Mechanical Piping Plumbing Journal 2008

In regards to the shortage of skilled tradespeople in Canada, Fougere believes Saskatchewan is one of the leading provinces in acknowledging the First Nations aboriginal peoples as a valuable source available to bridge the gap in worker shortages. He says, “They are another work force, and are underemployed. They’re a great pool of labour. “Our industry is over-extended,” Fougere continues. “Many projects are delayed, and many people just can’t bid on other projects. We are really over-extended in terms of manpower and staffi ng, so there is a focus more on getting the job done, rather than planning for the future. There is so much work to be done, and not enough labour to do it.” Eric Henstridge of Comco Pipe and Supply Company is MCA Manitoba’s representative on the LMI Manitoba committee. Like Fougere, Henstridge says the CSC and LMI program benefit the entire construction industry. “It really involves all labour, with respect to projects which are developing in each region,” says Henstridge, “and whether or not there is sufficient manpower to staff projects which need to go ahead.” The LMI Manitoba committee meetings follow a routine regimen which Henstridge says is critical to collecting and eventually analyzing data. “At each meeting, we review projects, review the dollar amounts, the time involved with each project, when it starts, when it will be completed, plus any overlaps with any other major With the Construction projects. Then, we overlap with sur- Forecasts, a user can veys ongoing in each of our associations. determine the availability There are some highprofile labour people of a construction trade/ involved, including some project coordi- occupation in labour nators who offer an overview as to the markets across Canada. status of staffing, both currently and where they think it’s going in the future,” explains Henstridge. Identifying where and when skilled tradespeople are needed is one key element to the LMI reports, which are collected from each provincial committee and, as Henstridge explains, are compiled as a type of “state of the union for labour in this country.” There’s no getting around the labour issue when it comes to growth in the construction industry, according to Henstridge. He points to college training courses and immigration policies as two factors which can replenish the talent pool. And, he identifies an aging workforce as a critical element which groups like CSC and LMI can tackle in order to prepare for the future. Mechanical Contractors Associations of Alberta, B.C., Manitoba & Saskatchewan 2008 49 http://www.advancededucation.gov.ab.ca/appren

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

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