ICBA ECONOMICS: Some Priorities for the New B.C. Cabinet
By Jock Finlayson, ICBA Chief Economist Confronted with a string of record budget deficits, a soaring provincial debt, and a business community that lacks confidence in much of its policy agenda, the re-elected NDP government has the urgent task of recalibrating its...
ICBA OP/ED – Economic Growth is the Only Way Out of B.C.’s Mess
By Chris Gardner, Chief Executive Officer, ICBA This week, Premier David Eby unveiled his new cabinet. These appointments are usually accompanied by marching orders from the Premier setting out the goals each minister is expected to focus on in the years ahead. This...
ICBA ECONOMICS: Canada’s Productivity Decline: A Call for Action
Earlier this year, a senior Bank of Canada official described Canada’s stagnant productivity as an “emergency.” ICBA’s Chief Economist, Jock Finlayson, has analyzed this growing concern and outlined practical solutions in his latest report. From 2019 to 2023, Canada’s...
ICBA NEWS: Chris Gardner Joins Board of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation
Great news! ICBA’s Chris Gardner has been added to the board of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, a leading advocate for lower taxes, less waste and more government accountability — three things near and dear to ICBA! Chris will continue as our CEO and...TRAINING THURSDAY: Clark Wilson’s 2024 Year-in Review of Construction Law
Kerry and Jordan talk about ICBA’s latest featured webinar. Clark Wilson’s 2024 Year-in Review of Construction Law Friday, Nov. 22, 2024 | Noon – 1PM Pacific | Free...Follow ICBA on Facebook
🇨🇦 Canada's housing capital stock has reached $4 trillion, accounting for 54% of the nation's total physical assets. Despite this substantial investment, the country faces a significant housing shortage, necessitating at least a doubling of homebuilding efforts to meet current and future demands. ![]()
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But it's more than just housing that's a challenge, as ICBA Chief Economist Jock Finlayson points out: "If policymakers are serious about tackling Canada’s 'productivity emergency' and reversing the country’s eroding global competitiveness, they have no choice but to adopt a different economic growth model… one that prioritizes investment over consumption."![]()
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Read Jock's analysis: www.icbaindependent.ca/2024/11/27/icba-economics-measuring-the-housing-capital-stock/
WELLNESS WEDNESDAY #178: The North Needs More![]()
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The more work we do to break down the stigma around mental health in construction, the more we realize how woefully under-resourced mental health services are in B.C. and across the country. Government just hasn’t taken this issue seriously enough.![]()
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It’s a sentiment echoed by virtually every expert – including the Canadian Mental Health Association’s Northern BC branch. From a recent MYPGNow interview:![]()
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“In the north, it is so much more difficult for folks to access in-person services and of course, online services it wouldn’t matter where you live but that in-person, one-on-one service is very difficult to have access to when you are in the north. Some of our local communities don’t have a psychiatrist that works there who is there 24/7. Even our hospitals if we look at the number of emergency rooms that are currently being shut down – we are impacted by that with our physical health but we are also impacted by that with our mental health.”![]()
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This isn’t good enough. ![]()
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Premier David Eby, whose NDP have overseen mental health services for seven years as the crisis deepened, scrapped the Ministry of Mental Health in his latest cabinet announcement. Hopefully, putting it back under the Health Minister will render better results – but we remain skeptical.![]()
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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.
Canada's public infrastructure is showing signs of significant deterioration. ![]()
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🚙 Statistics Canada estimates that replacing roads rated in poor or very poor condition would cost $250 billion. ![]()
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🚰 10%+ of water infrastructure assets are deemed to be in disrepair. ![]()
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📈 Local and regional governments, responsible for more than 70% of these assets, face escalating replacement costs, which have increased by over $100 billion between 2020 and 2022. ![]()
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This growing infrastructure deficit underscores the urgent need for strategic investment and policy action to maintain and enhance the nation's essential services.![]()
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Read ICBA Chief Economist Jock Finlayson's analysis here: www.icbaindependent.ca/2024/11/25/icba-economics-growing-wear-and-tear-on-canadas-public-infrastr...
TRAINING THURSDAY: Understanding Self-Care: More Than Just a Buzzword (Webinar)![]()
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Kerry and Jordan talk about ICBA’s latest featured course – and it’s free!![]()
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Understanding Self-Care: More Than Just a Buzzword (Webinar)![]()
Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024 | 11AM – Noon Pacific![]()
Live Online | FREE!![]()
icbatraining.arlo.co/w/courses/602-understanding-selfcare-more-than-just-a-buzzword/2637 ![]()
Missed this one? Check out icba.ca/courses![]()
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In 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?![]()
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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.![]()
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Thank you to CCI/Kanin Construction for their support of ICBA Wellness, which allows us to offer this webinar free-of-charge.
📉 B.C. is in a housing crisis.![]()
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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. ![]()
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🏠 Read his full take here: x.com/icbabc/status/1859384978183799086 (posted via X) -- or check it out in Business in Vancouver.![]()
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#BCHousingCrisis #economicgrowth
x.com
WELLNESS WEDNESDAY #177: Corey Hirsch in Prince George![]()
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The 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:![]()
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“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.”![]()
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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.![]()
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“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.”![]()
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Corey’s right: Our employers do care about their team’s mental health. And we work every day to improve it!![]()
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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.
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The more work we do to break down the stigma around mental health in construction, the more we realize how woefully under-resourced mental health services are in B.C. and across the country. Gov't just hasn’t taken this issue seriously enough.
Read more: https://www.icbaindependent.ca/2024/11/27/wellness-wednesday-178-the-north-needs-more/
Jock Finlayson is digging into 🇨🇦Canada's physical assets and finds two troublespots: despite 🏠housing accounting for 54% of all assets, we don't have nearly enough. And it's dragging productivity way down.
Read his analysis:
🔗https://www.icbaindependent.ca/2024/11/27/icba-economics-measuring-the-housing-capital-stock/