{"id":13989,"date":"2023-03-09T18:25:51","date_gmt":"2023-03-10T02:25:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/essential.construction\/news\/economy-and-awards-highlight-cca-day-2\/"},"modified":"2023-03-09T18:25:53","modified_gmt":"2023-03-10T02:25:53","slug":"economy-and-awards-highlight-cca-day-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/essential.construction\/news\/economy-and-awards-highlight-cca-day-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Economy and awards highlight CCA Day 2"},"content":{"rendered":"

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CEO Roundtable, from left, CCA president Mary Van Buren, Tooey Courtemanche, president and CEO of Procore, and Silvy Wright, CEO of Northbridge Insurance. (Photo by On-Site Staff)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Labour shortages, supply chain uncertainty and inflation were all core topics of discussion during Day 2 of the Canadian Construction Association\u2019s 2023 annual conference, held at the El Conquistador Tucson resort in Arizona.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think we can all agree, there is a lot of uncertainty as we predict 2023 and 2024,\u201d stated Silvy Wright, CEO of Northbridge Insurance during the CEO Roundtable featuring CCA president Mary Van Buren and Tooey Courtemanche, president and CEO of Procore.<\/p>\n

Wright explained that after two very strong years with GDP grown of around four per cent, a dip to growth of 1.5 per cent has recession at the fore of many people\u2019s minds.<\/p>\n

\u201cA strong economy is good for construction. It\u2019s good for governments, it\u2019s good for all of us. So where is it going with regards to 2023? Well, there are two things that we are watching: interest rates and inflation, which really go hand in hand.\u201d<\/p>\n

She pointed to Canada being the only G7 nation with a growing population, adding that the low unemployment rate will help temper any potential recession since people who are working will have spending power needed to keep the economy moving.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think in Canada we\u2019re very lucky. We\u2019re very fortunate. I think Canada is very stable,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Looking at construction challenges, Courtemanche explained, \u201cYour challenges are not unique to Canada.\u201d<\/p>\n

In his discussions with executives in the sector, he said that labour shortages and inflation are making for a more difficult business environment, but added that sites are active and opportunities for growth exist.<\/p>\n

\u201cI always ask in my calls, \u2018How are your backlogs?\u2019 and the across the board, they\u2019ve remained very strong and healthy,\u201d he said. \u201cSo there\u2019s a little bit of cognitive dissonance that happens. If you read the news about all the stuff that\u2019s happening, it sounds awful, but these folks are running their businesses, and they\u2019re seeing that there are still areas of opportunity.<\/p>\n

\u201cUltimately, there seems to be a fair amount of optimism about the future.\u201d<\/p>\n

Of course, there are still the day-to-day challenges, and the need to mitigate risks of all kinds.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen we when looked at the construction segment, the number one claim in terms of count is theft,\u201d stated Wright. \u201cAnd you\u2019re saying well why is it on the rise? Well supply chain issues make things very valuable.\u201d<\/p>\n

Much as technology can help with jobsite productivity, new devices are also helping reduce risk on sites, from $10 tags to track items to Internet of Things (IoT) devices that can reduce potential damage to a building under construction.<\/p>\n

\u201cOn the dollar front, the two top claims are fire and water damage,\u201d she said. \u201cOn the water side, we\u2019re seeing that mainly on high-rise buildings towards the end of a project, and when that happens it is pretty severe.\u201d<\/p>\n

Her company, in partnership with a builder and developer, has explored the use of an IoT enabled device that can shut off the water valves if a leak is detected. \u201cThat\u2019s really reduced the severity of the losses.\u201d<\/p>\n

She also cited such technology as cameras mounted on hard hats that can scan sites and improve safety.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve come a long way as an industry,\u201d added Courtemanche. He recalled the early days of Procore when he would have to install digital equipment himself since sites were not connected to the internet. \u201cToday, you\u2019re talking about people walking around with high-tech enabled hardware in order to build better.\u201d<\/p>\n

Not only does technology open the door to safer and more productive jobsites, but it is also one of the keys to attracting young people to the construction sector, explained Courtemanche.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe young folks that are coming out of university now, they expect modern technology to be the tools that they use to get their job done, because they\u2019ve only grown up with things that are very usable like Facebook and Instagram,\u201d he explained, adding that forward-thinking companies with modern equipment have a leg up in a competitive job market.<\/p>\n

Another source of new workers, immigration, was the theme of another business session as a panel discussed the need to change Canada\u2019s outdated immigration policies.<\/p>\n

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Discussing Canada\u2019s immigration policies, and how to improve them to help the construction sector. (Photo by On-Site Staff)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Attendees were told that in the global competition for workers from other countries, Canada\u2019s system, which can be long and cumbersome, is not helping overcome the challenge of attracting these potential immigrants to a country that is seen by many outsiders as friendly, but too cold and expensive to relocate to.<\/p>\n

\u201cPrioritizing educational certifications does not help the construction sector,\u201d explained Patrick McManus, executive director of the Ontario Sewer and Watermain Construction Association.<\/p>\n

He illustrated some of the challenges that work against the construction industry\u2019s labour needs, including the use of a scoring system that does not prioritize applicants who may match the needs of construction companies. His advice: \u201cGive the provinces more say in the who they are bringing in.\u201d<\/p>\n

The annual awards luncheon was an opportunity for the association to recognize some of the best and brightest in Canada\u2019s construction sector. For example, innovation award winner Coffrages Synergy developed an app for its own employees, allowing them to keep connected and updated, and the company has now made the app available to the construction community at large.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe app is about belonging to something bigger than ourselves,\u201d stated Isabelle Cote, the company\u2019s CEO. \u201cWe need to make sure that construction will be the best place to work.\u201d<\/p>\n

And doing more for the community was also a strong theme at this year\u2019s awards.<\/p>\n

\u201cOne of our guiding values is \u2018Helping build enduring communities together,\u2019\u201d said Brad Tangjerd, business development manager at NorLand Limited, winner of the corporate community leader award, adding, \u201cand that\u2019s not just something that\u2019s written on the wall of our offices.\u201d<\/p>\n

The full list of awards winners is included below:<\/p>\n

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CCA 2023 Awards<\/p>\n

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