The MCAC Member Multimedia Information Program delivers timely and valuable information to our entire membership via email (Just The Fax), the internet (www.mcac.ca) and direct mail. The program’s goal is to provide every MCA member with regular information on upcoming events, programs and projects. In addition, each communication will feature one of our Membership Advantage Programs, which can save you thousands of dollars each year.

This month's program is brought to you thanks to the generosity of our featured associate member, TACO CANADA.

• MCA Canada’s 77th Annual National Conference – MCA Canada will host its national conference at the one and only picturesque village of Whistler, British Columbia. Be sure to mark your calendars for September 19–22, 2018. This will be a conference you do not want to miss!
• NEW Membership Advantage Program – MCA Canada partners with Shell! Join now and save 5¢ per litre! The Shell Fleet Navigator Card is a pre-approved MasterCard that gives you savings on fuel, car washes and more! Use it at over 1,300 Shell stations, as well as any other service station or maintenance location where MasterCard is accepted. Save Big. Save 5¢ off each litre of fuel purchased at Shell stations until September 30 and 3¢ per litre thereafter. Get 500 AIR MILES when you make your first purchase by October 15, 2018. Get up to 30 percent off car washes at participating Shell locations, as well as a 10 percent discount on Jiffy Lube products and services, including oil changes, on purchases over $100. Get access to discounted 24/7 roadside assistance. Take advantage of this extraordinary discount by contacting MCA Canada at mcac@mcac.ca, visiting www.mcac.ca or calling 613-232-0492. Please note MCA Canada is no longer partnered with PetroCanada.
• This month's program brought to you by TACO CANADA - Taco is much more than a manufacturer, it is a way of doing business. Whether you are a commercial or residential installer, an engineer, architect, or building owner, registration opens the door to our vast training and support network. The FloPro Team, Taco University, webinars, blogs, videos, and free system design software are just some of the value-adds we provide for our customers.

In an effort to better understand our members, MCA Canada has embarked on a national survey of the membership in partnership with the provincial and zone MCAs. The survey is limited to six questions and requires only a check box in most instances, so it can be completed in under a minute. The information will only be used for association purposes and will not be given to anyone outside the association. We are asking all members to take just a minute and complete this very important project.

It is with great sadness that we share with you the passing of one of our most dedicated industry members. Barry Thomas William Cousins passed away peacefully on March 16 at the age of 78 years. He was born at the Calgary General Hospital, graduated from Crescent Heights High School and remained in Calgary his entire life. In addition to raising and loving his large family, Barry and Connie also looked after over 100 foster children during a period of over twenty years while being involved in the Alberta foster care program. Barry spent his entire adult working career at Crane Supply and made many friends throughout his fifty years working in the plumbing and HVAC industry. Should friends or family wish to pay their respects, please consider a donation directly to the Prostate Cancer Centre, c/o Rockyview General Hospital, 6500 – 7007 14 Street SW, Calgary, AB T2V 1P9. Condolences may be forwarded through www.mcinnisandholloway.com.

Kevin Wong is the recipient of the Canadian Institute of Plumbing and Heating (CIPH) Joseph K. Seidner Award. Wong is the former executive director of the Canadian Water Quality Association (CWQA) and technical manager at CIPH. He retired from CWQA in March 2017 and from CIPH in February 2018, after 12 years of service with the association. Congratulations, Kevin.

As promised last year, the Canadian Construction Association (CCA) embarked on a year-long process engaging with members, stakeholders and staff from across the country to develop a new five-year plan launching in our centennial year.

A majority (75 percent) of Canadians ‘agree’ (35 percent strongly/40 percent somewhat) that the Trudeau government should stop the sale of Canadian companies to foreign investors (up 7 points since a similar poll conducted in 2012), according to a new Ipsos poll.

Parliament’s spending watchdog says the Liberals are slipping further behind on their infrastructure program, noting in a new report that only half of the $14.4 billion earmarked for the first phase of the infrastructure plan has been set aside for projects.

The Canadian Hydronics Council will host a special webinar on April 26 on the design and installation of hydronic snow-and-ice melting systems to optimize efficiency. This introductory session includes a discussion of benefits, applications, installation techniques, design considerations, control strategies and operating costs. Delivered by Lance MacNevin of the Plastic Pipes Institute, the webinar will last one hour. The cost to register is $99 per site.

Dubbed the Arbour, the 12-storey George Brown College campus will take advantage of recent innovations in sustainable building design.

Canadian municipalities issued $8.4 billion in building permits in January, up 5.6 percent following a 2.5 percent rise in December. The value of permits for three components rose, while industrial buildings (-18.6 percent) and single-family dwellings (-1.3 percent) declined. 

Contractors' prices for new non-residential building construction rose 0.8 percent in the fourth quarter. Higher prices to build industrial (+0.9 percent), commercial (+0.7 percent) and institutional (+0.9 percent) structures all contributed to the gain.

837: Halley's Comet makes its closest approach to Earth: 5.1 million kilometres.
1606: The Virginia Company of London is created to establish colonial settlements in North America.
1842: Halifax incorporated; originally called Chebucto, after Mi'kmaq, Chief Harbour.
1912: RMS Titanic sets sail from Southampton, England on her maiden and only voyage.
1916: The Professional Golfers' Association of America is created in New York City.
1925: The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald is first published.
1937: Act of Parliament creates Trans-Canada Airlines, now Air Canada.
1947: Founding of National Wildlife Week to honour conservationist Jack Miner.
1970: Paul McCartney announces that he is leaving The Beatles, formally ending them.
1972: Tombs containing bamboo slips, among them Sun Tzu's Art of War, are accidentally discovered by construction workers in China.

The Canadian Construction Documents Committee (CCDC) is launching cross-country seminars this month to introduce new and updated documents.

Scheduled for June 10–12 in Montreal, the Canadian Apprenticeship Forum’s popular biennial event attracts more than 500 apprenticeship stakeholders to sessions that highlight promising practices and innovative solutions related to apprenticeship training.

• 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 4–5: 24th Skills Canada Competition, Edmonton, AB
• June 10–15: UA National Skills Competition, Edmonton, 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

Check out the latest issue of Sightlines, the official newsletter of Operation Eyesight. In its Spring 2018 edition, the charity highlights several success stories where its work has impacted the lives of ordinary people. The other big news is that Operation Eyesight was again named among the Financial Post’s top Canadian charities in 2017. MCA Canada is proud to support Operation Eyesight, and we encourage you to donate to this very worthy cause.