The Ontario Government has announced that four teams have qualified to submit proposals to be selected to take on the long anticipated RER expansion of the GO service.

The project will be the largest P3 ever in Canada and will be an “outcome-based procurement.” This means the proponents are being challenged to propose innovative solutions to move people cost-effectively and in expanded volumes.

The scope of work doesn’t just include building the infrastructure but also procurement and maintenance of rolling stock.

It is projected that the On Corridor phase is expected to start in 2021 and be fully operational in 2028.

The four teams include a mix of Canadian companies and international firms. For more information, click here.

Another year and another great success in both Canada and the United States of America.

Walsh Canada held a number of safety events at each of their project sites throughout Safety Week 2019, events such as early morning Stretch & Flex, Safety Appreciation Breakfasts, Lunches, Ice Cream Trucks, Dunk Tank, Axe Throwing (yes, it was done safely), Putting Competition, prize giveaways, product demonstrations, and guest speakers - all to promote safety awareness amongst Walsh personnel, subtrades, other contractors, and the industry at large.

Coupled with the League of Champions (LOC) at each event, it sent a powerful message that everyone deserves to go home safe each and every day, and everyone needs to look out for each other on the jobsite, and can contribute towards improving the Safety culture in the industry.

At the Ashbridges Bay Treatment Plant project in Toronto, the City of Toronto personnel, along with all of the General Contractors on the site got together during this year’s Safety Week to participate in individual events and activities. At a site-wide event, Walsh, Kenaidan, and Graham, as well as Trade Contractors, Consultants and the City of Toronto participated in a Safety gathering wherein speakers from the Threads of Life came together to tell their safety stories. It was structured so that everyone could benefit from the individual speakers past experiences and the lessons they learned.

The League of Champions was pleased to be a part of Toronto Construction Association (TCA) 12th Annual Member's Day event on May 8th in Richmond Hill. Craig Lesurf, LOC Chair, was given an opportunity to speak about the importance of celebrating safety week/month. He also spoke about the League of Champions and what the organization does. It was a successful member’s day event for TCA.

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.

The month of May was the celebration of Safety Month and Safety Week, May 5-11. The League of Champions members and patrons organized events or meetings as part of their initiative to show their commitment to health and safety in the workplace.

Some of those members included: Kenaidan Contracting Ltd., Walsh Canada, PCL, Collaborative Structures, Ledcor Construction, Buttcon Limited, Harris Rebar, Ball Construction, Bird Construction, Alberici Constructors, Maple Reinders Constructors, Black & McDonald, AGF, Pomerleau, Ontario General Construction Association (OGCA), Hamilton Halton Construction Association (HHCA), Toronto Construction Association (TCA), Niagara Construction Association (NCA), Matheson Construction, BGIS, Tucker HiRise and many more.

In this Newsletter and the upcoming issues, we will feature members who submitted an article about their safety events.

The League of Champions was pleased to be a part of the safety event organized by the General Contractors of Woodward Avenue Wastewater Treatment Plant on May 14th at the Hamilton plant.

It was a successful initiative by Alberici Constructors, Bird Construction, Ball Construction and Maple Reinders Constructors in partnership with IHSA and the City of Hamilton. This collaborative initiative was aimed at promoting a safety culture, and to show their collective commitment to health and safety.

Here are several more photos for the OGCA Photo Contest. Members have until July 31 to enter.

All you need to do is submit your photo and provide the location where the photo was taken, and you could win registration for two as well as accommodation at the JW Marriott The Rosseau Resort and Spa in Muskoka.

The Provincial Government is making it easier to access the skilled trades.

On Friday, May 31, Premier Doug Ford was at the Ontario Power Generation's Darlington Energy Complex, along with Dr. Merrilee Fullerton, Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities, and local MPPs David Piccini and Lindsey Park, to discuss how changes to Ontario's apprenticeship and skilled trades system will get local employers the workers they need and get workers the training required for good quality, available jobs.

"Technology is changing Ontario's economy and the skilled trades have to keep up," said Ford. "We know we have talented potential workers in Ontario — providing the right training will make it easier to match talent with good jobs, help us grow the auto and manufacturing sector, and make Ontario open for business."

The Ontario 2019 Budget sets out the government's plan to modernize the apprenticeship and skilled trades system. Ontario will introduce portable skill sets to help speed up certification and training in the skilled trades. Portable skill sets are a new competency-based system to provide workers and employers with more flexibility. Currently, Ontario's tradespeople are required to master the full scope of a trade to complete an apprenticeship and obtain certification.

About one in five new jobs in Ontario over the next five years is expected to be in trades-related occupations.
Ontario is investing $18.1 million in pre-apprenticeship programs that make Ontarians ready to work in the skilled trades. Applications for the 2019-20 programs opened June 7, 2019.

For any inquiries, please contact Steven Crombie at steven@ogca.ca

Remember that we post the Ontario Legislative Reports on our website under Government Relations. The latest issue is May 27, 2019. If you want to see any issues prior to November 2018, please contact Mary Wademan at the OGCA.

Registrations are now open for the OGCA's 81st AGM and Conference, October 3 - 6, 2019 at the JW Marriott The Rosseau Resort and Spa in Muskoka.

Click here to download the registration form (which includes the program and conference highlights).

Registration is also available to be paid online at www.ogca.ca then click on STORE, then click on Events.

Remember that if you pay online, you still need to send us the registration form.

If you are a first timer, please contact the OGCA for the Coupon Code to get 10% off!

Entertainment on Thursday evening will include Mr. Jimmy Flynn, straight off the boat and bringing his guitar along to entertain you while you enjoy a few tasty beverages from the bar, or try making your own S'mores as we sit around the firepit! Weather permitting, we may be able to see the Milky Way from the Lawn Terrace. 

We are almost sold out for the OGCA's 41st Golf Tournament and Past Chairman's Lunch on Monday, July 8 at the Glencairn Golf Course in MIlton. We have arranged for a smoothie station, espresso station, cigar station and scotch tasting to make your day a little more enjoyable (not that golfing isn't an enjoyable outing!). Hope to see you there!

If you are interested in playing, please contact the OGCA as soon as possible. These three foursomes will go quickly, so call today!