I would like to wish everybody a very happy new year and hope that you had a good break over the holidays.

The OGCA will be involved in a number of key things in the coming year. Here are some of the highlights that we will be working on.

Click here to read my column.

The skilled trades’ deficit and lack of young people joining the industry is still the single greatest challenge facing OGCA and the construction industry today. Reports from BuildForce estimate that Canadian construction employers need to hire over 300,000 people - 108,000 in Ontario by 2028. We know that if our members are to meet their construction labour force needs, it will require a focused effort on recruiting, training, and retaining new workers.

A major challenge getting young people into the trades is the operation of the Training Delivery Agencies (TDAs) who hold a monopoly over the skills training process in the province. The process limits the ability of training programs to evolve to meet the needs of the labour market. The current process is unable respond to the demand of employers in the market and limits the number of young people that can be trained into the industry. A clear example of the problem is where one union training centre is solely responsible for certifying and training sprinkler fitters: any new program would have to get approval from this existing TDA. We continue to lobby for reform to the existing TDA approval guidelines so that we can open up new training opportunities across Ontario.

This is a long, detailed process to make sure that Ontario will meet our skilled trades challenge. It is important that we continue to hear from our members on your challenges and add your experience to the solutions.

Please don’t hesitate to contact David Frame or Steven Crombie if you have any questions.

There have been significant changes to the Health and Safety programs. The introduction of HSEP, the update to COR^TM from 2014 to 2020, and the introduction to Accreditation has created new opportunities for construction. The elimination of CAD that rewarded firms with a rebate (or surcharge) has been eliminated.

The only method for construction firms to receive a rebate is through participation in the HSEP.

With these significant changes, GVCA will introduce new methods of program delivery, and, a new facilitator who has extensive experience with WSIB and IHSA programs. We are excited about the new opportunities and look forward to a fresh start.

Please join us for an information session January 21st. A panel discussion with the experts from IHSA, MOL & WSIB will lay out the pathway to success through these three programs, and help you earn rebates.

There is no charge for the information session, registration is required.

Health and safety certification required for new construction contracts.

The health and safety of everyone who works in, lives and visits the city of Vaughan is an important priority. As of March 2020, construction contractors working with the City will have to have registered for a Certificate of Recognition (COR^TM) from the Infrastructure Health and Safety Association (IHSA) for the procurement process.

In December 2019, Council endorsed the COR^TM program as a component of the City’s biding process for construction contracts. The IHSA is designated to certify contractors in Ontario’s construction industry who demonstrate their health and safety management system through this structured audit process.

Council’s support reflects the 2018-2022 Term of Council Service Excellence Strategic Plan and its commitment to enhancing active, safe and diverse communities where the safety and well-being of citizens is achieved through supporting prevention and awareness.

Candidates looking to work with the City will be required to provide a copy of a valid certificate or an equivalent Ontario Health and Safety certification in order to win the bid. Implementing this step in the process will help reduce health and safety risks in the work place.

To learn more about these new requirements, visit the City of Vaughan’s Procurement Services page.

Please join RESCON for the official launch of the Job Talks Construction Video series. With sponsorship from the residential and infrastructure construction sectors, the series introduces students, parents, teachers and counsellors to exciting lesser known careers in the construction industry. The goal of the series is to engage young people to discover a new world of meaningful work and raise awareness of careers and jobs in the trades.

The event will include:

1. A presentation from Jon Callegher, Executive Director of Job Talks; and
2. A panel discussion on how industry and government can work together to implement skilled trades promotion and conquer the skills shortage that is facing employers in the construction industry right now.

Click here to register.

Other videos can be found here: YouTube  

Is your company or association a Safety Leader? Are you a Safety Champion and want to make a difference in the Ontario construction industry? Do you want to join an organization that inspires 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 the 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 by phone 905-671-3969.

To all LOC Members, we have an exciting event in January to start off the New Year. It will focus on inspiring and empowering young leaders at George Brown College – Centre for Construction and Engineering Technologies (CCET) to take action to improve workplace safety through awareness and education.

