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April 2017 - Special Edition 
2017 STATE OF THE INDUSTRY & OUTLOOK CONFERENCE RECAP - EDITION
2017 STATE OF THE INDUSTRY AND OUTLOOK CONFERENCE: INFRASTRUCTURE, OPTIMISM & PHILANTHROPY   
 
 
Welcome to a special edition of the Ontario Construction Secretariat's (OCS) monthly eNewsletter.

This month, we want to share with you some of the comments and discussions that highlighted the presentations and panel discussions at our 17 th Annual State of the Industry and Outlook Conference, held Thursday, March 9 th at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre in Toronto.

OCS Chief Executive Officer Sean Strickland welcomed an estimated 300 registered attendees to the conference. Representing a wide range of construction industry stakeholders, the sellout audience listened to a strong lineup of speakers, presenters and panelists who engaged everyone in the room on topics ranging from the economy (global, Canadian and Ontario) to contractor confidence and from infrastructure, market capacity and innovation to challenges and opportunities in the construction industry. 
 
Supporting the positive mood presented by many of the speakers and presentations throughout the Conference, were donations made by the OCS on behalf of the speakers and panelists to the Princess Margaret Hospital Cancer Foundation and the Malignant Mesothelioma Program. We are pleased to announce that donations totalled $1,000.00.

Following are a series of articles on each of the presenters and panel discussions.   We also have posted videos of the panel discussions and links to the slide presentations.
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ONTARIO POISED TO BECOME CANADA'S ECONOMIC GROWTH LEADER IN 2017       

  
For the past couple of years, Ontario has been near the top when economists look at economic growth across Canada.  But in 2017, the Vice President and Deputy Chief Economist for the Royal Bank of Canada says our province will be a growth leader among all provinces.  

OUTLOOK BRIGHTER FOR ONTARIO'S CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTORS       

 
  
What a difference a year makes.

Ontario's contractors have a brighter outlook for 2017 as shown by the loftier Ontario Construction Secretariat's Construction Confidence Indicator which edged up three points from 57 to 60.  This reverses a downward trend that has persisted since 2010.  A stronger Construction Confidence Indicator means that contractors expect a bigger increase in the amount of business they will do this year than they did for the previous year.  It should be noted that any number greater than 50 represents a positive expectation of more work in the coming year.

ONE-ON-ONE WITH INFRASTRUCTURE ONTARIO     

  
It was billed as an armchair chat.

However,  Ehren Cory now sits in the "big chair" at Infrastructure Ontario (IO), having recently been appointed as the organization's new President and Chief Executive Officer.  Needless to say, the Ontario Construction Secretariat (OCS) was pleased and honoured when Cory agreed to discuss infrastructure on the Conference's main stage - his first public appearance as President and CEO of Infrastructure Ontario.  Together, OCS CEO Sean Strickland and Cory engaged in a wide-ranging discussion with topics from market capacity to innovation.

INFRASTRUCTURE - BUILDING A NEW ONTARIO ECONOMY       

 
  
As President and Chief Executive Officer of Toronto Financial Services Alliance, Janet Ecker did an outstanding job of moderating a panel discussion on the theme of " Building Infrastructure Projects that will Transform Ontario's Economy".

The panel featured  Jeff Lehman, the Mayor of  Barrie and Past Chair of the  Large Urban Mayors' Caucus of Ontario, Chris Giannekos, Associate Deputy Minister,  Ministry of Infrastructure, Jeff Moore, Assistant Deputy Minister of  Infrastructure Canada and Lou Serafini Jr., the President and Chief Financial Officer of  Fengate Capital Management Inc.. The panel began by answering the live polling question - "Which infrastructure projects do you think will have the biggest impact on the economy?"   

OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES - THE GENERALS SPEAK       

 
  
Two of Canada's top construction companies were on the lunch menu as the Ontario Construction Secretariat (OCS) wrapped up a very successful State of the Industry and Outlook Conference for 2017. Joining OCS Chief Executive Officer Sean Strickland on stage was John Beck, President and Chief Executive Officer for the Aecon Group and Chris Gower, Chief Operating Officer, Buildings for PCL Construction.  It was an opportunity for the general contractors to discuss the opportunities and challenges that exist in Ontario's construction industry. 

CENTRAL ONTARIO'S STRONG COMMERCIAL SECTOR COUNTERACTS WEAK PERFORMANCE


This is the Ontario Construction Secretariat's update on local building permits in Ontario.  Included are local updates for Central Ontario, for the following cities: Barrie, Brantford, Guelph, Hamilton, Kitchener-Cambridge-Waterloo, Oshawa, St. Catharines-Niagara, and Toronto.  Select from any of the cities below.    









View current economic indicators for Ontario such as Construction Employment, CPI Inflation & Unemployment Rate. 
For any enquiries or information related to Eye on ICI Newsletter or OCS, please contact the OCS at info@iciconstruction.com .
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Ontario Construction Secretariat  |  180 Attwell Dr. #360, Toronto, ON M9W6A9 
|  416.620.5210  |  Email: info@iciconstruction.com  | 
Website: www.iciconstruction.com
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