The OGCA and the OAA have been working to update this document for the industry. We have also created a second document that deals with close-out post July 1, 2018 which was the inception of the new Construction Act.

This document is now available for purchase from both Associations and replaces the previous Document 100.

We are proud to have worked with our partners at the OAA to update these documents and bring them to you, our members. The close-out document has proved, over the years, to be one of the most popular and most used reference documents by owners and their consultants.

We would like to thank Mr. Glenn Ackerley of WeirFoulds LLP for his assistance in vetting these documents.

If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to send them through our website and we will get you answers as quickly as possible.

The OGCA has worked long and hard on the development of the new Construction Act that has been implemented in Ontario.

The first part of the Act came into force July 1, 2018. It deals with modernizing the past Lien Act as well as introducing requirements for bonding and a host of new forms that must be used in order to be in compliance with the Act.

The OGCA and its team have worked hard to prepare a handbook to assist executives in the construction industry in dealing with these changes.

All members will be receiving a copy of this and it will also be available online through the member’s only section. Non-members will be able to purchase a copy through our website in the near future.

The work is not finished. The second part of the Construction Act comes into play October 1, 2019, and will deal with adjudication and prompt payment. Our team is hard at work preparing Part Two of the handbook to assist members in dealing with these final changes that will come into play at that time.

We, and the Ontario Association of Architects, are about to begin work on reviewing CCDC documents along with our agreed-to supplementary conditions so that we can be ready to advise owners and others on how to deal with using the contracts under the new regime.

To that end, you will see in this newsletter that we have released revised versions of the Close-out Document 100. We have updated the document as it applies to contracts prior to July 1, 2018 and have created a new document that applies after July 1, 2018.

The changes that are being made are significant and will alter the way in which you have to run your business. We hope this handbook and the future releases that will be coming will help you through this transition.

We will also be creating an online question forum on our website in which members can submit their questions and we will endeavor to answer them as quickly and effectively as possible.

This service we hope to activate within the next 2 to 3 weeks. Members will receive notice when it becomes active, and allow you to submit questions to us so that we can help you move forward.

OGCA recently received a letter from the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services about a new direction for social assistance in this province. 

Please click here to read the letter.

The Provincial Government has indicated that there will be broad reforms to several or each of its key agencies such as: Metrolinx, Infrastructure Ontario, the province’s public-private partnership procurement model and the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) following industry consultations that will unfold in the coming months.

From December 2018 to March 2019, the Minister's office will be hosting Marketing Sounding Initiatives with key stakeholders regarding ways to improve Public-Private Partnership procurement model.

Meetings will be scheduled for one hour and will take place in the Minister’s Office in Hearst Block (900 Bay St.) at Queen’s Park in Toronto. If your organization would like to be involved in the consultation process please reach out to Steven Crombie (steven@ogca.ca) to facilitate meetings with the Minister of Infrastructure’s staff.

On November 21, the Provincial Government passed Bill-47, the Making Ontario Open for Business Act.

The legislation outlines a plan to dismantle the Ontario College of Trades and lower the ratios around how many certified tradespeople are in a workplace, compared to apprentices. The province says getting rid of the Ontario College of Trades will reduce red tape and help more people access a career in skilled trades.

Skills Canada estimates that 40 percent of new jobs created in the next decade will be in the skilled trades, but getting those workers through the college system and getting them certified “has been too slow,” said Kitchener South MPP Amy Fee.

The big effective November 21st for individuals working in the trades, or looking to get into the trades, will be an across-the-board 1:1 apprentice to journeyperson mentorship ratio in workplaces.

The Government of Canada published their fall economic update last week.

Click here for the statement that CCA released for your information. Overall, the update included several initiatives that are beneficial to the industry.

The November 15 issue of the Consulting Engineers of Ontario eGlance Newsletter is now available. Please click here to review.

Please click here to read the latest issue of the OEL Newsletter.

In alignment with the Region of Peel’s 20 year Strategic Plan, which focuses on outcomes, the Region of Peel has developed a Vendor Performance Management program to measure and track vendor performance. Through this program, we aim to enrich vendor relationships, improve vendor performance and enhance value for the Region of Peel’s citizens and vendors.

For your awareness, we will be asking your members to complete an online survey about their experience with the program and the evaluation process. Their feedback will help the Region of Peel improve and enhance the Vendor Performance Management program. The survey will take about 5 minutes to complete.

If you have question or comments regarding this survey or the program, please contact vendorperformance@peelregion.ca.

Please click here to access the survey.

The League of Champions (LOC) has participated in three amazing school events so far this November.

First, we kicked off the month with Industry Association Partner, George Brown College. With 15 industry leaders and over 200 students, faculty and volunteers, it was an amazing time. There are already plans to hold second session during the winter semester.

“Thanks to the [LOC] for another event at George Brown College! You are changing the safety culture in Canada through empowering young leaders in many industries!” said Krisztina Arany, Senior Development Officer, George Brown College Foundation.

