Housing Reports, Red Tape Update, Events

Monthly Housing Reports

Year-over year improvements were recorded across nearly all regions with total sales in October 2019 rising to 4,535 units. While this is an improvement over last year, sales are still below their 2014 levels and below long-term averages.

Year-to-date housing starts are 3.1% below last year’s numbers, which is below the five- and ten-year averages. Still, housing starts have steadily increased every month since Feb 2019 of this year, and if the trend continues, 2019 total housing starts will be on par with 2018.

The following table provides a snapshot of key indicators for Alberta’s major centres. More detailed information of the individual centres is available in the local reports.

Red Tape Update

Moving BILD Alberta’s 29+ recommendations forward remains our highest priority. We are meeting regularly with the Associate Ministry of Red Tape Reduction along with multiple other ministries in an effort to make our recommendations a reality.

This continues to be a collaborative effort with local associations and members from across the province to ensure we are addressing the needs of members with a consistent voice.

The next step of this work will involve preparing real world case studies that illustrate the impacts of red tape on businesses, jobs and the economy.

If you have any questions or would like to get involved please contact Scott Fash .

Fall 2019 Public Review of Proposed Changes to Codes Canada Publications

The Canadian Commission on Building and Fire Codes (CCBFC) has invited code users and stakeholders to participate in the fall 2019 public review of proposed changes to Codes Canada publications - closes December 23, 2019.

Visit the Codes Canada website for full details and a short summary of the fall 2019 proposed changes.

An additional national public review will open in January 13 - March 13, 2020 which will include changes being proposed to the National Energy Code for Buildings.

Watch for more information and if you have questions or concerns please contact Matthew Armstrong .

Physical Demands Analysis

In partnership with the ACA, BILD Alberta is supporting the development of a Physical Demands Analysis (PDA’s) of construction trades and occupations. A PDA is a breakdown of the tasks performed for each position, the time spent on each task and the physical requirements for each. These assessments help employers assign the right resources to the role and reduce time needed to safely return an injured employee to work.

A qualified vendor will be chosen who will travel to job sites, observe the identified trades/occupations at work and ask questions to understand the job tasks.

We require your support by volunteering to be observed/interviewed (yourself or an employee) at your job site for any of the trades on the attached list. The goal is to conduct these interviews between January and September 2020.

Please share this with your teams and networks. If you’re willing and able to support with this, please email erin.devlin@bildalberta.ca or call Erin Devlin @ 780-424-5890 ext 223.

RCSM Occupational Committee

The Government of Alberta is seeking involvement of BILD Alberta members to influence Industry education by taking part in the Residential Construction Site Manager (RCSM) Occupational Committee.

RCSM education is provided by the Professional Home Builders Institute with Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training administering the RCSM Occupational Designation, including the provincial exam.

If you are interested in learning more or joining the RCSM Occupational Committee - contact Paul Salmon at for more information.

UPCOMING EVENTS

BILD Calgary

- Dec. 10 – Technology & Real Estate: What’s Out There?

- Dec. 11 - Christmas Reception

BILD Central Alberta

- Dec. 4 - Lunch 'n Learn

CHBA - Edmonton

- Dec. 5 - Holiday Soirée

- Dec. 11 - Open House

- Feb. 3 & 4 - Residential Construction Industry Conference ( RCIC )

UDI Edmonton

- Dec. 12 - Luncheon featuring guest speaker: Tom Anselmi

BILD Alberta 2020 Conferences

Banff - April 16 & 17

Jasper - September 10 - 13

Are you a member hosting a session, workshop or webinar that will educate industry members? Let us know and we will share it on our website.

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