Topic
Financing
‘Low-value’ construction projects delayed approval process, roll-out of federal infrastructure dollars, internal documents say
January 28, 2019 Jordan Press, The Canadian PressOTTAWA—A large number of small construction transit and water system projects funded through the first phase of the Liberal government’s infrastructure program bogged down the approval process and delayed construction and spending, newly released documents show. An internal analysis obtained…
Infrastructure Bank narrows gaze to more than a dozen projects, CEO says
January 28, 2019 Jordan Press, The Canadian PressOTTAWA—The federal agency built to find new ways to pay for new Canadian infrastructure says it is deep in talks on over a dozen projects. In the fall, officials with the Canada Infrastructure Bank had more than 120 meetings about…
Building investment dips in November with declines in majority of provinces
January 23, 2019 On-Site StaffOTTAWA—Investment in building construction dipped in November, with both residential and non-residential sector taking a more than two per cent hit to $11.6 billion. In the non-residential sector, investment decreased 1.6 per cent to $4.3 billion, largely due to declines…
Feds fund country’s first geothermal electricity plant; $51.3M project will create 100 construction jobs
January 11, 2019 On-Site StaffREGINA—Thousands of small-scale geothermal boreholes have been drilled across Canada over the past several years for home heating, but until now, the country has not tapped into the clean source of energy to produce power. That’s set to change as…
No Infrastructure Bank money for public electricity grids, federal documents say
January 10, 2019 Jordan Press, The Canadian PressOTTAWA—A federal infrastructure agency created to finance new infrastructure — and alleviate the burden on the public purse — is not expected to back projects involving existing public electricity grids, newly released documents say. Many provinces need to upgrade their…
Quebec City consumed by debate over new span across St. Lawrence that could cost up to $10B
January 7, 2019 Giuseppe Valiante, The Canadian PressMONTREAL—In car-loving Quebec City, residents can’t stop talking about what’s become known as the “third link” — a future bridge or tunnel crossing the St. Lawrence River. Newspapers and talk radio stations are consumed by the debate, and journalists regularly…
Liberals hope infrastructure funding change solves construction delays, cost concerns
December 28, 2018 Jordan Press, The Canadian PressOTTAWA—Canada’s infrastructure minister says an overhaul of how the government approves funding for projects should solve concerns about construction delays and escalating costs. Internal documents show that federal officials have been told that the first chunk of the Liberals’ infrastructure…
Nova Scotia to spend $300M to improve roads and bridges in 2019-20
December 19, 2018 The Canadian PressHALIFAX—Nova Scotia’s roads, highways and bridges will get $300 million in upgrades in 2019-20 — a $15 million increase over last year. Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal Minister Lloyd Hines says much of the additional funding will go toward twinning portions…
Brampton, Ont. rethinks Hurontario LRT route, looks at tunnel option in major expansion of scope
December 14, 2018 by David KennedyLengthening the line would add hundreds of millions to the construction contract. The current design is expected to cost $1.4 billion
Federal minister feuds with new N.B. premier after dramatic project cuts
December 13, 2018 Kevin Bissett, The Canadian PressFREDERICTON—The federal intergovernmental affairs minister has launched an attack on the Tory premier of his home province, after dramatic project cuts that left millions of federal dollars on the table. Dominic LeBlanc said the cuts announced earlier this week in…
Ketza Construction wins $29M contract to build new Whitehorse secondary school
December 12, 2018 On-Site StaffWHITEHORSE—The Yukon government has awarded a local construction firm a $29.4 million contract to build a new French language secondary school in Whitehorse. The territory handed Ketza Construction the design-build contract for the new school Dec. 11, noting the cost…
Coalition aims to put First Nations in the driver’s seat on major construction projects
December 10, 2018 Ian Bickis, The Canadian PressTired of waiting for major construction projects to come to them, a growing coalition of First Nations is instead taking the lead on ventures to better control their economic futures. “We really are in a place looking to diversify our…
Integrated Asset Delivery: Risk management for the entire lifecycle
December 5, 2018 David BowcottIn recent years there has been a resurgence of the Integrated Project Delivery model in the North American construction marketplace. This method traces its origins to the heyday of North Sea oil exploration, when owners, design firms and contractors created…
Credit in the construction industry
December 5, 2018 Siobhan SmallWhen we think of credit, we usually think of a method of paying for goods or services. In the construction context, however, credit can serve a role analogous to that of a performance bond. While owners can choose to request…
Alberta introduces bill on future infrastructure funding for Calgary, Edmonton
November 30, 2018 Dean Bennett, The Canadian PressEDMONTON—A proposed new deal to fund municipal infrastructure in Alberta’s two largest cities would tie future money to the rise and fall in provincial revenues and to the carbon tax. “(Calgary and Edmonton) are partners in growing Alberta’s economy and…
Maple Leaf spending $660M to build new London, Ont. plant; construction to start next spring
November 28, 2018 by David KennedyMISSISSAUGA, Ont.—Construction of a sprawling new poultry plant in London, Ont. is set to get underway in spring 2019. Maple Leaf Foods Inc. said Nov. 27 it will spend $660 million to build a new 640,000 sq. ft. facility in…
B.C. earmarks $1.1B to retrofit its stock of social housing
November 23, 2018 On-Site StaffVICTORIA—British Columbia has set aside $1.1 billion over the next decade to upgrade its stock of social housing. With a focus on emissions, the retrofits aim to improve building efficiency and reduce energy use. The province pointed to boiler and…
Ottawa responds to U.S. tax reform, offers construction industry help in form of faster equipment depreciation
November 22, 2018 Andy Blatchford, The Canadian PressThe proposed tax changes unveiled by Ottawa this week should allow companies to free up capital and invest more in areas such as innovation
UPS spending $200M to build major new package hub outside Toronto
November 21, 2018 On-Site StaffMISSISSAUGA, Ont.—United Parcel Service Inc. is committing $200 million to build a new operations hub for small packages in Caledon, Ont. UPS said construction on the 850,000 sq. ft. facility northwest of Toronto is already underway, though it refused to…
Penn-Co Construction wins $190M deal to build four new Manitoba schools, upgrade another
November 21, 2018 by David KennedyWINNIPEG—A Manitoba construction company has won a consolidated contract with several First Nations in the northern part of the province for work upgrading and building new schools. Under the $190 million contract, Blumenort, Man.-based Penn-Co Construction Canada Ltd. will oversee…