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Letters to The Vancouver Sun, Dec. 22, 2020

The Builders Code is honouring six employers with Builders Code Champion Awards for leading the way in advancing the culture of BC's industrial, commercial, and institutional construction sector.

Mike Fawcett of Brock White Steps up to Lead

On Friday, September 18th, The BCCA held it's Annual General Meeting and shared it's latest Annual Report which covers the fiscal period between April 1, 2019, and March 31, 2020.

The AGM of the BC Construction Association will be held: Friday, September 18th, 2020 at 12:30 pm. Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, this year's AGM will be held virtually.

The BC Construction Association (BCCA) is proud to be the first recipient of the Canadian Construction Association’s (CCA) Workforce Excellence Award.

Nominations open for BCCA's 2nd Annual Builders Code Champion Awards

Source: Vancouver Sun Published: Friday, May 29, 2020

BCCA’s Builders Code expands with Crew App and online training

"If a worksite isn't safe, it shouldn't be operational. What we're here to say is when and where those worksites can be safe and can comply, we want to support those worksites continuing" Chris Atchison, BCCA President

The BC Construction Association (BCCA) has signed a new deal with eSolutionsGroup to supply the back-end technology powering BCCA’s construction procurement platform BidCentral.

Business Examiner, March 5, 2020 Article

It’s encouraging that the government and Wet’suwet’en leaders were able to agree on a promising new protocol for future projects, but this doesn’t resolve the disputes that are happening now and central to the blockades and disruption we’re seeing across Canada.

Important information for Construction Industry Employers, including a downloadable Health and Safety Notice to share with employees.

Report Reinforces Importance of Government/Industry Alignment in Tackling the Skilled Workforce Shortage in BC.

Nine months after unveiling the resources to help the industrial, commercial, and institutional construction sector set a standard code of conduct on worksites in B.C., the Builders Code has honoured six companies for their leadership at the inaugural Builders Code Champion Awards. Hosted by the BCCA and Minerva BC at the Ocean Pointe Resort in Victoria yesterday, the awards recognized companies with advanced policies and practices that seek to ensure all employees can reach their full potential in the skilled trades.

As part of its ongoing efforts to address bullying, hazing, and harassment on B.C. construction worksites, the BC Construction Association (BCCA) is marking National Construction Day with the beta launch of a new Builders Code Crew Training App that uses animation and humour to help construction workers recognize the difference between “Cool or Tool” behavior on the worksite.

Source: Globe and Mail, published November 15, 2019. Written by Kerry Gold. It’s no secret that many average income earners have been shut out of the Greater Vancouver housing market – and that’s a problem for employers.

Tax-free impact investment vehicle supports housing affordability for BC tradespeople, teachers, firefighters. Essential workers in B.C. struggling to afford a home in the community where they work may soon have access to a new first-time homebuyer mortgage financing solution. A mortgage investment corporation (MIC) launched by the non-profit BC Construction Association (BCCA) aims to make securing a mortgage easier for B.C.’s skilled tradespeople, medical care providers, educators, and emergency responders, while at the same time provide the growing impact investment market with a tax-free vehicle that supports housing affordability.

Increase in number of construction companies and average wage highlight strong sector performance

Mortgage Investment Corporations (MIC) could bring the dream of home ownership to essential workers.

The Annual General Meeting of the BC Construction Association will be held: Friday September 20th, 2019 at 12:30pm at the Coast Prince George Hotel.

The BC Construction Association welcomes Wednesday’s (Aug. 21) announcement by Trans Mountain Corporation President and CEO Ian Anderson that construction work on the project will resume in communities along the route, including an immediate return to work at B.C.’s Burnaby Terminal and Westridge Marine Terminal. According to Trans Mountain, this will see 4,200 contract workers working along the route in B.C. and Alberta in the fourth quarter of 2019.

New Builders Code training for site supervisors, forepersons and union business managers on how best to deal with the perpetrators and targets of worksite bullying and harassment was announced today in Prince George, along with a new local Employer Advisor for the northern region. The training, which supports the construction personnel that work most closely with tradespeople on construction sites, was announced by Northern Regional Construction Association (NRCA) CEO Scott Bone.

The BCCA is pleased the B.C. Supreme Court ruled we can proceed with our challenge to the legal authority of the Government to impose the “Building Trades Only Requirement” on public construction projects.

Construction is changing. With a skilled labour shortage and other pressures affecting our industry, it is more important than ever to innovate and become a future-forward construction company. New technologies that help us become more productive and efficient are critical to moving the construction industry forward, but can also feel overwhelming at times.

