Vancouver Sun | By Susan Lazaruk | April 16, 2026 An excavating company in charge of a Burnaby work site where a pipelayer was killed when a retaining wall collapsed was ordered to pay a total of $575,000 in fines and victim surcharges after being found guilty of criminal negligence. J. Cote and Son Excavating of…
Read MoreApril 2026 public hearing on proposed regulatory amendments
April 2026 public hearing on proposed regulatory amendments WorkSafeBC is holding a virtual public hearing on proposed amendments to the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation. The virtual public hearing will be streamed live on Microsoft Teams on April 21, 2026, in two sessions. The first will take place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and the second from 3 to 5 p.m. Participating in the public…
Read MoreICBA ADVOCACY UPDATE
April 15, 2026 | ICBA Key Points: B.C. ALREADY IN RECESSION? A new Business in Vancouver op-ed from ICBA Chief Economist Jock Finlayson and consulting economist Ken Peacock makes a case for what our members are already feeling: B.C. is now likely in a recession. B.C. shed a staggering 20,000 jobs in both February and March –…
Read MoreBCCA survey urges more government action as costs, payment delays persist
Journal of Commerce | DCN-JOC News Services | April 14, 2026 VICTORIA — The British Columbia Construction Association (BCCA) is sharing the perspectives of 858 employers and tradespeople across all of the province’s development regions in its latest industry survey and 2026 Spring Stat Pack, with the results painting a picture of resilience with a call for more…
Read MoreIndustry Special: The switch to Type II helmets to protect construction workers is gaining momentum
Journal of Commerce | BCCSA | April 14, 2026 Regulations often develop slowly, while employers can act quickly to promote worker safety. One private sector initiative that’s gaining momentum is the use of Type II helmets — not through regulation, but through corporate mandates by large construction employers. Last year, the Canadian Construction Safety Council (CCSC),…
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WorkSafeBC Board Member Representative Search
The Province is seeking applicants for a Public Interest representative on WorkSafeBC’s Board of Directors. More information can be found here: https://www.bcpublicsectorboardapplications.gov.bc.ca/s/noticeofpositionDetail?nop=J-0505
April 2026 public hearing on proposed regulatory amendments
WorkSafeBC | April 1, 2026 WorkSafeBC is holding a virtual public hearing on proposed amendments to the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation. The virtual public hearing will be streamed live on April 21, 2026, in two sessions. The first will take place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and the second from 3 to 5 p.m. Further information on how to view…
Read MoreBritish Columbia’s Construction Industry Celebrates 9th Annual Construction and Skilled Trades Month
BCCA | April 1, 2026 VICTORIA, BC (April 1, 2026) – April is the ninth annual Construction and Skilled Trades Month in British Columbia, officially proclaimed by the provincial government. This month, and every month, the British Columbia Construction Association (BCCA) celebrates the many accomplishments and contributions of the construction industry in building a stronger,…
Read MoreBC Building Trades launch campaign to defend Community Benefit Agreements
Journal of Commerce | DCN-JOC News Services | March 23, 2026 NEW WESTMINSTER, B.C. — The BC Building Trades is launching a campaign “to protect Community Benefit and Project Labour Agreements to ensure major public projects are built by local, skilled workers from British Columbia.” The organization also says these agreements expand apprenticeships, training and provide…
Read MoreCanada’s construction focus on British Columbia
Journal of Commerce | Devin Bell | March 26, 2026 British Columbia is emerging as a key hub for construction investment in Canada. ConstructConnect forecasts the province to achieve its highest-ever nonresidential construction spending in 2026. Supporting this outlook is the Mark Carney government’s focus on capital projects, particularly in British Columbia’s resource-rich regions. With targeted…
Read MoreWorkSafeBC warns employers of elevated avalanche danger in B.C.
Journal of Commerce | DCN-JOC News Services | March 26, 2026 RICHMOND, B.C. – WorkSafeBC is asking workers and employers to take heed of recent warnings from Avalanche Canada about elevated avalanche danger in parts of the province as they can be hazardous to workers. When workers are required to enter or work near avalanche terrain, whether for…
Read MoreRecession Warning, WorkSafe Meltdown, Your Property Rights: ICBA Stands With You
ICBA | March 26, 2026 KEY POINTS NOT A DIP. A CRISIS. When the Vancouver Sun asked another construction association leader about the state of the sector last week, he said he wasn’t “too concerned” – because the industry goes through “dips” from time to time. That’s not what our Chief Economist Jock Finlayson actually sees in the…
Read MoreB.C. introduces a mandatory crane licensing and permitting program through WorkSafeBC
March 17, 2026 | By Crane & Hoist Canada Staff Seven fatalities involving cranes in the past five years prompted action to improve standards and accountability The province of British Columbia is taking action to strengthen protections for workers and enhance crane safety by enacting legislation that enables a new WorkSafeBC crane licensing and permitting…
Read MoreKnowing the Ropes: Building a safer future
Crane & Hoist Canada | March 12, 2026 | By Justin Brown Why Canada’s construction crane industry needs rigging harmonization now. Canada’s construction crane industry is operating in a regulatory environment that no longer reflects the complexity, pace, or scale of modern lifting. Our cranes have evolved. Our wire ropes and synthetic materials have advanced….
Read MoreIndustry Perspectives Op-Ed: Listen up — Why hearing health should be in the toolbox for tradespeople
Journal of Commerce | Katie Koebel | March 19, 2026 Safety is mission-critical in construction and the skilled trades. Every Canadian jobsite includes hard hats, steel-toed boots, fall arrest systems and high-visibility vests as a standard. But there’s one tool that is often overlooked: hearing protection. From framing and forming to welding, demolition and heavy equipment…
Read MoreAmendments to Parts 8 and 31 of the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation
Effective April 1, 2026 Amendments to Parts 8 and 31 of the Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Regulation come into effect on April 1, 2026. These amendments update references to selected safety headgear and respiratory protection standards. The amendments are to: These amendments do not introduce new obligations or additional requirements for employers or workers. What’s Changing?…
Read MoreOpinion: WorkSafeBC’s surplus is depleted and small business will pay the price
Business in Vancouver | Jordan Bateman \ March 9, 2026 The WorkSafeBC surplus is depleted because the NDP government treated workers’ compensation in B.C. like a slush fund for political priorities One of the most persistent myths in B.C. business circles is that WorkSafeBC is sitting on a massive surplus—a piggy bank that should be…
Read MoreOpinion: Understanding WorkSafeBC’s surplus back to employers
Business in Vancouver | Mark Heywood & Chris Back | March 9, 2026 WorkSafeBC is returning an estimated $570M of surplus funds in 2026 to employers by pricing premium rates below system costs When it comes to WorkSafeBC, one of the most misunderstood issues we hear about from business groups is the surplus. Specifically, many…
Read MoreIndustry Perspectives Op-Ed: Women on the frontlines of construction safety
Journal of Commerce | Yesenia Dhott | March 6, 2026 International Women’s Day offers an opportunity to recognize the growing role women are playing in construction — including in occupational health and safety (OHS). As more women step into OHS roles, including supervisory and leadership positions, they are bringing safety expertise directly to traditionally male-dominated worksites….
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