Visit Professional Services at Journal of Commerce

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

August 20, 2008

CCA calls on federal government to bolster college infrastructure funding

The federal government has a key role to play in ensuring that Canada’s colleges can deliver the training that is required to meet shortages of skilled trades and supervisory personnel, says the Canadian Construction Association (CCA).

August 19, 2008

Carpenters’ union Local 2486 builds new Sudbury training centre

Local 2486 of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America will offer Sudbury workers a flexible training schedule, with courses such as formwork, scaffold training, blueprint reading and surveying.

August 19, 2008

Bulgarian construction safety blitz uncovers numerous violations

After inspecting 14 construction sites in Bansko, Bulgaria’s Labour and Social Policy Ministry suspended work on four sites and ordered various building equipment to cease operating because of safety concerns, Bulgarian News Agency (BTA) reported.

August 18, 2008

TransCanada wins licence to start construction of $26-billion Alaska pipeline

Lawmakers in Alaska have awarded a licence to Calgary-based TransCanada Corporation to start building the US$26-billion Alaska Pipeline Project.

August 15, 2008

ACEC’s pre-budget brief offers strategies for sustainability

The Association of Canadian Engineering Companies (ACEC) has called on the federal government to promote specific strategies to address sustainability and climate change in Canada.

August 14, 2008

By adhering to its values and mission, RAIC continues to ensure that architecture matters

As the leading voice of architecture in Canada, the RAIC has been doing great work to build awareness and appreciation of the contribution of architecture to the physical and cultural well-being of Canada, writes RAIC president Paule Boutin.

August 14, 2008

Trend sees more U.S. condominium developers offering hotel-like amenities

Even as many Americans struggle to hold onto their homes in a stumbling economy, developers say that well-heeled, busy residents expect luxuries and offering such services makes a building stand out in a tough market.

August 13, 2008

Work on Canada Line expansion project keeps chugging along

A worker hooks up equipment to a crane at the site of the Richmond-Brighouse Station, part of the Canada Line rapid transit expansion project in Metro Vancouver.

August 12, 2008

Gallagher returns for fourth term as Local 793 business manager

Mike Gallagher of Oakville has been re-elected to a fourth term as business manager of Local 793 of the International Union of Operating Engineers.

August 11, 2008

U.S. bridge report offers warnings that Ontario should heed, association says

The province of Ontario should look at the findings of a recent study on the challenges facing American bridges, says Andy Manahan, executive director of the Residential and Civil Construction Alliance of Ontario.

August 7, 2008

Bilfinger Berger Canada sues Metro Vancouver over Capilano-Seymour tunnel project

The German company hired to construct twin tunnels for a water filtration project in North Vancouver is launching a lawsuit against Metro Vancouver and placing a lien against the project.

August 6, 2008

AECOM completes Earth Tech acquisition

AECOM Technology Corp. has completed its acquisition of Earth Tech Inc., a business unit of Tyco International Ltd.

August 5, 2008

McMaster study looks at link between diesel fumes and diabetes

International Union of Operating Engineers Local 793 supports a McMaster University study looking at possible connections between diesel fume exposure and diabetes among its members.

August 1, 2008

Federal money flows for new TTC buses and subway cars

The City of Toronto and the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) are $100 million richer, thanks to a recent transfer of federal funding for subway and bus infrastructure.

July 30, 2008

Plan for York U busway includes construction of bus-only lanes in Finch hydro corridor

Ground will break this summer on a $38 million rapid bus transit route to York University from Downsview Station to help reduce travel time for thousands of students.

July 30, 2008

TransCanada wins approval for $320-million Kibby Wind Power Project

TransCanada Corporation has announced that the $320 million Kibby Wind Power Project has received final development plan approval from Maine’s Land Use Regulation Commission (LURC).

July 29, 2008

Ontario engineers ready to redouble efforts to promote qualifications-based selection

Consulting Engineers of Ontario (CEO) is poised to redouble its efforts to promote qualifications-based selection (QBS) of consultants in the wake of a breakthrough in the province of Quebec.

July 28, 2008

Alaska approves state license for TransCanada to pursue federal certification of pipeline

The Alaska State House of Representatives has approved a state license for a Canadian company to pursue a natural gas pipeline project that could unlock 130 million cubic metres of North Slope gas reserves daily.

July 28, 2008

Alberta chooses Bird and partners as preferred proponents for new schools projects

A subsidiary of Bird Construction Income Fund, along with other partners of a consortium, have been named as the preferred proponent in the pursuit of the Alberta Schools Alternative Procurement project.

July 28, 2008

Global financial turmoil affects budget for 2012 London Olympics

Global financial turmoil could play havoc with budget for 2012 London Olympics.

July 25, 2008

Quebec mandates qualifications-based selection procedures for provincial agencies

In a groundbreaking move, Quebec has introduced a regulation that will require provincial agencies to use qualifications-based selection (QBS) to retain consulting engineers and architects. The regulation governs procurement of architectural and engineering services by a raft of provincial agencies, all the way from those responsible for overseeing construction and renovation of healthcare facilities to transportation and infrastructure projects.

July 24, 2008

Texas Mutual Insurance Company pays dividend to Texas Construction Association members

Texas Mutual Insurance Company has announced a US$2.3 million dividend to the Texas Construction Association (TCA) workers’ compensation group discount program. The dividend was based on the group’s premium volume and claim loss history, reports Market Watch.

July 23, 2008

Vale Inco plan to dump mine tailings in Sandy Pond meets opposition

Armed with nothing more than a rod and reel, Andy Murphy is an unlikely environmental warrior, waging a fight against a plan to dump thousands of tonnes of mining waste into a trout pond in southeastern Newfoundland.

July 22, 2008

U2 members and partners win battle over conversion of Dublin’s Clarence Hotel

U2 stars Bono and The Edge won a four-year legal battle Thursday to reshape their old-fashioned Dublin hotel, the Clarence, into a futuristic landmark — a decision that appeared to fly in the face of Ireland’s conservative planning laws.

July 22, 2008

U.S. construction educators team up to offer green-building course to U.S. craft professionals

The National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER) has partnered with the Sustainable Facilities and Infrastructure Research Team of the Myers-Lawson School of Construction at Virginia Tech University to create green training for the U.S. construction industry.