WELLNESS WEDNESDAY #178: The North Needs More
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 take this issue seriously enough. It’s a sentiment...
ICBA ECONOMICS: Growing Wear and Tear on Canada’s Public Infrastructure
By Jock Finlayson, ICBA Chief Economist In the last decade, the quality and adequacy of Canada’s public infrastructure has been attracting more attention. Recent high profile “failures” of key infrastructure services in Calgary and Montreal have been front-page news....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 Pacific Live Online | FREE!...
ICBA OP/ED: Green energy hype isn’t backed by the data
The following piece, written by ICBA Chief Economist Jock Finlayson and Business Council of B.C.’s Denise Mullen, first ran on Troy Media on Nov.19, 2024. A common narrative these days holds that the world is in the midst of an epic energy transition. However,...
WELLNESS WEDNESDAY #177: Corey Hirsch in Prince George
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: “The two main things I try to get across is if you need...Follow ICBA on Facebook
🚧 Did you know? British Columbia's Major Projects Inventory includes 967 projects with a combined potential capital spending of $368 billion.![]()
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But way less than that will ever be built.![]()
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In his latest post, ICBA Chief Economist Jock Finlayson delves into the current state and future outlook of B.C.'s construction sector, highlighting the significance of these projects to our economy.![]()
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With the completion of $100 billion worth of major energy projects, understanding the landscape of upcoming investments is crucial for our industry's growth.![]()
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🔗 www.icbaindependent.ca/2025/01/14/icba-economics-a-review-of-major-projects-in-british-columbia/
In today's episode of Carole Taylor's Journal on CHEK TV, Carole sat down with our Chris Gardner to discuss the pressing economic challenges facing Canada, particularly in the construction and housing sectors. Chris shared his frustrations with current government policies and offered insights into how these policies are impacting business growth, labor availability, and infrastructure development.![]()
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Among the highlights:![]()
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📉 Declining Growth Metrics. Chris expresses concern over Canada’s economic trajectory, noting that the country is experiencing a decline in growth metrics, which affects job creation and infrastructure development. He emphasizes the need for a change in leadership in Ottawa, as the current government policies are not conducive to fostering investment and opportunity.![]()
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💪 Labour Challenges. Gardner raises the critical question of where the labor force will come from to meet the ambitious housing targets set by the government. He points out that the current rate of home construction is insufficient to meet demand, and without a skilled labor force, the goal of building 400,000 homes annually seems unrealistic.![]()
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📣 Regulations: Gardner critiques several public policies that he believes are detrimental to the construction industry. He highlights the "greenwashing" bill (Bill C-59), which imposes unfair standards on businesses. Gardner argues that this legislation stifles free speech and limits the ability of businesses to engage in open discussions about energy and environmental policies. He believes that the government’s approach creates a chilling effect on the debate surrounding Canada’s energy future.![]()
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🛠️ Community Benefit Agreements (CBAs). The conversation then turns to community benefit agreements (CBAs), which Gardner describes as a flawed initiative that restricts access to construction projects. He explains that these agreements require contractors to employ unionized workers, effectively excluding 85% of the construction workforce in British Columbia. Gardner argues that this exclusion leads to inefficiencies and increased costs in public projects, as the government is not utilizing the full pool of available talent.![]()
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🏠 Infrastructure and Housing Crisis. Gardner emphasizes the urgent need for more housing and infrastructure, pointing out that the current policies are not addressing the housing crisis effectively. He criticizes the lack of coordination between federal, provincial, and municipal governments, which results in disjointed policies that hinder housing supply.![]()
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💸 Development Cost Charges. Gardner notes that development cost charges for new housing are set to triple, further exacerbating affordability issues. He argues that these charges make it more difficult for developers to build affordable housing, contributing to the housing crisis.![]()
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Is BC Sliding Backwards? (w/ Chris Gardner, Independent Contractors and Business Association)
www.youtube.com
Well, 2024 was quite a year. Painful conflicts around the world, natural disasters of various kinds, and here in Canada, an economy that lags in so many ways...
📢 ICBA Alberta’s Budget 2025 Recommendations![]()
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Alberta is leading Canada with 2.5% GDP growth, booming housing starts, and growing opportunities for businesses and workers. To sustain this success, ICBA Alberta has urged the Danielle Smith government to prioritize:![]()
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✅ Balanced Budgets & Competitive Taxes: Keeping Alberta attractive to investors and skilled workers.![]()
✅ Open Competition for Infrastructure Projects: Avoid costly policies like CBAs, which exclude 85% of contractors and drive up costs.![]()
✅ Skilled Trades Workforce: Expand apprenticeship seats and streamline immigration for skilled workers.![]()
✅ Housing Affordability: Accelerate residential development approvals to address the housing crisis.![]()
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Together, these measures will ensure Alberta continues to lead the nation in economic growth. Let’s build Alberta’s future! 💪![]()
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Read more: icbaalberta.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/2025-AB-Budget-Submission_ICBA-Alberta-FINAL.pdf![]()
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#ABBudget2025 #BuildingAlberta #ICBAAlberta
Kerry and Jordan kick off 2025 with a look at the month ahead, ICBA's Red Seal Dinner, and this week's featured course.![]()
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Lean Construction Education Program (CM Lean)![]()
January 14-22, 2025 (Live online)![]()
10 Gold Seal Credits and 28 BC Housing CPD Points![]()
icbatraining.arlo.co/w/courses/304-lean-construction-education-program-cm-lean/2430![]()
Missed this one? Check out www.icba.ca/courses![]()
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Lean Construction is driven to minimize costs and maximize value on each project completed, challenging all stakeholders to develop and apply better ways to manage the overall construction process.![]()
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The updated AGC Edge Lean Construction Education Program engages students with numerous activities and group discussions designed to apply Lean Construction principles and practices. Key course activities include the Parade of Trades exercise where participants will learn the effects of varying and unreliable workflow versus smooth and reliable workflow. Students will also learn and practice the Last Planner® System in a simulation that teaches students to engage in a way that produces predictable workflow and rapid learning.![]()
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After participants complete all five units in the program, they become eligible to sit for an exam to earn the Certificate of Management – Lean Construction (CM-Lean).
Things we found in our 2025 ICBA Wage and Benefits Survey:![]()
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💰 Construction pays. The average hourly wage for trades in 2025 is expected to hit $37/hr – that’s an annual base salary of $77,000+ before benefits, bonuses, or overtime.![]()
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🚀 With wages growing faster than inflation and strong work prospects ahead, construction remains a top-tier career choice in B.C.![]()
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🔎 Discover the latest industry insights in ICBA’s Wage and Benefits Survey: www.icbaindependent.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/ICBA-Winter-202425-Web.pdf
Tweet ICBA!
Alberta’s economy is leading the way! ICBA Alberta urges @natehorner to focus on competitive taxes, open tendering, workforce training, & housing affordability in Budget 2025. Let’s keep building a strong future for Alberta! #ABBudget2025 #ableg
🔗 https://icbaalberta.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/2025-AB-Budget-Submission_ICBA-Alberta-FINAL.pdf
NEW: 72% of B.C. construction companies face severe shortages of skilled workers, threatening critical projects amid a housing crisis.