b'PRESIDENTS MESSAGEcost and schedule commitments carry contingencies and do everything in their power to source affordable solutions, but affordable solutions may simply not exist. On a macro level, pandemic impacts on the supply side of the food chain are exacerbated by exponential growth on the demand side for what is among the few sectors of the economy to enjoy GDP growth since March of 2020. In Torontos high-rise residential sector, for instance, we had 26 new project applications on the books in July 2021, for a total of 51 buildings with 11,894 dwelling units and 6,894 parking spaces collectively, representing nearly a million square metres of gross floor area. That certainly constitutes growth which in any other context would be great news. On a related note, trades are being asked to scramble when materials do finally arrive and source the equipment and labour to expedite their on-site installations. Need I remind you that construction sector skilled labour demand already exceeds supply, a reality, incidentally, that experts predict will get worse before it gets better. And at the risk of repeating myself, whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.I dont want to sound skeptical but you should know that I always bet the farm on the Toronto Maple Leafs in the play-offs and the last time I made money was 2004. What it comes down to is this. I cant afford to keep betting on a play-off series win for of experience my beloved Leafs and you cant afford to continue to bear the economic brunt of a supply chain crisis that will almost certainly outlive the pandemic.I am not fond of intervention, but the time An extensive portfolio of complexhas come for a cry for help. Governments structural steel fabrication cannot simply stand by and wait for for Bridges, Institutional,the sector to crumble, and buyers of construction need to recognize that the Commercial and Industrial buildings design-bid-build model isnt a viable WE DO IT ALL procurement methodology when the landscape is this volatile.Check us out!As always, we need your help to provide context so we can help you survive and prosper. Together, we can get the help we so desperately need.Respectfully, John Mollenhauer TCA President & CEO8Quarter 32021 BUILDERSDIGEST'