The Consulting Engineers of Ontario have issued the following "tender alert":

Issue: 

CEO is advising members to use caution and consult their insurance and legal counsel before submitting project proposals to the Town of Bradford West Gwillimbury. CEO recently proposed amendments for the Town’s Request for Proposal No. P-19-64- Professional Engineering Consulting Services for the Bradford Water Pollution Control Plant Reviews and Upgrades Project. The Town has yet to respond to our concerns. Consequently, member firms considering future RFP submissions are advised that some terms and conditions will be very difficult, if not impossible, to adequately insure through our industry’s insurance providers. 

Download the complete report to view CEO's position & conclusion.

OGCA recognizes those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for the civil liberties and freedoms we enjoy every day.

November 11 marks the end of hostilities during the First World War and an opportunity to pay respects to all those who have served in the nation’s defence.

Thank you.

"A landmark court decision supporting a construction bonding company’s claims in bankruptcy over a bank will stand without a Supreme Court of Canada appeal.

The unanimous five-member-panel decision in The Guarantee Company of North America v. Royal Bank of Canada, 2019 cleans up conflicts between the Ontario Construction Lien Act and the Federal Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act."

Click here to read the full article by Ian Harvey, printed in the Daily Commercial News.

On November 6, the Government of Ontario released its 2019 Fall Economic Statement entitled 2019 Ontario Economic Outlook and Fiscal Review: A Plan to Build Ontario Together, which provides an update on the government’s finances and announces commitments for the upcoming 2020 Budget.

OGCA small businesses will experience a small business Corporate Income Tax (CIT) rate to 3.2 percent from 3.5 percent, starting January 2020.

The provincial plans to consult on ways to encourage investment into rural and undercapitalized areas of the province, which means conducting a series of consultations with rural stakeholders on economic development challenges and opportunities in their regions.

The PC government announced plans to begin its first‐ever assessment of how climate change will affect Ontario’s economy, infrastructure, communities, public health and safety, and ecosystems.

The OGCA applauds the Ontario government‘s recent announcement of a $20.8 million investment to tackle shortages in the skilled trades. This investment will attract more people to the trades and boost Ontario's skilled workforce.

Through the Ontario Skilled Trades Alliance, the OGCA has worked diligently with its partner associations and the provincial government to tackle the province’s skilled trade deficit. We believe this is a monumental step made by the Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development. One in five careers in the next decade will be in trades-related occupations.

The investment hopes to help introduce over 1,800 people to the skilled trades so that they can secure trades-related careers.

In the Greater Toronto Area, Ontario will fund 28 projects for over 600 people to get training in a variety of trades like automotive service technician, arborist, electrician, hairstylist, carpenter, welder and a number of others.

The program is delivered by Ontario colleges, private career colleges, union and non-union training centres and other community organizations. There are over 140 skilled trades in Ontario.

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

League of Champions Members and Patrons are committed to inspiring leaders to be health and safety champions. 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.

The League of Champions (LOC) will be heading to George Brown College – Casa Loma Campus on November 14 to participate in the Centre of Construction & Engineering Technologies (CCET) Association Fair event.

The event is designed for students enrolled in the full-time programs in the Centre of Construction & Engineering Technologies (CCET). The Association Fair will provide students an opportunity to network with different associations and to be able to learn career opportunities in the construction industry. This is an amazing opportunity for the LOC Safety Champion volunteers to engage and connect with these future employees and to share their wealth of knowledge in construction and to promote the importance of safety in the construction industry. It will be a great event to network with fellow LOC members and with other participating associations.

Event: George Brown College CCET Association Fair

Date:   Thursday, November 14 
Time:   10am-2pm (10am-12pm; 12pm-2pm)
Location: George Brown College – Casa Loma Campus, 1 Dartnell Avenue, Toronto, Ontario
(Free parking ticket will be provided)
Venue: C/D Link Main Lobby

Safety Champions Melissa Carney from BDA Inc., Aaron Hamill from Aquicon Construction and Jennifer Bekkers from M.J. Dixon Construction volunteered to join the League of Champions at the fair.

