Construction Economist Journal - Winter 2011

t h e j o u r n a l o f t h e c a n a d i a n i n s t i t u t e o f q u a n t i t y s u r v e yo r s

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W i n t e r 2 011

CIQS recognizes Ontario accredited programs

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• Newfoundland hosting 53rd CIQS AGM - July 2012 • Meet Your CIQS Council • Construction Cost Index Report

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the journal of the canadian institute of quantity surveyors

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Winter 2011

The mission of CIQS is to promote and advance professional quantity surveying and construction estimating; to establish and maintain national standards; to recruit, educate and support our members.

Canadian Institute of Quantity Surveyors 90 Nolan Court, Unit 19, Markham, Ontario L3R 4L9 Telephone: (905) 477-0008 Fax: (905) 477-6774 Toll Free 1-866-345-1168 Email: info@ciqs.org Web Site: www.ciqs.org Executive Director: Lois Metcalfe Email: execdir@ciqs.org

9

Apply for CIQS subsidy for 16th PAQS Congress in Brunei 2012

Editor: Joshua Mutize, PQS Email: conecon@ciqs.org

12

CCA and CIQS sign Certification Agreement

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Introducing CIQS Council

Translation: André Bernard, ECA

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Newfoundland hosting 53rd CIQS AGM - July 2012

Send Change of Address to: Canadian Institute of Quantity Surveyors 90 Nolan Court, Unit 19, Markham, Ontario L3R 4L9

18

CIQS recognizes Ontario accredited programs

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Construction Cost Index report

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Automating the takeoff and estimating process

CIQS Council President & NLAQS Rep: Roy Lewis, PQS(F) Email: president@ciqs.org 1st Vice President, Secretary/Treasurer & QSBC Rep Mark Russell, PQS(F) Email: qsbc@ciqs.org 2nd Vice President & NSAQS Rep Mark Gardin, PQS(F) Email: nsaqs@ciqs.org Registrar & OIQS Rep Jeff Logan, PQS Email: oiqs@ciqs.org AQSA Rep Dave Burns, PQS Email: aqsa@ciqs.org

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AEQSQ Rep Bertin Bois, CEC Email: aeqsq@ciqs.org

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Past President Hervé Couture, ECA Education Administrator David Lai, PQS(F) Email: education@ciqs.org Statements of fact and opinion expressed are those of the authors and CIQS assumes no responsibility for the content, nor do they represent official policy of CIQS.

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Published four times a year on behalf of the Canadian Institute of Quantity Surveyors by

Third Floor - 2020 Portage Avenue Winnipeg, Manitoba R3J 0K4 Tel: 866-985-9780 Fax: 866-985-9799 Email: info@kelman.ca www.kelman.ca Managing Editor: Chris Kelman Art Production: Vadim Brodsky Marketing Manager: Kris Fillion kfillion@kelman.ca 866-985-9798 Advertising Coordinator: Lauren Campbell Publication Mails Agreement #40065075 Send undeliverable addresses to: kelly@kelman.ca

4 President’s message 5 Congratulations 6 Executive Director’s message 7 Editor’s message

10 CPD Corner 19 Welcome new members 27 CIQS Affiliated Association reports

President’s Message

See you on the ‘Rock’ Royston P. Lewis, PQS(F) ell here we all are – I am half way through my term as President and you are all by now well into 2012 and working hard to burn off the excesses of the 2011 Festive Season. I hope it is not too late to wish you all Season’s Greetings.

As I write this message what comes immediately to mind is the time and hard work put in by my colleagues on the National Council. We are in the midst of great change at National Council and deeply involved in the rebranding of the Institute. So much is affected by this and we have to be careful our deliberations are ever mindful of the consequences of our decisions. Taking the December Council Meeting in Toronto as an example, Council arrived on Thursday evening (most in the late afternoon/ early evening); manned our booth at Construct Canada on Friday morning; attended the Ontario Colleges ceremony in the afternoon and took part in a last minute ad-hoc Council Meeting in the evening. Saturday was an 8:00am to 6:00pm session and Sunday an 8:00am to 1:00pm

“We are in the midst of great change at National Council and deeply involved in the re-branding of the Institute.” session where Council worked through almost 120 pages of documents, reports and papers – all related to matters which directly affect you, our Members.

Between our quarterly meetings, Council operates on a continuing basis through email dialogue and the preparation and review of working discussion papers. These are not small tasks and everything is undertaken and delivered in a professional manner. Along with this volunteer effort we have the engine room of the Institute – Lois and Ishrat, who keep everything going and are ever present to provide help and guidance. Add to this the replicated tasks at the Affiliates and Chapters and we have accumulated a sizeable piece of real effort. October

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4 | Construction Economist | www.ciqs.org | Winter 2011

and November are the months of Thanksgiving in North America and I take this time to congratulate and thank all who work tirelessly for the Institute both at the National and Affiliate levels. I am proud to be associated with you.

I mentioned the Ontario Colleges ceremony earlier in my message and once again I was privileged to represent our Institute at the presentation of the official accreditation certificates to each of our associated colleges.

I was proud of our continuing high academic standards and of our connections with college academia - and at the same time I was humbled by the memories of those certified professionals who took the time to mentor me during my early days as a Building Management Trainee.

I asked myself the question – what am I doing to mentor a student or recent graduate? Am I doing enough? I am not satisfied personally with my own answer are you? Let us all take the time in 2012 to reach out to a student; a new graduate or a newly arrived Canadian - we will be a better Institute; better professionals and better people as a result.

To conclude, there is just one more Council meeting (in Markham) before our AGM in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador. I encourage as many of you as possible to take time out of your busy schedules to come and enjoy all that the ‘Rock’ has to offer. If you want to present a paper at one of our seminars – then all the better. If you just want to come and have some fun that would be just peachy.

See you there!

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Message du Président

Voyez - vous sur le ‘Rock’ ous y voilà de nouveau : je suis rendu à mi-terme de mon mandat de président et vous êtes tous bien installés en 2012, travaillant fort à brûler les excès de calories accumulées durant le temps des Fêtes. J’espère qu’il n’est pas trop tard pour vous présenter mes Meilleurs Voeux en cette période des Fêtes.

Ce qui me vient à l’esprit, alors que je compose ce message, c’est le temps consacré et le travail assidu fourni par mes collègues du Conseil.

Nous sommes en cours d’importants changements au Conseil national et grandement impliqués à refaire l’image de marque de l’Institut. Tant de choses sont affectées par cette opération que nous devons prendre soin d’avoir à l’esprit les conséquences de nos décisions. Prenons pour exemple la réunion du Conseil de décembre à Toronto : arrivés jeudi soir (fin d’après-midi /début de soirée) les membres du Conseil étaient présents à notre kiosque à «Contruct Canada» le vendredi matin; assistaient à la cérémonie des Collèges de l’Ontario dans l’après-midi et participaient à une réunion ad-hoc du Conseil dans la soirée, àa des sessions de 08:00 à 18:00 heures samedi et de 08:00 à 13:00 heures le dimanche, sessions au cours desquelles le Conseil a passé

en revue près de 120 pages de documents, de rapports et autres dossiers – tous se rapportant à des sujets qui touchent directement nos membres.

Entre nos rencontres trimestrielles, le Conseil opère de façon continue via des échanges de courriels et la préparation et la revue de documents de travail pour fins de discussion. Ce ne sont pas là de petites tâches et tout est entrepris et accompli de manière professionnelle. Nous sommes soutenus tout au long de ces efforts de volontaires par le moteur de l’Institut – Lois et Ishrat – qui font tout pour que le bon fonctionnement de l’Institut et qui sont toujours là pour nous aider et nous guider. Ajoutons à tout ceci le doublement des tâches au niveau des Affiliés et Chapitres et nous avons accumulé un imposant morceau d’effort réel. Octobre et novembre sont les mois de l’Action de Grâces en Amérique du Nord et je profite de l’occasion pour féliciter et remercier tous et chacun qui oeuvrent sans relâche pour l’Institut tant au niveau national qu’à celui des Affiliés. Je suis fier d’être associé avec vous.

J’ai mentionné plus tôt la cérémonie des Collèges de l’Ontario et une fois de plus j’ai eu le privilège de représenter l’Institut à la présentation des certificats d’accréditation à chacun des Collèges

associés. J’étais fier de nos standards académiques élevés et de nos relations avec le milieu académique collégial.

C’est avec humilité que je me rappelle que ces professionnels certifiés ont pris le temps d’être mes mentors durant mes premières années comme stagiaire en gestion de projets de bâtiments. Je me suis demandé si j’agissais comme mentor pour un étudiant ou un nouveau diplômé? Estce que j’en fais assez? Je ne suis pas satisfait de ma réponse – l’êtes-vous ?

Prenons du temps en 2012 pour intéresser un étudiant ; un nouveau diplômé ou un nouvel arrivant au Canada – il en résultera que nous serons ainsi un meilleur Institut ; de meilleurs professionnels et de meilleures personnes.

En concluant, il ne reste qu’une réunion du Conseil (à Markham) avant la prochaine AGA à St-John, Terre-Neuve et Labrador. J’encourage le plus grand nombre à réserver du temps dans vos calendriers déjà bien remplis pour venir y participer et profiter de tout ce que le «Rocher» a à offrir. Si vous désirez faire une présentation à l’un de nos séminaires – alors c’est tant mieux. Si seulement participer et avoir du plaisir vous convient mieux, ce sera très bien ainsi.

