Canada with direct connectivity to a
new large demand source,” said Tide-
water CEO and president Joel
MacLeod. New Calgary library on
Architectural Digest’s list of
the 12 most anticipated
buildings of 2018
The $245-million Central Library in
Calgary’s East Village has received in-
ternational recognition by Architectural
Digest as one of the 12 most antici-
pated buildings of 2018. The building
is the only Canadian project in the list,
which includes landmarks from sev-
eral other nations.
The structure due to be completed
later this year includes 30 free meeting
rooms, a 350-seat performance hall,
an Early Learning Centre for children
and a space just for teens with video,
music and gaming stations, CBC re-
ports. part of the dispute resolution process
within the New West Partnership
agreement designed to ensure free in-
terprovincial trade in the four western
provinces. The Herald reports that Alberta and
Saskatchewan have been sniping at
each other for a couple of years.
“Alberta poked Saskatchewan’s
craft beer industry in the eye by pro-
viding grants to local brewers — sub-
sidies that weren’t available to other
competitors in Canada,” the Herald re-
ported. “But the tit-for-tat tactics
turned into a full-scale feud.”
“Saskatchewan Infrastructure Min-
ister David Marit banned Alberta li-
cence plates on government-funded
project work sites, citing feedback
from provincial contractors who felt
their vehicles weren’t welcome on Al-
berta job sites and they were blocked
from bidding on Alberta contracts,”
the newspaper reported. However, the
Herald also reported that no one could
offer any tangible examples or proof of
discriminatory tactics.
MANITOBA Winnipeg budget 2018:
Larger funding for road
renewals, tighter for overall
infrastructure development
International architecture firm
Snøhetta and DIALOG have jointly
designed the building.
ALBERTA-SASKATCHEWAN Winnipeg Mayor Brian Bowman has
unveiled a $1.08 billion city budget
that increases spending on road re-
newals, while slashing overall funding
for infrastructure development.
Interprovincial license plate
trade war breaks out
An interprovincial trade war has bro-
ken out over contractor’s license
plates, as the Saskatchewan govern-
ment decided to ban vehicles with Al-
berta plates from working on public
job sites there.
The two sides indicated in mid-De-
cember they would meet in Lloydmin-
ster, a city which straddles the two
provinces, sometime in January 2018
to discuss their differences, the Cal-
gary Herald has reported.
Alberta says if it doesn’t get a reso-
lution by Jan. 22, the matter will be
headed to a binding arbitration panel,
The city plans to spend a record
$116 million on rebuilding roads on a
single project, the rehabilitation of Em-
press St. between St. Matthews Ave.
and Portage Ave.
The proposed amount reflects an
$11-million increase from 2017’s
spending. It will be sourced from a
property tax hike proposed for 2018.
Additionally, the reduced allocation for
overall infrastructure spending also al-
lows the city to rein in spending for
road renewals.
The tax-supported portion of the
city’s budget, which is used to pay for
new roads and bridges, major repairs
and equipment purchases, will drop by
$74 million. In 2018, Winnipeg plans to
spend only $246 million.
Moreover, the amount of actual
cash the city plans to appropriate to
overall infrastructure spending is down
from 2017’s budget of $31 million, to
$23 million.
This is the second consecutive year
the city has reduced its proposed in-
frastructure funding, which has been
down by about a third since 2016. This
dramatic dip is taking place when bor-
rowing costs are low, and according to
city finance officials, it presents a fu-
ture risk as borrowing costs are ex-
pected to increase.
The new city budget elicited mixed
reactions from different sectors. Ac-
cording to CBC News, Winnipeg
Chamber of Commerce president
Loren Remillard commended the city
for reining in spending, while Mani-
toba Heavy Construction Association
president Chris Lorenc said he ap-
proves of the spending for road reha-
bilitation. Manitoba Throne Speech
highlights infrastructure
investments and
implementation of
Made-in-Manitoba plan
In the Throne Speech presented
Nov. 30, the Manitoba provincial gov-
ernment reiterated its commitment to
invest in “strategic” infrastructure de-
velopments, and its intention to study
public-private partnerships (P3s) as op-
tions for construction of school pro-
jects. “Our ongoing commitment to mak-
ing strategic infrastructure invest-
ments on the basis of real value for
money, as we continue to make
progress on inherited fiscal chal-
lenges, will continue,” stated Premier
Brian Pallister in the speech delivered
by Lt. Gov. Janice Filmon.
The Canadian Design and Construction Report — Winter 2018 – 33