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In This Issue:
Budget 2010 Update
The Government of Canada released its Federal Budget 2010: Leading the Way on Jobs and Growth on March 4, 2010. As suspected, there were few surprises. The government remains committed to deliver the remaining stimulus money before March 31, 2011.
The government intends to balance the budget by 2015. Expenditures are expected to decrease significantly as the stimulus spending winds down and departmental budgets experience a freeze, meanwhile, it is presumed that revenues will increase as the economy recovers.
In addition to the current stimulus package, there is some limited new infrastructure investments. The industry may also have opportunities under some environmental initiatives announced in the budget. The budget is expected to be positive for the manufacturing and resource sectors, potentially resulting in additional work for the consulting engineering sector. There are also more opportunities to access research assistance.
Infrastructure spending post March 31st, 2011 will likely be comparable to pre-stimulus levels.
A budget brief prepared by ACEC is available here.
Other Useful links on the Federal Budget
To consult the full budget, visit Finance Canada's web site at http://www.fin.gc.ca/fin-eng.html.
The Globe and Mail provides a general overview of the Federal Budget. Click here to view their reports.
The Certified General Accountants have prepared an analysis on tax implications of the budget. Click here to view their report. |
Registration Now Open!
ACEC National Summit
June 23-26, 2010
Register now for the ACEC National Summit in St. Andrews by-the-Sea, New Brunswick! The Summit will be hosted at the Fairmont Algonquin, in what is known as one of eastern Canada’s most charming and historic towns. To register on-line, click here.
Given the close proximity to the Bay of Fundy (the world’s highest tides) and the changing economy, it is only fitting that “changing tides” is the theme for the 2010 Summit.
Sessions will focus on the landscape post-stimulus and how your firm can take advantage of the new market-place both domestically and internationally with expert insiders from both the public and private sectors.
Presenters to date include:
Bruce Sellery, Journalist & Business Analyst
Veteran television journalist and anchor with CTV’s business network BNN.
DeWayne J. Fliss, Expert in Strategic and Operational Planning
Concord Consulting Corporation
Michael R. D’Alessandro, Principal Consultant
PSMJ Resources, Inc.
Peter MacArthur, Director General
Global Business Opportunities, DFAIT
A variety of social activities will allow delegates and partners the opportunity to take in some of the local flavor along the New Brunswick coast.
For more information on registration and hotel bookings, please contact the ACEC office at 1-800-565-0569 or by emailing events@acec.ca.
Federal Government Continues to
Consult on Bilingual Documents
In order to allow further stakeholder consultation, the Federal Government has delayed implementation of a new policy requiring that all documents posted on the MERX tendering system to be provided in both official languages. This policy would apply to contract documents (and supporting documents) prepared by engineers and architects on behalf of PWGSC and other federal departments.
ACEC has advised the Federal Government that there is insufficient capacity within or available to the industry across the country to comply with this requirement. As a result, there will a significant impact on project costs and schedules – perhaps threatening the ability of the Federal government to deliver projects. Both commercial and professional liability are also major concerns for the industry. See ACEC’s response to the Federal Government.
Many ACEC member organizations have also been in contact with regional offices of Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC) and providing a consistent industry-wide response.
ACEC, along with other industry stakeholders including the Canadian Construction Association and the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada, continue to work with PWGSC towards a sensible and pragmatic solution that is acceptable to industry across the country, to the government and most importantly – to the taxpayer.
Back by Popular Demand – ACEC’s Young Professional Conference Stream!
ACEC is pleased to announce that it will again be hosting a Young Professional’s stream at its Annual Conference and Summit in St. Andrews by-the-Sea, New Brunswick from June 23-26, 2010.
YPs Are the Future of Your Firm!
Register a YP from your firm today and receive a special early bird discount of 50% off the regular conference program. Offer ends May 27, 2010.
What’s in it for YPs?
A dynamite conference program, including sessions on how engineers make money and business development, a special technical tour for YPs, and exclusive networking opportunities with fellow YPs and senior business leaders.
This is a MUST ATTEND conference! Click here to register your YP today.
For more information about the ACEC Summit, please contact Sylvie Rioux at events@acec.ca or 1-800-565-0569.
