The GTA Construction Report – July 2010 – PAGE A9


The Local Preference debate: Dialogue in St. Catharines


STAFF WRITER – The GTA Construction Report


The issue of “local preferences” in construction bidding opportunities is perennial. On one side, local contractors see work “disappearing” outside of the community which they support and to which they pay taxes. On the other hand, local preference rules smack of protectionism, invite retaliation, and create barriers for businesses wishing to ex- pand and develop their markets.


Here is an example of how the debate is playing out in the Niagara region.


The story starts with a letter to the Editor of St. Cather- ines Standard.


“As an employee of a local Niagara construction firm, I am outraged and appalled that many of our local construc- tion projects are being awarded to out-of-town firms. Case in point, Bondfield Construction (Toronto) has secured at least three recent projects in St. Catharines (with local con- tractors bidding). The Standard then reports that city council “recommends that the out-of-town contractor use local forces” — they won’t.


“Who pays the taxes for these projects? I do. Now I look forward to becoming one more person on the unem- ployment line because my city will not stand behind our local contractors and work forces. Shame on you St. Catharines & Niagara Region. Our community was once mine to enjoy. Now it is mine to watch die.” Cathy Latimer, McDonald St., St. Catharines. She received two responses, one from a city councillor who asked not to be indentified after he had heard that Cathy had found out that she would be out of work at the end of 2010 and the second from St. Catharines Mayor Brian Mc- Mullan.


The city councillor wrote: “Hi Cathy.


“I understand your frustration. The problem is that many local firms endorse the system in place now, and do work out of town on contracts they bid on. We will do what we can to see that some of the work is done by city firms.” Mayor McMullen also responded: “Dear Ms. Latimer:


“Thank you for your e-mail. I can appreciate the con- cerns you have raised regarding supporting local construc- tion firms. City Council supports local businesses and supports initiatives like the GobidNiagara that provides a one-stop shop for companies seeking information about pub- licly tendered contracts in Niagara.


The City of St.


Catharines has awarded tenders for projects to many local businesses including construction firms.


“At the same time, we must use taxpayers money cost


effectively and efficiently and sometimes buy-local policies don’t always represent the best value for taxpayers. Cog- nisant of the concerns you have raised, the City has met in the past with the local chamber of commmerce, construction unions and builders’ associations and all have agreed bids should remains competitive.


“City Council remains respectful of St. Catharines tax- payers; we know that it is not an endless resource. I under- stand your concerns, and let me assure you that Council always strives to make decisions in the best interest of the city.


“Best regard, Brian.” Would you like to contribute to the dialogue on local pref-


erence policies? You can email us at buckshon@cnrgp.com and we’ll publish further correspondence in upcoming is- sues.


DIRECTORY OF PRODUCTS AND SERVICES


ALUMINUM WINDOWS, DOORS & CURTAIN WALL


CONSTRUCTION SAFETY TRAINING Construction Workplace


Safety Training Ltd. 156 Victoria St.,


Commdoor Aluminum 421 Applewood Cres. Concord L4K 4J3 Peter Zagar Tel: 416-743-3667 Fax: 416-746-0979


info@commdooraluminum.com www.commdooraluminum.com Supporter of L.E.E.D.


APPLIANCES


Nickerson Home Appliances Serving the Niagara Region 50 Russell Avenue St.Catharines, Ontario Tel: 905-685-9075 www.nickersonappliances.com


CEMENT MANUFACTURER St. Marys Cement Co. Tel: 416-696-4411 Fax: 416-696-4435


email: kczuber@vcsmc.com www.stmaryscement.com


BUILDING SUPPLIES Arxx Walls & Foundations Tel: 888-232-3739 Cell: 519-503-9270


Email: jkuiack@arxxwalls.com


Tamarack Lumber Tel: 416-798-4869 Fax: 905-332-5611 Email: rguglietti@tamaracklumber.ca


CLAY BRICKS & GLASS BLOCK


CLAY FACE BRICK & PAVERS GLASS BLOCK #9 - 5115 Harvester Rd. Burlington, Ontario, L7L 0A3 Burlington: 905-637-6997 Toronto: 416-252-5811 Toll-Free: 800-567-5800 Email: info@thamesvalleybrick.com www.thamesvalleybrick.com


