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Vote for Janaka Ruwanpura!
Please click on the link below for instructions on how to vote for Janaka! Vote for Janaka Ruwanpura Top25 Canadian Immigrant with QR Code “I am very humbled and pleased that I’m on the shortlist for the Top 25 Canadian Immigrant Awards of 2022! Canadian Immigrant magazine has officially begun the online voting stage for the awards, so please vote for me at” www.canadianimmigrant.ca/top25 The voting stage ends on June 10th, 2022, and the Top 25 winners will then be announced online in July and be featured in the July print edition of Canadian Immigrant. Instructions: How to Vote 1....
Can Leaving Equipment on Site Extend the Period for Filing a Builders’ Lien?
Builders’ liens provide protection for multiple stakeholders in construction projects by securing a debt claim against land held by the debtor. However, some conditions must be met for a builders’ lien to be successful, including a 45-day deadline to register the lien after the work has been completed. Of course, the nuances and interpretation of these requirements in each particular case can be challenging. An example of this was in the case of Woodbridge Homes Inc. v. Andrews, a 2019 decision of the Court of Queen’s Bench of Alberta in which a company argued that the 45-day lien window was...
Dealing with your corporate lawyer
As a business, I am sure that you have a corporate lawyer and if you don’t, you should get one. Now. This is not intended to be a solicitation of business by me or my fellow lawyers at Goodfellow & Schuettlaw. I am saying this because the value that a good corporate lawyer can provide you in your business is priceless when looked at in the long run. The proper legal advice can prevent you from having to declare bankruptcy, being sued, and having personal liability for your business dealings. It could also help you maximize tax savings while minimizing...
Lean Construction in Canada – The Current State
Lean Construction, a collaborative project delivery system that focuses on reliable workflow and customer value is becoming more widely adopted across Canada every year. Projects that use Lean tools and principles have been consistently delivering improved quality, safety, cost and schedule when compared to traditionally managed construction. Owners and builders alike are recognizing that they don’t necessarily have to compromise either cost, quality or schedule in order to achieve the other two – it is possible to achieve all three. As a result, a growing number of project RFPs now include Lean education and experience as a critical consideration when...
Establishing the goals for your profit-sharing plan
Many business owners have approached us for assistance in improving their bonus plan, with an eye on immediately learning about the options available to them. But when it comes to something as significant as employee management, you need to zoom out and clarify your goals and objectives before you can determine what the right solution is. As part of our SMARTshare philosophy, we start by spending time with you and asking questions so we can understand your true needs. This approach helps owners transition from feeling they have general needs (e.g. “I want to motivate my team”) to being able...
4 Last Planner System Roadblocks
The Last Planner System has become one of the most recognizable and popular Lean Construction tools that attempts to solve the problem of production management on construction sites. The system has been implemented by construction companies around the world and, when implemented well, has improved outcomes on a wide variety of sizes and types of projects. Unfortunately, many organizations struggle to use Last Planner and therefore don’t enjoy the benefits that the system provides. The following are 4 primary roadblocks to a successful Last Planner System implementation. Education: It has become a common sight to see a group of General...
Update on our advocacy efforts
Update on our advocacy efforts: I’ve been very fortunate to join the CCA as the Director of Government Relations at a time when our local municipal political environment has been going through new leadership and change following the October election. Indeed, my hiring coincided with the largest Council-shift in Calgary’s history. With that in mind, we’ve already begun advocating on behalf of our membership while fostering strong and productive relationships with City Council and Administration. Earlier this month, we sent each City Councillor and the Mayor a welcome package that explained the role of the Association, who we are, and...
Business Acquisitions: A Strategy That Drives Growth
via BDC Outlook on the Canadian Mergers and Acquisitions Market The Canadian mergers and acquisitions (M&A) market has rebounded rapidly following its dip in the early days of the pandemic. Looking ahead, the volume of transactions will likely remain high for the next five years. In that time, 9% of Canadian small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are expected to come up for sale externally, representing 116,000 businesses. This positive outlook for M&A could be good news for the Canadian economy. After surveying more than 1,500 entrepreneurs, BDC found that acquisitions are an exceptional driver of growth. Its advantages include getting new talent and accessing new...
Social Procurement Overview
Last week (Nov 23rd) 17 industry folks attended our inaugural Social Procurement Overview session hosted by Sarah Aspinall of BgSD Consulting . Social Procurement is well established in other parts of the world and is gaining momentum so it will continue to be a more common practice. Just like sustainability has evolved to become more common practice since the formative days of LEED in the early 2000’s this is likely to become a common practice and those who understand it first have an advantage. During the session we discussed many of the myths or misconceptions that can often lead to...
About Contract Mirroring or Back – To – Back Contracts in The Construction Industry
Arianna Carlotti, Goodfellow & Schuettlaw Call it contract mirroring or back – to – back contracts, at the end of the day the essence is the same: it finds its origin in the subcontracting chain and it boils it down to cascading liability for the work executed or subcontracted. Depending on the kind of project, general contractors hire one or more subcontractors, who, in turn, hire sub-subcontractors to complete parts of the project. The general contractor stays liable to the owner of the project for the full extent of the project, even for the portion of the work subcontracted to...