Au plaisir de vous y voir!

Congratulations to the following members who have qualified as a PQS or CEC: OIQS James Dineen, PQS Xiao Mei Qian, PQS Roy Rabanal, CEC Johan van Zyl, PQS Stephen Walo, PQS Yong Zeng, PQS Ying Nan Zhang, PQS

AEQSQ Line Binet, PQS Michel Deslauriers, CEC Xuming Jian, CEC Éric Rioux, CEC Simon Vallée, CEC Patrick Vallerand, PQS

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QSBC Gareth David, PQS Paul Mitchell, PQS Jeannie Simmons, CEC

CIQS Ayodeji Ojo, PQS Jegede Oladele, PQS Parathan Rajeswaran, CEC

Winter 2011 | Construction Economist | www.ciqs.org | 5

Executive Director’s Message

Rebranding and the changes to come Lois Metcalfe, CIQS Executive Director here has been much ‘buzz’ recently about re-branding the Canadian Institute of Quantity Surveyors.

The process is evolving and you will continue to see many initiatives unveiled over the next year or so.

Although selecting the new logo for CIQS was difficult, I believe that was the easy part and now the hard work has begun. You will see all our stationary, literature, including the Construction Economist, redesigned to incorporate our new image but the largest project on our agenda will be a new website and change in the names of the affiliated associations.

The plan is that the six affiliated associations will change their names to reflect a common theme as research indicated that the current names of the affiliates appear to be problematic and bear no relationship to each other.

These are the proposed changes: • Ontario Institute of Quantity Surveyors will become the Canadian Institute of Quantity Surveyors – Ontario • Quantity Surveyors of British Columbia will become the Canadian Institute of Quantity Surveyors – British Columbia

•

Association of Quantity Surveyors of Alberta will become Canadian Institute of Quantity Surveyors – Prairies and Northwest Territories • Association of Quantity Surveyors of Quebec will become – Canadian Institute of Quantity Surveyors – Quebec • Nova Scotia Association of Quantity Surveyors will become Canadian Institute of Quantity Surveyors – Maritimes • Newfoundland and Labrador Association of Quantity Surveyors will become Canadian Institute of Quantity Surveyors – Newfoundland and Labrador CIQS and all affiliates will also use the same logo. This will show a strong, unified, cohesive group all related to each other. It is important for members to note that there will not be any changes to duties and responsibilities of CIQS or the affiliated associations.

Each affiliated association is at different stages in the process of changing their names. Some affiliates have already had their

annual general or special meeting with instructions from their members to change their name, other affiliates have meetings in the near future to change their names.

If you have any questions or concerns about these initiatives, please do not hesitate to contact us at the CIQS Head Office or a member of CIQS Council. We would be happy to answer any of your questions.

As you read this message, the holiday season will be over and we will be starting a new year.

I hope you enjoyed your holiday with family and friends. May 2012 be happy and prosperous for each member and their families.

“The process is evolving and you will continue to see many initiatives unveiled over the next year or so.”

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6 | Construction Economist | www.ciqs.org | Winter 2011

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Editor’s Message

Joshua Mutize, PQS Construction Economist Editor hope this edition of our magazine finds each of you having enjoyed the holiday season with your loved ones.

Everyone is eagerly waiting for positive economic indicators for 2012 that can be used to predict how much volume of construction work is going to be in 2012, how many new jobs created and how much money the banks will be willing to lend for construction. I, like many of you, have been clicking away at fiscal economic reports on the internet almost daily. In this issue, you will find an article on Price Index compiled by Statistics Canada. I am excited that the report seems to suggest that construction industry is still healthy and is projected to keep growing in 2012 and beyond. As you know, our profession had undergone tremendous challenges in 2010/11. Many construction workers lost their jobs, homes and retirement accounts.

During 2011, we have seen some positive recovery and in 2012 we will begin to see many companies ramping up their project backlog once again.

“I would like to share with you my experience with the CIQS Council members.”

In this issue’s column, I would like to share with you my experience with the CIQS Council members. Having been on Council for over four years, I want you to know what it means to be ‘dedicated, positive and professional.’

This Council and previous Council members are an excellent example of the most dedicated, positive and professional people I have ever had the pleasure of associating with. They have a genuine interest in better education, member professional growth and taking a decisive leadership role in the construction industry.

While at this past Council meeting in Toronto, I was sitting with David Lai and Lois Metcalfe, and David shared a story about a young man that he was mentoring for many years and he saw him through college.

Upon the completion of his degree,

the young man landed a high paying quantity surveying job straight from college! This is one story of many that shows how CIQS Council members continue their dedication to education and strong mentoring programs.

I invite you to read the article in this issue titled Canadian Institute of Quantity Surveyors recognizes Ontario accredited programs. The article is about the Canadian Institute of Quantity Surveyors Council and Ontario Institute of Quantity Surveyors celebrating the recognition of six Ontario educational institutes. The event was held at the Radisson Hotel in Toronto on December 2, 2011.

CIQS Council continues its endeavour in International partnerships with other professional boards in different countries. In this issue, there is an article on the upcoming Pacific Association of Quantity Surveyors (PAQS) congress. Please do not miss this great opportunity to attend the 16th PAQS Congress in Brunei, Darussalam in July 2012. CIQS is subsidizing up to five members for their registration fees. See more details about this in the article.

Wishing you happy holidays and much success in 2012!

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Winter 2011 | Construction Economist | www.ciqs.org | 7

16

Association of Quantity Surveyors Congress

th

July 7-10, 2012

Pacific

Brunei, Darussalam

The theme of the congress is Innovation and Sustaining: Challenges and Opportunities.

• Innovating - continuously developing and improving, adapting and always versatile and dynamic • Sustaining - vital to adapt and remain relevant to changing market requirements • Challenges - changing aspirations of stakeholders, emergence of new technologies, ever changing environment • Opportunities - the silver lining behind every cloud PAQS, through its member organizations and individual memberships, strives to provide better services to their customers who run across various industries and countries by setting standards for best practices and maintaining superior performances.

Therefore, PAQS promotes product and service innovations that focus on the use of technologies, methodologies and systems efficiently, effectively and economically.

The theme Innovating and Sustaining: Challenges and Opportunities has been selected in this conference to provide an excellent platform for the PAQS practitioners and other stakeholders to present, to discuss, to share and get up to date with the best practices and the latest trends in the profession. It will also be an opportune time to look at the QS profession as a whole in a critical manner and look into ways of overcoming challenges and increasing demands including awareness on the need to expand our capacities to take up the opportunities that will come with all these challenges.

Call for papers

Abstracts and papers are to be submitted electronically as a file attachment to the Secretariat at sec.sd@puja-brunei.org.

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Hosted by Surveying Division of PUJA (B)

Deadlines for submissions

Abstracts must be received on or before March 1, 2012.

Papers must be received on or before May 1, 2012.

Registration and notifications of status of submissions

All paper presenters must register for the congress upon acceptance of their abstract(s) with the PAQS secretariat.

Presenters will be notified of the status of their submissions by March 31, 2012.

For complete details regarding program, registration, accommodation and visa requirements please visit www.paqs2012.com.

CIQS have agreed to subsidize up to five members for their registration fees for members in good standing for this Congress. To apply for the subsidy, members are required to submit a copy of their paid registration to execdir@ciqs.org no later than May 15, 2012.

PAQS-Iwata Foundation Essay Competition The Pacific Association of Quantity Surveyors (PAQS) established the PAQS - Iwata Foundation for the purpose of promoting the QS profession and the professional development of young quantity surveyors in the PAQS region. This competition is a written paper on a topic to be selected by the PAQS Board and the winner is sponsored to attend the PAQS congress

by PAQS. All young quantity surveyors in Canada are eligible (young is defined as under 40 years of age). As soon as the details are known CIQS will announce the competition electronically to all members.

Winter 2011 | Construction Economist | www.ciqs.org | 9

CPD Corner

Council voted to implement new CPD Declaration form t the September 2011 Council meeting, Council voted unanimously to change the process for recording CPD when renewing membership annually. In 2012, members will be introduced to a CPD Declaration that must be completed in order to finalize the payment process.

Currently, there are two options for members to renew annually, either online or by mail. When members have renewed online in the past, they were asked if they completed CPD, if the answer was yes, members could continue with the renewal process and complete

“Currently, there are two options for members to renew annually, either online or by mail.” their renewal. If they answered no, they were unable to proceed with the renewal payment process. For mail-ins, members were required to submit their CPD form for before payment was processed. If the CPD form was not provided, the member was contacted by CIQS and the

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cheque was not cashed until the member submitted their CPD form.

This process has now changed slightly. Although the two options for renewing still remain in effect, the CPD requirement has been modified. For online renewals, members will be required to complete the CPD Declaration form online prior to proceeding to the payment portion. For mailins, the CPD Declaration must be submitted to CIQS before payment is processed (meaning a hard copy of the CPD Declaration must be received by CIQS).

It is important to note that members are no longer required to provide their CPD forms at renewal but this does not mean members are not required to complete the form. For the purposes of the CPD Audit, all members are required to maintain all CPD documentation (including the CPD form) for a period of two years, in the event of the member has been selected for the Audit.

The CPD Declaration also has exemptions for: members in their initial year, newly retired members, unemployed members, parental/maternity/special care, medical leave and other extraordinary circumstances.

Under the Oxford Dictionary, the term declaration means: the action of setting forth or announcing openly, explicitly or formally; positive statement or assertion. CIQS is a professional organization and its members have specific requirements in order to maintain membership.

