The following was authored by Jock Finlayson, ICBA Chief Economist. The construction industry across Canada has been grappling with sharply escalating building costs for the last several years. The direction of travel for costs is still pointing upward, but the pace...
A recent Benefits Benchmarking report by The Conference Board of Canada shows some improvement in mental health benefits: 54.4% of organizations have increased their psychological health service coverage since the pandemic. The report also shows that most companies...
By Jock Finlayson, ICBA Chief Economist Canada is a mid-sized economy, responsible for less than 2% of global production of goods and services – a proportion that has fallen gently over the past two decades. Closer to home, we represent approximately 8% of all...
Kerry and Jordan recap the ICBA Construction Innovation Summit (no need to welcome our robot overlords quite yet) and highlight ICBA’s latest featured course! The Nuts and Bolts of Builders’ Liens (Live Online) 1.5 BC Housing CPD Points Friday, November 17, 2023...
We go coast-to-coast in this episode, as ICBA BC’s Jordan Bateman and Merit Nova Scotia’s Paul Dubé discuss the Construction Innovation Summit, housing affordability, and the carbon tax. They explore the potential of AI in the construction industry and the...
Inflation and financial stress is taking a serious toll on Canadians’ mental health says a new RBC study – and it’s affecting every generation. A staggering 72% of Canadians report that money worries are constantly on their minds. This stress cuts across...
While Justin Trudeau, David Eby, and other leaders claim the age of fossil fuels is over, the data doesn't back them up, says ICBA Chief Economist Jock Finlayson and Business Council of British Columbia Director Denise Mullen:"The lesson from the EIA report and the latest Canadian data on energy use is clear: while the energy system is moving, incrementally, away from fossil fuels, the process will take far longer than many assume. Fossil fuels have been the core of economic, industrial, and human activity for generations."That isn’t going to change because of the proclamations and sometimes ill-considered policy interventions engineered by politicians or the frantic lobbying of environmental activists."Read the piece at www.icbaindependent.ca/2024/05/16/icba-op-ed-global-petroleum-consumption-surges-defying-energy-t...... See MoreSee Less
TRAINING THURSDAY: Why Supervisory Skills Matter for RetentionKerry and Jordan talk about ICBA’s latest featured course, the incomparable Pam Bragg, and Batman vs. Superman.Why Supervisory Skills Matter for Retention (LIVE ONLINE)Thursday, June 6, 2024 (11AM to 1PM Pacific)icbatraining.arlo.co/w/courses/239-why-supervisory-skills-matter-for-retention/1459 Missed this one? Check out www.icba.ca/courses With labour shortages across the country, employee retention is one of the most talked about organizational challenges facing the construction industry, and it is anticipated to continue to be a workplace trend in the coming years.Employee retention is about much more than the foundational components of wages, hours, and benefits we tend to think of. While certainly important, it doesn’t end there. There are many other factors that go into an employee’s decision to stay or leave. And the supervisor–employee relationship has a powerful influence over that decision.Employers that systematically manage and strengthen the supervisor-employee relationship will stand a greater chance of managing through the labour shortages while retaining talent. Join us as we discuss the supervisory skills needed to help you retain your talent and become an employer of choice. ... See MoreSee Less
WELLNESS WEDNESDAY #150: Whether Weather?The sun was out last weekend in southwestern B.C. – one of those incredible days where all the extra money we spend to live here (on taxes, on housing, and on taxes on housing) just suddenly feels worth it. It was warm and so many people seemed more upbeat, after months and months of rain.Healthline says that’s no coincidence. “Long, bright days can energize you… Warm, sunny weather may affect brainpower by boosting your memory, helping you feel more open to new information, and improving inattentiveness.”But it’s not all good: “Evidence suggests people are more likely to attempt suicide in the spring and early summer than any other season. Researchers don’t know exactly why this pattern occurs, although they have a few theories, including more sunlight exposure and solar radiation causing a shift in neurotransmitter levels; rapidly rising temperatures triggering a mood episode; [or] high pollen counts causing inflammation in the brain.”So add another external factor to your mental health checks: weather. --------Each week, ICBA’s Jordan Bateman reflects on what we’ve learned as we participate in ICBA’s Workplace Wellness Program. ICBA’s Workplace Wellness Program is helping more than 100 companies and more than 10,000 construction professionals better understand mental health. This program is free for all ICBA members – check out icba.ca/wellness for details. ... See MoreSee Less
WorkSafeBC is developing new washroom regulations for B.C. construction sites, but they don't seem up to speed on the lessons learned by other jurisdictions, say our friends at COCA. Far be it from us to suggest a government agency take a field trip, but WorkSafeBC officials should engage Ontario and Quebec to understand their regulatory approaches better and avoid potential pitfalls. As COCA notes: "Over the years, we have seen the unfortunate results of government policies that have been rushed — where the implementation has the opposite effect of what was intended." ... See MoreSee Less
B.C. washroom regulations should heed examples of Ontario, Quebec Posted on May 13, 2024 by cocabc Journal of Commerce | Dave Baspaly | May 13, 2024 WorkSafeBC, under pressure from Premier David Eby, ...
It's important to know the building blocks of the B.C. economy -- and we're proud that construction contributes 10% of our province's economic output.
ICBA Chief Jock Finlayson digs into the numbers at https://www.icbaindependent.ca/2024/05/15/icba-economics-the-industrial-composition-of-the-b-c-economy/