Topic
Infrastructure
From the editor… A disconcerting lack of vision
February 21, 2020 by David KennedyWhen engineers in Toronto were laying out plans for the Prince Edward Viaduct in the early 1910s, the subway line that would eventually carry trains along the lower deck of the bridge was little more than a far-flung possibility. For…
Quebec, Cree leaders sign major development deal as other Indigenous groups protest across Canada
February 19, 2020 Lia Levesque, The Canadian PressMONTREAL—As Indigenous-led, anti-pipeline protests have shut down rail service across much of the country, Quebec and Cree leaders announced Feb. 17 the first steps of a wide-ranging 30-year plan to further develop the province’s northern territory together. Premier Francois Legault…
Think before you sue: Lawsuits can disqualify bidders on new projects
February 18, 2020 Laura Brazil and Christina Kim, McMillan LLPCritics say the court decision against a B.C. contractor could have a chilling effect on construction companies’ use of the courts
Toronto’s Eglinton Crosstown delayed until ‘well into’ 2022; Metrolinx blames construction team
February 18, 2020 by David KennedyThe new light rail transit line crews are currently building along and under Toronto’s Eglinton Avenue will not open on schedule. Blaming the construction team for the delay, Metrolinx president and CEO, Phil Verster, said the Eglinton Crosstown won’t be…
Auditor general to put Trudeau’s $187B infrastructure program under the microscope
February 15, 2020 The Canadian PressOTTAWA—The Trudeau government’s massive $187-billion infrastructure program will be scrutinized by the office of the auditor general of Canada. Interim auditor general Sylvain Ricard says his office will endeavour to complete its investigation and report to Parliament no later than…
Mind the labour gap: Construction industry needs to recruit 307,000 workers over next decade
February 12, 2020 David KennedyThe latest forecast from BuildForce Canada projects continued growth in construction through the mid-2020s. Combined with retirements, the added labour required to keep up with demand will create a substantial gap
Tories seek auditor general review of Liberal infrastructure plan
January 29, 2020 Jordan Press, The Canadian PressThe Conservatives have harshly criticized the government’s plan for roads, bridges, transit and water systems slated to cost more than $180 billion over a decade
Infrastructure Ontario chief Ehren Cory returning to private sector
January 25, 2020 by Megan HoeglerCory will stay on until the end of April to give IO ample time to find a replacement.
Supreme Court dismisses B.C.’s appeal in Trans Mountain pipeline case
January 16, 2020 Mia Rabson, The Canadian PressThe decision puts another of the pipeline’s hurdles behind it. Construction is underway, though some barriers remain
Waterloo, Ont. start-up SiteVue looks to bring job site record keeping into modern era with AI, photo mapping
January 13, 2020 David KennedyKeeping project stakeholders dialled into day-to-day construction progress and preserving detailed records for months or years is no easy task
Ontario auditor general to probe Hamilton light rail costs as questions about cancellation linger
December 27, 2019 Shawn Jeffords, The Canadian PressTORONTO—Ontario’s auditor general will investigate the “reasonableness” of government cost estimates for Hamilton’s now cancelled light-rail line, as questions remain about the figures used to justify scrapping the transit project. Bonnie Lysyk said Dec. 20 she will probe the estimates…
Bird subcontracted to build seven new stations for next phase of Ottawa’s light rail transit expansion
December 24, 2019 by David KennedyConstruction had yet to wrap up on Ottawa’s new Confederation Line when the city green-lit an expansion of the light rail network earlier this year. After a number of delays and a troublesome launch, the line entered regular service this…
Rail service firm Cando starts construction of new terminal outside Edmonton
December 18, 2019 On-Site StaffConstruction is underway on a new rail terminal on the outskirts of Edmonton. Cando Rail Services said Dec. 17 it has started work on the Cando Sturgeon Terminal in an area known the province’s Industrial Heartland. The new rail hub…
2020 Construction Forecast: Positive momentum to continue, but industry needs to embrace change
December 18, 2019 David KennedyA steady stream of building projects in most regions of Canada, and particularly within its big urban centres, have kept the construction industry busy through the second half of 2019. Though concerns about how long growth can continue persist, much…
Trudeau releases mandate letter to new Minister of Infrastructure
December 17, 2019 by Megan HoeglerPrime Minister Justin Trudeau has released the mandate letter addressed to Canada’s new Minister of Infrastructure and Communities, Catherine McKenna. The letters, which are released by the Prime Minister to Cabinet ministers at the start of a new term, highlight…
Ontario cancels Hamilton light rail project in what mayor calls a ‘betrayal’
December 17, 2019 Shawn Jeffords, The Canadian PressThe province said the cost of the transit project had ballooned to five times its original price tag and abruptly pulled the plug ahead of a planned press conference
Boring starts on Toronto’s Coxwell Bypass Tunnel, first phase of $3B water infrastructure project
December 16, 2019 by David KennedyComponents of a tunnel boring machine known as “Donnie” have been lowered and assembled at the bottom of a 50-metre shaft at a wastewater treatment plant on the east end of Toronto. The 1,000-tonne machine will begin moving material shortly…
From the editor… Megaprojects test industry’s capacity to deliver
December 14, 2019 by David KennedyFew and far between just a few years ago, multibillion-dollar infrastructure projects have become the norm in Ontario. With planning now underway for four new or extended transit lines in the Toronto area, Canada’s most populous province will be measuring…
Methods to avoid fraud, mismanagement needed in Nova Scotia hospital project: auditor
December 13, 2019 Michael Tutton, The Canadian PressHALIFAX—Nova Scotia’s auditor general is raising concerns about inadequate safeguards to prevent fraud and mistakes in the largest capital project in the province’s history. In a report released Dec. 10, Michael Pickup delved into the management of the $2-billion health-care…
Infrastructure bank backs new Port of Montreal container terminal with $300M in financing
December 5, 2019 The Canadian PressMONTREAL—The Canadian Infrastructure Bank is pledging up to $300 million in financing for a new container terminal project at the Port of Montreal, though regulatory approval is still pending. The project’s total cost estimate runs between $750 million and $950…