ACEC/PSMJ Project Management Bootcamp
Become a More Effective Project Manager
Toronto ON,
April 15-16, 2010
This information-packed seminar compresses a lifetime of experience and insight into two days. You gain an understanding of the techniques and strategies of today’s most successful project managers.
Improve your personal project management skills and success.
Provide a focus and dynamic approach your whole firm can put into action right away.
The result is a seminar brimming with practical information you can act on immediately to improve the projects you work on every day.
At this event, attendees will learn and gain valuable insights on how to:
*Bring projects in on time and under budget
*Fulfill the 6 roles of a Project Manager
*Actively manage the client relationship
*Increase staff productivity in 5 ways
*Effectively control “scope creep”
*Make proposals become winners
*Create budgets and schedules to produce success
Please note that firms sending more than two registrants are eligible for discounts.
Discounts for group registrations:
*Three registrants from one firm - first two are regular price, third person is half price
*Four registrants from one firm - first three are regular price, fourth person is free
*Five or more from one firm - first three are regular price, fourth person is free, every additional registrant beyond four is 25% off.
For more information on ACEC/PSMJ seminars, please contact Sylvie Rioux at events@acec.ca or 1-800-565-0569.
Enter the 2010 Canadian Consulting Engineering Awards
Deadline for the Notice of Intention
to Enter March 30, 2010
The Canadian Consulting Engineering Awards are presented by the Association of Consulting Engineering Companies with Canadian Consulting Engineer magazine. The awards are considered to be the highest honour given to a Canadian consulting engineering firm.
The Notice of Intention to Enter must be filled and submitted to Canadian Consulting Engineer magazine by Tuesday, March 30th. Download the form by clicking here.
Don’t miss FIDIC 2010 in New Delhi!
Registration opens soon!
Don’t miss the opportunity to network with consulting firms worldwide by attending FIDIC 2010 in New Delhi, India.
The annual conference of the International Federation of Consulting Engineers (FIDIC) is one of the industry’s most important events. This year’s conference, hosted by Consulting Engineers Association of India will bring together international speakers, clients, industry, government organizations, consultants and engineers to discuss consulting services worldwide.
This year’s conference will explore the many facets of innovation in business practice that arise in providing the quality services needed to meet the urgent and growing demands through a variety of plenary sessions and workshops.
For Canadian participants, ACEC will also be arranging a special information session on international business opportunities in cooperation with the Canadian High Commission to India and the Trade Commissioner Service.
Please click here for more information on the FIDIC 2010 New Delhi Conference.
Industry News
Large Northern Ontario Firm Acquired by Genivar
Robert Sheh Appointed Chairman of the Board for Trow Global
R.V. Anderson Associates Limited Maintains its Status as One of Canada’s Best Managed Companies
Coming Events
ACEC Events
April 15-16, 2010
PSMJ Management Bootcamp
Toronto, ON
For more information, please contact the ACEC office at 1-800-565-0569.
May 6-7, 2010
PSMJ Principals Bootcamp
Toronto, ON
For more information, please contact the ACEC office at 1-800-565-0569.
June 23, 2010
ACEC/PSMJ Summit Pre-Event Bootcamp
Business Development and Strategy
St. Andrew’s, NB
For more information, please contact the ACEC office at 1-800-565-0569.
June 24-26, 2010
ACEC Summit
St. Andrew’s, NB
For more information, please contact the ACEC office at 1-800-565-0569.
Other Events
March 24-26, 2010
Globe 2010
International Conference on Climate and Carbon Change
Vancouver, BC
For more information, click here.
March 25, 2010
ENCON 40th Annual Loss Control Seminar
Montreal, QC
For more information, please contact Kathy Olson
at kathy.r.olson@encon.ca or at (613) –780-2000.
March 30, 2010
ENCON 40th Annual Loss Control Seminar
Toronto, ON
For more information, please contact Kathy Olson
at kathy.r.olson@encon.ca or at (613) –780-2000.
Various dates
RedR Canada: Training Courses
For more information, click here.
June 17, 2010
Canadian Water Summit
Toronto, ON
For more information, click here.
June 22-25, 2010
Air & Waste Management Association Annual Conference
Calgary, AB
For more information, click here.
September 19-22, 2010
FIDIC 2010 New Dehli Conference
Vigyan Bhawan, New Dehli
For more information, click here.
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