Category
Business & Professional
Fast + Epp scores Engineer Award at 2017 Wood Design Awards
The awards recognized leadership and innovation in structural and architectural use of wood.
Climate change leading NRC to upgrade building codes and specifications
New specifications and guidelines will be ready and released as soon as 2020.
Parliamentary Budget Officer reports on infrastructure spending so far
Because of the gap between infrastructure funds that have been announced and the value of projects identified, the Government is at risk of not realizing its GDP growth projections.
GHD commits to Waterloo Region
GHD consolidating its Waterloo, Ontario operations into a single flagship facility located in city’s “Idea Quarter”, with a move-in scheduled for December 2017.
The world changes as it turns
Brief reflection on major shifts in the Canadian consulting engineering industry over the past three decades
Managing Community Relationships
Most large projects have to undergo extensive public consultations in order to win approval. Here’s advice on how to effectively handle these delicate community and stakeholder encounters.
Prompt Payment
Bruce R. Reynolds and Sharon Vogel of Borden Ladner Gervais led an independent expert review of the Ontario Construction Lien Act this fall. One of their recommendations was for a 28-day payment period.
American president-elect promises “Buy American” on infrastructure
John Gamble of ACEC reflects on the ramifications for consulting engineering companies in Canada.
Webinars
On-line presentations can be a good tool for engaging and recruiting clients, and also for internal training. Here’s
some advice on what works and what doesn’t.Phil Sullivan and poor math scores
Engineering rests on mathematics, but things aren’t looking good for future generations because children are not being taught the basic skills.
Engineers Canada launches Mobility Register for engineers with experience
Successful registrants will be able to apply for international credentials.
Ontario’s Construction Lien Act review – What does it mean for consulting engineers?
Interview with Bruce R. Reynolds and Sharon Vogel of Borden Ladner Gervais, authors of a report on changing the legal regime for construction projects in Ontario. Their 100 recommendations include establishing a 28-day limit on subcontractor payments.
Manitoba joins New West Partnership Trade Agreement (NWPTA)
Manitoba has joined the three other Western Canada provinces to create a large, barrier-free trade and labour market — one that catches consulting engineering services within its purview. B.C., Alberta, Saskatchewan, and now Manitoba are all part of the New…
Engineer struck down for undermining Quebec City’s competitive process
An engineer has been disciplined by the Quebec licensing organization, Ordre des ingénieurs du Québec (OIQ) for taking part in a contract sharing scheme. Jean-Francois Lapointe will be struck from the OIQ licensing roll for 18 months and has to…
Cheers for the Holiday Parties
A U.S. company is holding a webinar “HR’s Holiday Party Guide: How to avoid common legal and safety issues for a positive workplace event.” To be held on November 17, the webinar promises “practical answers on how to avoid a…
VanCity and Sechelt projects show how green is done
At the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of B.C. (APEGBC) annual conference in Victoria on October 21-22, the association handed out its annual awards, including two to consulting engineers for environmental projects. The 2016 APEGBC Sustainability Award recognizes a…
WSP acquires UK company of 2,000 people, adds intelligent transportation expertise
Montreal-based engineering company WSP has announced it is acquiring Mouchel Consulting, a U.K. company of 2,000 people. Mouchel is described as “a Leading UK Pure Play Infrastructure Engineering Consulting Firm” and is held by Kier Group plc. The purchase price…
Bonding with fellow employees will boost your health
A large Australian study has found that health in the workplace is strongly associated with how well we identify with the people or organization where we work, and in particularly the social groups we form there. The benefits derive not…
Alberta salaries depressed, but companies holding onto staff
The Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta (APEGA) has published its annual salary survey. The survey was carried out early in May. The depressed oil industry showed in depressed salary and benefit levels overall. However, there were some…
Situation at the OIQ: Interview with the president
From the August-September 2016 print issue, p. 42 On July 6 the Office des professions du Québec, an arm of the provincial government that oversees professional bodies, placed the Ordre des ingénieurs du Québec (OIQ) under its administration. The order…
Tax and business implications of opening a branch office
When a firm decides it’s time to expand into a new province or even into the U.S. or overseas, what are the must-know tax risks and implications?
CCDC issues new documents
The Canadian Construction Documents Committee recently issued two new documents that relate to procurement practices in the industry.
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OSPE’s #AnEngineerWasHere tag broadcasts importance of engineers
Engineering association wants engineers to be leaders again, and says they should be brought to the table early when important decisions are made, such as over carbon trading and infrastructure.
PEO takes leap towards continuing professional development
Professional Engineers of Ontario’s task force that is looking into continuing education programs for licence holders is due to make recommendations to the PEO council at its November meeting. According to a report by Michael Mastromatteo in the latest issue…
Oil sands municipality adopts socially conscious procurement policy
The Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo —in northeast Alberta’s oil sands territory — has adopted a procurement policy to favour social benefits for the community. The municipality, which includes Fort McMurray, has adopted a Social Procurement Framework, a program run…
Ex-engineer goes to trial over Elliot Lake mall roof collapse
The trial of the former engineer who last inspected the Algo Mall structure in Elliot Lake, Northern Ontario, has begun. Robert Wood is being tried in the Ontario Superior Court in Sault Ste. Marie on two counts of criminal negligence…
Should engineering firms be regulated? APEGBC poses the question
The Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of British Columbia (APEGBC) is asking members to submit their thoughts on an issue of critical importance to consulting engineering firms. Members who wish to comment can do so online until August 28.…
Quebec engineering licensing body put under trusteeship
Despite making efforts to show how it would sort out its troubles, the Ordre des ingénieurs du Québec – OIQ (Quebec Order of Engineers) has lost its right to be self-governing. On July 6, the Quebec Offices des Professions (Office…
Assessing international engineering qualifications is a challenge
The Regina Leader-Post interviewed Bob McDonald, P.Eng., the new executive director and registrar of the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Saskatchewan, on July 4. McDonald, who is an engineer and a lawyer, was previously the deputy registrar of…
University of Ottawa engineering dean laments lack of “essential skills”
Following is an extract from an article about Claude Lague of the University of Ottawa, as he steps down as Dean of the Faculty of Engineering. The article was published in the Ottawa Business Journal and on the university’s website.…
