As British Columbia’s oldest and largest regional construction association, the Vancouver Regional Construction Association (VRCA) represents the general and trade contractors, manufacturers, suppliers and various professional services providers who operate in the industrial, commercial and institutional construction industry in the Lower Mainland. As such, VRCA publicly takes positions and speaks out on business issues [...]
Dear member, Please join us for an important members-only town hall meeting to discuss industry’s response to the new Community Benefits Agreement (CBA) that: forces construction workers to join and pay dues to the Building Trades Unions as a condition of working on certain public construction projects where the CBA will be used, which [...]
On July 1, the Government of Canada imposed a 25 per cent tariff on steel and 10 per cent tariff on aluminum imported from the United States. The tariffs are in response to similar tariffs imposed on Canadian steel and aluminum imports into the U.S. At July’s Division Meeting, members asked for clarification on [...]
The British Columbia Construction Association (BCCA) is working with industry stakeholders, including VRCA, to get a legislative solution addressing the need for prompt payment in B.C. on the table for the Spring 2019 legislative session. Lack of prompt payment is one of the most significant issues in the construction sector. When contractors don’t get [...]
The BC Construction Association (BCCA), on behalf of the four regional construction associations, has launched a letter-writing campaign against the Community Benefits Agreement for key infrastructure projects in B.C. Trades people and owners of construction companies are encouraged to sign a pre-drafted letter that will be sent to B.C. Premier John Horgan explaining why [...]
The Government of B.C. is introducing a new procurement strategy that aims to change the way government buys goods and services and make it easier for businesses to access opportunities. In its June 25 announcement, the provincial government said its modernized approach to procurement will remove barriers for small, medium and Indigenous businesses; promote [...]
Nationwide, $46 billion in construction invoices remained unpaid beyond a 30-day period, an amount representing approximately 16 per cent of the estimated $285 billion in annual construction activity in Canada. Worse yet, between 2007 and 2012, the average duration of receivables increased by more than 13 per cent, rising from 62.8 days to 71.1 [...]
The BC Construction Association has been selected as one of two groups that will develop a a range of programs designed to help women working or entering a career in the building trades through improved workplace supports, services and practices. BC Premier John Horgan made the announcement on International Women’s Day following a speech [...]
What is Benchmarking and Why is it Important? The term "benchmarking" was originally coined by land surveyors, who used the term to identify a fixed point from which all other measurements are made. In the late 1970's it took on a broader meaning when applied to industry. Businesses such as AT&T, Motorola, and Xerox [...]
A Growing Demand British Columbia’s construction labour market will be put to the test over the next decade, as the need to resource major projects will put a strain on the available local workforce. Retirements are expected to draw on the current labour force creating a significant skills vacuum that will require innovative and [...]
Industry Consultation and Public Opinion Trust is the foundational ingredient upon which the sustainability and legitimacy of political systems are constructed. Shifting paradigms of public sector management are promoting an emphasis on accountability. Organizations and individuals depend on and expect credible policy-making. Industry consultation and public opinion can have various effects on how policy [...]
Radical Transparency – A New Playbook for a Connected Environment In his best-selling book "The Tipping Point", Malcolm Gladwell used the term “connector” to describe individuals who have multiple ties to different social worlds. It’s not the number of people we know that makes connections significant. It is our ability to link people, ideas, [...]
Infrastructure Masterclass The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place. - George Bernard Shaw The word communication comes from the Latin word "communis", which means common. When we communicate, we are trying to establish “commonness”, share information, an idea, or an attitude among the team involved in that [...]
On October 4th, I had the pleasure of speaking with Jim Burgess of Keith Plumbing and Heating at the VRCA Awards of Excellence Silver Awards reception. Keith Plumbing received the Mechanical Contractor Silver Award for Projects Over $8 Million for their outstanding contribution to the North Island Hospital project as well as a Silver [...]