By having a CPD Declaration, CIQS ensures its members are complying with the CPD program as a requirement for membership.

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CPD Corner

In other news

2011 Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Declaration Form Please complete this mandatory Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Declaration and return it

by April 30, 2012. It is important to retain CPD records for a minimum of 2 years to support your CPD declaration. This documentation must be submitted when renewing membership annually.

Name (please print): ____________________________________ MEMBER DECLARATION Please select from one of the three of the following categories:

COMPLY

I COMPLY with the 2011 CPD requirements. I have completed a minimum of 50 points of CPD.

EXEMPT

Sa m pl e

“This process has now changed slightly. Although the two options for renewing still remain in effect, the CPD requirement has been modified.”

The CPD Audit for 2010 will be underway shortly. In early January 2012, letters will be randomly sent to 5% of the qualified members. Members have 30 days to submit their documentation. The expectations for Audit submissions would include: 2010 CPD form completed and signed, copies of certificates and diplomas for courses attended, presentations developed by the member, articles written by the member or a brief description of informal activities where no documentation is available. If members read articles, please do not submit the articles read but provide a list of articles read.

And remember, the minimum 50 points was in effect in 2010.

I claim EXEMPTION from the 2011 CPD requirements, due to:

Initial Year – I am in the initial year of qualified membership.

Retired – I retired from full-time employment, full-time practice or full-time business activity in 2011.

Maternity/Parenting/Family Care – I did not work and was not involved in any professional activity as a PQS or CEC for a total of 6 months or more between January 1, 2011 to December 31, 2011 in order to provide full-time care to either my child(ren) who were under the age of 18 or for an elderly or ill family member.

Unemployment – I did not work for a total of 6 months or more between January 1, 2011 and December 31, 2011.

Medical Leave – I did not work and was not involved in any professional activity as a PQS or CEC for a total of 6 months or more between January 1, 2011 and December 31, 2011. A letter from a physician confirming the diagnosis and prognosis, or other such confirmation that I was not employed due to medical reasons during that time period (e.g. letter from employer or disability claim form) is required and can be sent by mail or emailed to info@ciqs.org.

Other – I had extraordinary circumstances between January 1, 2011 and December 31, 2011 and am requesting an exemption on compassionate grounds. A letter is required and can be sent to CIQS by mail or by email to info@ciqs.org.

DO NOT COMPLY

I DO NOT COMPLY with the CPD requirements in 2011. I plan to meet the mandatory CPD requirements and I understand that I have 14 days to file in writing, an action plan describing how I plan to comply.

I understand that the Institute may request additional information to support my CPD Declaration and I have maintained records of my CPD activities that will be made available upon request. I declare that the information contained on this form is true and complete.

Member Signature:________________________________ Dated:__________________ Mark Gardin, PQS CPD Lead

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Winter 2011 | Construction Economist | www.ciqs.org | 11

CCA and CIQS

sign Certification Agreement

N

ew arrangement allows CIQS members and Gold Seal Certificate holders to pursue dual certification A new certification agreement between the Canadian Construction Association (CCA) and the Canadian Institute of Quantity Surveyors (CIQS) allows for cross pollination of both Associations’ Members and more importantly recognises the importance of gaining currency in professional associations. CIQS, through its certification standards, will provide a path for CCA Members to further their ambitions and pursue certification as an internationally recognised best-in-class construction professional.

“We are very excited to have signed a new certification agreement with CIQS, which expands on the relationship we previously had with the Institute,” said Barry Brown, Chair of the Gold Seal Committee and President of Maple Leaf Construction. “This arrangement allows CIQS Members to access Gold Seal Certification, and CCA Members to access CIQS professional certification, both of which ultimately promote excellence in the management of construction.”

The new certification agreement between the Canadian Construction Association was signed on October 26 and reflects an ongoing commitment to grow and expand the Gold Seal Certification program. For Gold Seal, it opens the door for a broader range of eligible applicants, while CIQS members are given access to one of the construction industry’s premiere certification programs.

“In the case of Gold Seal, many of our members know that Gold Seal is a compatible certification to their existing professional designation(s) and that it is recognition of excellence in the construction industry,” said Roy Lewis, President of CIQS. “We are pleased to be a part of this certification agreement and to provide both CCA and CIQS Membership(s) with the value-added benefits of pursuing recognised Professional Certification.”

This new certification agreement also establishes a framework for any future agreements that Gold Seal may pursue. It is another way to grow the Gold Seal Certification program, which has already certified more than 8,000 construction industry professionals.

The new arrangement also comes on the heels of a rebranding effort for both CIQS and Gold Seal. Recently, the Gold Seal Committee identified increased awareness and attracting new applicants as key components of its strategic plan, while CIQS acknowledges the same.

“We have been working very hard and diligently to achieve what we set out to do with our strategic plan,” Brown added. “Gold Seal staff has played a very important role in this process, and we are creating a stronger Gold Seal Certification program because of their hard work. Thanks to agreements such as this, we should continue to see growth in the years to come.”

12 | Construction Economist | www.ciqs.org | Winter 2011

Back Row (left to right): Lois Metcalfe, Executive Director, Canadian Institute of Quantity Surveyors, Jeff Logan, PQS, Registrar and OIQS Representative on the CIQS Council, Stephanie Wallace, Manager, Gold Seal Certification Program, Canadian Construction Association, Michael Atkinson, President, Canadian Construction Association Front Row (left to right): David Lai, PQS (F), Education Administrator, Canadian Institute of Quantity Surveyors, Roy Lewis, PQS (F), President, Canadian Institute of Quantity Surveyors, Dee Miller, National Chair, Canadian Construction Association, Barry Brown, Chair, Gold Seal Committee Also present, but not pictured: Ian Duncan, PQS (F), Past President, Canadian Institute of Quantity Surveyors

“This arrangement allows CIQS Members to access Gold Seal Certification, and CCA Members to access CIQS professional certification, both of which ultimately promote excellence in the management of construction.”

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L’ACC et l’ICÉC

concluent une entente de certification

Roy Lewis, President of the Canadian Institute of Quantity Surveyors and Dee Miller, Chair, Canadian Construction Association signing the agreement

« Cette entente permet aux membres de l’ICÉC d’avoir accès à la certification du Sceau d’or et aux membres de l’ACC d’obtenir la certification professionnelle de l’ICÉC, soit deux certifications axées sur l’excellence en gestion de la construction. »

U

ne nouvelle entente permet aux candidats à la certification de l’ICÉC et détenteurs du Sceau d’or d’obtenir une double certification L’Association canadienne de la construction (ACC) et l’Institut canadien des économistes en construction (ICÉC) ont conclu une nouvelle entente qui permet aux membres de ces deux associations d’obtenir une certification réciproque et qui, surtout, reconnaît l’importance de la certification

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décernée par des associations professionnelles.

L’ICÉC, grâce à ses normes de certification, ouvre la voie aux membres de l’ACC qui souhaitent poursuivre leurs ambitions professionnelles et obtenir une certification en tant que professionnel de la construction reconnu à l’échelle internationale. « Nous sommes heureux d’avoir conclu une nouvelle entente de certification avec l’ICÉC, laquelle vient appuyer la relation que nous avions auparavant avec l’Institut, a déclaré Barry Brown, président du Comité du Sceau d’or et président de Maple Leaf Construction. Cette entente permet aux membres de l’ICÉC d’avoir accès à la certification du Sceau d’or et aux membres de l’ACC d’obtenir la certification professionnelle de l’ICÉC, soit deux certifications axées sur l’excellence en gestion de la construction. » Cette nouvelle entente de certification a été signée le 26 octobre et reflète un engagement continu à vouloir élargir et développer le programme de certification du Sceau d’or. Cette entente donne la possibilité au Sceau d’or d’augmenter le nombre de candidats admissibles à la certification Sceau d’or et permet aux membres de l‘ICÉC d’avoir accès à un programme de certification reconnu dans d’industrie de la construction. « Bon nombre de nos membres savent que le Sceau d’or est une certification compatible avec leur titre professionnel existant et que la certification du Sceau d’or est un symbole d’excellence dans l’industrie de la construction, a précisé Roy Lewis, président de l’ICÉC. Nous sommes ravis d’avoir conclu cette entente et d’avoir la possibilité d’offrir aux membres de l’ACC et de l’ICÉC les avantages à valeur ajoutée que leur procure une certification professionnelle reconnue. » L’entente établit aussi un cadre qui servira à toute future entente que le Sceau d’or souhaite poursuivre. Il s’agit d’une autre façon d’appuyer l’essor du programme de certification du Sceau d’or, lequel compte déjà plus de 8 000 professionnels de l’industrie de la construction.

La nouvelle entente fait suite aussi au lancement de nouveaux sites Web et d’initiatives visant le renouvellement de l’image de marque de l’ICÉC et du Sceau d’or.

Récemment, le Comité du Sceau d’or a établi deux éléments clés dans son plan stratégique, soit accroître la sensibilisation à l’importance de la certification et attirer de nouveaux candidats, et l’ICÉC reconnaît ces mêmes enjeux. « Nous avons travaillé avec diligence pour atteindre les objectifs établis dans notre plan stratégique, a ajouté M. Brown. Le personnel responsable du Sceau d’or a joué un rôle très important à cet égard et, grâce à leur travail sans relâche, le programme de certification du Sceau d’or est encore plus fort que jamais. Des ententes comme celle-ci contribueront sans doute à favoriser la croissance du Sceau d’or au cours des prochaines années. » Winter 2011 | Construction Economist | www.ciqs.org | 13

Introducing CIQS Council

Front row left to right –

Second row left to right –

Mark Russell, PQS(F), 1st Vice President, Secretary/ Treasurer, QSBC representative and Chair of the Publications Committee. Mark is a Principal in LEC Quantity Surveying in Vancouver, BC.

