The following is an update report on new and on-going CCA initiatives including highlights from the Council, Committee and Board meetings convened during the recent autumn meetings of the CCA Board of Directors held September 29-30 in Gatineau (QC).
New Version of CCDC2 receives Full Endorsement
The CCA Board of Directors welcomed the announcement that the new version of CCDC 2 (Standard Stipulated Price Contract Form) will soon be published now that it has received final endorsement by all of the constituent member organizations of the Canadian Construction Documents Committee (CCDC) thereby clearing the way for publication. An agreement was reached in August addressing the concerns raised by the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (RAIC) with respect to the ADR provisions in CCDC2.
CCA Supports Proposed CSA Commissioning Standard
The CCA Board of Directors approved a request that CCA support the development of a Canadian Standards Association (CSA) standard for Building Commissioning. CCA has agreed to contribute financially to this effort.
Infrastructure Minister tells CCA Federal Funding Flowing
Federal Minister of Infrastructure, Transportation and Communities Lawrence Cannon addressed the CCA Board of Directors stating that the Federal Government is doing all it can to ensure that the promised $33 billion in new federal infrastructure funding over the next seven years under the Government?s Building Canada Infrastructure Plan translates into infrastructure projects as fast as possible. That Plan includes the Gas Tax Fund, which provides some $17.6 billion in base funding for municipal infrastructure, and the Building Canada Fund, which accounts for some $8.8 billion for projects that focus on economic, environmental and social benefits such as highways, drinking water, wastewater, public transit and green energy, on both a large and small scale. Funding has already started to flow under both of these programs. Other elements of the Plan include $2.1 billion for gateways and border crossings, $1.26 billion for a Public-Private Partnerships Fund and $2.275 billion in annual $25 million contributions to each of the Provinces and Territories. He also added that the Government expects to leverage some $50 billion in additional funding as a result of its $33 billion investment. A copy of the Minister?s address to CCA can be found at Http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/mc-cm/speeches-discours/20070929_e.shtml.
CCA Seeking Amendments to Hours of Service Regulations
CCA will be appearing before the Canadian Council of Motor Transport Administrators (CCMTA), this month to make the case for why amendments should be made to the Federal Hours of Service Regulations. The CCMTA is comprised of federal and provincial Ministries of Transportation. It established a task force to review concerns with the application of the Hours of Service regulations to the road building sector. These would include:
· Making all winter maintenance as an exempted emergency service;
· Increasing the applicable truck weights that must comply with Hours of Service from 4,500 kg to 14,600 kg; and
· Having only those hours spent behind a wheel actually driving being counted towards Hours of Service ? at present, all working hours, regardless of whether they are working hours or not, count.
New Pre-Purchasing Guide Approved for Publication
The CCA Board of approved for immediate publication a new CCA guide document called CCA 61 - Risks of Pre-Purchasing Equipment and Materials for Construction Projects. The Guide targets owners pointing out some of the downside risks associated with pre-purchasing of equipment and materials.
Corporate Members Event Sure to be Success
The 2007 Construction Industry Leaders? Forum for CCA Corporate Members will take place on October 23-24 in
New Guide to Doing Business in the
The CCA International Business Committee completed a first Draft of the proposed new Guide for the Construction Industry when Doing Business in the United States. The Committee hopes to be in a position to seek Board endorsement in March. The Guide includes a general section covering such matters as insurance and bonding issues, immigration issues, customs issues, a ?lessons learned? section that will feature case studies and helpful hints from CCA member firms that have successfully entered the U.S. market, and helpful links and related resources.
2008 CCA Budget Approved
The CCA Board of Directors approved the CCA Budget for 2008. It does not include any membership fee increases.
CCA Policy Statements Revised
The Board of Directors approved revisions to the CCA Policy Statements that arose as a result of a recent comprehensive review.
CCA Reviewing By-Laws
The CCA Executive Committee is reviewing the current CCA by-laws with the objective of clarifying the Association?s membership structure as well as tending to some ?housekeeping? matters.
CCA Strategic Plan Implementation
The Board of Directors approved a set of recommendations emanating from its 5-Year Strategic Plan in areas dealing with Partnership & Communications.
Council Changes Name
The CCA Supplier Council received Board approval to change its name to the CCA Manufacturers, Suppliers and Services Council. CCA invites the membership to take part in the affairs of the Council.
2010 Annual CCA Conference to be Cruise
The CCA Board accepted a proposal that the 2010 CCA annual conference be held on the cruise ship MS Mariner owned by the Regent Seven Seas Cruise Line. This will be a first for CCA.
CCA Seeking Additional input of Proposed Codes of Ethics
CCA is still seeking input on its two draft Codes of Ethical Conduct posted on its website. The thought now is to include a pre-amble cautioning interested users that the decision to adopt such a code should not be taken lightly and that legal advice should be sought.
Gold Seal Developing Code of Ethics
The Board was informed that a Code of Ethics for Gold Seal holders has been finalized.
2008 CDBI Annual Conference
The next annual conference & AGM of the Canadian Design-Build Institute (CDBI) will be held next Fall in
CCA Developing a Construction Accounting Best Practices Guide
The CCA Finance Committee is developing a new CCA Construction Accounting Best Practices Guide that will address such topics as the valuation of work-in-progress, (i.e. percentage completion vs. completed contract method), new accounting rules for long-term investments and receivables and the special GST/HST timing rules associated with certified progress payments and holdback payments/release.
Joint Venture Guide
CCA is expected to have a Consultation Draft of the proposed new Joint Venture Guide by next March.
Standard Sub-Subcontract Form Being Developed
The CCA Standard Practices Committee hopes to have a Consultation Draft by next March of a brand new Standard Stipulated Price Sub-Subcontract Form for execution by a Subcontractor with its subcontractors