On November 21, OGCA representatives took to Queen’s Park for our first Advocacy Day since 2019. The event was successful, with over 15 meetings, including six key Cabinet Ministers.
This event is an integral part of how our association’s advocacy. We want to ensure decision-makers in the 43rd Government of Ontario know the importance of ICI general contractors to our Province. We aim to use the OGCA as a resource on all matters related to construction.
At advocacy day, we brought forward three asks, most importantly, the pressing need to modernize Ontario’s immigration policy with a focus on in-demand construction industry jobs. We also highlighted the need for standardizing procurement and adopting an approach to avoid struck-by hazards on all municipal and provincial projects.
In meetings, delegates emphasized the need for continued leadership to ensure that Ontario uses immigration to meet the workforce demands of the government’s ambitious infrastructure plan. Our Province must recruit, train and retain over 100,000 skilled workers by 2027.
The association also hosted a well-attended reception for MPP and Ministers, sponsored by Pomerleau, Northbridge Insurance and Rosenberg & Parker Canada.
At the reception, Hon. Steven Clark, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing spoke about investing in infrastructure and partnering with industry to build the Province. Other speakers included Deepak Anand, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development; Jamie West, Critic for Labour; and John Fraser, Interim Leader of the Ontario Liberal Party.