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This week on the Construction Record podcast we’re looking back at the biggest construction stories and trends we covered in 2019, starting with Daily Commercial News and Journal of Commerce national managing editor Vince Versace’s look at our year-end articles about the biggest newsmakers of the year. Qualifications based selection being implemented in four pilot projects was a significant issue for engineers and others including John Gamble of ACEC, and the Trans Mountain pipeline as highlighted by Canadian Construction Association president Mary Van Buren. Arlene Dunn of the Canadian Building Trades Unions cited the work done by the federal government and federal minister of employment, workforce development and labour Patty Hajdu in addressing barriers to entry for apprentices and the Canadian Training Credit.

Vince also looked at how Doug Ford’s government affected the industry, including the dissolution of the Ontario College of Trades and the passing of Bill 66, which closed a loophole allowing some municipalities to be listed as construction employers.

Vince also mentioned our upcoming presence at the ConExpo construction conference in Las Vegas in March, the largest construction conference in North America and where we’ll be putting out episodes of the podcast early next year.

Digital media editor Warren Frey and staff writer Russell Hixson also took a look at the year from a western perspective, focusing on the federal election, community benefit agreements in British Columbia, and the recent decision by the Supreme Court to uphold the City of Burnaby’s use of reprisal clauses, as well Trans Mountain. 

Warren and Russell also talk about the new Builder’s Code introduced this year to create a more equitable worksite culture in B.C. and the shifting technological landscape that’s moving construction from long-held methodologies into a world of data, sensors and increased collaboration.