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Industry News In Brief (continued from page 7 set April 11 as the trial date for Eco Manufacturing’s challenge of Honeywell’s patent following a hearing on Jan. 16. Eco, Lebanon, Indiana, plans to re-file a motion for summary judgement contending that Honeywell’s trademark is invalid. On Dec. 31 Eco also won a ruling from the U.S. Court of Appeals allowing it to move forward with the manufacturing and distribution of its EcoStat X-15 round thermostat released early in 2003. A federal judge had stated in October 2003 that “The round shape…cannot be protected by a valid trademark…and was the subject of a long-expired utility patent…Honeywell is unlikely to prevail on the merits of its trademark claims …” ICI construction up 5.7% Statistics Canada reported in January that total annual nonresidential construction investment in 2003 was $26.0 billion, an increase of 5.7% over 2002. In the fourth quarter, governments continued to pump additional funds into the sector (+2.8% to $2.4 billion) while businesses reduced their expenditures (-1.9% to $4.2 billion). Investment in industrial buildings ended the fourth quarter down 1.7% to $1.2 billion, while investments in commercial building construction fell 2.0% to $3.0 billion. Apartment owners refrubish Apartment landlords have spent millions on refurbishing their apartment buildings across Canada – and continue to do so. Those renovations created about 30,000 jobs in each of the six years from 1995 to 2000, the Fair Rental Policy Organization of Ontario (FRPO) reported. Boardwalk Equities, Calgary, Alta., Canada’s largest apartment landlord with 31,000 units in Alta., Sask., Ont. and Que., spent more than $300- million since 1998, the firm reported. The Canadian Apartment Properties Real Estate Investment Trust (CAP REIT) of Toronto, which owns 13,500 rental apartments and town homes in N.S., Que., Ont., Sask. and Alta., spent $17-million in just nine months of 2003 after spending $17.5-million in all of 2002. Ontario’s apartment renovation boom began when rent controls were reduced in 1987. Capital expenditures in Ontario rose to an annual average of $1,178 per unit between 1995 and 2000. The previous average was $368. This was from a survey of 800 FRPO members. Construction growth will continue The Canadian construction industry is expected to record impressive growth over the next two years, reported Informetrica, economic forecasters for the Canadian Construction Association (CCA), in its annual construction industry economic forecast. Many sectors of the construction industry are coming off a relatively flat year in 2003. In <strong>2004</strong>, the gross output of the construction industry is expected to rise by 4.5 per cent, while in 2005, anticipated growth is in the range of 3.9 per cent. Growth is then expected to moderate to two per cent by 2006. With Canadian gross output just over $1 trillion, the construction industry will continue to account for just over 12 per cent of Canada’s GDP. Following several years of strong employment growth (4.6% in 2002 and 4.4% in 2003), it is expected that the labour market will tighten in <strong>2004</strong>. However, employment growth will pick up again in 2005 with an increase in the construction labour force of 3.4%. Non-residential on a roll The figures become even more interesting when breaking the industry down Circle Number 109 for More Information into its various sectors: residential construction, non-residential building construction, engineering, and repair construction. Because of projected investment in public infrastructure, non-residential building construction is expected to outpace on average most other construction sectors over the next three years with growth rates of 4.3 per cent in <strong>2004</strong>, six per cent in 2005, and 6.3 per cent in 2006. Only engineering construction activity is expected to outpace non-residential growth in <strong>2004</strong> with a growth rate of 7.5 per cent. Much of the above growth can be attributed to mega-projects such as Voisey’s Bay in Labrador, hydroelectric developments in Quebec and the oil sands in Northern Alberta, the report stated. With nearly 50 Beckett years among them, “our group dynamic and efficiency are terrific,” says Garth Hunt of his team of 6. For customers, that means experience, expertise, and reliability. “Customers don’t call for a department. They call for a person they know by name.” 1-800-665-6972 info@beckettcanada.ca After earning his stripes in shipping, Nathan Grieve was eager to take on more responsibility and now oversees the demands of responsive and customer-focused order fulfillment. His natural successor? Kid sister Jessica. They’re the heart of Beckett’s customer service. “Beckett is about respect,” says Nathan. “We’re with family at work.” Circle Number 110 for More Information Circle Number 111 for More Info www.plumbingandhvac.ca March/April <strong>2004</strong> – <strong>Plumbing</strong> & <strong>HVAC</strong> Product News 9
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