Voices
Ill-fitting PPE a major problem
by Patrick FlanneryIt’s human nature…people won’t wear PPE if it’s uncomfortable or makes it hard to work. Marten explains… This is an interesting one for sure. I started back this week. I work mostly in the commercial sector installing doors, hardware and…
Due diligence before promoting efficiency
by Patrick FlanneryOh why can’t anything ever be simple? Our May 25 COVID News directed readers to a lobby group pushing the feds to deliver post-pandemic stimulus in the form of incentives for energy-efficient renovations. Sounds like a good business driver, right?…
WSIB dehumanizing
by Patrick FlanneryArthur doesn’t feel the WSIB sees owners as human beings… Bill 119. Say if I work for myself by myself I do not have to pay premiums but if I work on a condo or get paid by company cheque…
PPE should be mandatory
by Patrick FlanneryJohn wants everyone to be on a level playing field… The use of PPE (for COVID-19) should be mandatory for contractors. But those companies who are having a larger workforce shall put more energy to implement the safety measures as…
Need better PPE design
by Patrick FlanneryIt’s human nature…people won’t wear PPE if it’s uncomfortable or makes it hard to work. Marten explains: This is an interesting one for sure. I started back this week. I work mostly in the commercial sector installing doors, hardware and…
Murder is not the best strategy
by canadiancontractorIn response to an article we wrote about a contractor facing murder charges after one of his disgruntled clients went missing, we asked Contractor Nation how they deal with such instances (the disgruntled clients part, not the murder part). Well,…
Let the WSIB rant rage on
by canadiancontractorWe’ve sure had our share of readers spouting off about the Ontario Workplace Safety & Insurance Board, but it’s actually been a few years since our last good rant. They are 100 per cent not there for the employees. They…
Covid-19: Long lineups
by Rob BlackstienHere’s another Covid-19 update from one of our readers, Lorne Hoffman, who runs Class A Installations in North Saanich, B.C. We’re thankful most suppliers are open but social distancing can mean long lineups. My business partner (AKA, wife Janice) ordered…
Covid-19: Oh, it’s an interesting one
by Rob BlackstienHere’s another Covid-19 update from a reader, this one from Glenn Hartman, Project Manager at Stratford, Ont.-based Hartman Carpentry. Oh it’s an interesting one. Anything residential wise we put on (hold) right from the beginning. Crazy to think it’s (been)…
I felt overwhelmed
by Rob BlackstienAs part of our cover story for the May/June issue, we solicited input from a wide variety of contractors across the country to talk about how Covid-19 was affecting their business. Steve Barkhouse, President of Ottawa-based Amsted Design-Build gave us…
BC ahead of the game with Covid-19
by Rob BlackstienA couple of weeks ago, Lino Vitorio responded to a Casey Edge column with a comment that really cut through to the heart of the Covid-19 issue. It’s a comment that elicited a couple of responses, and most recently, columnist…
Who pays for Mike Holmes’ material and labour?
by Rob BlackstienMany years back, we gave Mike Holmes an opportunity to respond to some of the industry criticism he’s received over time. Nary a few weeks has gone by since then without more comments flowing out of this thread. And now,…
How to survive the Covid-19 crisis
by Mike DraperI held off writing this piece until the very last minute before the deadline as things have been changing so fast that I didn’t want the article out of date before anyone had the chance to read it. Hope that…
Death rates are set to spike
by Rob BlackstienBrendan Charters of North York, Ont.-based Eurodale Developments sent us the following update about how his business was faring during the Covid-19 pandemic. For the past three weeks, our office staff (design, operations and accounting) has been operating remotely, from…
How will coronavirus infect your business?
by canadiancontractorBy Steve Ryan Like any rational person you are probably concerned for the impact the current pandemic will have on your construction business. No one can tell you the answer to that yet, but you can prepare. Step 1: Accept…
Covid-19: Business has dropped 95 per cent
by Rob BlackstienWe’ve been running Covid-19 updates every weekday, and last week — instead of opting for an April Fool’s post — we played it straight with another daily report. Ellen responded, letting us know what’s going on with her business. We…
Covid-19: We are running out of time
by Rob BlackstienLast week, Canadian Contractor columnist Casey Edge wrote about how housing was essential during this crisis. Not everyone agrees, and really, it’s been a contentious issue across the nation over the last week or two. Lino Vitorio offered up the…
Here’s a new twist on the Covid-19 dilemma
by Rob BlackstienLast week, Ben Polley provided us with an insightful update on the Covid-19 situation. In response, Steve Cassidy offered up this juicy dilemma: Here’s a new twist for you. About 40 per cent of our staff have decided to stay…