The Construction Record Podcast™ – Episode 324: RESCON president Richard Lyall on the Fall Economic Statement

On this episode of The Construction Record Podcast™, digital media editor Warren Frey speaks with Residential Construction Council of Ontario president Richard Lyall about the federal government's Fall Economic Statement, introduced by deputy prime minister and finance minister Chrystia Freeland on Nov 21. Lyall reflected on the parts of the statement of benefit to the residential construction industry, including a substantial focus on housing including billions committed to increasing supply. However he cautioned what's needed to truly see change is a housing 'Marshall Plan' involving all three levels of government coordinated to identify where housing is needed and what sort of housing should be built. He also said the housing crisis is not an ideological problem but rather a reflection of market inefficiency and a tendency in previous decades to focus on high-rises when what's needed is additional mid and low-rise buildings in addition to high-rise stock. In Daily Commercial news and Journal of Commerce headlines, Construction stakeholders are calling for swift action from the Ontario government to address confusion over the health and safety responsibilities of municipal project owners in the wake of the controversial Supreme Court of Canada decision in R. v. Greater Sudbury. We also have another story from the Canadian Council for Public Private Partnerships P3 conference in Toronto about a panel that examined both the successes and challenges of the Eglinton Crosstown West Extension project. From the west, we highlight the Wascana Pool in Regina, which is setting a new standard in Canada by focusing on inclusivity and accessibility, and in both publications John Bleasby's Inside Innovation column looks at both the advantages and risks of drones in construction and our Brownfield Remediation Feature includes a story from Dan O'Reilly about the Birchley Park development, termed a "brownfield gem" in Toronto's Quarry Lands. You can listen to The Construction Record on the Daily Commercial News and Journal of Commerce websites as well as on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Amazon Music's podcast section. Our previous podcast with Angela Gismondi's interviews with Dara Calleary, Ireland's minister of state for trade promotion, digital and company regulation, about the launch of the Ireland-Canada Construction Network, an initiative to share products, skills, and innovations between the two nations is here. Thanks for listening. DCN-JOC News Services Ontario stakeholders scramble in reaction to Sudbury SCC decision A deep dive into the successes, challenges of the Eglinton Crosstown West Extension Birchley Park development a brownfield gem in Toronto's 'Quarry Lands' Crane lowers three injured workers to safety after Vancouver scaffolding collapse Diving into inclusivity: Regina's Wascana Pool aims to set a new standard in Canada Inside Innovation: Office to residential conversions are just one option to avoid stranded assets