December 4, 2009

December 4, 2009

Premier Commits To Infrastructure Spending

Premier Greg Selinger's throne speech delivered on Monday focused on limiting the impact of the recession, referring to infrastructure projects such as repairing roads, bridges and older schools as a big part of that equation.

Selinger's speech also highlighted previously-announced projects, including tax incremental financing to help pay for the rehabilitation of older neighbourhoods, the new road being built up the east side of Lake Winnipeg, and the cleaning up of toxic abandoned mine sites, among other initiatives.

"The reality is we've made a commitment with the other levels of government to do infrastructure stimulus and we will continue to do that," Selinger noted.

Selinger also pledged to "make a signature contribution" to establish a new polar bear research and arctic exhibit at the Assiniboine Park Zoo, while also committing funds to upgrade existing polar bear facilities in Churchill. That contribution was made official Wednesday in the form of a $31-million commitment to help build the International Polar Bear Conservation Centre, which will include an exhibit and education facility.

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Finance Minister Speaks In Winnipeg

Federal Finance Minister Jim Flaherty toured the site of the future Richardson College for the Environment at the University of Winnipeg campus and presented a speech to a collection of business and academic leaders at the U of W's Wesley Hall on Wednesday.

"Speaking to you today less than a year after Canada's economic action plan was released, the Canadian economy has begun to turn the corner," Flaherty stressed.

Flaherty did admit, however, that Canada's employment rate remains too low, and that the Economic Action Plan windfall must be spent by the end of March 2011 with projects having to be approved by Jan. 29, 2010.

Manitoba's Finance Minister, Rosann Wowchuk, was unconcerned, saying "99 per cent" of the federal money Manitoba qualifies for has already been allocated.

Flaherty was also asked about Manitoba's resistence to adopting a harmonized sales tax.

"This is a decision for provincial governments to make," Flaherty told the Winnipeg Free Press. "The federal government's role is to technically enable that to happen (through enabling legislation)."
Winnipeg's Chamber of Commerce President Dave Angus has strongly advised the provincial government to adopt the HST, but the NDP has balked at the notion thus far, citing too high of costs for consumers to swallow in today's economy.

By July 2010, 80 per cent of Canadians will be buying and selling products and services under HST. New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Quebec, Ontario and British Columbia will all have moved to it by then.

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Fines May Increase For Workplace Safety And Health Violations

Maximum fines for workplace safety violations would increase substantially under proposed legislative amendments in Bill 4, the workplace safety and health amendment act, introduced by Labour and Immigration Minister Jennifer Howard yesterday.

“These amendments will substantially increase the fine levels under the act to better reflect the serious nature of violating laws that protect workers,” said Howard. “Higher maximum fines increase their deterrence value and send a message that serious safety and health violations have serious consequences.”

The full government press release can be read here.

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New Regulations Regarding Gas Furnaces And Boilers

New regulations under The Energy Act that establish minimum energy performance standards for replacement residential and small commercial gas-fired furnaces and boilers sold in the province of Manitoba have been enacted.

Effective December 31, 2009, most new replacement furnaces will be required to have a minimum efficiency of 92 per cent. Comparable standards of 82 and 80 per cent are established for replacement hot-water boilers and low-pressure steam boilers respectively. For further information, including a "Questions & Answers" fact sheet, visit Green Manitoba's website here.

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Doing Business With The Government

WCA & Public Works Government Services Canada (PWGSC) hosted a seminar for WCA members on Tuesday, helping to clarify the federal government procurement process and the security clearance measures required when bidding on government contracts.

Here's a guide to get you started:

Step one: Acquire a Procurement Business Number (PBN) by calling 1-800-811-1148 or registering online at www.contractscanada.gc.ca. *Without a PBN, you are not eligible to bid on government projects.

Step two: Register your company in the online database at: www.contractscanada.gc.ca/en/othersys-e.htm.

Step three: A list of government contacts in each department can be accessed here. This listing allows you to market your services directly to managers of each department.

