CCA Updates
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UCalgary academic leader inducted into National Academy of Construction
via University of Calgary Dr. Janaka Ruwanpura, vice-provost and associate vice-president of research (international) at the University of Calgary, was recently inducted into the prestigious National Academy of Construction for his outstanding contributions to the construction industry. The citation of his election describes Dr. Ruwanpura as an “esteemed university leader with an international reputation for excellence in project management and best practices research and creator of collaborative degrees and funding models for students.” Ruwanpura, as a longtime professor of civil engineering in the Schulich School of Engineering, is the fourth Canadian and first Calgarian to receive this honour among hundreds of...
Briefing Note: Calgary City Council Declares Climate Emergency – What Does This Mean for Calgary’s Construction Industry?
Summary: On November 15, 2021, Calgary City Council declared a climate emergency. Other cities in Canada that have already declared climate emergencies include Edmonton, Vancouver, Toronto, Ottawa, and Montreal. Specific calls to action of the Notice of Motion include: Updating the city-wide corporate GHGs reduction target to net-zero by 2050; Moving the City to develop strategic business plans and budgets across ALL departments that will invest in and accelerate high priority emission reduction and climate risk reduction opportunities; Advocating for funding from all orders of government to accelerate immediate and near-term actions to rapidly reduce greenhouse gas emissions, reduce climate...
Alberta posts highest construction levels in years, but supply chain woes impede projects
via CBC News by Bryan Labby Home-building disruptions trigger higher costs, delays and frustration A framer puts together part of a new home being built in southeast Calgary. The supply chain disruption has affected the price of homes and how long it takes to build them in Calgary. (Bryan Labby/CBC) Pedro Ocana says he’s lost three customers, at least temporarily, as the supply chain disruptions, project timelines and price increases have impacted his custom-home building business in Calgary. The president of Sunset Homes says those customers are waiting until the uncertainty and unpredictability affecting many aspects of the construction industry subside. “They want certainty of...
Amazon cloud computing division to open second Canadian hub in Calgary region
via The Canadian Press Amazon says it plans to open a second cloud-computing server hub in Canada in late 2023 that will result in billions of dollars of investments in the coming years. Amazon Web Services, the company’s cloud division, says the new hub will be based in the Calgary region to provide better service to Western Canada. Its other hub is located in the Montreal area. The company would not say how many Amazon employees will work directly at the new server cluster, but says the project will sustain an estimated annual average of 409 direct jobs by 2037...
City of Calgary COVID-19 Contractor and Volunteer Vaccination Policy Compliance
As anticipated The City of Calgary has just approved and published the COVID-19 Contractor and Volunteer Vaccination Policy. The safety of employees, contractors, volunteers, and citizens is a top priority for The City of Calgary. The policy is intended to mitigate the risks of COVID-19 to ensure a safe and healthy workplace. This will minimize serious illness and severe outcomes related to the spread of COVID-19 while minimizing workplace disruption. You can visit the webpage for more information. Effective December 01, 2021, contractors (including subcontractors), suppliers and volunteers performing work for The City must be fully vaccinated or obtain a...
New CCA Director of Government Relations Role
As Calgary stands at the threshold of our next chapter with a new Mayor and City Council in place, the prospect of a major downtown strategy including an Events Centre, Arts Commons and Green Line LRT, combined with aspirations of economic diversification and a long-awaited post pandemic recovery, we at CCA could not be more inspired. While there are many challenges within this diverse list, there are even more opportunities and, with such a broad range of issues to contend with, there is no doubt that we will have our hands full. We believe that our industry and our members...
New legislation would set criteria for construction of dams, roads, schools and bridges
via Global News Province would make a 20-year plan to decide what to build. The Infrastructure Accountability Act legislates the development and regular review of a 20-year strategic capital plan. (Nathan Gross/CBC) Paul McLauchlin is tired of MLAs knocking on his door before provincial elections, asking him if there are any local construction projects he’d like to announce. “It’s not that simple,” said McLauchlin, president of the Rural Municipalities Association and reeve of Ponoka County. “Just running around with a big fake cheque out there.” McLauchlan is optimistic that a bill introduced Monday by the Alberta government will create more accountability and fairness in how...
Member Advisory on COVID
View Advisory View Letter to Premier Kenney Member Advisory on COVID On October 1st, Premier Kenney held a virtual town hall with members of the regional construction associations and Alberta Construction Association. Alberta’s construction associations support our members through information to assist you in your efforts to keep your employees safe. We urge your consideration of the Premier’s request, which he stated as follows: “We want to ask your Member companies to please consider implementing proof of vaccination policies for your employees. We are experiencing a crisis of under vaccination in Alberta, which is imposing the greatest pressure...
Tentative Steps Toward a Post-Pandemic Future
Take a moment to read an article written by Bill Black, President of CCA, featured in the Fall 2021 edition of Western Exteriors magazine. Tentative Steps Toward a Post-Pandemic Future article
Farkas accuses City of Calgary officials of ‘skimming money’ from developers
Via CBC News Scott Dippel Opponents say comment shows how if elected mayor, Jeromy Farkas will have troubles at city hall Mayoral candidate Jeromy Farkas accused city administration of ‘skimming money’ during a Tuesday forum presented by the Calgary Construction Association. (Mike Symington/CBC) Jeromy Farkas says the fight to become Calgary’s next mayor has become what he calls a “two-horse race.”He joined two of his council colleagues who are also running for mayor at a Tuesday forum presented by the Calgary Construction Association. Recent polls have suggested that Farkas and Jyoti Gondek were front-runners among decided voters, while fellow councillor Jeff...