PC Leader Doug Ford met early on April 13th with OGCA Board members and CDAO colleagues to talk about the possibilities of a new government in Ontario.

Ford asked members to support his campaign and provide advice and guidance on the issues.

In his remarks and his response to questions, he committed to reduce time to receive building approvals, and reduce the costs of government projects. Mr. Ford addressed a wide range of questions and then met with participants and posed for pictures.

The election has yet to be called but all three parties are in campaign mode. Premier Wynne is making daily announcements about the Budget or the implementation of an earlier initiative; Andrea Horvath has presented an aggressive NDP platform; and Doug Ford is on a cross-province tour.

Changing market conditions between the United States and China are having an effect on the supply of key construction materials. We are seeing increases to steel which has hit many members hard. This trend is likely to continue.

OGCA issued this alert for members, architects and engineers to keep them apprised of the situation.

We all know that Bill 142 is just around the corner, but what does it really mean for the construction and design industry?

The Construction and Design Alliance of Ontario invites its members to Eagles Nest Golf Course on May 14 for an interactive discussion about what firms should expect moving forward.

The session will feature an outstanding panel including our own Paul Raboud. Space is limited - sign up today!

Click here to register for this event.

"Today is May 2, the day I was supposed to take a trip to the Amazon, a trip I planned to be one way with something happening to me to end my suffering. But this recovery program has begun to change my life…It helps us make better choices with our lives.” — Anonymous

To read this week's issue of CCA Weekly, please click here.

The League of Champions had a great time with students from Northview Heights Secondary School on Wednesday, April 18. Jessica DiSabatino, MySafeWork, presented during a morning assembly and invited industry Champions to participate on the panel. With well over 600 grade 10 and 11 students in attendance, there were plenty of questions and a solid discussion.

Students raised concerns about WHMIS, safety from biological hazards, workplace harassment and job security. Many also asked questions on behalf of their parents or other loved ones who work in the skilled trades.

Thanks again to MySafeWork, our volunteer Champions, and the staff at Northview Heights. We’re looking forward to collaborating again so that health and safety stays top-of-mind for students.

On April 23, MySafeWork held its 1st annual Courageous Kick-Off Breakfast.

Sponsored by eCompliance, the event gathered MySafeWork staff, Champions and long-time supporters in advance of the free, one-hour Courageous broadcast that will be held on April 27.

“Safety culture is a journey,” said keynote speaker Josh Lebrun, President & COO of eCompliance.

During his presentation, he highlighted five steps to building a thriving safety culture within any organization:

Step 1: CEO commitment
Step 2: The rise of the safety leader (among senior management)
Step 3: Get employee buy-in (‘tribe’ of safety believers)
Step 4: Demonstrate responsiveness (to employee suggestions)
Step 5: Scaling daily safety activities

The breakfast event was rounded out with a fireside chat between Rob Ellis, MySafeWork and Thomas Teahen, WSIB President & CEO

Register
Register for FREE at www.MySafeWork.com/Courageous

Watch
Watch live: April 27, 1:00PM EST
Watch later: Watch the recording anytime

Visit www.MySafeWork.com for more details on how you can watch or get involved.

The Safety Pass is now available for you and your workforce to start using. To take the safety pass today, register here. 

For those who were not able to make the first webinar, there is another webinar scheduled for May 3 at 11:45 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Please register by clicking here. 

Contractors wishing to create their employer networks to start rolling out Safety Pass for your teams, please reach out to Lori Boone at loriboone@bluedrop.com.

And those interested in using SkillsPass for Safety Pass as well as tracking your own training, please connect with Kathryn Lockhart at kathrynlockhart@bluedrop.com any other inquiries contact OGCA at lyndsy@ogca.ca

April 28 marks the National Day of Mourning in Canada to remember and honour those who have died, been injured or suffered illness in the workplace.

Today, we must re-dedicate ourselves to doing all we can to eliminate workplace injuries and fatalities in making our workplaces healthy and safe.

For events that are happening around the region, please visit WSIB’s Day of Mourning website for more details. 

May is just around the corner, and we cannot wait to celebrate safety in a big way. Please tell us about what you’re doing for Safety Week and how we can support your events.

Mark your calendar | May 7-11 | Power of Choices

The goal is to focus the attention of employers, employees, and all partners to commit to safety and to promote the importance of preventing injury and illness in the workplace, at home and out in the field.

We are asking OGCA members to use the Pledge challenge for a chance to win. Any questions or submissions, contact Lyndsy Miceli at lyndsy@ogca.ca

It was a good ol’ hockey game this past weekend, with 14 teams, which had players from all skill levels come together to hit the rink to raise funds for Threads of Life, a charity that is dedicated to supporting families after a workplace fatality, life-altering injury or occupational disease.

EllisDon has hosted the event for the past decade where it has continued to grow in numbers. It is such a great way to for companies to come together, show their support for a great cause while playing a sport that is loved by many Canadians, hockey.

Funds raised was over $8,500! Outstanding! We want to thank everyone who came out to show their support.

The weekend was filled with camaraderie which is always so inspiring to see. Congratulations to the winning teams who won their division in the finals: United Association (UA) and EllisDon Toronto. For the photo gallery, click here.

Don't forget to start working on your submissions for the 2019 Ontario Builders Awards, which will be presented during the 11th Construction Symposium, April 11-13, 2019 at Blue Mountain in Collingwood.

Application forms can be found here. Deadline is December 15, 2018.

At Fasken, we recognize that our commitment to client service is a commitment to continuous improvement and innovation. That’s why we hired Robert Garmaise, Chief Innovation Officer, to transform how we design and deliver legal services. Click here for more information.

The April 21, 2018 issue of the Ontario Legislative Reports is now available. Please click here to access this issue and previous issues.

Due Diligence Breakfast Seminar | April 26, | Hosted by 4S | register here

Safety Pass Tutorial | May 3, 11:45 a.m – 1:00 p.m. | Hosted by OGCA and SkillsPass | register here 

Update on Legalization of Marijuana and How That Affects Construction | May 9, 11:45 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. | Hosted by Norm Keith | register here

Sorry to advise that the golf tournament is sold out, three months ahead of time! We believe that is a first for OGCA.

If you wish to be put on a waiting list, please contact Mary Wademan (mary@ogca.ca)