Journal of Commerce | Peter Caulfield | October 30, 2020 Like a hulking, surly teenager who knows how to press our buttons, SARS-CoV-2, which causes COVID-19, is a coronavirus with attitude, and it’s driving us around the bend. The mental health aspect of the pandemic is a growing problem, and the B.C. construction industry is taking…
Read MoreLong-term pandemic effects of ‘hyper attention state’ being felt onsite, says panellist
Journal of Commerce | Russell Hixson | November 2, 2020 C. experts from construction, trucking, film and government met for a virtual summit to discuss mental health strategies, with one construction company president highlighting the importance of having mental health protocols in place, especially during the pandemic. The summit was the fifth and final part in…
Read MoreB.C. stakeholders meet with U.S. neighbours to discuss successes coping with COVID
Journal of Commerce | Peter Caulfield | October 26, 2020 Officials with several British Columbia construction associations met virtually recently with a Washington State senator and the CEO of a U.S.-Canada economic organization to discuss how the B.C. and Washington construction industries dealt with the initial stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Canadians explained how B.C….
Read MoreAlberta prompt payment legislation planned for June 2021
Journal of Commerce | Russell Hixson | October 26, 2020 Proposed prompt payment legislation for the construction industry is expected to go into effect next June, construction industry leaders said. Terry Parker, executive director for the Building Trades of Alberta, said the legislation would be implemented following an awareness campaign that is to run from now…
Read MoreIndustry Special: Checking it twice: why quality assurance is critical to delivering construction safety programs
Journal of Commerce | BCCSA | October 26, 2020 You can always try to audit your own strengths and weaknesses, but you’ll never get a really good view from the seat you’re occupying. It’s a simple truth that underlines the quality assurance (QA) infrastructure put in place by the BC Construction Safety Alliance (BCCSA) to ensure…
Read MoreB.C. party platforms tackle labour, infrastructure, development
Journal of Commerce | Russell Hixson | October 21, 2020 British Columbians will head to the polls to decide the direction to take the province on Oct. 24. The BC NDP, BC Liberals and BC Green Party have all released their platforms. Here are some of the major campaign promises that could impact the construction industry….
Read MoreConfirmed COVID-19 case onsite, what do you do?
Journal of Commerce | Angela Gismondi | October 23, 2020 Panic. Fear. Misinformation. These are the issues experienced on a construction site when a worker tests positive for COVID-19, explained health and safety professionals during a panel discussion entitled Confirmed Case – Be Prepared to Act Quickly and Effectively. The panel, where construction firms shared stories…
Read MorePolicy, Regulation and Research Division Announcement
The Policy, Regulation and Research Division of WorkSafeBC (“PRRD”) would like to thank all participating stakeholders for their submissions on the PRRD’s discussion paper and draft amendments to policy, reflecting the legislative amendments to the Workers Compensation Act (Act) that came into effect on August 14, 2020 as a result of Government’s Bill 23 of 2020. Please click here for a summary of…
Read MoreOpioid epidemic and COVID-19 a deadly combination for struggling B.C. workers
Journal of Commerce | Warren Frey | October 19, 2020 As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, British Columbia’s other public health epidemic rages on. Work to Wellness CEO Diana Vissers and Boreal Wellness Centres registered clinical counsellor Mike Mathers were the presenters of a recent BC Municipal Safety Association (BCMSA) webinar titled Exploring substance use and impacts…
Read MoreIndustry Perspectives Op-Ed: NDP’s CBAs fail to address training and workforce development challenges
Journal of Commerce | Ken Baerg | October 19, 2020 This is the third in a series of Industry Perspectives Op-Ed columns where Ken Baerg of Canada Works shares his views on British Columbia’s Community Benefits Agreement (CBA) framework. This article delves into Baerg’s opinion on how CBAs fall short of effective training and workforce development. The…
Read MoreOne-on-one recap: BC Liberal Leader Andrew Wilkinson sits down with the Journal of Commerce
Journal of Commerce | Russell Hixson | October 16, 2020 Andrew Wilkinson, leader of the BC Liberals, advocated for doing away with Community Benefits Agreements (CBAs) and pushing ahead with large infrastructure investments in a one-on-one conversation with the Journal of Commerce (JOC). National managing editor Vince Versace interviewed Wilkinson who is challenging Premier John Horgan’s…
Read MoreJOC Election Special: B.C. Liberal Leader Andrew Wilkinson on how a Liberal win will impact construction and labour
Journal of Commerce | DCN-JOC News Services | October 15, 2020 In our final one-on-one interview with B.C. Liberal Leader Andrew Wilkinson, Daily Commercial News and Journal of Commerce national managing editor Vince Versace asks how a Liberal election win will impact the labour and construction landscape in British Columbia. Please watch our previous videos where…
Read MoreJOC Election Special: B.C. Liberal Leader Andrew Wilkinson on Community Benefits Agreements
Journal of Commerce | DCN-JOC News Services | October 13, 2020 In the first of our series of one-on-one interviews with B.C. Liberal Leader Andrew Wilkinson, Daily Commercial News and Journal of Commerce national managing editor Vince Versace asks about Wilkinson’s stance on the use of Community Benefits Agreements on public projects.
