Our Jordan Bateman gives you the heads-up on new inflation number, new construction numbers, and an old political trick that just delays the inevitable. 📈 The latest inflation numbers are out, and the Consumer Price Index slowed to 3.1% in October – down from 3.8%...
ICBA Daily News for November 20, 2023
https://youtu.be/Tb2Vvit3hhM Our Jordan Bateman gives you the heads-up on how government spending is costing you thousands on your mortgage, the demise of single-family homes, and if we can have our plastic straws back. 💸 In a very critical look at the Trudeau...
ICBA NEWS: 2023 Safety Merits Contest Now Open!
Workplace Safety is a team effort – and ICBA is again going to reward one of our members’ workers for their safe work practices! All ICBA members are invited to submit the names of their safest workers — as long as they meet the criteria below. The Safety Merits...
ICBA IN THE NEWS: Benefits, Entrepreneurship, Crime Stoppers
A few pieces in case you missed them: Mental Wellness Key for Construction (BIV) ...Langley’s Orion Construction Corp. is enrolled in ICBA’s benefit program, with the mental health offerings being of particular interest for its staff of 62. “What I really like is...
ICBA ECONOMICS: A Snapshot of Household Spending – and the Lingering Effects of COVID
The following was written by Jock Finlayson, ICBA Chief Economist Spending on goods and services – including housing – by families and individuals accounts for more than half of all economic activity in Canada. So, it makes sense to pay close attention to how...
TRAINING THURSDAY: Construction of Concrete Slabs-On-Ground
Kerry and Jordan offer a solid, reinforced edition of Training Thursday, talking about ICBA’s latest featured course. Construction of Concrete Slabs-On-Ground Live Online | 8 BC Housing CPD Points December 13-14, 2023 | 8AM to noon...
ICBA NEWS: An Apprenticeship Hat Trick
Congratulations to the ICBA Training team, who have pulled off an amazing hat trick: ICBA is now British Columbia's #1 sponsor of trades apprentices, #1 sponsor of Indigineous apprentices AND #1 sponsor of female apprentices! This, according to BC Government...
WELLNESS WEDNESDAY #126: Thank You GreenShield
So many companies and organizations are putting more emphasis on mental health, and breaking the stigma around it. ICBA’s Builders’ Circle partner, GreenShield Canada, is one of those leaders. This week in Toronto, ICBA brought together our Mental Wellness Ambassador...
PODCAST: ICBA’s Jock Finlayson on the Economic Challenges Facing Small Businesses (and everyone else)
ICBA Chief Economist Jock Finlayson joined Today in BC to discuss the difficulties faced by renters and small businesses in British Columbia. Renters in Metro Vancouver, making up 36% of the population, are struggling...
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During our visit to the Gitxsan Huwilp Government and Gitxsan Development Corporation in Hazelton yesterday, ICBA Wellness Ambassador Corey Hirsch was given a beautiful piece of art by Arlene Ness, who had done a lot of research into Corey’s story, his mask preferences, and how it connected to the Gitxsan.![]()
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Corey was incredibly honoured and humbled by the gift, the talent, and the thought that went into it. Thank you, Arlene and Gitxsan for your warm welcome into your community!
We spent an amazing day in Hazelton, as ICBA Wellness Ambassador Corey Hirsch Official and VP-Regional Mike Davis visited the Gitxsan Huwilp Government yesterday. Corey shared his story with a group of more than 60 Gitxsan members and friends, including chiefs, community members and industry representatives. We felt incredibly welcomed and were thrilled to work with the Gitxsan Development Corporation to put together this visit.![]()
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One youngster even brought his goalie stick for Corey to sign! Thank you for having us!
WELLNESS WEDNESDAY #128: Inflation Isolation![]()
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It’s a tough cycle to break: the economy sucks, so we stay home more to save money, but that negatively affects our mental health…![]()
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This week, MNP put out a study, featured in the Financial Post, that called this troubling trend, ‘inflation isolation'. Half of the Canadians surveyed are staying home more to save money, and a third are cutting back on socializing. This is hitting younger folks and those earning under $40,000 especially hard.![]()
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Mental health is taking a hit too. About 20% of the respondents feel socially isolated, and 19% are experiencing loneliness. The pressure from escalating costs and growing debts is causing widespread anxiety and stress.![]()
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Nearly half of people fear they won't be able to handle living costs in the next year without sinking deeper into debt. Even people earning over $100,000 aren't immune, with many living paycheque to paycheque.![]()
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Inflation isolation sucks. Financial stress doesn't just affect our bank accounts but also our wellbeing and connections with others. Keep an eye on your friends, loved ones, and yourselves.![]()
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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.
Our Jordan Bateman gives you the heads-up on the 2024 housing market, predictions for Alberta, and the importance of LNG to Indigenous communities. ![]()
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For links to sources, visit www.icbaindependent.ca. We can't post media links here because of the Trudeau Government's foolish Online News Act. 🙄![]()
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🐌 Canadians should brace for a slooooow housing market this spring, as the interest rate hikes and economic downturn continue to take their toll, says Desjardins Economics. It’s also slowing housing starts – the last thing we need in an affordability crisis. ![]()
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📈 Desjardins has also made some predictions about Alberta for 2024, and they’re much sunnier than in B.C. They say economic activity from tax cuts, a modest increase in oil prices, and population growth will make sure Alberta stays in surplus. ![]()
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🛢Karen Ogen, a former elected Wet’suwet’en chief councillor, writes in BIV that pipeline construction is an important step forward for Indigenous communities.
Our Jordan Bateman gives you the heads-up on Premier Smith taking on Ottawa, the federal fiscal update, and the link between workers and housing. ![]()
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For links to sources, visit www.icbaindependent.ca. We can't post media links here because of the Trudeau Government's foolish Online News Act. 🙄![]()
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🛢 Premier Danielle Smith (and most Albertans, and ICBA Alberta) has had quite enough of the Trudeau government’s systematic attack on the Canadian oil and gas industry. She has promised to take action – you can bet the Alberta Sovereignty Within a United Canada Act will be a big part of her pushback.![]()
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💸 ICBA’s Chief Economist Jock Finlayson reviewed the Trudeau Government’s fiscal update and found it deeply concerning. ![]()
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🏠 Finally, Les Leyne dug into the link between housing and workers, and found the BC NDP government is missing a plan to make this important link.
It was a federal fiscal update only a free spender could love... ICBA Chief Economist Jock Finlayson breaks down last week's update from federal Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland:![]()
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"Higher spending and the mounting debt have made it harder for the Bank of Canada to get inflation back to 2%, after three years (2021-23) during which the all-items Consumer Price index has been running well above the Bank’s target. In this sense, fiscal and monetary policy in Canada have been misaligned for at least the last 18 months: the central bank has been seeking aggressively to temper demand and dampen economy-wide spending, while policymakers in Ottawa, Victoria and some other provincial capitals have been pouring money into an economy that doesn’t require additional “stimulus” — in pursuit of a mix of political, social and environmental objectives, including, most recently, a perceived need to address the cost of living challenges facing Canadians."![]()
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Much more at www.icbaindependent.ca/2023/11/23/icba-economics-the-federal-governments-fall-economic-statement/
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’Tis the Season to Fret About Money
At ICBA this month, we've been looking at how we deal with our individual finances, and how that can feed stress and anxiety. One of the most helpful pieces has been material on how to manage holiday stress...
MORE AT https://www.icbaindependent.ca/2023/11/22/wellness-wednesday-127-tis-the-season-to-fret-about-money/