NEWS BRIEFS BRITISH COLUMBIA ALBERTA Vancouver councillors approve tearing down of Georgia and Dunsmuir viaducts CONSTRUCTION ACROSS CANADA Calgary Cancer Centre to be built in 2017 The NDP government has pledged $830 million over five years to build a new Calgary Cancer Centre, replacing the aging Tom Baker Cancer Centre at Foothills Hospital. Work will start in 2017 and is ex- pected to be completed by 2024. The facility will be built on the health cam- pus’ northeast corner. New home construction in Calgary declines to lowest level since 1988 Vancouver city councillors have re- cently decided (by a 5-4 vote) to tear down the 44-year-old elevated Georgia and Dunsmuir viaducts, replacing the structures with a new at-grade road network, expanding Pacific Blvd. to six lanes, with a 13-acre park and denser False Creek office/condo communities. “We’re at the edge of a really excit- ing opportunity,” Mayor Gregor Robert- son said, describing the viaducts as “a relic of a failed transportation policy.” Council has asked planners to pro- vide a clear plan on how to fund the es- timated $200 million removal, a process that could take 18 months. The planners believe that developer contributions and land sales or city property leases will cover the costs, generating an additional $100 million to construct amenities such as a school or daycare. The viaducts, which replaced an even older Georgia Viaduct in 1979, could technically remain standing for a few decades, but city planners say the city would need to spend upwards of $50 million to maintain them so they wouldn’t collapse in an earthquake. Notably, Green Party Coun. Adriane Carr sided with the right of centre Non Partisan Association councillors in op- posing the removal, calling it an “in- credible gift to developers.” She said in the process, developers’ interests trumped citizens’. “They stand to make an enormous amount of profit.” With the oil recession well under way, Calgary new home construction is expected to decline to levels not seen in more than 25 years. The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) has reported that housing starts in the area will decline 30.5 per cent this year, to 11,900 units, followed by a further 16 per cent drop next year, to 10,000 units. There will be a slight two per cent rebound in 2017, CMHC predicts, as job creation and net migration improve. “The economy continues to face headwinds largely centred around the decline in the price for oil,” said CMHC analyst Richard Cho. “We’re also see- ing that reflected in the housing mar- ket.” “As far as our forecast goes, we’re not expecting to see a quick rebound in activity because the price for oil will remain relatively low for the next cou- ple of years and that will obviously have an impact on employment growth, migration and income.” Edmonton proposes tougher construction inspection standards Edmonton councillors say the city needs an integrated inspection team with sharper teeth to deal with the problem of sloppy and irritating con- struction practices in mature neigh- bourhoods, the Edmonton Journal has reported. Neighbours have been complaining about excavations without safety fences or signage, flooded basements 16 – November 2015 — The Canadian Design and Construction Report and rattling foundations, as well as messy sites. City staff have proposed changes including higher fines and pulling busi- ness licenses for non-compliance. Councillors added to the proposals in- cluding asking staff to develop an inte- grated team of enforcement officers that could start doing routine inspec- tions, rather than simply responding to complaints, the newspaper reported. “They’ll investigate the possibility of requiring performance bonds to pro- tect city and/or private property, and re- quiring developers to document preexisting conditions with photos.” SASKATCHEWAN $842 million road and infrastructure construction budget: Not all of it will be spent The Saskatchewan government says it has completed a massive vol- ume of road and infrastructure con- struction this year. “As you know, the construction sea- son in Saskatchewan is pretty short be- cause of our weather. And, we were blessed with a very good fall,” high- ways and infrastructure minister Nancy Heppner said. She said the ministry had an $842 million budget but the final calculation on how much was spent will be deter- mined once the work ends – however it will be less than what was budgeted. “We won’t know exactly how much was spent until all the contracts have wrapped up and we know exactly what was completed. Every year, there are some projects that don’t get done ... there’s delays in those,” she said. Saskatoon contemplates stricter rules to make construction work zones safer in 2017 Officials say they are receiving re- ports daily of motorists disrespecting construction zones. Some drivers are failing to reduce their speed, but most issues arise when motorists ignore ‘local access only’ signage and even move traffic barriers.