MCA Canada continues its partnership with JBKnowledge in an effort to provide the very latest construction tech. James Benham, CEO of JBKnowledge, is the host of the ConTechCrew offering weekly podcasts on how contractors can leverage technology in 2018 to drive safer, be more efficient and become more profitable. Concepts such as industry tech benchmarks, how to budget for IT spend, top emerging technology trends, how to overcome reluctance to technology implementation, how to grow your company's tech ecosystem and more are available online. You can listen or watch the weekly podcast live, or access the archive of all episodes on the JBKnowledge website. But to stay the most current, we recommend subscribing to the JBKnowledge blog to get weekly reminders when the podcast is published.

The Mechanical Service Contractors of Canada (MSCC) Board of Directors has suspended the $75 fee for those members prepared to take the MSCC 'Gold Standard' Certified Technicians exam. That’s right, your service journeymen can register to take the exam at no cost. Simply email the MSCC office with the list of techs who would like to take the exam. Shortly after receiving your list, we will email you a link to the exam site with individual usernames and passwords. Isn't it time you made the leap to truly differentiate your company from the rest?

“We have made some good progress on a number of tools that we hope will improve the timing of payments. Effective legislation that balances the fair interests of stakeholders and reflects a broad industry consensus is an important tool in that tool box,” says Ray Bassett, chair of the CCA’s task force on prompt payment.

With the "wiring and plumbing" in place, David MacNaughton says the three countries can work out the final few sticking points and reach a deal before the Mexican election and U.S. midterms disrupt the process.

With 21 percent of Canada’s current construction workforce anticipated to retire this decade, the industry needs to focus on recruitment and retention to prevent a skills and capacity gap, the findings of the latest BuildForce Canada labour market forecast indicate.

The Government of Canada has announced a $182 million investment to increase energy efficiency and address climate change by improving how homes and buildings are designed, renovated and constructed.

Canada has come in second place for the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) annual Top 10 Countries and Regions for LEED list.

Starting in January 2018, those who filed tax and benefit returns on paper last year will automatically receive the 2017 Income Tax and Benefit Guide and forms book in the mail from the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA). With this service enhancement, paper filers should have everything they need to file their 2017 income tax and benefit return without the inconvenience of having to find a printed tax and benefit package at a bank or post office.

If you or your staff are interested in attending this spring’s Gold Seal and Blue Seal accredited CEC Project Management Program, don’t delay. Space is limited to just 24 participants, and slots are filing up quickly.

As always, the program is offered in partnership with the University of Waterloo. Participants learn valuable skills, including how to improve their company’s bottom line, how to take a project from bid to final payment and how to sharpen their project management skills—among many others.

The program takes place over a 10-day period and is split into two five-day sessions. Week one is scheduled for March 22 to 26, and week two from April 12 to 16. This year marks the 40th session offered with nearly 900 industry managers graduating from the program.

We are pleased to share with you that this year we have 160 courses, 50 of which are new programs available for booking. We have adjusted the supervisory course so that it is now five individual programs, have added a series of lean courses and added to our pool of Canadian instructors. Check out the full listing of courses and programs. If you would like to book courses for your MCA, your firm or if you have any questions, contact Tania Johnston at 613-232-5169 or tania@mcac.ca.

Considerable digital transformation is to beset the construction and building sectors by 2025, according to a new report. This is a path towards smart construction, involving digitalization, analytics and smart assets.

Every year, more than 530 million tons of construction and demolition waste like timber, concrete and asphalt end up in landfills in the U.S.–about double the amount of waste picked up by garbage trucks every year from homes, businesses and institutions. But what if all of the material used in buildings and other structures could be recycled into a new type of construction material?

The Engineering and Construction industry is radically transforming and is “ripe for change,” according to the Boston Consulting Group. Now is the time for the industry to embrace new technology—including innovating traditional ways of working and redefining processes and digital project delivery—or risk being left behind.

