to get back to work, The Financial Post reports. He estimates the rebuild will take a year or two. “We are pushing to get some of the smaller projects going, and the cleanup,” he said. “The biggest thing is that as people start rebuilding their lives, they get back to work so they come back to Fort McMurray.” Iggulden said in the published re- port that Fort McMurray’s construction industry was working at half capacity because of the downturn. But it’s ready to step up immediately, and is pushing to get the work associated with the reconstruction. The associa- tion sent letters to the Alberta govern- ment seeking bridge financing to get construction going. The Financial Post also reports that Russell Dauk, vice president, land and commercial, at the Rohit Group of Companies, said the time is right to get started because companies such as his have access to people and equipment that have not been put to work in the past 15 months. SASKATCHEWAN Elevator building boom continues An elevator building boom on the Prairies shows no signs of slowing as new facilities continue to come online and existing ones are upgraded to ac- commodate faster unload times, more efficient rail car loading and longer grain trains, The Western Producer re- ports. In central Saskatchewan, Cargill and Richardson are expanding existing facilities at Davidson. Cargill officials were in the commu- nity in June to mark the completion of the upgrade, which included the addi- tion of four concrete storage bins, a 120 ft. scale with 85 tonne capacity, a 50,000 bushel per hour conveyor, a 160 ft. leg and an expanded 100 car rail spot. Richardson is also upgrading its Pi- oneer facility in Davidson, with addi- tional steel storage and an expanded rail car spot. Jeff Wildeman, Cargill’s regional manager for Saskatchewan, said the expansion will increase storage capac- ity by more than 10,000 tonnes to roughly 25,000. He said nearly 25 per cent of Cargill Canada’s annual investment takes place in Saskatchewan. The company has invested roughly $300 million in the province over the past five years with major construction or expansion projects in Clavet and Davidson. “It’s a great time for us to put more dollars out because the industry needs the work and we’re getting better pric- ing,” Wyatt is quoted as saying. Wyatt says the city looks set to save at least $8.65 million on three construction projects where bids came in lower than expected this sea- son, which should be invested now. ONTARIO OCOT achieves $7.4 million financial surplus in 2015: $6 million allocated for ‘long-term strategic initiatives’ MANITOBA Manitoba construction industry leader fears government delays, restraints causing “Perfect Storm” A Manitoba construction leader fears government delays and re- straints are directing his industry to- ward a “perfect storm.” An email obtained by the Winnipeg Sun, which is attributed to Manitoba Heavy Construction Association (MHCA) president Chris Lorenc, claims the city failed to tender enough con- struction work and uses a tendering process that is “so bureaucratic it en- sures failure.” This, combined with provincial and federal cuts, threatens to spark layoffs, lead workers to leave the province and/or have companies run out of work within the next six weeks, the newspaper reports the email as say- ing. “The City of Winnipeg’s budget award process has been nothing short of appalling; the change in the federal government and its infrastructure budget priorities are still unclear; and we have a new provincial government which, while in the throes of reviewing the fiscal situation it is in, has cut the highway program by $50 million – 10 per cent – and has apparently stalled further tenders pending review,” the email says. The Sun says Coun. Russ Wyatt (Transcona), who’s taken out radio ads to pressure council to approve more road work, said the statement is proof council must add to its list of projects for this construction season. If the Ontario College of Trades (OCOT) was a private business, share- holders would be happy with the in- come statement and balance sheet, based on documents in the organiza- tion’s 2015 annual report released in time for its annual general meeting on June 14. The “statement of financial posi- tion” reports that the OCOT at 2015 year end had net assets of $28,627,456, an increase of approxi- mately $7.4 million from the $19,613,440 in net assets at the end of 2014. The OCOT says it had 232,189 members in 2015, suggesting a sur- plus of about $31 per member. A note to the financial statements says “during the year, cash in the amount of $6,000,000 was internally restricted for purposes of long-term strategic initiatives.” The note doesn’t say what these initiatives will be but observes: “The reserve will be in- vested according to the College’s in- vestment policy.” Overall the OCOT had at year end $19,845,348 in cash – compared to $12,809,266 at the end of 2014. “As anticipated and in line with the budget, the College achieved an ex- cess of revenue over expenses,” OCOT spokesperson Tyler Charlebois said in a statement. “Part of the excess of revenue at year end relates to the fact that membership fees are recog- nized in the year to which they relate, advanced billings for next year’s fees are deferred and recognized into in- The Canadian Design and Construction Report — July - August 2016 – 19