Construction industry asks Sask. to keep sites open, safe

SASKATOON Saskatchewan’s construction industry wants to keep workers on the job, but would like more clarity from the provincial government.

Mark Cooper, president and CEO of the Saskatchewan Construction Association (SCA), wrote a letter to Premier Scott Moe on Sunday asking for clarity around the rules on public gatherings.

Cooper said in an interview Tuesday that industry in the province is expecting a move at some point to restrict workplaces that are allowed to open to workers deemed essential in response to the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Cooper would like construction sites to remain on the essential list for as long as possible so the estimated 53,000 workers in the industry in Saskatchewan can stay on the job. Some provinces have moved to close any workplaces not deemed essential, but have included construction among the exempt industries.

“We’re having discussions with government on what is and what isn’t essential,” Cooper said. “All indications are that they intend to keep construction sites open as long as they can.”

The provincial government introduced rules that limit public gatherings to no more than 25 people, although NDP Leader Ryan Meili urged that number be reduced to five on Tuesday.

There remains uncertainty on construction sites throughout the province regarding whether the new regulations to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic apply to workers on site, Cooper said. The uncertainty has resulted in some companies choosing to halt production, although Cooper declined to reveal specific examples.

In consultation with the Saskatchewan Construction Safety Association, the SCA has compiled a list of guidelines for construction sites during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The measures proposed include increased handwashing stations, enhanced cleaning and disinfecting, social distancing and education on how to avoid spreading the disease.

A construction site ban is proposed for those who have travelled within 14 days, those who feel sick and those whose family or contacts have COVID-19 symptoms.

“We can’t have everyone on employment insurance right now,” Chris Guerette, chief executive officer of the Saskatoon and Region Home Builders Association (SRHBA), said in an interview Tuesday.

Guerette said she also believes some sort of essential services restriction will come to Saskatchewan in response to COVID-19.

“We are absolutely not kidding ourselves that this is coming here,” she said.

The SRHBA sent a letter to Moe on Monday, arguing that residential construction should be considered an essential service.

Guerette said measures such as limiting construction sites to one trade at a time will extend the timeline for a project, but allow work to continue.

Based on her conversations with a medium-sized construction company, the timeline for an 18week project — like a single-family home — would stretch to 20 weeks if trades were limited in access to sites.