Mechanical Piping Plumbing Journal 2008

UP DATES from British Columbia CALENDAR OF E VENTS ust as we reported in last year’s issue, the burgeoning construction industry in BC continues to thrive. While this means that business is booming, and work is to be found everywhere, it also poses some challenges for contractors such as labour shortage, materials and equipment production, and project scheduling that is affected by these issues. Statistics from BC’s Ministry of Economic Development definitely show the boom we are experiencing: • Towards the end of 2007, the Major Projects Inventory increased yet again. Value of capital projects under construction were estimated at $53.3 billion, and proposed projects had an estimated value of $71.5 billion, for a total of $128.4 billion. • The province’s unemployment rate fell to 4.2%. Construction employment was up 6.4% in December 2007. • Value of Building Permits issued by BC municipalities surged ahead 37.4% in the last quarter of 2007. Permits for non-residential buildings were up 35.7% for the same time period. With these economic factors as a result of many factors, including the 2010 Olympics, contractors are in one of the most lucrative markets ever. However, as stated earlier, there are some perils that face us. How Are We Coping? Labour supply continues to be a key issue facing contractors. Yes, there are many projects available, but many contractors just do not have the manpower to work all these projects. However, not all is bad. Preliminary evidence suggests that provincial tax credits for apprenticeships (for both the apprentice and the employer) are effective in increasing apprenticeships. We are finding that more “professional” positions, such supervisors, estimators, and project managers, are in incredibly high demand. With the construction boom, contractors have the opportunity to work on projects that will receive global exposure, thanks to the 2010 Olympic Games. These are a once-in-a-lifetime opportunities that many contractors are eager to be involved in. continued on page 26 J 1st Annual MCABC North Island Chapter Golf Tournament April 18, 2008 MCABC Awards of Distinction April 19, 2008 1st Annual MCABC Okanagan Golf Tournament May 1, 2008 MCABC 2008 AGM and Conference May 2 & 3, 2008 Grand Okanagan Resort, Kelowna MCA Canada Western Regional Directors’ Meeting June 12, 2008 Mechanical Contractors Associations of Alberta, B.C., Manitoba & Saskatchewan 2008 25

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Mechanical Piping Plumbing Journal 2008

Mechanical Piping Plumbing Journal 2008 Contents MCA Canada Chairman MCA Alberta MCA British Columbia MCA Manitoba MCA Saskatchewan Alberta British Columbia Saskatchewan Manitoba Demographics & Management Employees Insurance – The Pros & Cons of Subguard® Construction Sector Council Data Richmond Olympic Oval Uses the Ice to Heat Things Up B.C.’s Hydrogen Highway™: The Hydrogen + Fuel Cell Alternative The Manitoba Hydro Tower Project Index to Advertisers

For optimal viewing of this digital publication, please enable JavaScript and then refresh the page. If you would like to try to load the digital publication without using Flash Player detection, please click here.