August 13, 2012

CCA to meet with North American counterparts

PATRICIA WILLIAMS

staff writer

The Canadian Construction Association (CCA) is poised to host meetings with key North American counterparts, the Associated General Contractors of America and the Mexican Chamber of the Construction Industry.

Since 1995, the three organizations have met annually to discuss issues of common concern. This year’s event takes place Aug. 22 to 24 in Ottawa.

“Typically, it’s to exchange information on what’s going on in the industry in each of the three countries and also on what’s happening from an association perspective,” said CCA president Michael Atkinson.

Items on the agenda this year include traditional contracting methods, experiences with public-private partnerships, labour supply, and burgeoning technologies and methodologies such as Building Information Modeling and lean construction.

“It’s not about trade,” Atkinson said of the event.

“It’s not about working in each other’s country, although that does come up from time to time. It’s more about meeting with your peer associations.”

Atkinson said the meetings help senior staff and elected officers alike forge closer working relationships with each other.

“It’s kind of neat that (CCA chair) John Schubert can just pick up the phone and chat with (AGC president) Joe Jarboe if something comes up.”

In the past, the three associations, now operating under the umbrella of the North American Construction Federation, have taken common positions on such items as the importance of infrastructure to the economy.

Atkinson said he is “not expecting any joint statements” from the meeting this year.

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