For some contracts, security clearance may be required. Acquiring this clearance can be done fairly efficiently now through the PBN Pilot Project, which is a new initiative under the Economic Action Plan. The Pilot Project requires that each company complete a security screening package, which can be acquired from the Office of Small and Medium Enterprises (1-800-811-1148 or ncr.contractscanada@pwgsc-tpsgc.ca) or the Canadian Industrial Security Directorate (1-866-368-4646 or ssi-iss@tpsgc-pwgsc.gc.ca).

For a package outlining Tuesday's presentation itself, e-mail requests to: kellythiessen@winnipegconstruction.ca.

**Another seminar may be organized if interest develops.

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Manitoba Construction News Launching Online Soon

Your No.1 source for upcoming project information is soon-to-be launched on the Internet at its online home, www.ManitobaConstructionNews.ca.

WCA members will gain “exclusive” Internet access to searchable Prebid projects and reports, enabling them to create their own customized reports based on value, category, and proposed construction schedules.

Watch for updates in the coming weeks as the newly-designed website is expected to go live this month.

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Complimentary Offer For WCA Members!

As an integrated member of the Canadian Construction Association, the WCA is extending a limited time offer to its member organizations in 2010. This new offering features a complimentary binder complete with 24 popular CCA/CCDC standard guides and documents, and will be made available free of charge to members early in the new year.

Register here before Dec. 31, and your complimentary binder will be available for pickup at our offices at 290 Burnell Street once delivered from the CCA in January/February 2010.

The binder contains the following selected CCA & CCDC documents:
CCA 1 – 2008 Stipulated Price Subcontract
CCA 27 - 1997 A Guide on Construction Environmental Management Planning
CCA 28 - 2009 A Guide to Improving Cash Flow in the Construction Industry
CCA 50 - 2003 A Prime Contractor’s Guide to Project Financing and Payment Security
CCA 52 - 2008 Joint Venture Guide
CCA 61 - 2008 Risk of Pre-purchasing Equipment and Materials for Construction Industry
Guide 2005 Banking Guide for the Canadian Construction Industry
- - -
CCDC 2 - 2008 Stipulated Price Contract
CCDC 3 - 1998 Cost Plus Contract
CCDC 9A - 2001 Statutory Declaration
CCDC 9B - 2001 Statutory Declaration
CCDC 11 - 1996 Contractor's Qualification Statement
CCDC 18 - 2001 Civil Works Contract
CCDC 20 - 2008 A Guide to the Use of CCDC 2 - 2008 Stipulated Price Contract
CCDC 21 - 2000 A Guide to Construction Insurance
CCDC 22 - 2002 A Guide to Construction Surety Bonds
CCDC 23 - 2005 A Guide to Calling Bids and Awarding Contracts
CCDC 40 - 2005 Rules for Mediation and Arbitration of Construction Disputes
CCDC 41 - 2008 CCDC Insurance Requirements
CCDC 43 - 1998 A Guide to the Use of CCDC 3 - 1998 Cost Plus Contract
CCDC 48 - 2002 A Guide to the Use of CCDC 18 - 2002
CCDC 220 - 2002 Bid Bond
CCDC 221 - 2002 Performance Bond
CCDC 222 - 2002 Labour and Material Payment Bond

We hope you will take advantage of this additional membership benefit!

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WCA Education

BUILDING SUPERVISORS FOR TOMORROW

Beginning January 2010

In response to the data collected and requests of the construction industry, Winnipeg Construction Association along with the Manitoba Construction Sector Council have developed and designed a Supervisor Training Program for experienced construction workers moving into or aspiring towards leadership positions.

"Building Supervisors for Tomorrow" has been designed to prepare first time supervisors for their journey into management. Understanding how busy people are juggling work and family, this program has been developed in module size chunks, with each module running anywhere from four to 12 hours depending on the topic. This delivery system is more flexible than any other program currently offered. It's affordable and upon completion of 80 module hours, a certificate will be earned and awarded. Click here to register.

ONLINE ORIENTATION SESSION

WCA Online Planroom & Manitoba Construction News Online

Tuesday, December 15, 2009 - 9 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.

Location: WCA - 290 Burnell St.

Description: This session will introduce you to the new Manitoba Construction News Online prebid service as well as all aspects of the Online Planroom. This includes installation, project lists, plan viewing, specs and addenda, online booking, document searching, running bulletins, keyword search and self bidding.