COMPUTER SERVICE/NETWORK CABLING


Complete Equipment Appraisal Service ALL types of Equipment, over 20 yrs exp Tel: (905) 977-8402 appraisals@jblservices.ca www.jblservices.ca


EQUIPMENT FOR HEAVY DUTY VACUUM CLEAN UP & SOURCE EXTRACTION Dust Control Canada Tel: 705-733-1613


877-844-8784


Fax: 705-733-1614 EQUIPMENT RENTALS


All-in-One Computer Services St. Catharines/Niagara Falls/ Hamilton: 905-296-3445 Tel: 905-228-1334


ckosturek@allinonecompservices.com CONCRETE


Advance Cutting & Coring Ltd. Tel: 800-500-2735 www.advancecutting.ca


CBM Tel: 416-423-1300 Fax: 416-423-0889


Email: ntmorlando@vcsmc.com www.stmaryscement.com


CONCRETE CUTTING, XRAY & RADAR SCANNING Graff Concrete Cutting Services Tel: 905-457-8120 Fax: 905-457-8944 Email: inquiry@graffconcrete.com Web: www.graffconcrete.com


ABCO Equipment & Supplies Ltd. Tel: 416-745-9191 Toll-Free: 877-424-5118 www.abco-equip.ca


FENCING Fence All Tel: 800-342-1390 www.fenceall.com


The Fence People 250 Clarence St., Unit #11 Brampton L6W 1T4 Tel: 905-450-0500 Fax: 905-450-0502 pegi@thefencepeople.com


FOREIGN WORKER SERVICE Crews Tel: 416-443-1583 Fax: 416-443-1583 www.constructionworkers.ca


Barrie, Ontario L4N 2J4


Tel: 705-812-1656 877-738-9178 Fax: 705-812-0947 Email: safety@bellnet.ca


CONTRACTING


DesignGold Contracting Inc. Jeff Goldberg 3 Cricket Hollow, Thornhill, Ontario, L3T 7A5 Tel: (905) 889 - 7804 Fax: (905) 889 - 4239


Email: designgold@rogers.com DIESEL GENERATORS & ENGINES


GRAFFITI REMOVAL/POWER WASHING Canadian Restorations GTA Inc. Tel: 416 930 9058


info@canadianrestorations.com www.canadianrestorations.com


HEALTH & SAFETY TRAINING & CONSULTING


Acute Environmental & Safety Services Inc. Tel: 519-747-5075 www.acuteservices.com


HOME AUTOMATION Audio Centre Tel: 613-723-2923 www.audiocentre.ca


HOTEL


Howard Johnson Inn 22 Metropolitan Rd. Scarborough M1R 2T6 Tel: 416-493-8171 Fax: 416-321-7400


Harper Power Products Inc. Tel: 1-800-6HARPER Authorized Distributor for: DEUTZ, MTU, MTU Onsite, Energy, Detroit Diesel and Allison Transmission. www.harperpowerproducts.com


DRYWALL & CEILING CONTRACTOR


A & D Enterprise Tel: 613-239-4438


Email: adenterprise@magma.ca ENGINEERS


Reinders Consultants Ltd. Tel: 1-905-457-1618 Fax: 1-905-457-8852 Email@reinders.ca www.reinders.ca


EQUIPMENT APPRAISAL SERVICES


Dan Lawrie Insurance Brokers Ltd. 105 Main St. E. 14th Floor Hamilton L8N 1G6 Dan Lawrie Tel: 1-800-661-1518 www.danlawrie.com Liability, Equipment, Builders Risk, Fleet, Surety and Risk Management


The Guarantee Company of North America


4950 Youge St., Suite 1400 Toronto, ON M2N 6K1 Tel: 416-223-9580 www.gcna.com


John Fil, FCIP, C.R.M. Brokers Trust Insurance Group Inc. Tel: (905) 695-5153 john@brokerstrust.ca Liability, Equipment, Builders Risk, Fleet, Surety