Bertin Bois, ECC, AEQSQ representative and Chair of the Web Site/Association Management.

Bert is Estimating Director at Honco Steel Buildings located in Quebec City, QC.

Lois Metcalfe, Executive Director, CIQS.

Joshua Mutize, PQS, Editor of The Construction Economist. Joshua works in the Canada Construction department for Target Corporation based in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Roy Lewis, PQS(F), President, NLAQS representative, Chair of the By-laws, Rules and Regulations, and Legal Committees. Roy is Principal of Cambrian Management Services in St. John’s, NL. Jeff Logan, PQS, Registrar, OIQS representative and Chair of the Membership Committee. Jeff is an Estimator with McKay Cocker Construction in London, ON.

David Lai, PQS(F), Education Administrator.

David is an Associate Director of Turner Townsend CM2R in Toronto, ON.

Ian Duncan, PQS(F), Past President, Co-Chair of the International Relations Committee (Asia) and PAQS representative. Ian is a Principal of Atrium Consultants in Cambridge, ON.

Mark Gardin, PQS, 2nd Vice President, NSAQS representative, Chair of the CPD, Government Initiatives and Business and Long Range Plan Committees. Mark is a Cost Planner for Public Works and Government Services Canada in Halifax, NS.

Hervé Couture, ECA, Immediate Past President, Chair of the Translation Committee and Co-Chair of the International Relations Committee (Europe). Herve is Director of Estimation at Genivar Inc. in Montreal, QC.

Dave Burns, PQS, AQSA representative and Chair of the PR/Marketing Committee. Dave is Principal of Aquarius Building Consultants located in Calgary, AB.

14 | Construction Economist | www.ciqs.org | Winter 2011

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Due to provincial legislation, our auto insurance program is not offered in British Columbia, Manitoba or Saskatchewan. *No purchase required. Contest organized jointly with Security National Insurance Company and open to members, employees and other eligible persons belonging to employer, professional and alumni groups which have an agreement with and are entitled to group rates from the organizers. Contest ends on January 31, 2013. 1 prize to be won. The winner may choose the prize between a Lexus RX 450h with all basic standard features including freight and pre-delivery inspection for a total value of $60,000 or $60,000 in Canadian funds. The winner will be responsible to pay for the sale taxes applicable to the vehicle. Skill-testing question required. Odds of winning depend on number of entries received. Complete contest rules available at www.group.tdinsurance.com/contest. ®/ The TD logo and other trade-marks are the property of The Toronto-Dominion Bank or a wholly-owned subsidiary, in Canada and/or other countries.

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Winter 2011 | Construction Economist | www.ciqs.org | 15

Click Here to Return to Table of Contents Projet : Annonce MMI 2012

Province : Ontario

Épreuve # : 2

Canadian Institute of Quantity Surveyors 53RD Annual General Meeting July 5-8, 2012

Hosted by NLAQS Delta St. John’s 120 New Gower Street St. John`s, NL A1C 6K4

www.deltahotels.com Telephone: (709) 739-6404

Cut off date for reservations: June 1, 2012

Room upgrades may be available upon request and subject to availability.

Congress itinerary Welcome Reception

The Welcome Reception will be hosted by NLAQS and all attendees and their accompanying guest are welcomed.

Depending upon the number of delegates, this event will be held in either the hotel or in an adjacent restaurant.

Technical sessions

The Technical Presentations will be of professional standard and are expected to cover topics relevant to the PQS/CEC disciplines. CIQS Members are encouraged to present paper(s) at the event. The Presentations will be held at the hotel.

Luncheon

The luncheon accompanying the Technical Sessions will be held at the hotel. An appropriate Guest Speaker will be invited to the event.

Dinners

Friday Night – this is an optional event probably to be held at a nearby dinner theatre. NLAQS can organize reservations depending upon the delegates responses.

Saturday Night – this dinner will be held at an adjacent hotel and will feature a traditional Newfoundland boiled dinner. All delegates and accompanying guest are encouraged to participate.

Farewell breakfast

A buffet breakfast will be provided on Sunday morning in the hotel for each delegate and their accompanying guest.

Local hospitality

This will be provided throughout the weekend by the Downtown St. John’s purveyors of victuals and beverages and by all whom you meet during your stay.

16 | Construction Economist | www.ciqs.org | Winter 2011

Quote Group – CIQS Delta Room – Rate $179.00

Being a sponsor of the CIQS Annual General Meeting will showcase your firm and show your support for the CIQS. Each of the following sponsorship levels provides a unique opportunity to market your company.

Gold Level - $1,000.00

• Seminar/Luncheon Sponsor (maximum exposure) • Opportunity to address the audience at seminar/luncheon • Present speaker gift/thank keynote speaker • Table signage • Name on event sponsor board • Name/logo on Power Point display • Your promotional literature will be distributed to all delegates • Name listed in the program and our magazine, the Construction Economist

Silver Level - $500.00

• Reception, AGM, President’s Dinner or Farewell Breakfast Sponsor • Opportunity to address the audience at function being sponsored • Name on event sponsor board • Your promotional literature will be distributed to all delegates • Name listed in the program and our magazine, the Construction Economist

Bronze Level - $250.00

• Your promotional literature will be distributed to all delegates • Company name listed in the program and our magazine, the Construction Economist

Friends of the Institute – Up to $200.00

• Company name listed in the program and our magazine, the Construction Economist

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CIQS AGM Program Registration July 5-8, 2012 Delta St. John’s, Newfoundland Day

Time

Thursday, July 5 Friday, July 6

# Attending Registration Fee

*Registration fee (Members only)

$150.00

9:00 am – 4:00 pm

CIQS Council Meeting (Council only)

N/A

8:30 am – 12:00 pm

Technical session(s)

$50.00

12:00 pm – 2:00 pm

Lunch

$50.00

6:00 pm Saturday, July 7

Event

CIQS Annual General Meeting – members only

No charge

Clive Evans Living Golf Tournament

$TBD

6:00 pm

Dinner

$75.00

8:00 am

Farewell breakfast

No Charge

8:00 am – 12:00 pm 1:30 pm

Sunday, July 8

Open - Dinner Theatre - optional

SPONSORSHIP

GOLD Sponsorship SILVER Sponsorship BRONZE Sponsorship

$1,000.00

FRIEND OF THE INSTITUTE

Up to $200.00

$500.00 $250.00

TOTAL (All taxes and gratuities included) *This registration fee is in addition to the individual event registration fees and is applicable to members only.

Partners are included in the registration fee.

Visa

/ Mastercard

/ Amex

(circle one)

Card #: Expiry Date:

Name on Card:

Authorized Signature: Delegate’s Name:

Partner’s Name:

Address: Telephone and email: ***Please make cheques payable to the Canadian Institute of Quantity Surveyors for this amount only and mail to: CIQS, 90 Nolan Court, Unit 19, Markham, ON L3R 4L9.

Visa / MasterCard payments may be faxed to (905) 477 6774.

Cut off date for registration is May 1, 2012.

(Note cutoff date for hotel reservations is June 1, 2012) Click Here to Return to Table of Contents

Winter 2011 | Construction Economist | www.ciqs.org | 17

Canadian Institute of Quantity Surveyors recognizes Ontario accredited programs

T

he Canadian Institute of Quantity Surveyors and Ontario Institute of Quantity Surveyors celebrated the recognition of six Ontario educational institutes at an event at the Radisson Hotel in Toronto on December 2, 2011.

The programs recognized were ‘fully accredited’ programs which mean they have met all the academic requirements of the CIQS syllabus for architectural and structural professional quantity surveyors.

These 25 subjects range from measurement of construction work to contract administration, construction technology, construction economics and cost planning. Having complied

with the academic requirements, graduates of these programs have only to complete the Test of Professional Experience (diaries and practice problem) in order to become a Professional Quantity Surveyor (PQS). The professional quantity surveying designation or PQS is a nationally and internationally recognized designation and members that hold it are highly regarded for their technical skill and professional aptitude.

Jeff Logan, President of the Ontario Institute of Quantity Surveyors and Roy Lewis, President of the Canadian Institute of Quantity Surveyors presented the awards to the following:

Niagara College, Construction Engineering Technology program

Two additional institutions were also recognized for their programs, but unfortunately accepting college representatives were unable to attend: • George Brown College, Bachelor of Applied Technology – Construction Science and Management • Algonquin College, Civil Engineering Technology CIQS Council Members from all of the affiliate regions were also present to celebrate and congratulate all the recipients.

