it’s been a success, creating jobs and spurring a construction craze in the Shiite shrine city.