JOC Election Special: B.C. Liberal Leader Andrew Wilkinson on COVID-19 and infrastructure commitments
Journal of Commerce | DCN-JOC News Services | October 14, 2020 In the second of our series of one-on-one interviews with B.C. Liberal Leader Andrew Wilkinson, Daily Commercial News and Journal of Commerce national managing editor Vince Versace asks about the party’s plan, if elected, for capital spending on infrastructure projects as part of the recovery…
Read MoreIndustry Perspectives Op-Ed: The NDP, CBAs and PLAs – a serving of three letter acronyms
Journal of Commerce | Ken Baerg | October 7, 2020 For information only and not an endorsement – this information is shared to ensure members have the context and understanding of current issues that impact the Construction Industry. This is the second in a series of Industry Perspectives Op-Ed columns where Ken Baerg of Canada Works…
Read MoreWorkSafeBC announces preliminary average premium rates for 2021
Published on: September 23, 2020 Richmond, B.C. — WorkSafeBC announced today that the preliminary average base rate for 2021 will remain unchanged at 1.55 percent of employers’ assessable payroll. This will be the fourth year in a row that the average base rate has remained at this level, consistent with WorkSafeBC’s goal of keeping rates…
Read MorePublic Consultation Postponed – Submit written feedback on Part 8 – Safety Headgear
In light of the provincial election, WorkSafeBC’s Board of Directors has decided to postpone the upcoming public hearings on the proposed changes to the Occupational Health and Safety Regulations scheduled for September 30, 2020. The new date and times as well as the new submission deadline will be provided when the information is available. Please submit written…
Read MoreCOCA video reiterates hard hat safety, demonstrates Sikhs can still wear the PPE
Journal of Commerce | Grant Cameron | September 23, 2020 The B.C. Council of Construction Associations (COCA) has produced a nine-and-a-half-minute-long video aimed at bolstering its case for keeping the province’s existing hard hat regulations in place. The video, filmed during a Ledcor Construction Ltd. toolbox talk at the King George Hub project, a mixed-use development…
Read MoreBC Building Trades leader announces run for office as NDP candidate for Langley
Journal of Commerce | Russell Hixson |September 22, 2020 Andrew Mercier, executive director for the BC Building Trades, has announced he will be the BC NDP candidate for Langley in this fall’s provincial election. “I’ve always been involved in Langley, involved in the community,” said Mercier. “It’s the community I grew up in and it has…
Read MoreRecent work-related incidents reported to WorkSafeBC
September 23, 2020 Construction incident summaries are based on information obtained as soon as possible after the incidents: they are preliminary and subject to change. Details have been edited to protect workers’ privacy. See additional summaries online. Injury Type: Violence in the workplace Core Activity: Traffic control / Construction labour supply Location: Lower Mainland Date of Incident: 2020-Sep A traffic…
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