Also receive instruction on the Plan Viewer, which features measuring and counting tools, printing options and tricks. This session will also show you how to use and edit reports, set up a quick launch button and export information into a spreadsheet.

The Online Planroom gives WCA members access to obtain full plans, specs and addenda for over 1,800 projects per year–24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Click here to register.

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CCA Annual Conference

Registration for this year’s Annual Conference continued throughout November at a steady pace. CCA’s 2010 Annual Conference will take place aboard the Regent Seven Seas Mariner, the world's first all-suite, all-balcony ship. Catering to only 700 guests, she is one of the most spacious cruise ships afloat, and her staff to guest ratio of 1 to 1.6 provides the highest level of personal service in the six-star tradition of Regent Seven Seas Cruises. Conference registration is US $5,365 and includes registration, a double-occupancy cabin, and all meals, beverages (both alcoholic and non-alcoholic) and gratuities while onboard. As space is limited, CCA recommends you reserve today as the conference is expected to sell out soon. Read more.

2010 Federal Budget

On Friday, November 20th, the Honourable Jim Flaherty, Minister of Finance, confirmed that the federal government is not contemplating any major new spending plans for next year's budget and will “stay the course” in terms of ensuring the two-year $46.6 billion stimulus plan is implemented. The Minister stressed that money not spent by March 2011 will return to federal coffers and be used to pay down debt. The Minister also indicated that the federal government is prepared to reduce the size of the federal bureaucracy to balance the books. The text of his speech to the Canadian Club of Toronto and the Empire Club of Canada can be read in its entirety here.

Quarterly GDP

Canada's economic recession officially ended in the third quarter of this year, but with a weaker-than-expected increase. Real gross domestic product (GDP) increased 0.1% in the third quarter, the first quarterly gain since the third quarter of 2008. Final domestic demand advanced 1.2%, as capital investment and personal expenditures both increased. Real GDP was up 0.4% in September, as most major industrial sectors increased their production. Read more.

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WCA Membership Renewal Time

Membership renewal time is upon us, and that means you've likely received your membership renewal invoices in the mail, complete with details on some new program offerings for 2010. It is our sincere hope that you find value in our association offerings and renew your membership.

If your company contact information requires changes, please complete the Buyers' Guide form with your updated information and fax it to (204)783-6446 by Feb. 1, 2010, in order to have the changes reflected in the WCA Membership Directory and Buyers' Guide.

It is imperative that you notify the WCA offices of any changes within your company, including contacts, emails, addresses, etc. so that we can keep our database and directories up-to-date.

If you would like to discuss membership renewal further, please call our Member Services/Education/Gold Seal Administrator, Kelly Thiessen, at 775-8664 or e-mail: membership@winnipegconstruction.ca.

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Reminder: Don't Forget To "Seal The Deal"

CCDC Copyright Seals are required to be used with the printed electronic versions of CCDC documents. Failing to do so could risk a potential breach of contract later on in the proceedings.

A Copyright Seal’s application is a representation that the document has not been changed from its original form, with the exception only of additions or modifications as may be set forth in supplementary conditions.

A Copyright Seal must be used on all CCDC documents to be executed from printed electronic versions. For example, if there are three copies to be executed, such as one each for the contractor, the owner and the consultant, each copy must first have a Copyright Seal before being signed. A printed electronic CCDC Document with an affixed Copyright Seal is equivalent to an original CCDC hard-copy document.

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ProEst Takeoff 2009

Perform tasks 50 per cent faster and save thousands on printing costs with Digital Takeoff Technology. This is an innovative software solution that revolutionizes the way construction companies perform takeoffs. Instead of using paper plans and manual methods or a digitizer, ProEst Takeoff allows estimators to perform takeoffs using on-screen digital plans and a mouse. The ability to view two plan sets at one time makes it easy to toggle between job specifications and the actual takeoff. And grid patterns, with best fit rotation, ensure quick material calculations.

Find out more about ProEst Takeoff 2009 HERE.

Download Free Trial: Can ProEst Takeoff save your company time, space and money? Download your free trial to find out: http://proest.com/wca

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