Last week our newsletter offered an update on the implementation of the Globally Harmonized System of Classifying and Labelling of Chemicals (or WHMIS 2015).  Health Canada brought the changes to WHMIS into effect on February 11, 2015 and the Government of Alberta has developed two bulletins to assist with the transition.

The first, which we sent out last week, talks generally about the changes to the WHMIS legislation: http://work.alberta.ca/documents/OHS-Bulletin-CH009.pdf

The second, which is new, talks about transition and compliance during the time before the provincial occupational health and safety legislation can be updated to align with the new federal legislation: http://work.alberta.ca/documents/OHS-Bulletin-CH010.pdf

The federal government recently announced that the Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS) legislation has been updated to align with the Globally Harmonized System for Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS).  This legislation recent came into effect but there is a transition period during which suppliers and employers will be able to comply with the old (WHMIS 1988) or new (WHMIS 2015) systems.

For more information, please refer to the OHS bulletin Changes to WHMIS Legislation, available online at http://work.alberta.ca/documents/OHS-Bulletin-CH009.pdf.

The Executive Director of the ACA was interviewed by the Edmonton Journal last Thursday regarding infrastructure spending.

“Now is actually the perfect time to be investing in infrastructure,” said Ken Gibson, Executive Director of the construction association.

“We’ll get better pricing because the industry is slowing down. And in turn, if we keep those people employed, we’ll get better pricing when things pick up because we’ll have the capacity to deliver then.”

To read more click here.

Lee Phillips receives the 2014 Chair award from Scott Matheson for his volunteer work.

The Alberta Construction Association Annual General Meeting was held on Friday January 30, in Leduc.  The meeting brought together the board, our associate members, and local construction associations from across Alberta and government representation.

Alan Humphries from Alberta Infrastructure made a presentation on behalf of the minister who was unable to make it due to budget discussions.  COOLNet, Skills Alberta, and our affiliate organizations gave reports outlining their work over the last year with ACA.

Outgoing Chair Scott Matheson was honoured for his contributions to the ACA.  Dave Kinley (Concept Electric, Calgary) was elected Chair for 2015.  Lee Phillips from Scott Builders was honoured for his contribution as an ACA volunteer on the Building Technical Council with the 2014 Chair’s Award.  ACA’s 2015 Board is:

Dave Kinley (Concept Electric) – Chairman

Paul Verhesen (Clark Builders) – Senior Vice Chairman

Paul Heyens (Alberta Glass) – Vice Chairman

Scott Matheson (PCL) – Past Chair

Fabrizio Carinelli (CANA) – Calgary Construction Association

Stephanie Roll (Executive Millwork) – Calgary Construction Association

Scott Emerson (Inland Concrete) – Edmonton Construction Association

Conal Hancherow (Thermo Design Insulation) – Edmonton Construction Association

Charles Iggulden (Trade Skills Global) – Fort McMurray Construction Association

Tim Moline (Turcon Group) – Grande Prairie Construction Association

Nathan Neudorf (Ward Bros.) – Lethbridge Construction Association

Russ Lorenz (Citadel Mechanical) – Lloydminster Construction Association

Buck Heath (Pad-Car Mechanical) – Medicine Hat Construction Association

Josh Edwards (Scott Builders) – Red Deer Construction Association

Dennis Cascon (SimplexGrinnell) – Red Deer Construction Association

In an editorial in the Edmonton Journal Monday Marvin Moore, who served as minister of both Municipal Affairs and Transportation in the Lougheed government called on Premier Jim Prentice to maintain and increase capital funding in the face of economic concerns.

Moore said, “It would make sense and be a good economic decision for Prentice and his team to expand capital construction over the next two or three years rather than put more pressure on the economy by cutting back.”

Please click here to read the article.