Government Relations

Canadian Government Allocates Funding to Improve Energy Efficiency and Reduce Carbon Emissions

June 02, 2023

On May 29, 2023, Jonathan Wilkinson, Canada’s minister of natural resources, and Scott Pearce, president of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, announced more than $900,000 for six feasibility studies through the Green Municipal Fund’s (GMF) Community Buildings Retrofit initiative to help cities and towns across Ontario find the best approach to reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions at municipally owned buildings.

IIBEC Opposes Cooperative Purchasing Programs in Two States, Scores Victory in Virginia

May 26, 2023

IIBEC sent two separate letters last week opposing the use of cooperative purchasing programs to sidestep qualifications-based selection (QBS) requirements. These letters reflect IIBEC’s commitment to oppose solicitations for design services that negatively affect consultants—and they are producing results.

IIBEC Helps Defeat Florida Legislative Language Expanding Cooperative Purchasing

May 05, 2023

In April, IIBEC sent a letter opposing legislation expanding cooperative purchasing to the members of the Florida Appropriations Committee. IIBEC has long opposed bills that expand cooperative purchasing to include construction design services. Recently, IIBEC submitted testimony opposing a Missouri bill that crossed the threshold and notched a victory when North Dakota exempted all construction services from their cooperative purchasing bill after IIBEC had submitted testimony to the North Dakota Senate State and Local Committee in support of QBS.

IIBEC Leaders Join the 2023 Roofing Day in DC

April 21, 2023

Roofing industry professionals descended upon Washington, DC, April 18–19, 2023, to participate in the 2023 Roofing Day in DC. IIBEC’s delegation, led by Amy Peevey, president, and Brian Pallasch, executive vice president and chief executive officer, was joined by Chris Giffin, immediate past president, and Melissa Lieb, IIBEC Advocacy Committee chair, as well as John Boling, IIBEC’s director of government relations.

IIBEC Opposes Missouri Bill Expanding Cooperative Purchasing to Include Design Services

April 18, 2023

On April 6, 2023, IIBEC submitted testimony to the Missouri State Senate Committee on Governmental Accountability outlining opposition to S. 544, which would expand cooperative purchasing authorizations to include architectural, engineering, and design services.

IIBEC Provides Maine Legislative Panel With Comments on Solar-Ready Mandate

April 12, 2023

IIBEC submitted testimony to a Maine legislative panel as part of the panel’s April 4 discussion of solar-ready mandates for future commercial buildings, ensuring that building enclosure consultants’ interests were made known to the panel.

Canadian Government Confirms Support for Transition to Net Zero

March 23, 2023

Minister of Environment and Climate Change Steven Guilbeault outlined Canada’s support for a net-zero emissions economy through the fostering of economic environmentalism and a range of policies, including the launch of the independent Net-Zero Advisory Body, which will provide advice on the most likely pathways for Canada to reach net zero. Guilbeault made his remarks during a March 20, 2023, speech at the Americana 2023 environmental conference.

North Dakota Senate Panel Protects Building Enclosure Consultants

February 23, 2023

IIBEC recently celebrated another legislative victory, as the North Dakota Senate Committee on State and Local Government on February 17 brought up SB 2370, amended it, and then passed it on a 6–0 vote. The amendment addresses concerns IIBEC raised in its previously submitted testimony and prohibits cooperative purchasing programs from being used to procure construction design services.

Canada Opens Applications for Two Initiatives to Accelerate Building Retrofits

February 16, 2023

On February 9, 2023, Natural Resources Canada issued a statement announcing Calls for Applications for two new initiatives to accelerate building retrofits: the Deep Retrofit Accelerator Initiative (DRAI) and the Greener Neighbourhoods Pilot Program (GNPP).

IIBEC Asks North Dakota Senate Panel to Protect QBS in Cooperative Procurement Bill

February 16, 2023

On February 8, 2023, IIBEC submitted to the North Dakota Senate State and Local Committee testimony in support of qualifications-based selection (QBS) for the procurement of construction design services. Specifically, IIBEC asked the committee to amend SB 2370 “to protect taxpayers and ensure compliance with state requirements regarding the procurement of architecture, engineering, and land surveying services, as outlined by N.D.C.C. Chapter 54-44.7, by inserting a provision prohibiting the purchase of such services via a cooperative purchasing program.”

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Category: Government Relations