Jun 12, 2020
This week on The Construction Record podcast, Daily Commercial News and Journal of Commerce national managing editor Vince Versace and Journal of Commerce digital media editor Warren Frey take a look at the response across the Canadian construction industry to the protests in the United States and Canada in the wake of George Floyd’s death at the hands of the Minneapolis police.
Many construction associations and companies tweeted their support for the Black Lives Matter movement on Jun 2 with a “blackout tile” graphic and others such as the BC Building Trades and EllisDon released statements in support of the movement. Vince and Warren also discuss how they’ve seen the industry change over time, though there’s still a long way to go before the industry reaches its goals regarding diversity.
Vince also spoke to Sean Reid, who has spent time in both the technology and construction industries and says the two industries should be allies, not enemies. Reid recently wrote an Industry Perspectives Op-Ed in response to Jim Balsillie’s recent National Post editorial imploring the Canadian government to concentrate on digital technology over infrastructure. Reid also reflects on his time with the Progressive Contractors Association of Canada and his work with the Ontario construction industry.