Important Notice to the Plumbing Industry

Compulsory Certification in the Plumbing Trade

Industry input NEEDED!

The Manitoba Apprenticeship and Trades Qualification Board is considering a recommendation for compulsory certification for the plumbing trade. Compulsory certification could mean that all individuals performing plumbing specific tasks be either an apprentice in the trade or a certified journeyperson.

The government needs to hear from you if you fall into any of these three categories:

1. If you are currently training to work in the plumber trade at an educational institution.

2. If you are currently working in the plumber trade.

3. If you are an employer in the plumber trade.

Just fill out the online survey at: www.mnp.ca/plumbersurvey, or to receive a paper survey, or to participate in a focus group, contact Lana Ritchie at (204) 775-4531 (Winnipeg) or toll free at 1-877-500-0765.

Back to Top

Building Permits

February 2005

Statistics Canada recorded its third highest level of building permits issued by municipalities in February 2005. This stat predicts an increase in construction activity in the approaching months. January 2005's descent by 11.1% in building permit values was offset by February ‘05's upward jump by 13.5%, to $5.6 billion in Residential and Non-Residential building permits. For the third time in four months, permits exceeded $5 billion; forecasting a busy construction season for 2005.

Non-Residential construction boasted a total of $1.7 billion in permit values issued in February 2005, a 17.1% increase from January's 17.8% drop. All three components of the non-residential sector; commercial, industrial, and institutional contributed to this continued upward growth trend since March 2004.

In a year to date comparison between January and February 2005 to 2004, $9.5 billion worth of building permits were issued for these two months in '05; a 12.8% increase from the first two months of 2004. Residential construction building permit value rose 13.4% and non-residential construction building permit values rose 11.5% thus far in 2005 versus 2004.

The highest increase from the non-residential side comes from commercial permit values where office buildings and warehouse construction is on the rise. Commercial building permit values increased by 7.3% to $1.1 billion; the highest level attained since August 1999.

Non-residential building permit values across Canada showed an increase of 17.1% from January ($1,439.6 million) to February 2005 ($1,685.7 million). In Manitoba, non-residential permit values rose by 16% from January ($26.1 million) to February 2005 ($30.3 million). For the first two months of 2005, $56.4 million of non-residential building permits were issued in Manitoba. In January and February 2004, $62.2 million of non-residential building permits were issued in Manitoba; resulting in a 9.3% decrease for the amount issued in those first two months of 2005.

Locally, the city of Winnipeg recorded a 26.7% increase in the issue of non-residential building permit values from January to February 2005 with $39.5 million issued in January and $50 million issued in February. January to February 2004 boasted a non-residential building permit value issuance of $101.1 million. From January to February 2005, $89.5 million non-residential building permits were issued. There was an 11.5% drop from 2004 to 2005 for those particular months.

Data and statistics are courtesy of Statistics Canada. For the full version of this document, please visit www.statcan.ca.

Back to Top

Investment in non-residential building construction

First quarter 2005

Non-residential building construction investment showed a positive start for 2005. This first quarter boasted a 1.3% upward motion in investments in 2005, largely due to higher business investment. This quarter marks only the second time that investment in non-residential business construction has exceeded $6.7 billion.

Locally in Winnipeg, the first quarter of 2005 produced $162 million investments in non-residential buildings, a 4.3% change from last year's fourth quarter total investment in non-residential buildings of $156 million. However, this year's first quarter is below 2004's first quarter total non-residential building investment in the city of Winnipeg of $175 million.

In the province of Manitoba, the first quarter of 2005 had $231 million in total non-residential building investment compared to last year's fourth quarter total of $221 million, averaging a 4.2% change in total non-residential investment. Last year's first quarter totaled at $260 million for non-residential building investment, still $29 million above 2005's first quarter total.

For the full version of this report, visit Statcan at www.statcan.ca. This information is compiled from the Statistic Canada document dated Monday, April 11, 2005, Investment in non-residential building construction, First quarter 2005.