For further information please contact Lois Metcalfe t 905/477 0008 e execdir@ciqs.org

Ryerson University, Architectural Science program

L to R – Roy Lewis, CIQS President, David Lai, CIQS Education Administrator, Alex Freeman, graduate of Niagara, Jeff Logan, OIQS President

L to R – Roy Lewis, CIQS President, Ashleigh Crofts, Ryerson Student, Dr. Constantine J. Katsanis, Ryerson Professor, Issac Vamatheva, Ryerson Student, Jeff Logan, OIQS President and David Lai, CIQS Education Administrator

Mohawk College, Architectural (Construction and Design option) program

Fanshawe College, Construction Engineering Technology Management program

L to R – Roy Lewis, CIQS President, Kevin Haliuk, Mohawk Professor, Jeff Logan, OIQS President and David Lai, CIQS Education Administrator

L to R – Roy Lewis, CIQS President, Sebastien Armbrister, graduate of Fanshawe, Ralph Lembcke, Fanshawe Professor , Jeff Logan, OIQS President and David Lai, CIQS Education Administrator

18 | Construction Economist | www.ciqs.org | Winter 2011

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New Members The CIQS would like to welcome the following new members (Including Reinstatements): A

Solomon Agbede, Winnipeg, MB Mark Agius, Flynn Canada Ltd, Toronto, ON Sunday Alabi, Lagos, Nigeria Samar Allahham, North York, ON Roxanne Auray, Calgary, AB Luay Azzam, Oldcastle, ON

B

Elilvathany Balathas, Markham, ON Muhammadh Arshath Bazeer, Nintavur, Sri Lanka Francis Beaujault, Pomerleau, Montréal, QC Brahim Bedahouche, Montréal, QC Andrea Bellisomo, Axiom Builders Inc., Coquitlam, BC Samuel Bilow, NorthYork, ON Jean-Pierre Brisson, Strategia Conseil inc., Québec, QC

C

Paul Cann, Port Mc Neill, BC Mark Ceccolini, Sudbury, ON Eddy Charles Romain, Stouffville, ON Xingquan (Sean) Chen, SNCLAVALIN, Markham, ON Adrian Coleman, Davis Langdon, Mississauga, ON

D

Westley Davidson, Altus Group, Vancouver, BC Ravindra Ranjan Dayarathna, Kurunegala, Sri Lanka Jaroslaw Derylo, Net Elecric Ltd., Toronto, ON Fabien Dessureault, Laval, QC Arlo Duffy, L.A. Brayer Industries Ltd., Edmonton, AB Joseph Dy, United Wrecking Inc., Scarborough, ON

F

Janos Farkas, Ibrany, Hungary Shane Flynn, Altus Group, Toronto, ON Pouyan Foroughi, Toronto, ON

L

Billy Lai, CMS Building Consultants Inc., Markham, ON Sherry Lam, Vancouver, BC Chaminda Liyanage, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

Jason Pocock, Graham Construction, Okotoks, AB Skaria Pothen, Clair Randall Smith Pendlebury, Markham, ON

M

Roy Rabanal, V.K.M. Steel Limited, Toronto, ON Hiran Randeniya, Kadawatha, Sri Lanka Cornell Rowe, Skyline Roofing, Calgary, AB André Roy, Groupe André Roy, Montréal, QC

William Mackay, Toronto, ON Gary MacKenzie, SilverLine Group Inc., St. Catharines, ON Kishwer Mallik, Hamilton, ON Amasihemwen Martins, Port Harcourt, Nigeria Gerard McGroggan, Brampton, ON Justin McManus, Acciona Infrastructure Canada Inc., Windsor, ON Manali Mehta, Brampton, ON Matthew Miniotas, Canberra, ACT, Australia Siddique Mohamed, ASCON, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates Maryam Mohammad Amin, East York, ON Shahbaz Mukhtar, Lancashire, United Kingdom

N

Keerthika Nadarajah, Scarborough, ON Hung Chuong Nguyen, Scarborough, ON

O

S

Rey Sasuman, BTY Group, Burnaby, BC Dany Savard, Dany Savard, Burnaby, BC Brian Shedden, Asset Project Managment Inc., Ajax, ON 0rson Smith, Freeport, Bahamas Jason Snider, Toronto, ON Neil Stevenson, Toronto, ON Matt Stewart, London, ON

T

Laurent Thom, Pomerleau inc., Gatineau, QC

V

Sumit Verma, Khetri, India Huong Vu, Toronto, ON

W

Olatunde Oretan, Lagos, Nigeria

P

R

Joachim Parant, Isolation Confort, Montréal, QC Igor Pejicic, Metrolinx/GO Transit, Toronto, ON Celso Pereira-Pena, Castlewall Marble and Tile, Toronto, ON Ashley Perry, Vancouver, BC t-303.pdf 1 Construction 11-12-15 8:14 AM Lance Plamondon, Ledcor Limited, Saskatoon, SK

Nalin Walisundara, Maharagama, Sri Lanka Adrian Walsh, Concosts, Vancouver, ON Sagara Weeratunga, Markham, ON Patrick Wheeler, Newman Bros. Limited, St. Catharines, ON Andrew White, Aurora, ON Nelson Wong, WEQ Britco LP, Vancouver, BC

G

Stéphane Gagnon, Pomerleau inc., Gatineau, QC Jeffrey Gaudet, Marco Maritimes Limited, Halifax, NS Daniel Gonzalez, Mississauga, ON Jean-François Gosselin, Pomerleau Inc., Val-des-Monts, QC

H

Keith Ho, Toronto, ON Sean (Xu Ren) Hou, Whitemud Ironworks Group Inc., Vancouver, BC

I

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J

Ahmed Jabri, Toronto, ON Chris Johnson, Nagercoil, TX, India Brady Jonker, Paris, ON

K

James Keane, Altus Group, Toronto, ON

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winter 2011 | Construction Economist | www.ciqs.org | 19

Construction Cost Index

Industrial Product Price Index, selected Construction Materials Series “The four largest quarterly price changes among the main commodities used in construction were all increases.”

In

the second quarter of 2011, the four largest quarterly price changes among the main commodities used in construction were all increases: one in the mechanical group, one in the architectural group, one in the ‘other’ group and one in the structural group. The largest increase was in pipe fittings, rubber or plastic (+6.9%), followed by carpets in rolls (+5.8%), diesel fuel (+4.7%) and sheet, strip and plate, carbon steel, hot rolled (+4.1%).

After declines in the last three quarters, the prices of pipe fittings, rubber or plastic, rose 6.9% in the second quarter of 2011. Prices decreased 2.5% in the third quarter, no change in the fourth quarter of 2010 and fell 1.8% in the first quarter of 2011.

The prices of carpets in rolls, which had not advanced in the previous two quarters, climbed 5.8% in the second quarter of 2011.

The price of diesel fuel was up for a third consecutive quarter (+4.7%).

However, the increase was not as large as in the previous two quarters, where the price of diesel fuel rose 13.5% in the first quarter of 2011 and 13.7% in the fourth quarter of 2010.

Prices for sheet, strip and plate carbon steel, hot rolled, advanced 4.1% in the second quarter of 2011, after rising 4.1% in the first quarter of 2011 and falling 4.2% in the fourth quarter of 2010.

The four largest year-over-year changes among the main commodities used in construction were an increase in the ‘other’ group and three decreases: two in the architectural group and one

in the structural group. The changes were in diesel fuel (+33.4%), plywood softwood excluding Douglas fir (-20.4%), plywood Douglas fir (-16.0%) and particleboard and waferboard (-12.0%).

Posting its sixth consecutive yearover-year increase, the price of diesel fuel continued to climb, with a 33.4% jump in the second quarter of 2011.

Year-over-year comparisons of the price of diesel fuel in 2010 showed steady quarterly increases, with gains of 17.1% in the first quarter, 16.1% in the second quarter, 7.2% in the third quarter and 12.9% in the fourth quarter. In the first quarter of 2011, the price increased by 25.7% on a year-over-year basis.

On a year-over-year basis over the last 12 months, prices for plywood softwood excluding Douglas fir were down for a fourth consecutive quarter, having fallen 12.8% in the third quarter of 2010, 8.4% in the fourth quarter of 2010, 10.4 % in the first quarter of 2011 and 20.4% in the second quarter of 2011.

Prices for plywood Douglas fir also declined, on a year-over-year basis, for a fourth consecutive quarter, with a 16.0% drop in the second quarter of 2011. Prices had fallen 13.6% and 3.8%, respectively, in the third and fourth quarters of 2010, and 6.2% in the first quarter of 2011.

Particleboard and waferboard prices were down on a year-over-year basis for a third consecutive quarter, with decreases of 2.1% in the fourth quarter of 2010, 3.4% in the first quarter of 2011 and 12.0% in the second quarter of 2011.

20 | Construction Economist | www.ciqs.org | Winter 2011

Construction Union Wage Rates Index In the second quarter of 2011, the Canada Total Construction Union Wage Rates Index (including supplements) increase by 0.6% compared with the previous quarter.

It was 1.6% higher compared with the second quarter of 2010.

On a regional basis, the index for the Quebec Region registered the highest quarterly change (+1.6%), followed by the Atlantic Region (+1.0%), the Ontario Region (+0.5%) and the Prairie Region (+0.3%). Only the British Columbia Region remained unchanged from the previous quarter.

New Housing Price Index The New Housing Price Index (2007=100) increased 0.8% in the second quarter of 2011, up from the previous quarterly increase of 0.7%.

Québec (+0.6%), Ontario (+1.5%), the Prairie Region (+0.2%) and British Columbia (+0.4%) all posted increases, while the Atlantic Region remained unchanged from the last quarter.

Charlottetown (+1.0%) posted the only increase in the Atlantic Region in the second quarter. The primary reason for the increase was higher land development costs. The metropolitan areas of Saint John, Fredericton and Moncton (-0.2%) as well as St. John’s (-0.1%) posted decreases while Halifax remained unchanged from last quarter.

