With record-setting low temperatures across the nation, it’s a good time for us to review the potential hazards associated with extremely cold working conditions. The two major concerns are hypothermia and frostbite. Hypothermia results from the loss of body temperature. Symptoms include shivering, apathy, loss of consciousness, decreasing pulse rate, and decreasing breathing rate. Frostbite occurs in freezing conditions. The nose, ears, cheeks, chin, fingers and toes are the body parts most likely to be affected.

From Total Energy Systems: Dave Tam, Dustin Kozey, Effy Juan, Jason Ferraro, Johnny Martinez, Jose Martinez, Keith Clarke, Kyle Coxworth, Mark Ellip, Nathan Morris, Paul Kereluk, Scott Kenmuir and Sean Moody.

From Derksen Plumbing & Heating: Andrew Uebel, Carlos Miranda, Aaron Barley, Rob Mclean and Ian Wight.

From Caon Services: Jesse Foster, Sean Ginn, Timothy Scully, Brian Hunka, Ryan Hook and Carson Haywrad.

From the State Group: Mario Benacquista, Emilio Nigro and Glen Hacock.

To find out how you can become a Gold Standard Technician, visit www.servicecontractor.ca. Congratulations to all our recently certified techs!

The federal government is moving full steam ahead with plans to legalize recreational marijuana and the new rules are set to take effect by July 1, 2018. Across Canada, contractors are very concerned with the impending legalization of marijuana, which could undermine efforts to cut down on workplace accidents and enforce site safety rules.

The federal government has laid out a tough set of proposed new regulations to prohibit the use, sale, import and export of asbestos and products that contain it, as well as the manufacture of products containing the cancer-causing mineral.

The CSA Group has released the 2018 Canadian Electrical (CE) Code, Part I with 260 updates and revisions to Canada’s electrical safety system.

When the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) issued its environmental performance report for Canada recently, it devoted an entire chapter to urban wastewater management.

The Construction Education Council (CEC) proudly presents the exclusive Gold Seal and Blue Seal Accredited Project Management Program. The highly acclaimed program is offered in partnership with the University of Waterloo. The program takes place over a 10-day period and is split into two five-day sessions. This will mark the 40th session offered with nearly 900 industry managers graduating from the program.

Smart technology can reduce a commercial building's energy use by nearly a fifth, according to the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy's recent report, Smart Buildings: a Deeper Dive into Market Segments.

A new study by consulting firm Frost & Sullivan finds that reducing operational costs, improving customer experience and improving digital presence will be top drivers for IT investment.

Canplas Industries Ltd. is a member of the Aliaxis Group of companies, a global leader of plastic solutions for fluid transport in the field of building materials. The Aliaxis Group provides products for both residential and commercial building markets, in new build and renovation segments, as well as a wide range of solutions for industrial and public utility applications.

The value of building permits issued by Canadian municipalities declined 7.7 percent to $7.7 billion in November, the first decrease in three months. Nationally, the value of permits for all building components declined, with the exception of single-family dwellings. The value of building permits for non-residential structures fell 12.3 percent to $2.9 billion in November, following two monthly increases. As of November, Canadian municipalities had issued over $100 million more in building permits in 2017 compared to the 2016 total, led by higher construction intentions for universities, hospitals and manufacturing plants.

27 BC: Gaius Julius Caesar is granted the title Augustus by the Roman Senate, marking the beginning of the Roman Empire.
1800: John Bliss fights the first duel in New Brunswick against Samuel Stuart.
1905: Frank McGee scores 14 goals as Ottawa Silver 7 beat Dawson City Nuggets 23-2 for the Stanley Cup.
1939: Joe Shuster from Toronto publishes his first self-titled Superman comic strip.
1960: Gordie Howe of the Detroit Red Wings gets a goal and an assist to pass Rocket Richard as the NHL's leading scorer.
1965: Lester Pearson signs Canada-U.S. Auto Pact with U.S. President Lyndon Johnson.
1969: Soviet spacecrafts Soyuz 4 and Soyuz 5 perform the first-ever docking of manned spacecraft in orbit, the first-ever transfer of crew from one space vehicle to another, and the only time such a transfer was accomplished with a space walk.
1991: Coalition forces go to war with Iraq, beginning the Gulf War.

Scheduled for February 21 in Toronto, Marijuana in the Workplace: Best Practices for Your Company and Employee Expectations is a symposium for occupational health and safety leaders and decision makers across all industries. The symposium will bring together a panel of experts and industry leaders who will address hot-button issues regarding the legalization of recreational marijuana and its implications on workplace safety in Canada. Attendees will gain insights on compliance, rights and learn best practices in ensuring fitness for duty, manage worker expectations and balance compliance/enforcement with employee privacy.

• March 12–15: CCA Conference, Banff, AB
• March 15: MCA Saskatchewan AGM, Regina, SK
• March 25–29: MCA America Convention, San Antonio, TX
• April 18: MCA Manitoba AGM, Winnipeg, MB
• April 22–29: MCA Ontario Conference, St. Lucia
• May 3–6: MCA British Columbia Conference, Whistler, BC
• May 7–9: MCA Canada Midyear Meetings, Ottawa, ON
• May 8: MCA Canada & CIPH Day on the Hill, Ottawa, ON
• May 31–June 3: MCA Alberta Conference & AGM, Kananaskis, AB
• June 17–19: CIPH Annual Business Conference, Whistler, BC
• July 11: CEC Annual Golf Tournament Fundraiser, Milton, ON
• September 7–9: MCA Toronto Conference & AGM, Muskoka, ON
• September 19–22: MCA Canada Annual National Conference, Whistler, BC
• October 1–3: BOMEX 2018, Calgary, AB

Aon Risk Solutions has been a longstanding partner of MCA Canada on the commercial and bonding side of the insurance business. We have expanded that partnership to include group purchasing power for personal home and auto insurance. Available to all members and their entire staff, you can now offer complete home and auto rates of up to 20 percent off home and 13 percent off auto rates based on Aon’s already low rates. (Please note that due to provincial auto legislation, the auto insurance program is not available in BC, SK and MB). You can find all the information you need at www.mcac.ca. You can also call 613-232-0492 or email mcac@mcac.ca.

As we turn the calendar to 2018, it's important to reflect on our achievements. In that spirit, the fact that MCA Canada, its members and partners have raised more than $155,000 to date in support of Operation Eyesight is a feat worth celebrating. Operation Eyesight celebrated a number of achievements of its own in 2017, and these are highlighted in a special new year's message from the charity. Check it out to see how your donation dollars are being used to save lives in the developing world.