By Jock Finlayson, ICBA Chief Economist By any measure, Alberta is an energy powerhouse. In 2023, it produced 85% of Canada’s oil and accounted for three fifths of the country’s output of natural gas. The vast majority of Canada’s oil reserves are located in Alberta,...
Alberta’s core infrastructure is aging rapidly, with the province’s municipal infrastructure deficit now pegged at $30 billion, says the August 2024 edition of ICBA Alberta’s Construction Monitor, released today. The challenge is all the greater since Alberta’s...
Kerry and Jordan talk about ICBA’s latest featured course – which is free, thanks to the generous support of the Crystal Consulting Group of Companies/Kanin Construction. Introduction to Emotional Intelligence (EQ) in Construction Live Webinar | FREE Wednesday, Aug....
By Jock Finlayson, ICBA Chief Economist Preliminary estimates from Statistics Canada show that B.C.’s economy grew by a modest 1.6% after inflation in 2023, down sharply from almost 4% the year before. The pattern of growth varied significantly across the industries...
The following piece by ICBA Chief Economist Jock Finlayson, in his role as a Senior Fellow of the Fraser Institute, was first published in the Toronto Sun on August 7, 2024. Canada is losing corporate head offices. Between 2012 and 2022, one-in-20 head offices closed...
TRAINING THURSDAY: Understanding Self-Care: More Than Just a Buzzword (Webinar)Kerry and Jordan talk about ICBA’s latest featured course – and it’s free!Understanding Self-Care: More Than Just a Buzzword (Webinar)Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024 | 11AM – Noon PacificLive Online | FREE!icbatraining.arlo.co/w/courses/602-understanding-selfcare-more-than-just-a-buzzword/2637 Missed this one? Check out icba.ca/coursesIn today’s fast-paced world, self-care has become a buzzword often thrown around in casual conversation, but what does it truly mean? Is it merely a trendy hashtag or a genuine practice that can transform our lives, particularly in high-stress fields like construction?In this enlightening 1-hour webinar, we’ll delve deep into the true essence of self-care and debunk common misconceptions that diminish its importance. You'll discover that self-care is not just about pampering yourself with a spa day—it's about nurturing your physical, emotional, and mental well-being, especially in a demanding work environment.Thank you to CCI/Kanin Construction for their support of ICBA Wellness, which allows us to offer this webinar free-of-charge. ... See MoreSee Less
📉 B.C. is in a housing crisis.Prices are sky-high, supply is at rock bottom, and policies are failing to keep up with demand. ICBA President Chris Gardner says we need bold action to get shovels in the ground and homes built faster. It’s time to cut the red tape and build for the future. 🏠 Read his full take here: x.com/icbabc/status/1859384978183799086 (posted via X) -- or check it out in Business in Vancouver.#BCHousingCrisis #economicgrowth ... See MoreSee Less
WELLNESS WEDNESDAY #177: Corey Hirsch in Prince GeorgeThe Prince George Citizen ran a great feature story on ICBA Wellness Ambassador Corey Hirsch, after his recent visit there. This excerpt sums up perfectly what we are trying to accomplish with ICBA Wellness:“The two main things I try to get across is if you need help, go get it, there’s no shame in it,” [Hirsch] said. “The second is that it’s not only important to be that person that raises your hand, it’s just as important to be that person who is receptive of someone raising their hand.”Nearly 40 per cent of long-term disability claims in Canadian workplaces are related to mental health. While employers have gotten more educated about resources available to treat those conditions and are more accepting of their role to provide that help, Hirsch says there’s still plenty of room for improvement.“People don’t want to lose their livelihood, they don’t want to lose their job to mental health issues, so they’re reluctant to come forward to their employer, “he said. “When workers see that they’re bringing me in with ICBA, they see that their employers care and that there’s a safe place to get help. Billions of dollars are lost every year in work industries because workers don’t get help and they’re afraid to get help.”Corey’s right: Our employers do care about their team’s mental health. And we work every day to improve it! -------Each week, ICBA’s Jordan Bateman reflects on what we’ve learned as we participate in ICBA’s Workplace Wellness Program. ICBA’s Workplace Wellness Program has helped more than 100 companies and 15,000 construction professionals better understand mental health. This program is free for all ICBA members – check out icba.ca/wellness for details. ... See MoreSee Less
ICBA Wellness Ambassador Corey Hirsch Official and ICBA Regional VP Mike Davis were in Prince George last week at the 2024 Mental Health and Addictions Symposium, co-hosted by the North Central Local Government Association, the Lheidli T'enneh, the City of Prince George, and the Regional District of Fraser-Fort George.More than 300 local leaders attended, including Councillor Crystal Gibbs (Lheidli T'enneh First Nation), Mayor Simon Yu (City of Prince George), Lana Beckett (Chair of the Regional District of Fraser Fort-George), and Judy Greenaway (President of the North Central Local Government Association).Corey delivered the keynote address, told his story, and made the case to break down the stigma around mental health -- especially among men. Thank you to the organizers for putting together this incredible event and for hosting us! ... See MoreSee Less