In Montréal (+0.9%), prices increased in the second quarter, as a result of good market conditions.

Québec (-0.1%) registered a decrease due to lower land development costs.

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Construction Cost Index

Competitive market conditions as well as increased material and labour costs contributed to the increases in Ontario in the second quarter. The metropolitan regions of Toronto and Oshawa (+1.8%), KitchenerCambridge-Waterloo (+1.2%), Ottawa-Gatineau (+1.0%), London (+0.5%), Hamilton (+0.4%) as well as St. Catharine’s-Niagara and Greater Sudbury and Thunder Bay (both +0.1%), recorded increases, while Windsor (-0.5%) recorded a decrease during the same time period.

Increased material and labour costs as well as higher land development costs were the primary reasons for the increases in the Prairie Region in the second quarter. Regina (+1.9%), Winnipeg (+0.8%) and Edmonton (+0.2%) all experienced increases while Saskatoon and Calgary were unchanged from last quarter.

In British Columbia, Vancouver (+0.5%) posted an increase as builders reported improved market conditions, while Victoria (-0.7%) saw a decrease as builders reduced their prices in order to stimulate sales.

Chart 1 Apartment building construction price indexes, composite and selected Census Metropolitan Areas

Non-residential Building Construction Price Index The composite price index for nonresidential building construction increased by 1.2% in the second quarter compared with the previous

quarter. The quarterly advance was mainly a result of wage increases and the continued strength of construction material prices.

All seven of the census metropolitan areas (CMAs) surveyed reported

Apartment Building Construction Price Index The composite price index for apartment building construction increased 1.1% in the second quarter compared with the previous quarter.

The quarterly advance was mainly a result of wage increases and the continued strength of construction material prices.

All seven of the census metropolitan areas (CMAs) surveyed reported quarterly increases between 0.7% and 1.4%. Toronto (+1.4%) and Calgary (+1.2%) posted the largest quarterly advance while Montréal (+0.7%) reported the smallest increase.

Year over year, the composite price index for apartment building construction was up 2.9% in the second quarter. Of the seven CMAs surveyed, Ottawa–Gatineau, Ontario part (+3.8%) reported the largest year-over-year increase, while Calgary (+1.2%) showed the smallest advance.

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Winter 2011 | Construction Economist | www.ciqs.org | 21

Construction Cost Index

Chart 2 Non-residential building construction price indexes, composite and selected census metropolitan areas (CMAs)

Chart 3 Machinery and equipment price indexes

quarterly increases ranging from 0.6% to 1.5%. Ottawa– Gatineau, Ontario part (+1.5%) and Toronto (+1.4%) recorded the largest gains.

Year over year, the composite price index for non-residential building construction was up 3.2%. Of the CMAs surveyed, Ottawa–Gatineau, Ontario part (+4.4%) and Toronto (+3.9%) recorded the largest increases while Calgary (+1.9%) registered the smallest gain.

Machinery and Equipment Price Index The Machinery and equipment price index (MEPI) declined by 0.8% in the second quarter compared with the previous quarter; the import component declined by 1.4% over this period while the domestic series was unchanged. Compared with the second quarter of 2010, the total MEPI decreased by 2.5%, with the import component declining 4.4% while the domestic component increased by 0.7%.

22 | Construction Economist | www.ciqs.org | Winter 2011

Except for fishing, hunting and trapping (+0.2%) and warehousing and storage (+0.1%), all other industries posted decreases in the prices of machinery and equipment purchased in the second quarter.

The largest contributor to the total MEPI decline were the finance, insurance and real estate industries (-1.0%), led by the real estate and rental and leasing services subcomponent (-1.0%). The second largest contributor to the quarterly decline of the total MEPI were manufacturing industries (-0.7%), led by a price decline in transportation equipment manufacturing (-0.5%) and a 0.7% decrease in both the primary metal and fabricated metal product manufacturing and the paper manufacturing sectors.

Almost all commodities posted price decreases in the second quarter. Among these, computers and peripherals equipment such as terminals, printers and storage devices (-3.5%) and other industry specific machinery (-1.3%) contributed the most to the quarterly decline of the total MEPI. The Canadian dollar appreciated by 1.9% against the US dollar in the second quarter compared with the previous quarter and also gained 6.2% year over year.

Variations in exchange rates can have a strong influence on the MEPI given the high weight that imported machinery and equipment has in the index.

Electric Utility Construction Price Index Annual 2010 (revised) and first half 2011 (preliminary) Construction costs for electric utility distribution systems series increased by 2.9% during the first half of 2011 compared with the 2010 annual index. Higher costs for labour (+6.2%) and construction indirects (+2.9%), which includes engineering, administration and overheads, were the major contributors to the advance in the index.

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Construction Cost Index

In the first half of 2011, construction costs for the transmission line system series rose 2.0%, while the transmission line component increased 3.6%, largely as a result of installation labour (+6.2%). The substation component increased by 1.0% in the first half of 2011, led by a 2.7% increase in the construction indirects component.

Compared with 2009 final data, the revised 2010 data showed increases for the distribution systems series (+2.4%) and the transmission line system series (+0.7%). The transmission line component increased by 1.7% and the substation component rose slightly (+0.1%).

Consulting Engineering Services Price Index 2009 (preliminary data) The Consulting Engineering Services Price Index (CESPI) is now available for 2009. The Consulting Engineering Services Price Index measures the change in the total price of engineering and consulting services, as well as changes in the wage rate and realized net multiplier components. Detailed indexes are available for fields of specialization and for regional, domestic and foreign markets.

The Canada total Consulting Engineering Services Price Index increased 0.4% in 2009 compared with 2008.

Infrastructure Construction Price Index An analytical price index series measuring annual changes in the cost of municipal infrastructure construction funded by development charges has been developed by Statistics Canada on behalf of the City of Ottawa. The annual index for 2010 was 140.6 (2001 =100), an increase of 2.9% over the revised annual index of 136.7 for 2009. The indexes for 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003 and 2002 were 133.3, 125.0, 120.0, 113.1, 107.8, 104.8 and 102.3 respectively.

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Note: In 2009, all indexes were revised back to 2001. Calendar year averages of each input index are now used in the calculations.

Also, revisions were made in the selection of a small number of inputs in order to improve the quality of the index.

Source (Adapted from): Statistics Canada, October 2011, Capital Expenditure Price Statistics, Catalogue no 62-007-x, vol. 27, no. 2, quarterly.

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We have job opportunities in our Project Monitoring and Cost Planning/Estimating departments.

Candidates must have:- relevant experience in the construction industry - strong communication skills - time management skills - be working towards (or have interest in) RICS and CIQS membership.

In return, we offer an extensive employee package commensurate with expertise, qualifications and skills.

If you are interested, please submit your resumé by email: mail@cbross.ca or by fax: (416) 487-3017 Only select candidates whose resumés best match our requirements will be contacted.

Winter 2011 | Construction Economist | www.ciqs.org | 23

Automating the takeoff T

here are many options available in applying information technology to the takeoff and estimating process.

What software is available? What criteria should you use in evaluating software? Which system is best for your operations? This paper tries to shed some light on your options.

Automating the takeoff process Takeoff is the process of obtaining quantity measurements from plans and specifications. Estimating, on the other hand, is applying costs to these quantities. We first discuss automating the takeoff, quantity surveying process before reviewing estimating software.

Manual takeoff methods involve calculating quantities from known dimensions or using an architectural scale. If your organization spends more than eight hours per month manually calculating quantities, you probably should investigate automating this activity. Rates of returns on takeoff software solutions can be substantial. For example, if your company spends 100 hours per month performing manual takeoffs, what is the value if the same amount of work can be done in 30 hours?

Digitizer based takeoff of paper plans Digitizer based takeoff systems replace your scale and greatly speed up the takeoff process, especially for irregular areas. Digitizing quantities can also eliminate potential errors resulting from digit transposition, non-standard scales and miscalculations. A digitizer is a hardware device that is placed on a tabletop. Blueprints are then placed on top of the digitizer, and by using an electronic pointing device, a signal is sent through the plans and an X,Y coordinate is generated by the digitizer. As you click or trace around areas and lengths, X,Y coordinates provided by the digitizer are used by the takeoff software to draw and calculate quantities.

In order to implement a digitizer solution, you will need to have a digitizer tablet along with software that turns the digitizer coordinates into quantity measurements. There are two types of digitizers: rigid, hard digitizers or roll-up tablets. If you need portability the roll-up digitizers are

24 | Construction Economist | www.ciqs.org | Winter 2011

“Digitizer based takeoff systems replace your scale and greatly speed up the takeoff process.” ideal. If you will digitize the takeoffs at one location, a rigid board may be better. There are two manufacturers of largeformat digitizer tablets: Numonics and GTCO/CalComp.

Digitizer tablets are usually not sold by the manufacturers to the end user, but rather are resold by companies that provide a digitizing software solution. Manufacturers list prices of large format digitizer tablets are often over $1,700 before adding the cost of the takeoff software.

There are two kinds of digitizing software applications: 1) simple digitizer software that calculates quantities and often sends the quantities to spreadsheet programs, such as Microsoft Excel or 2) digitizing software that is integrated with a database, assembly driven estimating program. Once you decide to implement a digitizer, you will then need to evaluate which type of estimating software is best for applying costs to the digitized quantities.

When selecting a digitizer solution ask these basic questions: • How much time do you spend calculating quantities from paper plans?