We are still looking for one Safety Champion to represent the LOC and their company at the event. For more details or if interested, please email Marjorie Javier at marjorie@theloc.ca before noon on Wednesday, November 13. 

The new WSIB rate framework model takes effect on January 1, 2020.

It will overhaul how most employer premiums are calculated and businesses are classified.

An incorrect classification now may impact an employer’s premiums for years to come. It is essential employers take proactive steps to protect themselves.

Click here to read the briefing note.

On November 8, 2019, Ontario’s Bill 124 - the Protecting a Sustainable Public Sector for Future Generations Act, 2019 (the “Act”) – was proclaimed in force. The Act was introduced and passed First Reading on June 5, 2019 and moved quickly through Second and Third Reading.  It received Royal Assent on November 7, 2019. 

The stated intent of the Act is to ensure public sector compensation increases are consistent with the principles of responsible fiscal management and sustainability of the public service. Within hours of receiving Royal Assent, the Act received criticism from a variety of public sector unions, many of which stated an intention to challenge the Act’s constitutionality before the courts.

In its current form, the Act will have a significant impact on employers in the public and broader public sector.  Click here to read the Executive Summary, which breaks down the key points for employers.

As the winter weather makes an early entrance this year, OGCA members and the whole construction industry in Ontario have increased availability of propane fuel to keep their winter construction projects heated. This exclusive partnership provides more supply options to the marketplace and added flexibility as they extend their rental payment terms to fuel purchases which means customers can say goodbye to 15-day payment terms, which is industry standard for fuel.

The Farmers Almanac is calling for a season full of snow, snow and more snow with nearly all of Canada expecting above average precipitation. Stephenson’s and Parkland will help keep Canadian construction sites productive no matter the weather this winter.

Please click here to read Stephenson's/Parkland press release.

The latest issue of the Ontario Legislative Reports is now available. Click here to read the latest issue.

Ontario is expanding the popular Specialist High Skills Major and Dual Credit programs to help more high school students turn their passions into career opportunities.

For too long in Ontario, the skilled trades have had an “image” problem in the public education system. From traditional career counseling to apprenticeship restrictions, young people are often steered away from the trades as a career choice. In the past, some sought the security of steady, long-term employment in manufacturing, while others looked to “white collar” occupations. But Ontario’s economy is restructuring and with it, the labour market to support it.

The Conference Board of Canada, in their review of the Ontario skilled trades and apprenticeship system, estimated that the current system design is costing the province $24.3 billion in lost GDP and $3.7 billion in lost taxation revenue. Yet, for years we have focused on adjusting issues at the margins of the skills gap issue, rather than focusing on how to increase training and apprenticeship opportunities and using regional labour market information to identify where career opportunities exist for new entrants into the workforce.

The Dual Credit program helps students who face barriers in graduating high school to earn credits that count toward their high school diploma and a postsecondary certificate, college diploma, degree or apprenticeship certification. This school year, the program is expanding to include 600 more students across the province.
If Ontario’s economy is to continue to prosper, the image of a career in the skilled trades must evolve.

Registration is now open for the Canadian Construction Association’s (CCA) 2020 annual conference at the Loews Coronado Bay Resort in San Diego.

A comprehensive program has been organized for 2020, with interesting and informative sessions interlaced with plenty of time to network with colleagues and enjoy the beautiful venue.

This year’s keynote speakers are Andy Stumpf, a former Navy SEAL turned Fortune 500 consultant, and Mandy Rennehan, the Blue Collar CEO and founder of Freshco Inc. Other sessions to note include a national discussion of Canadian infrastructure, creating a culture around workplace safety, as well as dialogues on P3 partnerships, workforce recruitment, and how to position the industry in the new political landscape.

Early bird pricing is in effect until January 10, 2020 so be sure to register soon to also take advantage of special rates on hotel accommodations arranged by CCA, as well as the many social events offered to delegates. This year’s fun activities include a golf tournament at the Coronado Golf Course, various CCA tours such as surfing lessons, hiking Torrey Pines, a Coronado Island walking tour and kayaking the La Jolla sea caves, as well as an organized companions’ tour of the San Diego Zoo.

Register NOW!