Unfortunately, based on my travels and feedback, most of the industry seems to be blissfully asleep when it comes to understanding the Tsunami of change that will first hit this July 1st. For several years, the topic of Prompt Payment and Lien Act Reform has been a major industry issue. The OGCA has been working, like many organizations, to ensure as fair and transparent a system as possible.

Each year IO conducts a third-party review of its project delivery results and makes the results public. We are proud to share the 2017 Track Record report online.

Click here to read the Report

Featured in this issue:

• OCEA Gala wrap-up
• Watch out for Canstructures
• Matthews no stranger to engineering or construction

Ontario and the City of Toronto have reached a major milestone in the integrated GO Regional Express Rail (RER)/SmartTrack project that will add six new GO/SmartTrack stations in the city, and transform GO Transit into an affordable and convenient option for trips within Toronto.

For more information, please click here.

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 14th for an interactive discussion about what firms should expect moving forward. 

The May 4 issue of the Weekly Newsletter is now available. Please click here to read.

The City of Toronto is considering new requirements for construction dust mitigation and is inviting you to participate in a public consultation. Specifically, they are looking at dust that is created by cutting stone, rock, concrete, tile and insulation for residential construction. Staff have been directed by City Council to recommend new dust control measures for Toronto.

The City is holding a public meeting on Tuesday, May 15, 2018, from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm at North York Civic Centre, Committee Room 1, to seek input from the public on potential requirements for construction dust mitigation.

If you cannot attend this meeting, they encourage you to provide your ideas for changes to the current bylaw by emailing mlsfeedback@toronto.ca.

11-kilometre, 18-stop system to be completed in 2023.

TORONTO – Infrastructure Ontario and Metrolinx announced today that Mosaic Transit Group (Mosaic) has signed a contract valued at $2.5 billion to design, build, finance and maintain the Finch West Light Rail Transit project. Mosaic’s successful proposal will deliver the LRT by 2023. Click here to read more…

The League of Champions is excited about the start of Safety Month and Safety Week 2018, The Power of Safe Choices. We will be busy attending member events during May 7-11, and are open to invitations for the rest of the month.

If you haven’t already done so, we encourage you to let us know about your company’s safety-related meetings, events and seminars that will be taking place across the province for the month of May.

Also, don’t forget to tag us on social media! Include @theLOChampions on Twitter and remember the hash tag #SafetyWeek!

On April 26, the League of Champions attended Black & McDonald Limited’s Southern Ontario Utility Region safety event. Black & McDonald is the newest member to be inducted into the League.

Anthony Di Gianni, Regional Health & Safety Manager, kicked things off with an explanation of the Workers Day of Mourning. He also invited staff and guests to observe a moment of silence on behalf of the Humboldt Bronchos players, and victims of the recent Toronto van attack.

Rob Ellis, MySafeWork, followed up with an excellent presentation and officially welcomed the organization to the League. Chuck Mossman, Regional General Manager, accepted the Member Certificate and Jersey of Courage on behalf of his team.

Black & McDonald is an electrical subtrade based in Toronto, with regional offices throughout Canada and the United States. For more information, please visit http://www.blackandmcdonald.com.

Congratulations and welcome again.

OGCA and MySafeWork reps pose with a team from George Brown College

On Friday, April 27, one day before the Workers Day of Mourning, MySafeWork hosted its second annual Courageous broadcast.

With over 490 locations, 150 businesses, and 50 families registered, this year’s event was a huge success.

Raymond Ablack (actor, formerly of Degrassi: The Next Generation) hosted the event and welcomed its four main speakers: Rob Ellis (MySafeWork), Matt Litow (certified thermographer), Jessica DiSabatino (MySafeWork), and Rachel Guest (media entrepreneur).

Throughout the broadcast, students were reminded of three essential keys:

• Heads Up
• Link Up
• Speak Up

In case you missed it, watch the Courageous recording at http://mysafework.com

The goal of Safety Week is to focus employers, employees, partners and the public on the importance of preventing injury and illness in the workplace, at home, and in the community.

In support of Safety week, OGCA members have organized many high profile events, including educational sessions related to Health and Safety, as well as the Safety Pass.