Back to Top

Skilled Workers Available

Wanted: Work Experience

In the first week of June 2005, fifteen individuals will graduate from the WCA sponsored First Nations Construction Technology Program. Upon completion of the program, each grad is seeking a six-week work experience opportunity, particularly one that could lead to long-term employment. The graduates of this thirty-six week program are trained in carpentry, electrical, plumbing and welding.

Companies who are interested in providing an opportunity for a graduate should contact Eva Wilson-Fontaine of Anishinabek Consultants Inc for more specific information by telephone at 334-9395 or by email at evawilson@shawbiz.ca .........

Or click here for Employer Placement Information:

Skilled Construction Workers Available May 30 to June 30, 2005

CCA News

New 2005 CCA Chair

Mr. Murray Farmer of Victoria, British Columbia, is the new Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Canadian Construction Association. Murray assumed his new position at CCA's Annual Convention in Cancun, Mexico. He takes over from Shirley Westeinde, who had the distinction of being the first female Chair in the 87th year history of CCA. Murray is currently the Vice-Chair of Farmer Management Inc., a project and construction management firm for public and private owners located in Victoria.

From 1977 to 1998, Murray was President and General Manager of Mutual Equipment Rentals/Commercial Cranes Ltd. He has a wealth of leadership experience in the construction industry, having served as Chair of the British Columbia Construction Association, the Construction Association of Victoria, the Vancouver Island Construction Association, and President of the Mobile Crane Owner's Association. Among Murray's priorities for 2005-06 will be an update to CCA's 5-year Strategic Plan, particularly in the face of new and emerging issues for the Canadian construction industry.

Manitoba Gold Seal Chapter

Four Construction Associations in Manitoba have pooled their resources to establish a Local Gold Seal Chapter. In correspondence from Chris Lorenc on behalf of the Construction Association of Rural Manitoba, Manitoba Heavy Construction Association, Merit Contractors Association of Manitoba and the Winnipeg Construction Association, he states “We are pleased to advise that the above named associations have decided to pool resources and create a “Gold Seal – Manitoba Chapter.” Each of the named associations supports the principle of advancing education in construction management and accepts that the CCA National Gold Seal Program sets the national standards for excellence in construction management.”

The Chapter's main objective is moving the program forward in Manitoba. A priority will be encouraging educational agencies to submit education courses for accreditation. The Chapter will also enhance communication with Manitoba GSC's. In time, the Chapter will put forth a proposal on how it might assume provincial responsibility for the sponsor and champion components of the program. The National Gold Seal Committee applauds this initiative and encourages other jurisdictions to consider similar initiatives.

The above information has been extracted from CCA National Newsletter, April 2005. Visit their website at www.cca-acc.com and enter your login & password for the full document. If you don't already have the login informaion, contact WCA at wca@wpgca.com.

Back to Top

WCA Education News Update

by Kelly Pochuk, Membership Services & Education Coordinator

Skills Canada/Manitoba Competition

April 14, 2005

The 2005 Skills Canada/Manitoba Competition was once again held at Red River Community College. The carpentry and cabinetry competitions were sponsored by Winnipeg Construction Association. The Carpentry competition filled twelve spots and the Cabinetry competition was filled by six high school students. The carpentry students built a children's picnic table and the cabinetry students built a drawer. The work done by these young men was absolutely amazing.

WCA would like to extend a sincere thank you to administrators John Funk and Bill Bush (Carpentry), Instructors at Steinbach Regional and Mich Williams (Cabinetry), Instructor at Grant Park High School.

The winners were as follows:

Carpentry

Gold     Andrea Barz, Steinbach Regional Secondary

Silver     Eric Duval, Murdoch Mackay Collegiate

Bronze     Felix Houle, W.C. Miller Collegiate

Cabinetry  

Gold     Corey Voth, W.C. Miller Collegiate

Silver     Travis Wieler, Steinbach Regional

Bronze     Scott Sinclair, Dauphin Regional

To the judges, Ben Phillips of BG Phillips Construction and Jo Sylvester of Gardon Construction for the Carpentry Competition and Barry Gessell of Vision Kitchen and Richard Grewe of Gardon Construction for the Cabinetry Competition…Many, many thank you's!

