construction sector will change, thanks in part to the changing nature of public project management. “This idea of standing on the sidelines with your arms folded waiting for a contractor to do something is not going to work,” he noted. “We need to lean in and do what’s necessary to get the contractor to succeed…. In the last year, we’ve settled our differences on at least two or three big contracts and found the way forward for everybody to be a success. I firmly believe that in contracting you don’t have winners or losers. Either both parties win, or both lose.” Mollenhauer asked Verster what he has done to ensure his senior people are listening to construction professionals and creating ongoing dialogue. “Probably not enough,” replied the Metrolinx CEO. “We could do significantly better.” Listening to the market, firming up procurement meth- odology and focusing on results rather than dictating the means of achieving them are critical areas to consider, he noted. “With the GO expansion, a year ago we were still specifying in a design-bid-build mindset,” Verster said. “We got teams to understand that we want eight trains an hour on the Stouffville line. I really don’t mind what the model looks like. We will not specify anything on GO expansion; we’ll just say what we want and let the market innovate for us.” Verster touched on the idea of “building smarter solutions” – a fundamental change in the way public transportation projects are funded. He explained that while earlier, government funded the construction of COMMON SPACES. EXTRAORDINARY RESULTS. PROVIDING QUALITY CONDOMINIUM RENOVATIONS & MAINTENANCE info@torontodecorating.com torontodecorating.com 905-944-1385 Taking the stage at the CEO Power Breakfast were (from left) Mark Casaletto, President of ConstructConnect Canada; Phil Verster, Metrolinx President and the morning’s guest speaker; and John Mollenhauer, President, TCA Builders' Digest Quarter 4 2018 | 13