Jonas Software is the leading provider of enterprise management software solutions to the club, leisure fitness & sports, salon & spa, foodservice, construction, attractions, metal service centers, moving & storage, education, radiology/laboratory information systems, consumer product licensing and retail industries. Within these vertical markets, Jonas boasts 52 distinct brands, all of which are respected and longstanding leaders within their own domain.

1759: First use of secret ballot in Canada at the Nova Scotia Assembly.
1833: Hamilton Incorporated as a town – the oldest in Ontario.
1841: Meeting of the first Parliament of the Province of Canada in a converted hospital in Kingston, Ontario.
1884: First CPR train arrives at 13:30 in Port Moody, BC.
1968: Nancy Greene wins the silver medal in Women's Slalom and gold in the Giant Slalom (Feb 15) at the 10th Winter Olympics in France.
1973: Gendron Report recommends making French Québec's official language.
1980: Opening of the 13th Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, N.Y.
1988: Calgary hosts 15th Winter Olympics, with 1,800 athletes from 57 countries.
1999: Toronto Maple Leafs play their last game in Maple Leaf Gardens after 68 years.

Nationally, the value of construction in all components rose in 2017, climbing 10.4 percent from the previous year. The value of permits in the residential sector has increased every year since 2009, primarily stemming from the multi-family component. In 2017, the residential sector increased 7.8 percent, pushed up by the multi-family component (+13.7 percent). Canadian municipalities issued $35.4 billion in permits for non-residential structures in 2017, climbing 15.1 percent from the previous year and the first increase since 2014. The institutional component led the increase in 2017, rising $2 billion from 2016, followed by the industrial (+$1.9 billion) and commercial (+$840.5 million) components.

Scheduled for February 21 in Toronto, Marijuana in the Workplace: Best Practices for Your Company and Employee Expectations is a symposium for occupational health and safety leaders and decision makers across all industries. The symposium will bring together a panel of experts and industry leaders who will address hot-button issues regarding the legalization of recreational marijuana and its implications on workplace safety in Canada. Attendees will gain insights on compliance, rights and learn best practices in ensuring fitness for duty, manage worker expectations and balance compliance/enforcement with employee privacy.

ENERGY SUMMIT 2018 brings together Canada’s energy efficiency experts to grow momentum for your business. Energy management is crucial to maximize profitability and combat climate change. This conference offers customer connections that will give you the power to save. Learn about realistic, turnkey solutions to help your organization thrive in today’s competitive environment.

• March 12–15: CCA Conference, Banff, AB
• March 15: MCA Saskatchewan AGM, Regina, SK
• March 25–29: MCA America Convention, San Antonio, TX
• April 18: MCA Manitoba AGM, Winnipeg, MB
• April 22–29: MCA Ontario Conference, St. Lucia
• May 3–6: MCA British Columbia Conference, Whistler, BC
• May 7–9: MCA Canada Midyear Meetings, Ottawa, ON
• May 8: MCA Canada & CIPH Day on the Hill, Ottawa, ON
• May 31–June 3: MCA Alberta Conference & AGM, Kananaskis, AB
• June 4–5: 24th Skills Canada Competition, Edmonton, AB
• June 17–19: CIPH Annual Business Conference, Whistler, BC
• July 11: CEC Annual Golf Tournament Fundraiser, Milton, ON
• September 7–9: MCA Toronto Conference & AGM, Muskoka, ON
• September 19–22: MCA Canada Annual National Conference, Whistler, BC

MCA Canada is pleased to offer your Membership Advantage Program, Park’N Fly Canada. As an MCA Canada member, you, your employees and families are entitled to a number of incentives including our new corporate discount off parking rates, 24 hour shuttle services and so much more!

If you’ve ever wondered about how Operation Eyesight works or the extent to which their work makes a difference in the lives of people in the developing world, then look no further than the group’s blog. Updated regularly, the page provides updates on all kinds of news and information on subjects like clean-water initiatives, the communities they serve and how your donor dollars are used.