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General and Trade Contracting

April 21, 2008

Kingston’s Ravensview wastewater project keeps to construction schedule

Kingston’s $115-million Ravensview water treatment plant upgrade is well over half done as project managers anticipate looking forward to meeting their original September 2009 completion date.

April 14, 2008

Western Canadian unions make presentation to federal immigration committee

A number of unions in British Columbia and Alberta were given little or no notice about sharing their opinions with the government on the federal temporary worker (TFW) program. However, some groups were called upon to give a short presentation before a House of Commons Committee examining problems with the program.

March 26, 2008

Union calls Canada Line lay-offs of foreign workers “a set up”

The lay-off of foreign workers on Canada Line construction has affected the hearing of evidence before the B.C. Human Rights Tribunal regarding a complaint about alleged exploitation and discrimination, union official claims.

March 25, 2008

At AECON Buildings’ Bell office project, construction dials up as spring approaches

Despite the frosty winter weather, work keeps moving along at the Bell Creekbank Phase III Class “A” office building in Mississauga, Ont.

March 24, 2008

SLCP-SELI Joint Venture laid off foreign workers within minutes of final Canada Line breakthrough, union claims

Foreign workers hired to operate a tunnel-boring machine on the Canada Line were laid off minutes after a ceremony celebrating the machine boring the last tunnel. SLCP-SELI Joint Venture imported and employed foreign workers, from Costa Rica, Colombia, and Equador, to construct the Canada Line tunnel in Vancouver as part of the rapid transit expansion project in Vancouver.

March 20, 2008

Ontario building industry gives mandatory-sprinklers plan mixed reviews

The McGuinty government’s investigation into whether sprinklers should be mandatory in all Ontario residential buildings over three storeys is receiving mixed reviews from the building industry. The question is... will there be enough qualified sprinkler fitters to meet the sudden surge in work?

March 17, 2008

Terrazzo artisans welcome to apply for Certificate of Qualification

On November 5, 2007, Ontario’s terrazzo, tile and marble journeypersons were granted the opportunity to apply for an official Certificate of Qualification (C of Q) by the Ontario Ministry of Training Colleges and Universities.

March 11, 2008

Aecon’s infrastructure division renews, expands utilities distribution contract with Union Gas

Aecon’s infrastructure division has renewed and expanded its three-year, $150-million utilities distribution contract with Union Gas.

February 29, 2008

Merit Contractors Association of Alberta challenges union coalition once again over election ads

As Albertans get ready to go to the polls on March 3, 2008, another political battle is heating up, one that pits the National Citizens Coalition and Merit Contractors Association of Alberta against the Alberta Building Trades Council (ABTC) and the Alberta Federation of Labour (AFL).

February 20, 2008

Counsel defends Canadian Construction Workers Union’s trade-union status

In April 2007 Ontario Labour Relations Board found that the Canadian Construction Workers Union (CCWU) was not a trade union “that pertains to the construction industry.” However, on January 29, 2008, the board ruling recognized the CCWU as a trade union and another application is now before the board.

May 25, 2007

Standards program eases geographical limits for welders

Since development and implementation of a Standard Provincial Welding Procedures Program (SPWPP), welders are showing up certified work ready, ensuring the Mechanical Contractors Association of Ontario (MCAO) is meeting is goals “to promote and maintain improved methods of business”.

May 25, 2007

Green plumbing gaining popularity in green builds

Plumbing systems are the latest specialty group to forge their way into the LEED process.

May 25, 2007

Driving home demanding foundations

Hamilton contractor Bermingham Construction Ltd. is not only one of the world’s leading suppliers of pile drivers, but has the expertise in using them to engineer some of the most demanding foundation construction jobs around.

May 25, 2007

$6M roadway reconstruction designed as a tourist draw

After a regulatory approval process that took three years to obtain, a $6-million two-year reconstruction of one the Greater Toronto Area’s most scenic and environmentally-sensitive tourist roads is now in full swing.

May 25, 2007

Variety of finishes adds complexity to art centre

The $2 million wall and ceiling contract Toronto’s Select Drywall & Acoustics recently completed at the Brampton Performing Arts Centre hardly ranks in comparison with some of the contractor’s work at Toronto’s $4.4 billion international airport makeover.

May 25, 2007

Contractors rely on frozen tundra base

Use of Ice Platforms for Bridge Construction

May 25, 2007

Mill given second chance as regional arts centre

After years of neglect and abandonment, a remnant of Ontario’s once proud 19th Century industrial mill heritage is being given a new life.

May 25, 2007

Awareness campaign makes a difference

One of the off-shoots of the collective bargaining process between the Mechanical Contractors Association of Ontario (MCAO) and the Ontario Pipe Trades Council (OPTC) has been the creation of a joint Labour-Management Committee that addresses matters of mutual concern affecting the mechanical industry in the ICI construction sector.

May 25, 2007

Turning a new leaf towards green roofs

Over the last two-and-a-half years, Toronto-based Gardens in the Sky Inc. has designed and created about 20 extensive green roofs in Ontario.