Maybe it’s your brother, your mom, or even your weird-old-Uncle Charlie. And it doesn’t matter if you live in Vancouver, Toronto or Labrador – every family has its own technophobe. You know the person I’m talking about. They’re still using…
The uptake of GPS technology in machine controls has skyrocketed in recent years. According to an advisory board to the U.S. government, the adoption rate of GPS among machine control industries overall has been driven largely by costs and benefits.…
If you want to use your wheel loaders in winter for removing snow or anything else, you need to ensure your machines can handle cold-weather conditions. An obvious way to protect your equipment in wintertime is to park it in…
A massive increase to federal infrastructure funding was made in budget 2016. Some $60 billion over 10 years has been added in two phases to the current $65 million in funding, while the current Building Canada Fund is being accelerated.…
Tendering is often a complex and hurried process, and sometimes mistakes are made. In the recent case of True Construction Ltd. vs. Kamloops (City), the British Columbia Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal considered a number of issues relating…
The prime contractor is like the conductor of an orchestra, ensuring all musicians know their role. If one player misses their cue, the entire orchestra is disrupted, and the performance fails. Insurance plays a key role in preventing and mitigating…
“Bad news travels fast” may be an ancient proverb, but even a few decades ago nobody could have imagined that a story could go viral in a matter of minutes. The influence of online information is growing so rapidly that…
It’s no secret that Canada’s construction industry has been taking a beating for lagging in innovation. Major global studies have flagged the country as an innovation laggard, and the construction sector has been further singled out as underperforming even those…
The Ontario Ministry of Transportation (MTO) is wrapping up a research study that began two years ago to test the performance of a cutting-edge asphalt compactor called the Asphalt Multi-Integrated Roller (AMIR). AMIR is the brainchild of Abd El Halim,…
Hourly wages constitute the largest expense category for most contractors. Yet the amount paid is determined, in most cases, by a source that is scientifically proven to be highly unreliable – human memory. In fact, according to a phenomenon that…
This issue of On-Site has a focus on investment in research and development (R&D). When we think of R&D within the construction sector, most people think of investment in solutions related to design or project management software, construction materials, asset…
A “discretion clause” in terms of tender can give the owner the discretion to overlook technical non-compliance by bids, and allow them to accept bids unless they are materially or substantially non-compliant. Notwithstanding this, a decision by the British Columbia…
After months of poring over survey results and talking to construction leaders, we have uncovered exactly what it takes to be one of Canada’s Top Contractors. The answer, as always, is great people. Innovative business strategies, technologies, materials and partnerships…
COR certification is rapidly becoming a prerequisite for commercial contractors bidding on large projects, particularly in the Toronto area. Industry experts say COR certification could eventually become mandatory for all commercial construction jobs nationwide. The Certificate of Recognition (COR) program…
When it comes to choosing a heavy-duty, gas-powered, hand-held cut-off saw, size is not always the determining factor, manufacturers agree. “The high-speed gas saw is one of the most used, and abused, pieces of equipment on any job site,” says…
The Rogers Place Arena in Edmonton is a testament to the long-term durability of concrete, and the advantages that this material brings to mega structures. The arena will be unique in the sporting industry as the first NHL facility designed…
Labour and material payment bonds protect unpaid subcontractors where the contractor that hired them becomes insolvent or otherwise fails to make payment. The protection provided by such bonds can vanish, however, when claimants do not know about them. Many construction…
For as long as I can remember the construction industry has been hammered by academics, government and business leaders for having low productivity measures compared to other industries. The sector has also been criticized for poor productivity – being amongst…
While he is not being watched as closely as pitcher Marcus Stroman, contractor Vito Nardi definitely feels like he is squarely in the public spotlight. The job he is working on – preparing Toronto’s Rogers Centre stadium, home of the…
Contractors across the country were ‘high-fiving’ each other after Finance Minister Bill Morneau tabled the federal budget on March 22. And rightly so! The government’s long-term commitment to infrastructure and labour initiatives will not only address Canada’s need for key…
