b'CONSTRUCTIONI n f r a s t r u c t u r eI n f r a s t r u c t u r ei n v e s t m e n ti n v e s t m e n th e l p s k e e ph e l p s k e e pt h e c o u n t r yst h e c o u n t r y sc o n s t r u c t i o nc o n s t r u c t i o ni n d u s t r yi n d u s t r yb u o y a n tb u o y a n td u r i n gd u r i n gr o c y t i m e sr o ckk y t i m e sCONSTRUCTION HEALTH CHECKBy Matthew BradfordI ts been a year like few others for CanadianThats not to say the industry faces clear skies ahead construction.TheCOVID-19pandemichas supply chains have been disrupted, bumping up disrupted projects across the country, whilecosts of materials; the industry continues to face a publichealthmeasureshavekeptsectorskilled labour shortage; and with every lockdown stakeholders on constant alert. Yet despite thesecome mass layoffs45,400 jobs lost in the month tough conditions, the industry remains active thanksof January alone. The lingering threat of COVID-19, to surging infrastructure investments and the sectorscombined with lower investor confidence and the innate resilience. fact that some contractors are burning through their backlog, suggests 2021 could be a make-or-break To date, the countrys construction activity has climbedyear for many construction players, particularly smaller 11 per cent above March 2020 levels, with Britishcompanies that make up a large part of the sector.Columbia, Quebec and Ontario leading the indus-trys rebound efforts. B.C. has been the least affectedIt is the small and medium-sized, family-run busi-jurisdiction throughout the pandemic, with activitynesses, which make up 70 per cent of the industry, levels consistently above the baseline except for athat carry much of the upfront costs of projects and few small drops in April and June. are most at risk, notes Mary Van Buren, president of 16A CCAB PUBLICATION2021'