President Clive Thurston and Chairman John Dawson are in Bermuda this week, attending the CCA Meetings and Conference. OGCA Staffers are handling things in the office!

Please find the briefing notes on the issue of community benefits and the infrastructure update.

Should there be any questions or concerns, please contact Rod Gilbert (rgilbert@cca-acc.com)

The OGCA has worked with both the Minister of Training College and Universities and the Minister of Education to advocate for the need of a renewed commitment to the skilled trades in Ontario.

Minister of Education Lisa Thompson announced last week that students and parents in Ontario can look forward to the implementation of improved skilled trades' opportunities.

Changes will include a broad range of opportunities that will offer exposure to skilled trades and technology careers, and will ensure they are exposed to these opportunities starting in elementary school, with experiential, hands-on learning through community partnerships and co-op placements.

In December, the Ford Government tabled Bill 66, which, if passed, would expand the definition of “non-construction employer".

This would amend the Labour Relations Act, 1995 to deem municipalities and certain local boards, school boards, hospitals, colleges, universities, and public bodies to be non-construction employers, thus ending construction trade unions’ representation of employees with respect to these employers, and terminating the operation of any collective agreement to which any of these types of employers are a party, insofar as it applies to the construction industry.

On Monday, March 21, in the Standing Committee on General Government, Bill 66 was amended. The amendment changes the language in schedule 9 from “Municipalities and certain local boards, school boards, hospitals, colleges, universities, and public bodies” to “Municipalities and certain other entities to be non-construction employers.” The amendments provide a procedure for certain existing entities to opt out of the application of these new rules.

The OGCA has been steadfast in our advocacy for better infrastructure in Northern Ontario, so we are delighted to communicate that the Minister of Energy, Northern Development and Mines announced the provincial government is investing $5 million to help the Sault Ste. Marie tourism industry.

The Investment includes the construction of a new Agawa Canyon Tour train station, an exhibit centre-gallery, a micro-brewery and an outdoor event centre.

CCA issued this press release as a reaction to Budget 2019 - click here.

The latest issue of the Ontario Electrical League's newsletter is now available. Click here to open.

Click here to read the latest OSPE news - In the Know.  If you have any questions, or need more information, please contact Info@ospe.on.ca

We are excited to announce that 13 of the LOC leaders confirmed and will be heading to the University of Toronto on March 27th to support Rob Ellis of MySafeWork.

These LOC leaders will have an amazing opportunity to share their knowledge, experience and promote health & safety to 1,000 students from engineering.

They will have the chance to connect with other LOC leaders, U of T students and professors and with Rob Ellis and MySafeWork partners.

Check our Facebook and Twitter page for the Champions updates on that day.

For more information about the League or to apply to become a Champion, contact Marjorie Javier by phone at 905 671 3969 or email at Marjorie@theLOC.ca.

To all the League of Champions (LOC) members, thank you for your continuous partnership and support.

With your help and contribution, the LOC will continue to expand and become a successful organization that focuses on health and safety, recognizing members’ success and supporting the members as they work to build a safety culture in their respective workplaces.

You are invited to participate in the Ministry of Labour’s Occupational Health and Safety Strategy Consultations. The five-year Occupational Health and Safety Strategy (Strategy) was completed on December 31, 2018. 

Please click here for more information.

Thanks to our member Frey Building Contractors for providing us with their newsletter. Click here.

If your company would like to share your newsletter with our newsletter recipients, please send the information or link to Mary Wademan (mary@ogca.ca)

It's a little hard to see, but there is an OGCA sign located under the red arrow in the attached picture. The photo was provided by Jim Field of Aecon Buildings, and is the first in a new competition from OGCA to highlight your OGCA signs! This photo was taken in Bermuda, on the New Bermuda Airport, currently under construction.  

This will be a competition among OGCA members to win a trip to the OGCA AGM and Conference in October at the JW Marriott Hotel at Lake Rosseau.

Every firm that submits a project displaying their OGCA membership sign will be entered into a draw for two complimentary admissions to the OGCA AGM in Muskoka. 

This will include accommodation as well as the registration fees. The draw will be made in August to allow the winner time to plan their trip to Muskoka!

Get our cameras out and start shooting! Submit your entries to Mary Wademan by July 31, 2019.

Join us for our inaugural COR Summit on May 30th to learn the ins and outs about the certification.

This one-day event in Downtown Toronto will bring together 70+ safety professionals from across Ontario to learn, network, and collaborate with COR™ experts, thought-leaders, and COR™ certified companies of all sizes. 

Tickets are currently priced at $125 CAD and are going fast. 

All speakers are COR-certified, with the exception of our keynote, Doug Gilmour. We'll be joined by: 

• Toronto Maple Leafs Alumni: Doug Gilmour
• Director of HSE at Spark Power: Matt James
• Vice President of Health & Safety at Dexterra: Lee-Anne Lyon-Bartley
• Corporate Safety Manager at Amico Affiliates: Stewart Day 

You can find the agenda and more info on our website.

With deadlines constantly looming, the idea of taking time to vet dozens of potential new solutions may seem ludicrous. This step-by-step guide will arm you with insights for quickly finding the best software for your company while avoiding buyer's remorse.

Download this free eBook to learn how not all technology will make you more profitable—instead learn to choose the right technology for your company.

On March 1, 2019 the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board implemented its new Operational Policy on Cannabis for Medical Purposes, setting strict guidelines for the use of medical cannabis as treatment for work-related illness or injury. The Policy is welcomed news to those in the employer community concerned that the legalization of cannabis might result in its unchecked use as medical treatment.

Learn more in the attached briefing note.

Provided by Sherrard Kuzz