Canadian communities that grow alongside energy development, manage unique development opportunities. Balancing economic highs and lows, while moving toward a sustainable future for both the community and the energy industry requires vision, tenacity and strong leadership. Canada is fortunate to have a leader like Lori Ackerman who sees the big picture and the local reality and is able to fit the two together for mutual benefit. There is a lot we can learn from Mayor Ackerman, which is why we’re so pleased she is the 2019 Canadian Energy Person of the Year.
Fuel is one of the greatest operating costs for any contractor who owns heavy equipment and/or trucks. Working in a way that can save fuel can end up saving a lot of money.
“To reduce fuel use, you have to know how and when fuel is being wasted,” says William “Bernie” Bernhard, technical and safety services manager for the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM).
Start by examining top fuel usage influencers in off-highway applications. “Machines equipped with telematics can provide actionable data by tracking dozens of data points so that workers can gain valuable insights to help save fuel,” says Bernhard.
Oct 9, 2019 - 6 years ago
The Canadian trucking industry employs about 320,000 commercial vehicle operators across Canada – the vast majority of whom work for fleets that have excellent training, fleet management and health and safety programs. Although the vast majority of the professional men and women who work in trucking have excellent training, fleet management and health and safety programs and have made successful careers while enjoying the benefits of living and working in the greatest country in the world, there are, unfortunately, some carriers throughout all of Canada – from every culture – who do not follow all the rules governing the trucking sector, such as health and safety, environmental, and equipment maintenance regulations. These non-compliant carriers are the same companies that are abusing drivers – robbing these hard-working individuals of the rewarding career experience enjoyed by thousands of Canadians (as highlighted by the growing number of fleets in Trucking HR Canada’s Top Fleet Employers Program).
As a national body, we at the Canadian Trucking Alliance (CTA) are embarrassed by the actions of a small element of our sector that engage and build a business model around violating and circumventing rules governing our sector. CTA believes we must change the enforcement dialogue to address such carriers. Work is ongoing with various levels of governments to bring about this change – but change cannot come fast enough for the CTA membership and, no doubt, the Canadian public who share the road with these fleets that show a complete disregard for public safety and the human dignity of the hard-working immigrants looking to make a better life in Canada.
So, what can we do? The answer is not to stop federal/provincial immigration programs. There are too many commercial drivers going through various programs that are employed by legally compliant and ethically responsible carriers who are facing a driver shortage. The reality is that Canadian demographic rates can no longer sustain our economy – 71 per cent of our population growth and over 90 per cent of labour market growth is due to immigration. As the dominant freight mode and the backbone of Canada’s economy, the trucking and logistics sector has, worryingly, one of the highest job vacancy rates at 6.6 per cent. Currently there are more than 20,000 unfilled truck driver positions in Canada – more than double the vacancies just three years ago, in 2016. If the trucks don’t keep moving, the economy will simply grind to a halt.
Oct 7, 2019 - 6 years ago

Tidewater Midstream and Infrastructure Ltd. ("Tidewater" or the "Company") (TSX: TWM) is pleased to announce that it has entered into a purchase and sale agreement ("PSA") to acquire Husky Energy Inc.'s ("Husky") light oil refinery located at Prince George, British Columbia ("B.C.") (the "Acquisition") thereby expanding Tidewater's liquids value chain.
The Prince George Refinery ("PGR") is a 12.0 Mbbl/d light oil refinery that predominantly produces low sulfur diesel and gasoline, in addition to other products, to supply the greater Prince George region. PGR has significant onsite storage capacity of greater than 1.0 MMbbl and flexible logistics, with pipeline, rail and truck connectivity in place. The Prince George region is generally in short supply of refined products. The PGR's location within the Prince George region makes it a critical piece of infrastructure with a significant logistical advantage to address the demand for these products.
Oct 4, 2019 - 6 years ago
Thirteen B.C. communities are leading the nation as they adopt innovative and safe mass timber technology for taller wood buildings that are faster to build, better for the environment and create new jobs and opportunities for forest communities in the province.
“Building with B.C. wood is good for people, communities, our economy and our climate. It will create thousands of jobs, reduce carbon pollution and support forest-dependent communities,” said Premier John Horgan. “These 13 communities will help us get there faster.”
The following communities, and the University of British Columbia, have signed on to become early adopters to bring mass timber technology for buildings up to 12 storeys:
Sep 26, 2019 - 6 years ago