In the midst of a sector-wide drive for greater innovation and productivity in the face of a booming industry and a looming skills shortage, a recent State of Construction Technology survey conducted by the British Columbia Construction Association (BCCA) shows B.C.’s construction employers are underserved by a tech sector that is largely unaware of the huge potential market they represent.

The BC Construction Association welcomes today's decision by the federal cabinet to proceed with the Trans Mountain Pipeline Project.

As reported yesterday, Liberal MLA and Opposition Critic Mary Polak introduced an unexpected Bill for Prompt Payment Legislation in the House.

The BCCA is a non-partisan association representing BC’s construction industry as a whole. We advocate for the competitive success of all employers, regardless of labour affiliation, and seek a fair and balanced approach from government in regard to decisions that greatly impact our industry.

The training will look to improve worksite culture and tackle harassment, hazing and bullying by providing training for construction company owners, executives and HR managers.

Awards honour province’s best as part of BC Construction and Skilled Trades Month

CBC interviews BCCA's President Chris Atchison about the Builders Code and the launch of its "Don't be a Tool" campaign.

CHNL out of Kamloops interviews BCCA's President Chris Atchison about Construction Month and talks about newly released industry statistics.

Skilled labour availability, procurement and productivity are key issues across construction sector

Industry Seeks to Improve Retention of Skilled Tradeswomen by Addressing Worksite Behaviour. Construction employers who want to address diversity or harassment issues on their worksites but lack the human resources personnel or expertise to do so will now have access to confidential advisors with experience in HR management, mediation and conflict resolution as part of the Builders Code recently launched by the BC Construction Association and project partners.

The Province of B.C. and the BC Construction Association (BCCA) marked International Women’s Day today with the launch of the Builders Code, a comprehensive program that aims to address B.C.’s skilled labour shortage by reducing harassment, bullying and hazing on construction worksites. The Builders Code defines an Acceptable Worksite and provides employers with tools, training and resources to improve and promote safe and productive worksite behavior.

The BC Construction Association (BCCA) has today issued two Contractor’s Alerts warning BC contractors of “Onerous Bidding Conditions” on two Prince George construction projects being procured by BC Housing. The projects are a building envelope remediation on Westwood Court and renovation work on the Hart Haven Group Home at Dagg Road, both in Prince George. Total value of both projects is $9.5M - $5M on Westwood Court and $4.5M on the Hart Haven project.

Contractor Alert issued for Prime Contractor Services for Building Envelope Remediation Services, Westwood Court, Prince George.

Contractor Advisory issued for Renovation Work at the Hart Haven group home at Dagg Rd in Prince George, BC.

LNG Canada and the BC Construction Association (BCCA) today announced that Marissa McTavish, an electrical apprentice from Prince George, has become the 1,000th participant in LNG Canada’s Trades Training Fund (TTF) and her employer, Primus Electric, the 500th employer to sponsor an employee with the Fund.

Pre-arrival settlement services are a key element of Canada’s immigration program. They provide newcomers, including refugees, with the information and settlement support they need to make informed decisions about their new life in Canada before they arrive, such as how to prepare for finding a job. To help deliver these important services, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will be providing funding of $3.4 million to the British Columbia Construction Association (BCCA).

It’s been another busy year for BC’s ICI construction sector. Emerging issues are plentiful -- but according to employers, the #1 issue is still the over-arching shortage of skilled workers.

This past Friday, the VI Seals squared off against the Northern Capitals (BC) in an early season Female Midget AAA (FMAAA) game at Shawnigan Lake Arena.

The British Columbia Construction Association (BCCA) announces the election of Angela McKerlich to the role of Board Chair for the 2018-2019 term, effective immediately.

BCCA and the Regional Construction Associations are very pleased that LNG Canada has made a positive final investment decision.

WorkBC has released the 2018 edition of British Columbia's Labour Market Outlook. Here are the key trends for the construction industry over the next 10 years.

There are a record-breaking number of significant issues applying pressure to BC’s construction industry this year, and BCCA is working at the provincial level to make sure industry’s concerns and recommendations are heard loud and clear.

BCCA is extremely disappointed by the Federal Court of Appeal's Trans Mountain expansion project decision today which undermines Canada’s economy and role on the global stage. This blow to investor confidence comes at a time when BC is already under pressure from new tariffs, taxation, and policy directives.

The new BC Building and Plumbing Code will be effective December 10, 2018 and will apply to building permits applied for on or after that date. The BC Fire Code is anticipated to be adopted in the fall of 2018 and effective December 10, 2018. Buildings with permits in place under the previous 2012 BC Building Code will generally not be affected by the adoption of the new code.

