“In like a lion, and out like a lamb.”

Or at least that’s what March is normally supposed to be like.

Instead, March 2020 will be one that many of us will never forget as we all deal with this very serious crisis that is upon us. These are unprecedented times, and each day brings more news and information to respond to as an industry.

As a business owner, this crisis has put issues in front of me that I never thought I would face. And as president and chair of the Mechanical Contractors Association of Canada, I am consistently mindful of the impact it is having on our close to 1,000 members across Canada. I have no doubt that you are all facing new challenges and hardships that none of us have had any experience in.

With that being said, I think it is important to note just how responsive and innovative our members have been in these trying times. As challenges have arisen, our members across Canada have showcased their willingness to support all Canadians; to ensure the systems Canadians rely on continue to function; and to support the industries and health care professionals on the front-lines of this crisis. On behalf of MCA Canada, I want to thank all of our members for the work that you are all doing.

I know we are facing unique challenges, and I know that our industry will continue to play a vital role for Canada now and into the future as we come out of this crisis. I want to reiterate that MCA Canada is working hard on your behalf, and we will continue to share resources with you while ensuring your voice is heard throughout this crisis. We continue to communicate with our partners and with you, the member; this is something I believe is essential during this time. By working together, with a collective and collaborative voice, we can help our industry get through this unique and unprecedented time.

Also, on a personal level, I would like to be very clear that right now, we need to not only keep communications going at the association level, but also keep a very open line of communication with all our families, friends, business associates, employees and all who live in our communities. Please provide support when needed. We all must do our part to beat this and put it behind us.

I know there are likely unforeseen circumstances and challenges still to come, and I believe our industry will be able to answer the call. But most importantly, I hope you are all staying safe and healthy during this time.

On March 30, MCAC shared a letter with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau outlining some concerns for the mechanical contracting sector as it deals with the COVID-19 pandemic. The association asked that:

• provincial and national health authorities work closely with subtrade associations across Canada to help establish and enforce clear health and safety protocols in the context of COVID-19;
• governments recognize the COVID-19 pandemic as an event outside the control of contractors, and that any delays as a result be regarded as such;
• the federal government support the mechanical contracting sector to ensure financial support for those construction firms affected by the closure of construction sites and any project delays as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic; and
• any accountability on the part of the contractor firm for COVID-19-related claims be removed.

In an effort to help you manage your business through this complex and challenging time, we at MCA Canada have created a dedicated page on our website that is filled with important resources and information on the COVID-19 pandemic.

Recently added are a list of frequently asked questions for employers, including:

• How do I fill out records of employment stemming from COVID-19?
• How has the work-sharing program been modified to address COVID-19?
• What is the temporary wage subsidy?

Look for this information and much more, and check back often for updates.

MCA Canada has launched a series of webinars on topics related to the COVID-19 pandemic and your business. These webinars are aimed at helping firms adapt to this new environment.

Webinar schedule:

• Contract Issues, Force Majeure and COVID-19 – April 1
• Managing Remote Teams During COVID-19 – Tools, Techniques, and Opportunities – April 2
• Counter Measures and a Strategic Response to the Pandemic – April 3

Source: HistoryNet.com

1776: Abigail Adams writes to husband John that women are "determined to foment a rebellion" if the new Declaration of Independence fails to guarantee their rights.
1790: In Paris, France, Maximilien Robespierre is elected president of the Jacobin Club.
1836: The first monthly installment of The Pickwick Papers by Charles Dickens is published in London.
1880: The first electric street lights ever installed by a municipality are turned on in Wabash, Indiana.
1889: The Eiffel Tower in Paris officially opens on the Left Bank as part of the Exhibition of 1889.
1917: The United States purchases the Virgin Islands from Denmark for $25 million.
1918: Daylight Savings Time goes into effect throughout the United States for the first time.
1921: Great Britain declares a state of emergency because of the thousands of coal miners on strike.
1939: Britain and France agree to support Poland if Germany threatens to invade.
1940: La Guardia airport in New York officially opens to the public.
1945: The United States and Britain bar a Soviet supported provisional regime in Warsaw from entering the U.N. meeting in San Francisco.
1948: The Soviet Union begins controlling the Western trains headed toward Berlin.
1949: Winston Churchill declares that the A-bomb was the only thing that kept the Soviet Union from taking over Europe.
1954: The siege of Dien Bien Phu, the last French outpost in Vietnam, begins after the Viet Minh realize it cannot be taken by direct assault.
1960: The South African government declares a state of emergency after demonstrations lead to the deaths of more than 50 Africans.
1966: An estimated 200,000 anti-war demonstrators march in New York City.
1967: President Lyndon Johnson signs the Consular Treaty, the first bi-lateral pact with the Soviet Union since the Bolshevik Revolution.
1970: U.S. forces in Vietnam down a MIG-21, the first since September 1968.
1980: President Jimmy Carter deregulates the banking industry.
1991: Albania offers a multi-party election for the first time in 50 years.