2007 Federal Budget

Finance Minister Jim Flaherty recently announced a focus on new infrastructure in the 2007 Federal Budget. The Budget contained the following announcements of interest to the construction industry:

INFRASTRUCTURE:

• The Gas Tax Fund has been extended by four years to 2013-2014 (previously, funding for the Gas Tax Fund had only been in place until 2009-2010). For the extended years, the level will remain at $2 billion per year.
• Monies from previously announced programs, including the Canada Strategic Infrastructure Fund, the Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund, and the Border Infrastructure, will be spent, but these programs will be sunsetted. Government officials state that monies from the Highway and Border Infrastructure Fund announced in Budget 2006 have been rolled into the new programs described below.
• A new “Building Canada Fund” is created with $8.8 billion over 7 years to fund core infrastructure projects such as highways, public transit, water / sewer projects, and cultural and recreational facilities.
• A new fund for gateways and border crossings is announced with investments of $2.1 billion over 7 years.
• The Pacific Gateway, renamed the Asia-Pacific Gateway and Corridor Initiative, is provided with $409 million more, in addition to the $591 million from Budget 2006.
• A new public-private partnerships fund is created, worth $1.25 billion over 7 years. It will be provided to projects on a merit basis, and will contribute up to 25 percent of the costs of innovative PPP projects.
• A new funding envelope is created that will provide $25 million a year to each province and territory for 7 years to allow provincial and territorial jurisdictions to invest in transportation projects of national significance.

TAX REFORM:

• Capital cost allowance rates for non-residential buildings will be increased to 6 percent from 4 percent. The rate for buildings used in manufacturing and processing will be increased to 10 percent from 4 percent. 
• Provinces will be provided federal incentives to eliminate provincial capital taxes.

LABOUR / TRAINING:

• $3 billion over 6 years is provided to support labour market training. Specific uses for this money will be subject to negotiations with provinces and territories.
• Skilled temporary foreign workers already in Canada will be able to apply for permanent residency without having to leave the country.

To view the full Budget, visit http://www.budget.gc.ca/2007/index_e.html.

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Gas Guzzler Tax

Effective March 20, 2007, consumers purchasing or leasing new passenger vehicles (excluding "trucks", a term WCA does not have a clear definition of) with fuel-efficiency ratings of 13.0 L/100 km or more will be required to pay a Green Levy. The Levy will start at $1,000 and increase by $1,000 increments for each full litre per 100 km to a maximum of $4,000.

Vehicle fuel efficiency is based on a combined 55 percent city and 45 percent highway rating. To determine Fuel Efficiency, multiply the vehicle's L/100 km city consumption by .55 and multiply the vehicle's L/100 km highway consumption by .45 and add the two totals together.

Inventories of vehicles on the lot prior to March 20, 2007, will not be subject to the new Green Levy. To order a copy of the 2007 Fuel Consumption Guide, call 1-800-387-2000.

To view the full Budget, visit http://www.budget.gc.ca/2007/index_e.html.

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WCA / MHCA / CAA Luncheon

Tuesday, April 24, 2007 (11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.)

Winnipeg Convention Centre

Winnipeg Construction Association and the Manitoba Heavy Construction Association invite you to a lunch forum on National and International Construction Issues with representatives from the Canadian Construction Association. Hear about the critical issues and priorities facing the construction industry nationally and internationally and how they are affecting Manitoba's construction industry.

WCA / MHCA / CAA Luncheon Registration Form

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Gold Seal Sets Record

The Gold Seal exam on April 13 will be the largest in Gold Seal's fifteen year history. Almost 200 applicants will write Gold Seal exams at construction associations across the country. Within this group:

• Over 60 individuals are writing the new Construction Safety Coordinator exam
• 21 are writing to become certified Gold Seal Estimators, 52 as Gold Seal Superintendents, 51 as Gold Seal Project Managers and 2 as Gold Seal Owner’s Project Managers
• As in previous years, the General Contracting group is the largest with 74 applicants

 

With 71 Senior Practitioner certifications and 23 Gold Seal Interns to date this year, 2007 promises to be a busy year.