• Do you currently use spreadsheet software for estimating?

If yes, do you want to continue using the spreadsheet software?

• Do you need the digitized takeoff integrated with your assembly, database driven estimating software?

• Does the digitizer communicate with the software using the industry standard Wintab driver?

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• Are the digitized drawings saved?

• Can the drawing be edited and printed?

• Is there a clear audit trail between the quantity measurement and the digitized drawing?

• If using with Microsoft Excel is the digitizer interface added directly into Excel or is it a separate application?

Are the digitized drawings saved with the Excel file?

• Is the software easy to use?

• How fast can you learn the software?

• Will you need a lot of support?

• Is there a satisfaction guarantee?

• Who is using the system successfully and unsuccessfully?

• What does it cost?

to establish standards for promoting effective means of exchanging information among all software platforms and applications serving the Architectural, Engineering and Construction Community. The goal is to share data, enter it once and seamlessly transfer the data between platforms and among applications. Regarding the takeoff function, the engineers and architects will automatically generate the takeoff quantities during the design phase and the contractor will have this information readily available from a shared project model. The aim is to reduce errors and omissions and save time and money.

This model, in theory, is the ideal way to generate takeoff quantities. However at best it will take many years, if ever, before it becomes fully operational. The aecXML and IFC standards are still being developed and many competing software companies will need to develop software that utilize these still developing standards. Keep your eyes open however, to see if these developing standards become a reality and fulfill the dreams of the A/E/C community.

and estimating process.

On-Screen takeoff of drawing files Distribution of drawing files is increasing in popularity. Drawing files of various types are currently distributed either on a compact disc, via email or through the World Wide Web. Distribution of drawing files offers significant efficiency and cost advantages in comparison with distributing paper blueprints.

As more and more companies utilize electronic plan distribution, software for performing the quantity takeoff on-screen from drawing files is also increasing in popularity.

On-Screen takeoff programs allow the user to view a variety of drawing files and electronically measure items using your mouse rather than a scale or digitizer tablet. No additional hardware is required. As items are measured, the on-screen takeoff software should offer a choice of colors, line styles, count symbols and area fill patterns of the items measured. If working with a spreadsheet such as Microsoft Excel, ideally the on-screen takeoff software should automatically record the quantities and drawings into the spreadsheet cell.

Automatic takeoff from a shared project model In association with the Building Technologies Department of the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, the International Alliance for Interoperability (IAI) was created Click Here to Return to Table of Contents

Automating the estimating process A variety of estimating software, written specifically for the construction industry, is available. Some programs focus on specific divisions and sub trades such as site excavation, mechanical and electrical. Others, written for highway and infrastructure contractors such as HCSS and Hard Dollar, are focused more on bid item, crew based, unit price estimating. For commercial building the leading developers include Timberline, MC2, WinEst and Vertigraph.

All of the commercial building programs involve use of a costing database in which many items are quantified and priced through the use of ‘high-level assemblies.’ A highlevel assembly enables you to break down the estimate into logical elements. For each high level assembly you will enter, digitize or select a variety of information pertaining to a construction activity and a collection of cost items are automatically generated and priced. Depending on the software program, these high level assemblies are called various names: work records, work packages, systems, models and assemblies.

The other option in automating any estimating process other than a database, assembly driven program is to utilize a spreadsheet application such as Microsoft Excel. We have Winter 2011 | Construction Economist | www.ciqs.org | 25

Disadvantages of database, assembly based estimating software includes: • Harder to learn and customize.

• Requires higher level of support from the developer, resulting in higher support and maintenance costs.

• More expensive and often more difficult to find adequate training.

• Often does not give you the flexibility, Excel provides.

• Can change the way you think through and develop the estimate.

• Often provides more detail and complexity than required.

• More detail, more maintenance, and possibly more room for error.

• If resources are not dedicated to implementing and customizing the database, the estimating benefits are often not realized. Many estimating programs sit on the shelf and are never successfully implemented.

Spreadsheets versus database, assembly driven estimating software

Other considerations in selecting estimating software In selecting a computerized estimating system, factors to consider include: • How much more productive, knowledgeable and accurate will you become by implementing a new system?

• Will the takeoff, estimating, accounting, scheduling and project management activities be integrated?

• What is the cost? What are the benefits? Do benefits greatly exceed costs? What is the projected rate of return?

• Do you have the personnel with the time and capabilities to implement and operate a new system?

• Is the new system easy to implement and use?

• What resources are required for training?

• How much support and maintenance is required by the system vendor and at what cost?

• Who is using the software successfully and unsuccessfully?

Digitize Directly

Summary If implementing a computerized estimating system, strong consideration should be given to the development of Excel estimating templates to perform the task. You should be looking at database, assembly driven commercially available takeoff and estimating programs only if the features you are seeking are not provided by a well-designed Excel, or other spreadsheet, estimating template. Digitizer based takeoff should be considered if you spend more than ten hours per month calculating quantities from paper plans. On-screen takeoff is increasing in popularity and can reduce costs and increase efficiencies in comparison with paper plan distribution.

on your screen from files with . . .

eTakeoffs of ePlans in Microsoft Excel.

The drawing and measurement are saved with any cell.

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26 | Construction Economist | www.ciqs.org | Winter 2011

About the author Erich M. Schoenkopf president of Vertigraph, Inc. a Dallas, Texas based company incorporated in 1991. Vertigraph is dedicated to providing information technology for the takeoff and estimating process. Erich can be reached at 800989-4243, info@Vertigraph.com or at www.vertigraph.com.

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CIQS Affiliated Association reports Quantity Surveyors of British Columbia (QSBC) Board - The QSBC Board has had two meetings since the last Association Report. The Board has various objectives this year including the ongoing work associated with the BCIT Degree Program, the pursuit of increased membership numbers and to also increase our overall involvement and presence at BCIT. Membership renewals have shown a drop this year, with 45 people opting not to renew, which is causing some budgetary pressure as approximately half of the dip relates to fee paying members. Whether this drop off is related to the current state of the economy, the fee hike of last year, the standard inflationary increase (CIQS and QSBC) or just plain attrition and malaise is difficult to comment on.

Hopes are high that the recently renewed GSC agreement will result in new members coming onboard and increasing the CEC category in the year 2012/2013.

The Board called for a Special Meeting, slated for December 14, to discuss the re-naming of the Society with the membership. A meeting notice was issued, as per the Bylaws, to the membership on December 1.

Events - Pam Ryan, Communications Advisor for the Port Mann Highway (PMH) 1 Project, was the Keynote Speaker for the QSBC Dinner Event on Thursday, November 24.

The $2.39 billion PMH1 Project is probably the foremost project in the Lower Mainland at present, as it deals with the widening of 37km of Highway 1 between Vancouver and Langley, including the realignment and reconfiguration of interchanges and the construction of a new 10 lane Port Mann bridge. The project is a Design/Build Joint Venture between Kiewett/Flatiron and is scheduled to be completed in 2013.

The presentation was very interesting and was well received by the attendees.

The Board asked me to provide a brief overview after the keynote speaker in respect to the need for a Special Meeting on December 14. This was carried out and some questions were fielded in private by a few members after the evenings events drew to a close.

Speakers are being lined up for the remaining QSBC Dinner Events this year, with a further three events in the pipeline.

OoTCG - Discussions were had with Tamara McLeod, OoTCG Director, at the PCCBC meeting in Victoria in September. Sadly, due to the recent change in the HST reverting back to PST/GST, the focus of the OoTCG has now shifted from CAMF to this particular issue. As a direct result, Tamara will now be involved in the HST/PST/GST project and took the opportunity at the meeting to introduce her replacement, David Pilling, a recently appointed lawyer in early September. I managed to have an informal discussion with David during the meeting interval and he promised to follow up on the 80+ page QSBC issued document once he had managed to settle in to his role.

MOU with BCIT + CIQS + VRCA - After the excellent reception at BCIT in September, the focus has now shifted to finalizing the content for the new courses. Andrew Collins, PQS(F) has spent over 200hrs writing the Risk Management course and has requested PQS volunteers to write the Conceptual Estimating course. Thus far only Roy Howes, PQS, the current QSBC President, has volunteered his time to help and assist in reviewing the Risk Management course, but we have no offers yet to write the Conceptual Estimating course. Andrew is also struggling to find PQS lecturers to teach the course, so we will have to take urgent steps to involve more of the membership in the writing and teaching of these courses, in order to fulfill our obligations to BCIT. BCIT Student Body - Between the December Council meeting and the March Council meeting we will have the annual BCIT Student Mixer Event. This event is hosted by BCIT at the Burnaby campus to allow the upcoming graduates a chance to mingle with future employees and industry representatives. This is a key event in the BCIT calendar and is very well attended by all sectors of the industry. It gives me great pleasure to state that the majority of the industry representatives present are QSBC members, which greatly aids in enforcing our position as an important cog in the wheel. It is hoped that this upcoming event will prove to be no different.

Source: Mark L Russell, PQS(F), Past President QSBC

Association of Quantity Surveyors of Alberta (ASQA) Board: As acting AQSA President, I am pleased to provide the following affiliate update. Within our own affiliate region, I am pleased to advise that AQSA, again this year, was represented by our members at the Design & Construction Trend Analysis Committee, an initiative of Alberta Infrastructure. AQSA joins representatives from Alberta Infrastructure, the City of Calgary, the City of Edmonton and other business and industry leaders for this initiative.

AQSA Board members are working hard on several new initiatives designed to better serve our members.