Back to Top

Industry News

New Funding for Apprenticeships

From the Province of Manitoba

On April 22, 2005, in an effort to continue to provide skilled employees for Manitoba's labour market, the Provincial Government's Minister of Advanced Education and Training, Diane McGifford announced $506,800 in new funding for apprenticeship and certification in the designated trades. Approximately half of the new funding will be allocated to support community-based apprenticeship training. The remainder will be dedicated to increase the capacity to monitor and ensure compliance in the compulsory certification trades.

For the full news release: www.edu.gov.mb.ca/aet/whatsnew/index.html. For more information on apprenticeship programs in Manitoba: www.edu.gov.mb.ca/aet/apprent.

WCA's Trade UP! CD-Rom is also available for pickup at the WCA Office (290 Burnell Street) in Winnipeg or visit the website: www.tradeupmanitoba.com for valuable information regarding Trades and Apprenticeships in the construction industry in Manitoba.

Manitoba's Highest Achieving Apprentices

13th Annual Awards Ceremony

Thirty-six apprenticeship trades had their newest and finest Manitoba journeypersons recognized at a special awards ceremony in Winnipeg on April 22, 2005. Award recipients are newly certified journeypersons who have completed all requirements of their apprenticeship training and who have exceeded expectations in their academic achievements and on-the-job performance. Award winners were selected as the overall best in their respective trades as recommended by their apprenticing employers and instructors.

For their contribution to apprenticeship training, the employers of the award winners were also recognized for the critical role they played in the students' development.

Advanced Education and Training Minister Diane McGifford also announced John Marceca, retired sheet metal worker, as the recipient of the Fifth Annual Leadership Award. This award recipient is selected by the Apprenticeship and Trades Qualification Board and is given to an individual who has made significant contribution to Manitoba's apprenticeship training system.

The winning Manitoba Trade Graduates for 2004 are:

Boilermaker, Mark Baxter, Boilermaker Union Lodge 555, Winnipeg; Bricklayer, Adam Harvey, Coulthard Masonry, Souris; Cabinetmaker, Steve Swistun, Artec Designs Ltd., Winnipeg; Carpenter, Tyler Shiels, Manitoba Hydro, Gillam; Construction Electrician, Shaun Macsymic, John's Electric Ltd., Neepawa; Industrial Electrician, Bryan Stewart, McRae Food Processing Equipment, Winnipeg; Industrial Welder, Ken Oliynyk, Hudson Bay Mining & Smelting Co. Ltd., Flin Flon; Ironworker, Clint Lussier, Iron Workers Local 728, Winnipeg; Landscape Technician, Jay Kuypers, Shelmerdine Nurseries and Garden Centres Ltd., Headingley; Painter and Decorator, Claus Wiebe, Central Canadian Decorating, Winnipeg; Plumber, Michael Driedger, Bergmann Plumbing and Heating, Morden; Power Electrician, Thomas Ramsey, Manitoba Hydro Training Centre, Brandon; Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Mechanic, Michael D'Ottavio, Cimco Refrigeration, Winnipeg; Sheet Metal Worker, Alwin Fehr, Fehr Sheet Metal Ltd., Winnipeg; Sprinkler System Installer, James Maisey, B.D.R Services Ltd., Piping Industry Training Committee, Local 254, Winnipeg; Steamfitter-Pipefitter, Andrew Glabush, Piping Industry Training Committee, Local 254, Winnipeg.

For the full media release and list of winners: www.gov.mb.ca.

Edited by Jackie Petrus,

WCA Construction News Reporter.

Copyright of Winnipeg Construction Association © 2005.

Comments or questions? 

Email: wca@wpgca.com

Visit our full website at www.wpgca.com

Winnipeg Construction Association is located at 290 Burnell Street, Winnipeg, MB R3G 2A7

(204)775-8664