For full program information, view the new Gold Seal website at www.goldsealcertification.com.

 

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2007 Upword Media Kit

Get your message in the hands of engineers, contractors, developers, architects, civic officials and business leaders with industry-accredited Upword magazine.

Filled with features on Manitoba construction projects and columns on industry developments, Upword is the voice of construction professionals in Manitoba.

Support your association publication by advertising in an upcoming issue:

ISSUE                    THEME

Summer 2007         ELECTRICAL

Fall 2007               MECHANICAL

Winter 2007           ENVIRONMENT/LEED

View the 2007 Upword Media Kit HERE.

For more information on advertising in Upword magazine, contact Steve Beauchamp at MediaEdge Publishing at 480-4428 or steveb@mediaedgepublishing.com.

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Support the Skills Manitoba Competition!

Winnipeg Construction Association is once again organizing the Carpentry and Cabinetry Competition at Skills Manitoba, an event designed to improve the public perception of trade-based careers by bringing students, employers and educators together for a friendly day-long competition.

WCA is in need of a carpenter willing to judge the Cabinetry Competition. Interested individuals can contact Kelly Pochuk at kpochuk@wpgca.com or 775-8664 ext. 2225.

WCA is also looking for sponsorship and contributions toward the bursary, materials or registrant prizes. To view the Skills Manitoba High School Building Competition support form, click HERE.

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Rotary Career Symposium: Volunteers Needed!

The Winnipeg Construction Association is once again hosting a Trade Up! Careers in Manitoba Construction booth at the Rotary Career Symposium. Help us promote careers in Manitoba construction by volunteering for a two-hour shift at this year's symposium, April 11 & 12, 2007.

To participate, contact Twila Driedger, Communications Coordinator, at tdriedger@wpgca.com or 775-8664 ext. 2242.

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Education News

 

WCA proudly presents the following seminar sessions:

May 2, 2007 (Registration & Hot Buffet: 7:45 a.m., Seminar: 8:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.)

Employment Standards

Hilton Suites Winnipeg Airport

Presented by: Aikins MacAulay Thorvaldson

This seminar is for business owners, all contractors, Human Resources and Accounting. Find out about the New
Rights and Obligations under:

• Employment Standards Code
• Construction Industry Wages Act
• Workplace Safety and Health legislation

Employment Standards Registration Form

WCA Member Fee: $75.00 + GST

May 7 & 8, 2007 (8 a.m. - 4 p.m.)

Construction Law & Contracts

Red River College

Instructor: Jason Coreau

What constitutes a contract? What are the rights and responsibilities of the parties to the contract? What are liquidated damages? How are disputes resolved in construction contracts? Answers to these questions and many others will be provided in this workshop style course, which consists of an overview of the Canadian legal system with an introduction to Canadian Contract Law using local case studies and industry standard documents. Also included in the course will be an overview of the tendering process, along with a look at contract dispute resolution, risk and damages and changes and extras to the contract.

Construction Law & Contracts Registration Form

WCA Member Fee: $330.00 + GST

May 14 & 15, 2007 (8 a.m. - 4 p.m.)

Construction Estimating

Red River College

Instructor: Jason Coreau

Construction Estimating Registration Form

WCA Member Fee: $330.00 + GST

May 23 & 24, 2007 (8 a.m. - 4 p.m.)

Project Scheduling MS Project 2003 (Level 1)

Red River College

Project Scheduling Registration Form

WCA Member Fee: $330.00 + GST

June 5 & 6, 2007 (8 a.m. - 4 p.m.)

Blueprint Reading Level 2 (Quantity Takeoffs)

Red River College

Blueprint Reading Level 2 Registration Form

WCA Member Fee: $330.00 + GST

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E-mail: 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

Copyright of Winnipeg Construction Association © 2007. 

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