MCA Canada will hold two days of extensive meetings April 9–10 that will help set the association’s direction. Scheduled to meet are the MCA Canada Executive Board, the Conference Committee, all MCAC standing committees, the Managers Council and the MCA Canada Board of Directors. Also meeting are the Construction Education Council and the Mechanical Service Contractors of Canada Board of Governors. Keep an eye on future editions of Just the Fax for details that emerge from these meetings.

Building efficiency together is this year’s theme when representatives of MCA Canada and the Canadian Institute of Plumbing and Heating (CIPH) meet with Members of Parliament, senators and senior policy advisors on April 11. Discussion topics include prompt payment legislation, uniform and harmonized national model codes and regulations, as well as joint Canada-USA standards. The construction industry operates as an integrated system. The parts of that system must work together harmoniously to achieve efficiency. This is why MCAC and CIPH propose that the government work to address payment delays and the regulatory barrier of fragmented model codes that limit the use of emerging technologies and trade across borders.

How do you differentiate your company from virtually every other firm that promises the same thing: the best workmanship, customer service and value? Become an MSCC Certified Contractor! It’s only available to MSCC members, it’s recognized by the Building Owners and Managers Association across Canada, and it clearly demonstrates a level of professionalism that your competitors just don’t have. By now you should have received your pre-populated application form. All you have to do is pull together your information, and have your techs test the exam. We’ve made the process even easier by providing sample documents on the website to help with your application. If you have questions, or need an updated application, please contact Daryl Sharkey at daryl@mcac.ca or 613-232-0492. Set yourself apart from the competition.

Do you have an employee who has a son or daughter currently studying to be in the mechanical contracting industry? Are you a member of an MCA student chapter? If so, we’ve got good news: CEC and Federated Insurance can help offset the financial burden. We are accepting applications for our annual scholarship until June 30. This is the 12th year that Federated Insurance has generously sponsored the scholarship. For further information please contact Tania Johnston at 613-232-5169 or tania@mcac.ca.

• Download scholarship criteria
• Download scholarship application

The WorldSkills Competition, held every two years, is the biggest youth vocational skills event in the world. This October, a Canadian contingent of future industry leaders will descend on Abu Dhabi looking for glory.

Todd Evans, a principal economist with EDC Economics, Mark Casaletto, the president of ConstructConnect Canada, and Buildforce Canada economist Bob Collins all gave their views on the future of the Canadian construction economy at the International Construction Economic Situation and Outlook session held March 21 at the Canadian Construction Association's annual conference in Mexico.

The Canada Green Building Council (CaGBC) says it is pleased to see the federal government's Budget 2017 support of a low-carbon innovation agenda.

Check out the following programs offered by the CEC and our local MCAs in the months ahead!

• MSCC Sales Academy – Toronto, ON – April 19-20 and May 17-18
• Project Scheduling Essentials – Hamilton, ON – May 9 and 15
• Project Scheduling Essentials – Saskatoon, SK – May 16 & 17
• Proactive Service – Vancouver, BC – June 15

Construction may be one of the first industries created by the human race, but an unprecedented wave of technological innovation means fundamental and profound change for the industry.

ServiceTrade is software for mechanical service contractors. ServiceTrade makes it easy to impress customers with media-rich online quotes, after-service reports with photos from techs’ mobile devices, and an online portal with the full service history. Our customer service features enable online engagement throughout the service cycle to build profitable, long-lasting relationships. ServiceTrade streamlines service operations by managing work orders, scheduling planned and emergency services, and integrating with most accounting platforms to eliminate double data entry. We’ll help you go paperless to cut down the amount of time spent tracking down paperwork, so you can invoice customers faster. For more information visit www.servicetrade.com or contact Shelly Bainter at shelly.Bainter@servicetrade.com and 919-246-9900.

Statistics Canada says goods-producing industries grew by 1.1 percent in January, while service-producing industries rose 0.4 percent.

1949: North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) treaty signed in Washington DC
1968: US civil rights activist Martin Luther King Jr. assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee
1975: Microsoft is founded as a partnership between Bill Gates and Paul Allen to develop and sell BASIC interpreters for the Altair 8800

MCA Canada members and their guests will once again tee off for a good cause at this year's Construction Education Council fundraising golf tournament. Book July 12 in your calendar and plan to attend at a new venue: the Royal Ontario Golf Club in Milton, ON. This annual event is a fun and important fundraiser for the CEC. Watch for registration and sponsorship information soon!

• April 9-10: MCA Canada Mid-year Meetings, Ottawa, ON
• April 11: MCAC and CIPH Day on Parliament Hill, Ottawa, ON
• April 20: MCA Hamilton AGM & Trade Show, Hamilton, ON
• April 20: MCA Alberta AGM, Edmonton, AB
• April 21: CANS De-Icer, Halifax, NS
• April 26: MCA Manitoba AGM, Winnipeg, MB
• April 26-27: MCEE Tradeshow, Montréal, QC
• May 5-7: MCA British Columbia/Alberta Conference, Victoria, BC
• May 11-19: MCA of Ontario AGM, Edinburgh, Scotland
• May 25: CANS Golf Tournament, Halifax, NS
• May 26-28: CCA Meetings, St. John’s, NL
• June 6: MCA Canada Western Regional Meetings, Saskatoon, SK
• June 15: MCA Sask/Ron Young Memorial Golf, Moon Lake Golf and Country Club, SK 
• June 22: MCA Sask/ASHRAE Golf Tournament, Deer Valley Golf Club, SK
• June 23: MCA Eastern Regional Meeting, St. John’s, NL
• June 25-27: CIPH Annual Business Conference, Ottawa, ON
• July 12: CEC Golf Tournament, Location TBA
• July 13: CANS Developing Executives Meet and Greet, Halifax, NS
• September 21: CIPHEX Roadshow, St. John’s, NL
• September 29: CANS 155th AGM, St. Andrew's By-The-Sea, NB
• September 29-October 1: MCA Toronto AGM, Collingwood, ON
• October 2-4: CCA Meetings, Niagara Falls, ON
• October 15-18: MSCA Educational Conference, Boca Raton, Florida
• October 17: CIPHEX Roadshow, Edmonton, AB
• October 19: CIPHEX Roadshow, Regina, SK
• November 6-9: MCA Canada’s 76th National Conference, Maui, Hawaii

We still need your help! Operation Eyesight has prevented more than 35 million people from facing the needless tragedy of preventable blindness. Their work is focused in places where blindness can be deadly, especially to those who are very young, old or poor. MCA Canada's members, offices and staff have made significant contributions to help in this worthwhile cause but we still have a long way to go.