The Newfound and Labrador Construction Association (NLCA) expressed a positive outlook at the start of its annual conference in Corner Brook, despite tough financial times in the province. “There’s challenges, but we see it as being positive and moving forward,” NLCA chair Ed LeGrow told CBC News. “We’ve been through turbulent waters before, and I’m sure we can maintain our status quo.”
LeGrow says the association is growing with close to 700 members and the conference was a sold out event. There is concern however, about the construction delay of the Corner Brook hospital.
“We all know we have been waiting on the hospital. It is very important,” Sandy Murphy, the NLCA’s western director, was quoted as saying. “We also know right now it’s up in the air while the government restructures. We are very anxiously waiting as a construction industry to see what the result will be.”
The hospital delay also has resulted in a slowdown in new housing construction in Corner Brook, as new developments hinge on that project.
LeGrow says overall the construction industry is still humming along. “We’re still coming off a lot of larger projects and there are new projects on the horizon. It’s just a matter of setting priorities with the money that’s available,” he said.