This year’s theme is “The Power of Safe Choices.” In addition to the public events this week, OGCA has received safety messages from its members and others, including the Hon. Kevin Flynn and Clive Thurston.

In Ontario, we recognize forward-thinking companies that are trying to be part of the cultural shift in safety. We encourage other companies to be aware of the strides being made and become part of the momentum that will excel Ontario’s safety record from the bottom to the top of the list in provincial safety. Together, we can make health and safety work!

Check out what OGCA members are up to. Click here.

HHCA is holding a Mock Coroner's Inquest, based on a fall from height scenario.

Have you ever been part of a workplace accident or, even worse, a fatality? Unfortunately this is something that happens too often in construction. Have you ever wondered what happens AFTER the Ministry of Labour has completed their investigation of a fatality on a job site? This is your opportunity to see first-hand what happens when a Coroner's Inquest takes place. Please click here to register.

The Ministry of Labour, in collaboration with health and safety system partners, has developed new one-day training resources for Health and Safety Representatives (HSRs) in small businesses. The Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) requires employers to ensure that workplaces with 6-19 workers have an HSR. HSRs play an important role in ensuring workplaces are kept safe and healthy.

Last month we launched the Safety Pass to OGCA and League of Champion members, and this week we are making it available to the whole Ontario construction industry. It’s a fantastic training tool that is available on-line, free of charge. OGCA members, including EllisDon and Alberici, are already using it with their employees and are working with their subcontractors to encourage them to participate. General contractors across Ontario are considering using Safety Pass as a requirement for access to their sites. It fills an important need by providing hazard awareness orientation that is portable, transferable and free.

Just wanted to let you know that Naylor did the draw for the $100 gift card for completing the OGCA Communications Survey, and the winner was Karen Ma from APP Member Pumpcrete.

Pinchin, an OGCA Associate Partner, is offering free breakfast seminars on a variety of topics.

Please click here for more information and to register.

Late on Tuesday, May 8 or Wednesday, May 9, Kathleen Wynne will make the walk from her 2nd floor East Wing office to the Lieutenant Governor’s Suite on the 2nd floor of West Wing office of the Legislative Building to ask to dissolve Parliament to call for a June 7th election. This will put an end to the 41st Legislature and set up a month of hyper-political campaigning.

A few legislative initiatives remain to be addressed before she takes this walk. Bill 31 - the Budget Bill, and Bill 53 - the Government Contract Wages Act are in place for Third and final ready on the morning of the 8th. At this writing, it’s not clear if Labour Minister Flynn will be successful at introducing and passing back to work legislation for the York University Strike.

Bill 53 is a curious proposal for the construction industry. It introduces powers that already exist, to set and require a fair wage be paid to every employee working on government owned and occupied buildings. A fair wage schedule has been set and enforced under the Employment Standards Act for decades, but the Bill proposes to establish and enforce minimum contract wages in the cleaning, security and construction sectors.

It also establishes a Director of Contract Wages be appointed to oversee the establishment of the wage schedules and to respond to complaints and inquiries.

We encourage all members to involve themselves in the campaign by supporting the candidate of their choice. Campaigns matter. The PCs entered each of the past three elections with leads, only to have the Liberals win the campaign and the election.

We expect three televised leaders' debates, and Third Party advertising will again try to focus the discussion and change minds. The fight for the right to form a government is never for the timid and we expect it to dominate the media right to the end.

The May 6 edition of the Ontario Legislative Reports is now available. Please click here to review. Previous issues of the Ontario Legislative Reports can be found here.

On Wednesday, May 9, Norm Keith will be educating OGCA members on the adverse effects of Marijuana and the impact it will have on the construction industry. For those wishing to participate, there is still availability. Click here to register your spot today!

On Thursday, May 31, 4S Consulting Services Inc. is delivering a breakfast seminar on Due Diligence which will provide you with vital information pertaining to health and safety and your bottom line. You can register for this seminar by clicking here.

On Wednesday, June 13, Eric Lee, from the Canadian Construction Association (CCA), will be delivering a webinar on CCDC 5A and 5B. Stay tuned - more details to follow.

If you are interested in putting on a webinar for OGCA members, please contact Lyndsy Miceli for details at lyndsy@ogca.ca or call at 905-671-3969