Industry Liaison

Providing grassroots industry representation through local, provincial, and national committees, one of the primary roles of the Southern Interior Construction Association is to foster an environment that creates a fair and equitable tendering process and overall business practices. Much of what SICA does influences policy and practice in the construction industry to keep you current on new standardized Contract Documents for Publicly Funded Construction Projects and to provide an effective and safe competitive environment.

If you have any questions or comments about SICA's government involvement, please email kelowna@sica.bc.ca.

SICA Lobbying

Providing grassroots industry representation, SICA ensures that accountable, fair, and transparent tendering processes exist in the industry. SICA continues to lobby purchasers to use proper processes, support the use of Standard Construction Documents, and promote an environment in which our members can effectively, safely, and efficiently compete.

Being a member of SICA you are also a member of the following Associations, which keeps you current on all industry concerns.

COCA – The Council of Construction Associations

 

The Council of Construction Associations is the industry's voice when lobbying WCB. The council works on the implementation of administrative fines on workers for knowingly violating a safety regulation, reducing WCB Administration Costs, as well as rationalization and reduction of the Occupational Health & Safety Regulation.
www.bccassn.com/coca/default.aspx

BCCA – British Columbia Construction Association

BCCA represents the industry on a provincial legislative level, working with Government to create guidelines, focus on single bid clause, reasonable mark-ups, and use of construction management, as well as developing the Online Planroom, the provincial electronic plan room.
www.bccassn.com

CCA - Canadian Construction Association

CCA provides national industry representation, working on issues such as lobbying to break the exclusivity of MERX for federal tenders, and effective implementation of the Federal Infrastructure Program. The association has earned the industry decreases in E.I. rates and reductions in federal, personal, and corporate tax.
http://cca-acc.com/en/

An example of successful lobbying by CCA:

Limiting Contractor Liability on Federal Renovation Projects

The Federal Government self-insures its buildings and facilities and yet contractually holds the Contractor responsible for damage to its existing property under renovation contracts without limitation. CCA was able after many years of intense discussions to reach an agreement with Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC) to introduce monetary limits to the Contractor's liability for damage to existing federal property. Defence Construction Canada has also agreed to the identical provisions. CCA hopes to see these new provisions also included in contracts let by PWGSC's AFD Contractor and other federal departments and agencies.

Public Construction Committee Meetings

PCC Meetings bring forward construction issues in a non-partisan, open dialogue way with buyers of construction within our communities, in an effort to reach a united voice for regional, provincial, and national construction industry issues.

Construction Alert Newsletter

A publication for the buyers of construction services, the Construction Alert Newsletter is issued on a quarterly basis and includes information on production and dissemination of project plans, tendering and bidding procedures, and general legislation affecting industry participants.

Click to read issues of our Construction Alert Newsletter