Most Ontario general contractors will experience another decrease in their WSIB premiums again next year.

Over a three year period, the premium for general contractors will be cut by just over 50%, saving our members hundreds of millions of dollars.

The sudden change was a result of the success of a ten year program in which WSIB held the line on costs and employers paid a huge additional premium to pay down the unfunded liability. It has been projected that the construction industry paid $15 billion to bring the board to balance. The fee for previous claims has now been removed from the assessment calculation.

The WSIB has announced that they are now operating with a healthy surplus of $10 billion which will be maintained as a cushion to ensure they do not slip back into a deficit position.

All employers have now been mailed their 2020 Premium Rates generated under the new Rate Framework system. Premiums are calculated for each employer and will be based on your rating group (G1 for buildings) with an adjustment based on your 6 year cost profile. The ICI rate #723 no longer will exist and ICI and residential builders are now under class G1. The average rate for it will be $2.30, a reduction on average of 23 cents or 9%. Your rate will be adjusted from this number.

You will be able to access your WSIB data through the online WSIB Compass tool, which we understand will allow you to check the calculations the Board used to drive your assessment.

We are looking for feedback on your experience with the new system and are preparing to provide you with additional information as it becomes available. 

The League of Champions (LOC) Steering Committee members had a successful strategic planning meeting. A new mission, vision, services and activities for the League were created.

Mission and Vision
Mission: “Inspiring and influencing leaders to commit, collaborate and take action to improve health and safety culture through awareness, education, promotion and recognition leading to safer construction workplaces in Ontario."

Vision: “Inspiring leaders to be health and safety champions.”

New Services and Activities

• Annual recognition of member safety achievements
• Measure and promote achievement
• Organize member networking meetings focused on support and sharing best practices
• Establish a Speakers Bureau
• Recognize and promote safety focused activities

Providing Valuable Support to Members

• Focus on all Ontario Construction Industry
• Membership Funds support operations and programs
• To be incorporated as an independent organization

The League of Champions was proud to be a part of OGCA’s Safety Awards Breakfast held on Friday, September 20 at Verdi Convention Centre, Mississauga.

Speakers in the ceremony were Jane McKenna - PA to the Minister of Labour, Ron Kelusky - Chief Prevention Officer, Elizabeth Witmer - Chair of WSIB, and Enzo Garritano - President of IHSA.

The LOC would like to congratulate all the LOC and OGCA members who received an award and were recognized, and would like to thank all the Safety Champions who attended this important safety ceremony.

The League of Champions Members and Patrons will continue inspiring leaders to be health and safety champions.

The League of Champions recognized its new Members and Patron at the OGCA Safety Awards Breakfast. Member and Patron’s Charter and the League of Champions Jersey was awarded.

Welcome to the team, MEMME Infrastructure Contractors Inc., M.J. Dixon Construction Limited, Stuart Olson Industrial Constructors Inc., Ritestart Limited and NORCAT. Thank you for inspiring leaders to be health and safety champions.

(Left to Right: Elizabeth Witmer, Chair of WSIB, David Frame, OGCA Government Relations, M.J. Dixon Construction Limited, Ritestart Limited, Stuart Olson Industrial Constructors Inc., MEMME Infrastructure Contractors Inc., and NORCAT)

The League of Champions new COR™ Certified Members were recognized at the OGCA Safety Awards Breakfast. Enzo Garritano - IHSA President, and Clive Thurston - OGCA President, awarded the COR™ crest to these members.

BDA Inc.	MEMME Infrastructure Contractors Inc.
M.J. Dixon Construction Limited	Phoenix Restoration Inc.
Ritestart Limited

Congratulations BDA Inc., MEMME Infrastructure Contractors Inc., M.J. Dixon Construction Limited, Phoenix Restoration Inc. and Ritestart Limited for being COR certified and thank you for your commitment to health and safety. 

Ontario Minister of Labour, MPP Monte McNaughton, met with John Dawson - OGCA Chair and GEN-PRO President, Craig Lesurf - LOC Chair and Walsh Canada Vice-President, David Frame - OGCA Government Relations, Bryan Arnold - OGCA Honourary Secretary and Eastern Construction Company President & CEO, and Steven Crombie - OGCA Stakeholder and Government Relations for a roundtable on Tuesday, September 10, 2019.

The Minister is looking forward to continuing their efforts to make Ontario the safest place to work.

Is your company or association a Safety Leader? Do you want to join an organization that inspires leaders to be health and safety champions? Are you a Safety Champion and want to make a difference in the Ontario construction industry?

Please visit LOC website, Facebook and Twitter page for more information about the League of Champions. To apply to become a Safety Champion, please contact Marjorie Javier by email at Marjorie@theLOC.ca or phone 905-671-3969.

It takes more than just a lightbulb to improve jobsite lighting. Lind Equipment is providing a free webinar for OGCA members on October 29 about LED Jobsite lighting at 2 PM.

Learn proven best practices to maximize the full benefits of LED Jobsite lighting on your project.

The webinar will also include real world project case studies outlining the costs, benefits and savings to contractors.

To register, please click here.

Helping you Interpret the Rules and Regulations - click here to register for any of the Pinchin Courses now available.

Please note that several of the programs are offered at no cost.

The latest issue of the Ontario Legislative Reports (September 21) is now available. Please Click here to read it.

For issues prior to December 2018, please contact the OGCA.

If you haven't already signed up to attend this session presented by Travelers and OGCA, please contact the OGCA Offices (905-671-3969) to have your name added to the list.

A copy of the registration form and agenda can be downloaded here.