Ken King, Director is heading up the new Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Committee; while, Mike Swick, Director is heading up the new Industry Relations & Advocacy Committee. Meetings with the Mayor of Edmonton were attended earlier this fall by our Industry Relations and Advocacy Committee to cultivate stronger working relationships between the AQSA and municipal offices within the City of Edmonton. Mike Swick attended these mayoral meetings with assistance from Orest Stachniak, a former AQSA / CIQS President and our acting AQSA Vice President, Doug Moller.

AQSA was also involved in Alberta Infrastructure’s ‘Partners Conference’ held on November 14-15, 2011 where we assisted through providing sponsorship for this

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Winter 2011 | Construction Economist | www.ciqs.org | 27

CIQS Affiliated Association reports event at the Bronze level. This event provides a forum for partners in the building and infrastructure industry with representation from other organizations such as the: Consulting Engineers of Alberta, Consulting Architects of Alberta, The Alberta Association of Architects, Alberta Construction Association and the Edmonton Construction Association. This was the second time this annual event was held where AQSA maintained a presence.

Works are also currently underway to involve AQSA representation at a newly developed ‘Design-Build Advisory Committee’ where senior managers of Infrastructure within the Provincial Government (representing Alberta Infrastructure), industry leaders, consultants and cost professionals would collaborate to evolve ideas within a

‘think-tank’ collaborative. This prerogative is still in the initiation stages, as the committee becomes assembled. It is intended that AQSA will maintain a presence with this endeavour.

Further growth continues in our membership and a recent November 23 Calgary Chapter event complimented this trend though hosting a ‘Diary Seminar’ where the protocols for both applicants and reviewers were discussed.

This event was chaired by Doug Eastwell, a PQS Fellow, and our current AQSA Registrar. In conjunction with the AQSA board, Doug has worked diligently to establish a concise process from which to complete the diary reporting requirements for our newest members, as outlined by the organization.

Source: Dave Burns, PQS, AQSA President

Ontario Institute of Quantity Surveyors (OIQS) One of the main objectives for the OIQS this year is to make a successful transition to the new brand standards that CIQS is in the process of implementing. Although we thought the process of changing our name was going to be simplified based on getting unanimous support at our AGM, it seems that our legal council has advised us that the motion to accept the rebranding was not specific enough to change the name without any issues. We have been advised by our legal council that we need to do two things before we can proceed with the official name change of the Ontario Institute of Quantity Surveyors to Canadian Institute of Quantity Surveyors – Ontario. First, we need to get an OK from the Ministry of Colleges and Training because in the year 2000 the Ministry brought in a law that no organization can have the word ‘Institute’ in its name without their permission. Since we do not award university degrees or college diplomas we think this will be no big deal. We will have to submit an application of sorts to the Ministry for approval and they will inform us of their decision. Based on the OIQS using this name since 1974 we believe there will not be any issues. Secondly, we must have an official motion to change the name of the OIQS. We have two options in order to proceed with this based on the OIQS By-Laws. One, we can call a special meeting of the members similar to an AGM complete with proxies and full Board of Directors and we can call the meeting any time by giving the members 14 days notice. Or two, we can wait to do this at our AGM in June and delay using the new logos and branding designs we have made so far. Each of these meetings will require a 2/3 majority vote in order for the motion to be carried and stand up to the legal process when submitting the request for name change. I would suggest that each affiliate find out what the requirements are first before trying to make a motion at a meeting and then not

be able to use that specific motion for the intended purpose.

The Board of Directors has a draft accreditation report for the colleges and universities in Ontario that offer Mechanical, Electrical and Continuing education course.

We are in the process of reviewing the draft and making the necessary changes that are required. This will be a follow up to the Architectural accreditation that was introduced in 2006 by David Lai and revised in 2011 by Bert Ofoha. It will allow the membership assessments to be streamlined and turned around much faster. We intend to complete this before our AGM in June. The OIQS hosted an accreditation ceremony on December 2, 2011 with the hope of strengthening our relationships with the colleges and universities that have fully accredited programs in Ontario.

I would also like to thank QSBC for starting this process in motion in Vancouver this year with the accreditation of the new construction program at BCIT. We are continuing to get our message out to the ‘grass roots level’ by being involved in a number of interesting events such as the Association Fair at George Brown College on November 16. We were also invited to speak to a group of high school teachers as part of their professional development day. This will provide us an opportunity to get some information out to high school teachers so they can pass it on to their students. This event took place on November 25 and we will have hosted another New Canadians Seminar on November 26. The OIQS in collaboration with our GTA Chapter hosted its annual Holiday Dinner on December 6, 2011. This event is always well attended and is sure to be great again this year.

I am proud to report that the OIQS has granted Honourary Life Membership to Graham Randall for his long standing commitment and patronage to the OIQS. He is currently the Chair of the TPE Committee and has raised the bar for members trying to get their PQS designations.

Source: Jeff Logan, B. Arch. Sc., PQS, GSC, LEED AP, OIQS Representative and President.

28 | Construction Economist | www.ciqs.org | Winter 2011

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Association of Estimators and Quantity Surveyors of Québec (AEQSQ) CIQS-Quebec congratulates the effort that CIQS has put in, in order to ensure continuity with the Gold Seal CCA organization.

CIQS-Quebec shall proceed in the next months ahead to change their name. We do hope that the name change will be completed on or before February 2012.

CIQS-Q objectives for 2011/12: • Ensure that existing and new documents are in both English and French.

• Ensure that all documents that are requested by both CIQS and affiliates be on the CIQS site so to reduce expenses on the affiliate side.

• To verify with CIQS for all tools readily available to affiliates in order to ensure the affiliates continuous development program.

• To ensure that CIQS new marketing strategy in rebranding includes all affiliates.

• Ensure that CIQS gives all the tools to the affiliates for nation-wide marketing.

From September 2011, we have gone from 138 members to 144 members, an increase of six members, well on our way to 145 members by the end of 2011/12. We have around 22 applicants on standby for possible new members; this would exceed our members increase for 2011-2012 of at least 21 members.

CIQS-Q has nominated Hervé Couture as the president of the committee for the CIQS-AGM 2013 in Quebec-Montreal and on behalf of CIQS-Q Hervé Couture is inviting the representative of CIQS to visit the possible site for the AGM 2013.

CIQS-Quebec has created a translation committee in order to ensure the effort of CIQS and has appointed Hervé Couture as the president.

AEQSQ also accepted to take part on the translation of different papers and publications and have completed the translation of the Career Information and are now in the approval process of the translation.

We CIQS-Q are eager to continue the process of rebranding and implement the new marketing strategy. We hope that during the CIQS December meeting that the CIQS AMS RFP be positive and that we see a new Web combining all affiliates under the same site in the year 2012-2013.

Source: Bertin Bois, CEC/ECC, AEQSQ Representative

Nova Scotia Association of Quantity Surveyors (NSAQS) NSAQS Membership to date: NSAQS have 88 members paid up for 2011.

Associate: 30 members CEC: 12 members PQS: 29 members PQS(F): 5 members PQS Retired: 10 members Honorary Life: 2 members AGM/Golf Tournament - Our Annual General Meeting/Golf Tournament was held on September 22nd at the Montague Links golf course in Dartmouth. The golf event was not as well attended as last year and this year’s team winner for the best ball prize was Team Aecon.

At the business section, the following members were elected to the Board: Wanda Smith, President; Travis Rudolph, Vice President; Donna Hoar, Treasurer; Merrill Varner, Secretary; Mark Gardin, Past President, CIQS Rep, Registrar; Greg Schofield, Special Events.

Also during the business section, members unanimously voted to change the name from NSAQS to CIQS Maritimes.

The paperwork for the name change has been formally submitted to the Nova Scotia Registry of Joint Stocks and we are awaiting official documentation. Legally, we will be

known as CIQS Maritimes Association as we are considered a non-for-profit organization. For marketing purposes however, we will promote CIQS Maritimes as our brand.

The other small issue that has come up during the name change process was in order for NSAQS to utilize CIQS in our new namesake, NSAQS had to provide proof in writing that we had permission from CIQS to use the name. A letter was provided by CIQS, signed by the President and we believe this has resolved the matter. The name search has been completed and came back positive with no issues on the name. The estimated cost to change the name will be less than $200.

Finally, it was also agreed that the AGM will move back to May in 2012 and the golf tournament will continue to be held in September.

Education - Examinations were administered in November. We had four members sit for a total of eight examinations, three of which were administered in New Brunswick.

CPD Event - The Board is currently looking into the possibility of hosting a Dinner Meeting in 2012 (taking a page from QSBC). We may look to partner with the NSAA or CENS and are investigating available potential guest speakers.

Source: Mark Gardin, PQS, NSAQS Representative

Newfoundland and Labrador Association of Quantity Surveyors (NLAQS) AGM 2012 Venue has been contracted with the St. John’s Delta Hotel and the itinerary is planned to be similar to that undertaken at the 2011 AGM. The NL Offshore Energy sector continues to thrive with major Sub-sea projects now planned for 2012 (Suncor) and 2013 (ExxonMobil and Husky). Husky is also in the FEED

stage of the concrete Fixed Drilling Platform which is intended to be built following the Hebron GBS currently underway.

This activity continues to promote the residential and commercial construction growth in the region.

Overall, NL’s North East Avalon Region is an exciting place to be located and looks to remain that way for at least another generation.

Source: Roy Lewis, PQS(F), President NLAQS

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