< PreviousCanada’s Budget 2024 came with the tagline, ‘Fairness for every generation.’ Within this budget comes a plan to increase the rate, quality, and volume of housing to ensure that Canadians have access to top quality housing at every stage of their lives. “The 2024 federal budget is the gov- ernment’s plan to build more homes, faster, help make life cost less, and grow the economy in a way that helps every generation get ahead.” With a pledge to build 3.87 million net new homes by 2031, the hope is that every citizen will have access to an affordable place to live, either through purchase or rent. This will be achieved through a series of funding initiatives across the housing sector that add up to $8.5 billion. Many elements of the plan are innovative and forward thinking with the use of old federal offices, Canada Post buildings and some National Defense properties being reconverted to housing stock. Alongside this budget announcement, Prime Minister of Can- ada, Justin Trudeau, launched the Canada Builds program and an additional suite of changes to building legislation that would support the timely and efficient building of new homes. “One of the biggest pressures on young people right now is housing, and this is true for Canadians right across the country. We’ve already taken bold action to build more homes, faster, improve access to housing, and make homes more affordable – and we know there is more to be done. We need a Team Canada effort to tackle our national hous- ing crisis – getting every partner on board and getting more homes built. That means every order of government coming together and building more homes for Canadians at prices they can afford, especially on land ready for development.” Trudeau’s announcement includes the delivery of a $15 billion top-up to the Apartment Construction Loan Program (ACLP) which will aim to build a minimum of 30,000 new apartments. With this, the program is on track to build over 131,000 units within the next decade. Canada Builds, however, may be the real game changer. By partnering with provinces and territo- ries, the government is utilizing the $55 billion ACLP, making it available to support provinces that launch their own ambi- tious housing plans. Speaking about Canada Builds, Trudeau was highly optimistic. ““With Budget 2024, we’re making it easier, cheaper, and faster to build more homes in Canada. Today’s announcement will cut red tape, speed up devel- opment, and build more homes, so that Canadians – from teachers, to nurses, to construction workers – can afford to stay in the communities where they work. It’s making the housing market fairer for every generation.” | 10 MAY 2024Does this go far enough, though? While it is hard to argue that the investment and scope of the plan is widespread, the bud- get has received a mixed response from the industry and the wider markets. In particular, some within the sector believe that the construction industry isn’t well equipped enough of match the level of investment being provided. Workforce issues have plagued the construction world across North America for years. However, following the COVID-19 pan- demic, these challenges have increased significantly and are now an acute problem that needs to be solved immediately. Building thousands of homes, rather importantly, needs skilled workers. Thousands more than the industry currently has, in fact. Steve Robinson, founder of the Future of Work trade show, is less than impressed with the announcement. “The targets that the governments at every level are setting for us are almost unattainable unless we have all the tools we can use actually at our fingertips.” In fact, according to Chris Gardner, President of the Independent Contractors and Busi- ness Association (ICBA), the labor force is on a downward spiral with one fifth of the workforce over the age of 55. “Over the next five years, we are going to be losing an awful lot of expertise and experience, and the challenge is we don’t have enough people coming in to replace them,” he said. Further criticisms of the budget announcement are that, if the industry managed to overcome these workforce issues and housing is built, the people of Canada are in no finan- cial position to purchase one. According to Richard Lyall, president of the Residential Construction Council of Ontario (RESCON), the budget doesn’t address the immediate, cost- of-living challenges. “I think there is some considerable gas- lighting going on right now. I’m not seeing much of a budget for young people there. The thing that still concerns me is that first-time homebuyers, younger families are still out of the market. While this budget did have the Capital Cost Allowance for apartment buildings, some extra financing money for purpose-built rentals that’s good, we needed that, but we’re still not really getting at some of the bigger