The recent Community Benefits Agreement (CBA) announced by Premier Horgan’s government has created a major disruption in our industry. Tradespeople and employers alike – both union and open shop – are working to understand the details of the 336 page document and what it means for them, following inadequate consultation with industry prior to the release of the policy.

Premier Horgan's Community Benefits Agreement (CBA) is the most dangerous and disruptive policy to be introduced by any government into our industry in recent memory. Whether you are a union or an open-shop employer, your basic rights and freedoms as Canadians are being blatantly disregarded, as is government's obligation for fair, open and transparent procurement practises.

Community benefit agreements can be used successfully provided there is adequate industry engagement prior to their roll-out. This CBA did not include adequate industry engagement.

The new Pattullo Bridge Community Benefits Agreement patently illustrates what is unfair with our current government’s policy decision to mandate the nature and extent of procurement requirements in major public construction projects. For BCCA, an association that hinges its principles on fair, open and transparent procurement practices, this agreement is taking public policy in construction tendering a bridge too far.

It’s hard to think the construction sector is in trouble this summer, when everywhere across the province you see tall cranes, seas of hard hats, and traffic cones — all outward signs of a prosperous B.C. economy of which construction is a beneficiary.

BCCA is working with our counterparts at the local, provincial and national levels to inform government on the risks of Community Benefit Agreements, and to educate public owners on the use of fair, open, and transparent procurement processes which are an obligation and responsibility of government to taxpayers.

"Prompt payment” is a familiar issue in the construction industry. Of course there’s nothing prompt about it. It’s the LACK of prompt payment that makes it an issue, handicapping our industry, squeezing the small contractors, and pushing risk down into the supply chain onto those who can least afford to carry it.

A recap video to celebrate the success of Construction and Skilled Trades Month in British Columbia for April 2018. Here's to all of you!

The Understanding Risk British Columbia (UR+ BC) symposium, hosted April 16 & 17, 2018 in Victoria BC, marked the first time the construction industry played a leadership role in bringing together builders, designers, engineers, scientists, and policymakers to tackle the challenges of hazard mitigation and increased resilience in the industrial, commercial, and institutional built environment.

Official Statement - The BC Construction Association has long been a strong public supporter of BC’s oil and gas strategy and of the Kinder Morgan Trans Mountain pipeline in particular, recognizing the significance of the project for the economic prosperity of British Columbia and the rest of Canada provided that all environmental safety stipulations are met.

The Dodge Momentum Index jumped 6.1% in April to 163.0 (2000=100) from the revised March reading of 153.7.

BC Lions teams up with industry to celebrate BC’s construction sector.

New office opens in Smithers to connect local workforce to construction job.

BCCA and BC Hockey team up to launch “Hard Hats and Hockey Sticks”.

#ConstructionMonthBC wouldn't be complete without a Construction Leadership Dinner. We honoured Amy Carr, Mary-Anne Bowcott, Karen Anderson, Becky Lupton, Max Ignatiuk, Jerry Pasitney & Tracey MacKinnon for their industry leadership roles.

Principal, Thrive Consulting, Director, EERI-BC, and UR+ BC Organizer, Jessica Shoubridge, has worked across all orders of government, academia, non-profits and the private sector to help bridge gaps between science, policy, and action for risk reduction and resilience building.

Engineer Tamsin Lyle founded Ebbwater Consulting, a Vancouver-based company, to focus on flood management solutions.

“It’s essential for the stability and health of our businesses and communities that BC is trusted by investors - project commitments must hold..." - Chris Atchison, BCCA President

Hear Ye, Hear Ye! Let’s take this moment to stand up and be proud of what we build, how we build it, and who we are. #BuiltRight

The British Columbia Construction Association (BCCA) and the Ministry of Advanced Education, Skills, and Training are raising awareness about careers in construction throughout April.

We're with Lucy Jones, an expert in earthquake research and earthquake risk reduction from LA. Lucy is the 2018 distinguished lecturer for the Earthquake Engineering Research Institute, BC Branch. She's in Victoria to talk about creating resilience in our communities, particularly about creating building codes that reflect the realities of earthquake loses.

VICTORIA – Premier John Horgan today announced a suite of initiatives to pave the way for women working or entering a career in the building trades through improved workplace supports, services and practices.

In the day to day procurement process, details are not always “crystal clear”. The Town of Smithers knew this and worked harder to ensure a transparent bid process at every stage of the Airport project.