With April 28 marking the National Day of Mourning, I would like to encourage everyone to take a moment to reflect on those who have been needlessly hurt or have needlessly lost their lives in the workplace.

As an industry, we must continue to take strides to ensure work can be done safely, and that no injuries or fatalities occur as a result of that work. We must remain committed to safe work environments; not just today, but everyday.

Trade contractors across Canada are concerned that decreased productivity and the reduction in available labour, due to COVID-19, will cause delays on projects. They are also concerned that the increase in costs from the lower productivity and meeting new health and safety operating protocols will have a significant, negative impact on their businesses. The federal government has an important role to play in setting an example, by giving flexibility on timelines and other contract terms as well as providing financial relief on projects tendered before the pandemic to ensure liquidity of the construction industry. We need to make sure that businesses that are continuing their work are doing so in a safe manner that promotes the health of workers. We also need to make sure that continuing work does not lead to undue financial hardship for trade contractors.

The National Trade Contractors Council of Canada (NTCCC) is calling on all trade contractors to write to your local MP to encourage the federal government to support the construction sector. This letter-writing link will allow you to send a pre-written, personalized letter to your Member of Parliament, and the Minister of Public Services and Procurement Canada urging them to take action. It will take about a minute to fill out and will greatly assist our advocacy efforts.

MCA Canada, as part of its commitment to providing members with useful and pertinent information, continues to run a series of webinars on relevant topics.

The following is a list of upcoming webinars from MCA Canada (all times are listed in Eastern):

• In Technology Selection 101: Secrets from a Consultant, you'll learn secrets of how to select software that your company will actually use. Join us for this informative session from technology expert Jeff Sample on April 30, from noon to 1 p.m.
• COVID-19: Proactively Documenting, Monitoring and Mitigating Risks and Impacts will provide a project management/claims management perspective about your duty to mitigate, and will present opportunities to consider during this slow down/shut down time in order to reassess your projects and identify all project risks that can be mitigated to allow for a more seamless restart and improved collaboration moving forward. This session is scheduled for May 1, from noon to 1 p.m.
• In The Business Value of BIM, you'll learn about the value of this exciting new technology from a mechanical contractor's perspective. Topics discussed will include quantifying BIM's benefits for mechanical contractors, how to benchmark yourselves for success with BIM, how to establish realistic goals for BIM success (no matter your expertise) and more. Join us for this session on May 6, from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.
• In Supercharge Revenue Generation Through Your Field Service Technicians, you'll learn about the specific actions your organization can take to improve technician revenue generation effectiveness. This session is scheduled for May 13, from noon to 1 p.m.

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.

There, you'll find recordings of our latest webinars, as well as a list of frequently asked questions for employers, including:

• The latest updates on the COVID-19 economic response plan
• 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.

Source: HistoryNet.com

0357: Constantius II visits Rome for the first time.
1282: Villagers in Palermo lead a revolt against French rule in Sicily.
1760: French forces besieging Quebec defeat the British in the second Battle on the Plains of Abraham.
1788: Maryland becomes the seventh state to ratify the constitution.
1789: The crew of the HMS Bounty mutinies against Captain William Bligh.
1818: President James Monroe proclaims naval disarmament on the Great Lakes and Lake Champlain.
1902: Revolution breaks out in the Dominican Republic.
1910: The first night air flight is performed by Claude Grahame-White in England.
1916: British declare martial law throughout Ireland.
1919: Les Irvin makes the first jump with an Army Air Corps parachute.
1920: Azerbaijan joins the Soviet Union.
1930: The first organized night baseball game is played in Independence, Kansas.
1932: A yellow fever vaccine for humans is announced.
1945: Benito Mussolini is killed by Italian partisans.
1953: French troops evacuate northern Laos.
1965: The U.S. Army and Marines invade the Dominican Republic.
1967: Muhammad Ali refuses induction into the U.S. Army and is stripped of his boxing title.
1969: Charles de Gaulle resigns as president of France.