issues that we have.” This view is echoed by Ian Cunningham, president of the Council of Ontario Construction Associations. “While there’s lots in the budget to support the construction of affordable housing and infrastructure that our industry can be pleased with, it fails to address the fundamental underlying economic crisis that has plagued our economy for decades, that chal- lenges our standard of living and the prosperity of future gen- erations, Canada’s lagging productivity,” said Cunningham. “I had hopes for something better in this regard.” While the budget has promised much, it is unclear if Canada has the tools to realize these plans. Unprecedented levels of funding are opposed by an inability to build or buy. The future of Canadian housing is hanging in the balance and the next few years will be interesting ones for the construction industry. “The program is on track to build over 131,000 units within the next decade.” | 11 APEIRON CONSTRUCTIONWRITTEN BY ERIC O’CALLAGHAN B lue Dot Readi-Mix is a locally owned and operated com- pany specializing in ready mix concrete. Founded in North Carolina in November 2004, the team has been in business for over a decade making this November its twentieth anniversary. With a set vision for the future and plans to continue expanding, Blue Dot Readi-Mix is excelling on its current trajectory by providing a one-stop- shop approach to all things concrete. Crucially, the company has done this while embracing the technologi- cal advancements of the last two decades. | 12 MAY 2024| 13 APEIRON CONSTRUCTIONOneCem® provides everything you expect and need from cement - strength, durability, performance and workability - while also delivering a reduced carbon footprint. Learn more about building better with less at holcim.us/onecem Concrete, Mortar, Asphalt, Golf, Bio Retention, Specialty Sand Mixes Osprey Minerals WE DIG SAND! CONTACT TROY RUSSELL FOR ALL YOUR SAND NEEDS:P: 910-975-8093 |E: SALES@OSPREYMINERALS.COM |OSPREYMINERALS.COM on 20 years of quality!Congratulations Although ready-mix concrete is the company’s main offer- ing, Blue Dot Readi-Mix offers a suite of other products such as aggregate, stone and sand. The company also offers a range of services including concrete testing and reporting, design concrete mixes, project technical support and out- side sales support. Every project is carefully monitored by a wide-ranging group that includes its Sales Team, Quality Control and Production experts. This enables the company to verify that each load meets —and exceeds— industry standards and project spec- ification requirements. Blue Dot Readi-Mix also has a sister company named BluRe- bar, which helps to promote the one-stop-shop experience for clients. Through BluRebar it can offer rebar, rebar acces- sories, welded wire mesh, rebar estimating, rebar project management and rebar shop drawings. Its rebar fabrication shop, located in Monroe, NC, is equipped with the latest machinery and software that enable it to deliver the same excellent service and quality provided by Blue Dot. | 14 MAY 2024Weatherford, TX Cresson, TX Mill Creek/Ardmore, OK Holly Hill, SC Rock Hill, SC Benton, AR Winston Salem, NC Rockingham, NC Oregon, IL TERMINAL LOCATIONS WWW.XCELBULK.COM DRY BULK TRANSPORTATION AND LOGISTICS SILO STORAGE DRAYAGE & WAREHOUSING VENDOR MANAGED INVENTORY TRANSLOADING 24/7 DISPATCH MANAGEMENT SERVICES OURMISSION Build and operate a safe and profitable business with a strong culture of excellence that makes drivers and customers alike seek XBL out. Operate premium and state-of-the-art equipment that keeps us on the leading edge of the industry. Deliver tremendous value for our customers by providing safe, reliable, price competitive, and innovative transportation solutions they can count on. FLEETSIZE 250 TRUCKS 400 TRAILERS (651)273-3264 BD@xcelbulk.com WWW.XCELBULK.COM (651)273-3264 BD@xcelbulk.com As a locally owned company, many of its team members are part of the community. Sales Manager, JJ Dixon, has been working at Blue Dot for 15 years and attended college nearby at University of North Carolina (UNC) in Charlotte. Since grad- uating, Dixon and the team at Blue Dot have carried out a lot of work at UNC Charlotte. “One of the biggest standouts, for me personally, is the fact that we've done a lot of work over there. We’ve done five residence halls and dorm rooms. We also did all the concrete for the UNCC football stadium, among many other projects over there at that particular col- lege here in our hometown.” While Dixon has been with the company for 15 years, there are other members of the Blue Dot team that have been around since the foundation of the company, —a testament to the positive work culture at Blue Dot Readi-Mix. “As the company has grown, it has evolved into a multi-genera- tional workplace of skilled workers.”TURN-KEY BATCH PLANT