To start the year off right, the Calgary Construction Association has been actively advocating to both the City of Calgary and Government of Alberta, raising the profile of the industry in the media, and engaging our community to build better. The following is a summary of our activities in the first quarter of 2023.
Hosting Premier Danielle Smith at our Inaugural Premier’s Luncheon
In March, the Calgary Construction Association was proud to host Premier Danielle Smith for our inaugural Premier’s Luncheon and fireside chat. Over 250 community members and industry leaders came out to attend and hear the Premier’s vision for Alberta and what role the construction industry plays.
What followed was a meaningful conversation about public procurement, labour shortages, skills development, trades, immigration reform and building the Calgary of tomorrow.
Click here to read more about the Premier’s Luncheon.
Legislature Day with the Edmonton Construction Association
Following the Premier’s Luncheon, a delegation from the Calgary Construction Association joined our colleagues from the Edmonton Construction Association to meet with provincial stakeholders and decision-makers from both sides of the party divide.
Our joint delegation was at the Alberta Legislature to raise concerns about stable and predictable funding for infrastructure projects, procurement and risk allocation, labour supply challenges, and prompt payment. Given that the provincial election is set to be held at the end of May, it was important for us to meet with policymakers and ensure our voice was heard as policy platforms are being developed.
To achieve this, we met with policymakers in the UCP and NDP Caucus; the Deputy Premier and Minister of Infrastructure, Nathan Neudorf; and the Deputy Premier and Minister of Skilled Trades and Professions, Kaycee Madu.
Click here to learn more about the issues we raised.
Support for the Fieldhouse and Foothills Area Redevelopment Plan
At the request of Cllr. Jasmine Mian, Chair of the new fieldhouse and Foothills Area Redevelopment Committee, both Bill and Frano spoke in favour of this project at the inaugural committee meeting in March.
The cornerstone of the project is a multisport fieldhouse that the City of Calgary has contemplated since 1967. After decades of new iterations and plans, the project is progressing.
From a construction perspective – projects like this will, without any doubt, create jobs and spur further economic activity in our City. Oftentimes, projects like this are massive undertakings that will see hundreds of millions of dollars invested in our construction industry.
Moreover, the fieldhouse project is poised to spur construction activity around it. The Foothills Area Redevelopment Plan is a conceptual plan that calls for a transformation of the Foothills area into a vibrant community that would include new athletic facilities, 2,500 residential units, commercial and retail space and renovations to McMahon Stadium.
Just like the fieldhouse itself, the entire district will provide a serious economic boom into Calgary’s construction industry in terms of jobs and economic activity. And we, of course, are excited to see the development of a much-needed recreation district that all Calgarians can be proud of.
As an Association, we extended ourselves as a resource to the committee and offered to help them throughout this process.
Calgary Construction Association in the News
- In January, the Calgary Construction Association published a news release on the issue of skilled labour shortages. Key takeaways included an estimate of how many job vacancies are currently in the Calgary region (estimated at between 3,000-4,000) as well as calls to action from all three levels of government around immigration, skills exposure for students, and greater post-secondary funding for the trades. The release generated 9 different media requests and was featured in Global Calgary, CTV News Calgary, Livewire, CBC, and the Calgary Herald.
- The Calgary Construction Association was quoted in a story about the proposed changes to the Government of Alberta’s Alberta Advantage Immigration Program, which re-allocates express entry stream nominations to immigrants with skills in demand. While we commended the expansion of the program, we also raised the fact that it does not go far in enough in addressing the labour shortage in the construction industry.
- Following the inaugural Fieldhouse Committee Meeting, the Calgary Construction Association was quoted as a proponent of the project in the Calgary Herald.
- The Calgary Construction Association was also quoted in a feature in the Calgary Herald about the construction industry – focusing on the labour shortage, rising costs, and new project starts.
Calgary Construction Association President and COO Bill Black Awarded Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal
The Calgary Construction Association is thrilled to recognize President and COO Bill Black for being awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal! Nominated by his fellow Albertans, recipients of the medal are recognized for their significant contributions to the province.
Bill has been active in working with the City of Calgary in responding to the City’s Climate Emergency declaration and subsequent formation of green policy in and around City-building projects and construction. Recently, his voice has been instrumental in addressing the issue of labour shortages in the construction industry, while offering suggestions to all three levels of government on how best to address the issue in Alberta.
About the Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee Medal
The Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee Medal was created to celebrate the 70th anniversary of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s accession to the Throne as Queen of Canada on Feb. 6, 1952.
By nomination, seven thousand Albertans who have demonstrated a significant contribution to the province will receive this medal. The commemorative medal was created in part of the Platinum Jubilee year celebrations and is organized by the Government of Alberta.
Stay in Touch!
If you have issues, questions or concerns, about our advocacy please feel free to reach out! I can be reached by email at franocavar@cgyca.com.