Month: April 2020

Jordan and Maclean continue to navigate the strange new political and economic world. Jordan rants about slow-moving government programs. Maclean discusses solitary confinement. Jordan pitches Gordon Campbell as a big idea and public service as big COVID-19 worldview change.

Employers – Managing your Way through the COVID-19 Crisis

Tuesday, April 7, Noon-1:30PM

Lawyer Craig Munroe discusses changes to the Employment Standards Act, layoffs in the COVID-19 environment, challenges for construction employers in ensuring a safe workplace, and wage relief programs available to employers and employees.

https://icba.simplesignup.ca/en/6070/index.php?m=eventSummary

Navigating the Legal Impacts of COVID-19 in the Construction Sector

Thursday, April 9, Noon-1:30PM

Lawyer Seema Lal discusses construction contract issues, including delay claims, Force Majeure clauses, frustration of contract, and supply chain interruptions.

https://icba.simplesignup.ca/en/6066/index.php?m=eventSummary

Jordan and Maclean ponder life and politics in The Great Isolation, how/if the economy can recover, and more.

Maclean and Jordan continue their COVID-19 discussions, including an audio love letter to Langford Mayor Stew Young, the shocking idea that cruise ships — yes, cruise ships — may provide a path to follow for a new, hygenically-obsessed world, and more. Plus the usual well-deserved razzing of Ben Isitt, Vancouver city council, and the media’s neverending adoration of Brad West.

ICBA has been a driving force in getting the construction industry’s COVID-19 issues and concerns in front of government at all levels. Here are a couple of examples from yesterday – letters (both signed by multiple construction associations) to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Premier John Horgan.

From the letter to the Prime Minister (click HERE for the full letter):

Laying the groundwork now for infrastructure stimulus spending for the COVID-19 recovery period will provide the critical lead-time for your officials and provincial and municipal counterparts to secure any required project permits and regulatory approvals and to complete legal obligations to consult and accommodate Indigenous Nations (where applicable).

As your government contemplates stimulus funding, we urge you and your colleagues to advance federal government tenders and maintain open, fair and transparent procurement processes based on achieving the best value at lowest reasonable cost for taxpayers without preference to non-union, non-affiliated union or building trades union contractors.

From the letter to the Premier (click HERE for the full letter):

Focus initially on getting as many smaller projects in the $5 million to $50 million range as possible identified and out to tender. Projects of this size and scope are important for construction contractors in every community in British Columbia. Leading candidates include: local roads, bridges and highway improvements; municipal infrastructure; new schools and additions to post-secondary institutions; healthcare; and, Indigenous Nation infrastructure (among others);

• Identify projects that may be idled during the current COVID-19 crisis for reasons of cashflow or other operational considerations. For example, we understand a number of projects at Vancouver International Airport (YVR) have ceased due to dramatic declines in airport authority revenues. In this and similar circumstances, we encourage both the federal and provincial governments to provide financial “backstopping” on a temporary basis to allow construction to restart immediately and for new projects in the tender pipeline to proceed without delay; and,

• Prioritize larger infrastructure projects which address national, provincial and local infrastructure ‘gaps’ and ‘deficits’, create significant family-supporting employment, and enable long-term productivity improvements in the national and provincial interest. Leading examples include Pacific Gateway, rapid transit and highway infrastructure.