RC108 SeptOct2023 - Magazine - Page 20
THE FUTURE OF CONSTRUCTION
infrastructure, regardless of project size.
Credible climate data and future projections, such as information available through
the Canadian Centre for Climate Services
(CCCS) data portals are becoming the de
facto source for data, where information on
climate hazards, climate parameters, and
critical thresholds can be applied to your
specific project needs. The Public Infrastructure Engineering Vulnerability Committee
(PIEVC) family of assessment tools are
becoming the accepted standard for applying a climate change vulnerability and risk
assessment to infrastructure projects.
Climate change models have limitations
and actual future conditions could exceed
what these models project. Cascading, compounding, and cumulative effects could also
come into play, where the physical impacts
from different climate hazards can be catastrophic.
Engaging a climate change services
expert is strongly encouraged to help your
business navigate through this array of
information, tools, and risk assessment
process.
Duncan Williams
President & CEO,
Construction Association
of Nova Scotia (CANS)
It’s no secret that Nova Scotia’s construction industry is currently facing a significant
labour shortage, one that will persist over
the next decade unless measures are taken
to help industry develop their current and
future workforce. In the same breath, no
one can deny the affordable housing crisis.
Couple that with rising interest rates and
supply chain issues and the link between all
is evident.
This isn’t just a future problem—it’s a now
problem.
Our provincial construction workforce
may be faced with a challenge to keep up
with labour force demands. Many trades and
occupations have reported elevated recruiting challenges, which may be sustained with
demands created by rising investment in
both residential and non-residential construction, as well as increasing retirements
and competition from other industries for a
declining share of younger workers.
The demand of the housing sector has been
growing rapidly due to significant population
growth in the last few years. In Nova Scotia,
around 6,000 new units are under construction at any given time. The provincial government estimates 70,000 units will be needed
over the next five years, meaning an average
of 14,000 new units need to be built each year.
That’s about four times the record rate that
developers have met recently.
Given the importance of our industry to
the economy and the future of Nova Scotia,
there are many things we must do collectively to meet growing construction needs in
the province. We must continue to challenge
and align the desires of our communities and
the realities of the economy and on the other
hand, re-evaluate and revisit those to make
sure that they match up.
Social responsibility and environmental
stewardship are ever present, as are the societal and systemic issues that have shone a
spotlight on an industry that must adapt and
change. CANS must be a vital hub for indus-
Improving the sustainability
of wastewater treatment
infrastructure for a better future
cima.ca
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RENEW CANADA – SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2023
RENEWCANADA.NET