EQUIPMENT, SERVICE & PARTS SINCE 1974 161 Center Grove Rd., #254, Randolph, NJ 07869 Office: 410-975-5848 | Parts: 717-351-1100 Email: parts@concreteplants.com CONCRETEPLANTS.COM Proud plant supplier of Blue Dot Readi-Mix Congratulations on 20 years of success! The current team of profession- als are a mixture of colleagues and family. Incredibly, family legacies have developed over time with children of employ- ees eventually starting at Blue Dot also. As the company has grown, it has evolved into a multi-generational workplace of skilled workers. However, this growth has also been nur- tured through active engage- ment with modern technologies. Manager of Operations, Wayne Shue, is one of the team members who has been at Blue Dot Readi-Mix since the very beginning. Over this time Shue has experienced multiple changes that have altered the industry for the better. “It's amazing to see the growth in equipment and the technology. I think we've evolved with the times and that's been a big thing for us. From what we started with to what we have today is completely differ- ent. We used to do paper delivery tickets, now we're on e-tickets. We've got truck cast, which gives our cus- tomers transparency of their loads being delivered. They can also place orders that way now instead of everything having to come through a phone line. The technology's just helping us a tremendous amount.” In its mission to provide the best possible service, Blue Dot has put together a quality control department made up of five people with over eighty years’ experience in the construction industry. The goal of this team is to maintain both Blue Dot’s quality at the plant, and its quality on job sites. | 16 MAY 2024Family Owned & Operated Since 1945 Serving the Greater Charlotte and Surrounding Areas EXPERIENCE YOU CAN COUNT ONEXPERIENCE YOU CAN COUNT ON Our Team is Available 24/7 1-800-375-9357 HUNTERWRECKER.COM To ensure this, Blue Dot's quality control technicians receive educational and on-the-job training in endless job scope scenarios. Its in-house lab has the ability to cure, break, and report cylinder strengths. The team performs various testing procedures, and its quality control staff are NCDOT, SCDOT, and ACI certified. Having a quality control team allows for Blue Dot to provide a service that differentiates it from other competitors. It is this excellent service which has led to successful work on numerous projects.800-433-6713 803-971-9196 888-799-1772 Corporate Office: Sales Department: Central Dispatch: BULK TRUCKING FOR OVER 80 YEARS Dry Bulk - Cement, Lime and Fly Ash Vacuum Pneumatic Services for silos and railcars WWW.SOTANK.COM As the company has grown, so has the scale of its projects. Currently, Blue Dot Readi-Mix is working on two high-profile bridges, situated in Locust and Concord. Alongside this there are several large industrial concrete structure buildings; two in Charlotte, one in Rock Hill, and one in Chester which is almost ready to begin. Additionally, the company is working on several schools in the Charlotte area. While these projects may have a higher profile, it is clear that this does not give them a greater level of importance. Shue understands the necessity of all jobs, and this is what makes up the overall success of Blue Dot Readi-Mix. “I think what’s also equally as important is our everyday-ers that we deal with. From the two-yard patio of the homeowner to the 30,000-yard job. They all hold their own level of importance to us, and we need the small just as much as we need the large.” So, with all the success and achievements Blue Dot Readi-Mix has achieved so far, what does the future hold? Currently it has eight facilities in production every day and is looking to add to that even further. | 18 MAY 2024Advanced data intelligence to transform your operations Gain a deeper understanding of your construction fleet’s performance and make smarter decisions with advanced reporting and analytics. Learn More While the vision for the company is growth and expansion without compromising on the service it has become known for, this local business will always remain close to home. The current plan is to expand out of the Greater Charlotte market and into the Carolinas. When he looks back at Blue Dot’s 20 years of business, Dixon is impressed by the growth and is looking forward to the future. With plans to keep growing, and generations of workers already at Blue Dot, it won’t be long before its work- force significantly increases, and the next phase of Blue Dot employees begins. “We're growing our footprint in terms of reach and we're expanding our coverage area by adding two additional plants. If you look at the snapshot of the last 20 years, it’s incredible. When we started, I think we had 10 or 12 employees. Now we're at 250. So, I guess that’s not bad for 20 years”. | 19 APEIRON CONSTRUCTIONNext >