Royal & SunAlliance


for an insurance broker near you . . . 1-888-877-1710 www.royalsunalliance.ca


Western Surety Company Tel: 416-225-4555 1-888-452-4455 Fax: 416-225-4558 www.westernsurety.ca Email: ibarcan@westernsurety.ca


KITCHEN CABINETS & VANITIES Canac Kitchens - A Division of Kohler Canada Limited Tel: 613-727-5471 Fax: 727-0516


LEGAL ADVICE


ACL Steel Ltd. Tel: 519-568-8822 www.aclsteel.ca


Central Ontario Metal & Construction 5960 Perth Road, #119 P.O. Box 100, Brunner, ON N0K 1C0 Tel: (519) 595-8721 Fax: (519) 595-8157 www.centralomac.com


TELEPHONE SERVICES Centrepoint Technologies, Inc 1545 Carling Ave., Suite 510, Ottawa, ON K1Z 8P9 Tel: 613-725-2980 Fax: 613-725-2898


Sherrard Kuzz LLP Michael G. Sherrard Erin R. Kuzz Tel: 416-603-0700 Tel: 416-420-0738 (24 hr.) Fax: 416-603-6035 www.sherrardkuzz.com


MOBILE OFFICES, SITE TRAILERS, MODULAR BUILDINGS, PORTABLE STORAGE MODSPACE Toll Free: 800-451-3951 www.modspace.com


MUNICIPAL SIDEWALK & ROAD REPAIR


A & F Dicarlo Tel: 416-464-3269 Fax: 416-752-5842


The GTA Directory of Construction Products and Services provides you an opportunity to promote your com- pany to industry decision makers in a cost-effective manner. Your listing appears in both our print edition reach- ing over 4,000 readers monthly and online making your company one click away from the 50,000 readers across Ontario and Canada. Best yet is as your companies contact information changes you can update your listing at any time. For more details contact Chase at 905-228-1151 or email chase@cnrgp.com


Digital Mobile Inc. 6660 Kennedy Rd. Unit 6 Mississauga L5T 2M9 Tel: 905-696-9995 Fax: 905-696-9666


reservations@hojotoronto.com www.hojotoronto.com


INSURANCE & BONDING SURETY


NATURAL GAS Enbridge Tel: 416-495-6194 Fax: 416-495-8350


Arriscraft International Tel: 800-265-8123 www.arriscraft.com


NATURAL STONE & BRICK MANUFACTURER


PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHY SERVICES Kaleidoscope Photography 2990 Dundas Street West Toronto, ON M6P 1Z3 Ph: 416 255 9143 Fax: 416 255 9145 www.kaleidoscopephotography.com janis@kaleidoscopephotography.com


PROTECTIVE COATING Bender ECS Inc.


Epoxies, Concrete, Restoration Tel: 905-826-8500 Fax: 905-826-4907


ALTRA Metal Specialties Tel: 888-472-5872 www.altrametal.com


ROOFING


Beacon Roofing Supply Co. Tel: 905-761-1762 www.brscanada.com


SOD AND TOPSOIL


Brouwer Sod Farms Tel: 416-291-2323 www.brouwersod.com


STEEL BUILDING SYSTEMS


Steelway Bulding Systems 7825 Springwater Road, Aylmer, Ontario N5H 2R4 Tel: (519) 765-2244 Fax: (519) 773-7398 steelway@steelway.com www.steelway.com


STRUCTURAL STEEL & FABRICATIONS


kevin.rogers@digitalmobile.com


UTILITY LOCATING & MAPPING multiVIEW Locates Inc. Insight, not hindsight! 1-800-363-3116 www.multiview.ca


WORKERS’ COMPENSATION SPECIALISTS FHS - Focus on Health & Safety Inc. Tel: 800-450-7743 Fax: 905-602-9693 Email: info@fhsweb.com www.fhsweb.com


2 lines of text , Choice of Category OPTION ONE


$195 / 12 issues Additional lines, $99 each OPTION TWO


5 lines of text + Logo , Choice of Category $249 / 5 issues


$495 / 12 issues


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12