Being a member of the OGCA also makes you an associate member of the Canadian Construction Association. You may be already receiving their newsletter. If not, here is the link to the latest CCA Newsletter.

On October 25, 2018 in response to the ongoing Tariff dispute on steel and aluminium products with the United States and its impact on domestic industry, federal Finance Minister Bill Morneau announced the imposition of safeguards on seven categories of steel products:

• heavy plate;
• concrete reinforcing bar;
• energy tubular products;
• hot-rolled sheets;
• pre-painted steel;stainless-steel wire; and
• wire rod.

Click here to read the full article from CCA.

The latest issue (April 4, 2019) of the CEO newsletter is now available online. Please click here to access.

Mary Van Buren, President of CCA, is writing today to draw your attention to a recent measure undertaken by the federal government, which we believe will be of benefit to our membership across the country.

As first announced in the Fall Economic Statement, the National Research Council (NRC), through the Treasury Board Secretariat (TBS), has made the National Building Code of Canada free to access as of April 2, 2019. Click here to read the full article and access the additional link.

The League of Champions (LOC) was pleased to be a part of the OGCA 11th Construction Symposium 2019 from April 11-13 at Blue Mountains Resort in Collingwood, Ontario.

Premier Douglas Ford was the surprise guest of the event and he talked about his commitment to supporting jobs in skilled trades by reducing the burden on workers and job creators.

The OGCA event would be incomplete without some inspiring words from OGCA Executive Committee Chair John Dawson, OGCA President Clive Thurston, and LOC Steering Committee Chair Craig Lesurf.

The highlight was having the LOC members be invited to join the Premier on stage for the presentation of his own LOC jersey signed by leaders.

Kudos to the whole OGCA team and to Mary Wademan, event organizer, for a very successful event. Congratulations to OGCA for an amazing event. The League of Champions look forward to being a part of the next Symposium.

Thank you to all the LOC Leaders who participated and supported the event. We hope to see all the Champions at the OGCA Construction Symposium in 2021.

Photo Credit: @fordnation   

Don't forget to mark your calendars for May 6 - 10, 2019 for Safey Week. If you or your company are planning an event that week, please be sure to let us know at the OGCA!

TTC Job Site, North East Corner of Allen Road & Sheppard Ave. W		Sherwood Community Centre & Library Site - Milton

Two more entries into the OGCA's new competition to highlight your OGCA signs! 

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

The clock is ticking for getting COR™ certified in Ontario.

Today, COR™ certification has reached a stage where you cannot just remain registered anymore, especially since January 2019. The luxury of just remaining registered and bidding for projects has vanished.

CLICK HERE to check the latest COR™ requirements of various organizations published by the IHSA.

Get to know more about COR™ and how to make it easier to achieve COR™ in Ontario from Expert COR™ Consultant | Associate External COR™ Auditor of the IHSA at the COR™ Breakfast Seminar held at the OGCA. 

Next one is on May 30, 2019 at the OGCA! 

CLICK HERE to book now. 

The March 26 and April 10 issues of the Ontario Legislative Reports are now available on the OGCA website. Please click here to access.

“In order to equip more people with skills that are in demand, our government is increasing apprenticeship opportunities, and transforming employment and training services in the province.” Hon Vic Fedeli, Budget Speech.

The government is promising to work with employers to reform the apprentice system and meet the skills gap challenge. The next step is to establish accountability with the Ministry of Training Colleges and Universities.

The Ontario Budget Bill - 100 includes a new Act “Modernizing The Skilled Trades and Apprenticeship Act 2019” which will close down the Ontario College of Trades and transfer operation of the apprenticeship system, the policy power to define the trades, restrict activity, setting ratios, and providing prof of apprenticeship to the Ministry.   

If passed, the legislation would establish a new governance model for the skilled trades and apprenticeship system. This would be a Ministry-led delivery model with industry input in training programs and regulation. You can find the bill as Schedule 40 at this link. 

During the transition period the College will continue to deliver on its core services, including:

• Issuing or renewing certificates of qualification and other credentials;
• Verifying credentials on worksites for compulsory trades;
• Undertaking trade equivalency assessments; and,
• Supporting labour mobility through credential verification

College of Trades Fee Changes
Upon request of the Minister of Training, Colleges, and Universities, effective immediately, College of Trades annual membership fees have been reduced or eliminated to be:

• $0 for Apprentice class members
• $0 for Journeyperson Candidate class members
• $0 for Tradesperson class members
• $60 for the Journeypersons class

In order to implement the technical changes necessary to enable the change in fees the College has placed a temporary pause on membership fee collection.

Effective Friday, April 12, the College has temporarily ceased sending out invoices or accepting payments and will begin again at the new rate as soon as possible, but no later than July 5th 2019. Please note that fees at the new rate will be assessed for the period of the temporary pause and will be due after it ends. Fees paid prior to the rate change will be credited towards either OCOT membership fees or the future fee model, as appropriate.

The OGCA is thrilled to announce that through the generous sponsorship from Procore, Mike Holmes will be speaking about the promotion of the skilled trades at our annual Queen’s Park Lobby Day Reception.

Mike Holmes is a professional contractor, television host, public speaker, educator, influencer, and writer. Mike is known as one of North America’s most trusted contractors and has gained the trust of homeowners and the respect of an industry worldwide.

Lobby Day provides the Ontario General Contractors Association and its partners with opportunities to meet, greet and inform Ministers and MPPs about the unique challenges our industry faces. It is also an opportunity to come together as one voice and share the key sector recommendations that would help Ontario's General Contracting industry to develop and thrive in today's economic environment

This year’s Lobby Day will focus on the promotion of the skilled trades in Ontario. Ontario’s construction industry contributes nearly $40 billion annually to the province’s GDP, employing over 440,000 persons. Ontario is expected to see over 80,000 people retire in the construction industry over the next decade. By 2027, the Province will need to attract over 100,000 additional people into construction in order to keep pace with the province’s infrastructure demands.

Government and industry can address the skills gap through promotion of the trades that create jobs, grow the economy and renew Ontario’s aging infrastructure. By working collaboratively with stakeholders over the next decade, promotion of the trades will create over 100,000 good paying jobs in Ontario.

With twelve weeks to go, we are already starting to get interest in the OGCA Golf Tournament which always sells out. We should have something online on our website in the next few days, but if you want to play and or sponsor, please let Mary Wademan know. Hope to see you on Monday, July 8 at Glencairn Golf Course in Milton!

Several people were asking at the Symposium about the 81st AGM and Conference, being held October 3 - 6, 2019 at the J.W. Marriott Hotel at Lake Roswseau. We're just finishing the program and hope to have something out in the next couple of weeks. Stay tuned to this space for information,.