The audience was predominantly comprised of students from the Construction Engineering and Honours Bachelor of Technology who weren’t afraid to be courageous and ask the tough questions. Some of the important discussion topics included mental stress and anxiety in the workplace, coaching, cannabis legislation, underground workers, bullying and discrimination. One student even boldly admitted to personal struggles with mental illness.

Our George Brown College visit was followed up with two high school sessions at Bendale Business and Technical Institute and Yorkdale Secondary School respectively. Both events began with an inspiring presentation from Rob Ellis, Founder and President of MySafeWork. He then turned things over to the students, letting them know that we value their questions, opinions and concerns.

We’re proud of what we have accomplished in a few short weeks. The LOC will continue to raise awareness, advocate for safety culture, and inform students of their right to oppose unsafe work as much as we can. A big thank you goes to our Champion volunteers and students for demonstrating that the future of Ontario’s construction industry is bright.

OGCA is pleased to announce that we have hired Elizabeth Huynh to take over the Member Services and Programs Coordinator position.

She will also be looking after the Safety Pass and Safety Committee responsibilities.

We hope you will all welcome her to the OGCA Staff. Elizabeth can be reached at elizabeth@ogca.ca 

PCL Constructors Canada Inc. (Toronto) is pleased to announce that the Milton District Hospital (MDH) expansion has attained Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) Gold certification for new construction with the Canada Green Building Council (CaGBC).

LEED® is a nationally recognized certification program for the design, operation and construction of high performance green buildings.

It is a certification granted to buildings which maintain a healthy indoor environment, operate with reduced greenhouse gas emissions and use energy efficiently.

Click here to read the full press release.

The Ontario Concrete Awards were presented recently. To review the winners, please click here.

Congratulations to all the winners.

As the holiday season approaches, it’s time to revisit the law of employer host liability. If your organization is planning to host a workplace holiday party where alcohol or other legal intoxicants may be served or used, you’ll want to protect your guests from harm and your organization from the potential for significant liability for damages sustained or caused by an impaired employee.

Click here for the briefing note.

Last week, the Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC) released To dream together: Indigenous peoples and human rights dialogue report. The report summarizes themes and recommendations from the OHRC’s three-day dialogue event (February 21 to 23, 2018), which brought together First Nations, Métis and Inuit (“Indigenous”) Elders and traditional knowledge keepers, along with academics, leaders, artists, advocates, lawyers, policy makers, and human rights institutions to discuss a vision of human rights that reflects Indigenous perspectives, world views and issues.

To read the full press release, click here.

As you know, the Canadian Construction Association (CCA) has been actively working with the government to find a solution to the steel and aluminum tariffs. This week, Prime Minister Trudeau confirmed he once again pressed the matter of steel and aluminum tariffs with President Trump in France over the weekend and expressed a desire to conclude the ongoing dispute before the G20 in Argentina in late November. Canadian ambassador to the United States David McNaughton has also affirmed that outreach to the US Trade Representative to resume talks has been made and is expected to resume this week. While we are encouraged by this news, CCA continues to call upon the Canadian government to end the outsized impact the ongoing dispute is having on our industry.

While we continue to dialogue with senior government officials on the matter and plan to speak directly to it during the November 27 Hill Day, CCA wishes in the interim to share the following processes, programs and packages aimed at relieving steel and aluminum producers and manufacturers.

Click here to read further. To read the CCA's latest newsletter, please click here.

The Ontario General Contractors Association supports many programs at various colleges throughout Ontario.

That support comes mainly from you, the members.

We have been approached by Durham College as it moves forward with this plan to launch an honours bachelor construction management degree. Click here for the preliminary degree program abstract which OGCA has reviewed.

I would like to encourage all members who support education and training to take a few minutes to complete the survey. The college is using the survey to gather industry input on the demand for the degree and on the direction of the content. Please click here to access the survey.

LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is simply a sustainability scorecard for green buildings. The LEED Green Associate is the only professional designation to show employers and clients you have certified knowledge in the field.

To date, this course and its materials have proven to be instrumental in helping over 8000 students pass their respective exam at a 100% pass rate. This course is offered at a quarter of the price and time as the competition and is geared at helping participants excel in sustainability.

A new LEED rating system (v4) was introduced last year and this training has been updated to teach the current rating system.

If you are worried about your busy schedule, fear not, as the course is entirely recorded and you can watch the part that you cannot attend or take the whole course online.

This professional designation never expires and LeadingGreen offers credential maintenance for free!

Upcoming courses:

Toronto - January 12 2019
Guelph - January 14 2019 
London - January 15 2019 
Windsor - January 16 2019

Just a reminder that the Ontario Builders Awards deadline is December 14, 2018 for inclusion in the awards presented during the 2019 Construction Symposium.

Click here for the submission form and information.

Remember to register for the 11th Construction Symposium, April 11 - 13, 2019 at Blue Mountain Resort in Collingwood. Registration forms are now available on our website - click here.