With over 400 students, faculty, staff and volunteers participating from the CCET department, we invite you to participate and help raise awareness of workers’ rights and responsibilities. We hope you can join us to share your knowledge and experience with the best and the brightest young leaders from George Brown College.

For more information or to reserve your spot, please email Marjorie Javier at Marjorie@theLOC.ca or RSVP by clicking here.

We are pleased to announce that Joint Electrical Promotion Plan (JEPP) has joined the League of Champions.

JEPP is a joint Electrical Contractors Association of Ontario (ECAO) / International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) program that promotes better jobsite safety standards and professional practices in electrical work. The program helps to keep their workers safer and ensures that IBEW labour is synonymous with top quality workmanship.

Welcome to the team, JEPP Safety Champions! Together, we will inspire and influence leaders to become a health and safety champions. Click here to read more about JEPP.

The safety incentives provided by the MOL and WSIB have been reinvented. Cad 7 experience rating and safety groups have been replaced and COR is receiving an update. The WSIB and Ministry of Labour Training and Skills Development are now offering your company financial incentives to support your success in their new safety programs.

On Wednesday, February 12, OGCA and the League of Champions will sponsor presentations on Supporting Ontario’s Safe Employer Program (SOSE), the Health and Safety Excellence Program, and COR 2020. All contractors now have an opportunity to improve their safety programs and receive significant rebates and recognition for their achievements.

Please click here for more information. To Register for this event, please click here.

Nominations are due by February 1, 2020 for the 2019 Doug Chalmers Award for Safety. This award has been presented since 2008 when it was awarded to Mr. Chalmers. Since then, several prestigious people have won the award, including Dan Padden, Roy O’Rourke, Mike & Fern Moore, Mike Archambault, Steven Mahoney, IHSA, Blair Chalmers, Craig Lesurf, Dan Fleming and Elizabeth Witmer.

If you, or someone you know, is deserving of this award, please submit the nomination form by February 1 to Elizabeth@ogca.ca

Download the form here.

Construction leaders understand that they must continually update their approach to support a safety culture. Our annual Leadership Day provides you with the information you need to navigate the changing safety climate, and to effectively manage your safety program.

COR^TM 2020 is now available for you to update your program and accredit your company under the new SOSE program. The Minister and CPO will both discuss the opportunity you will have as an accredited company.

For more information and to register to attend Leadership Day on March 6, 2020, please click here.

If you wish to pay by credit card on the OGCA website, please click here.

What did they do last year? Click here to find out.

HALF-DAY INTENSIVE WORKSHOP

In Ontario, as in many other jurisdictions across Canada, an employer is required by law to conduct an investigation in response to an allegation of workplace harassment. A well planned and executed investigation will help management make sound and defensible decisions and reduce the potential for liability arising out of the investigation.

This practical, half-day workshop provides participants with the knowledge and tools to conduct an effective workplace harassment investigation.  Using interactive learning and real life-scenarios, topics include:

• What type of complaint or misconduct must be investigated?
• How to conduct an interview.
• Dealing with tricky investigation situations.
• How to reach defensible findings of fact.
• What is (and is not) harassment?
• Writing a complete, well-organized and effective harassment report.

DATE & TIME:
Each workshop is from 9:00 am – 1:00 pm

Wednesday, January 22, 2020
Thursday, January 23, 2020
Tuesday, January 28, 2020

LOCATION: Sherrard Kuzz LLP, 250 Yonge Street, Suite 3300, Toronto

COST: $525 plus tax

RSVP: As this is a small group workshop, space is extremely limited.

REGISTER: click here to register. 

We hope you enjoy our January 2020 edition of our newsletter, Management Counsel (click here). Our newsletter and briefing notes are published several times a year to highlight important issues in Canadian employment and labour law. In this edition of Management Counsel, we address two topics:

• Fixin’ for a Costly Separation – The Perils of a Fixed Term Employment Contract
• “How exclusive are we?”  The Court of Appeal Weighs in on Dependent Contractors

If you have questions or comments, we’re happy to hear from you.

As every HR professional will attest, employment and labour law is changing at a rapid pace. Compound that with a wide range of annual (and sometimes more frequent) employment-related administrative requirements, and the world of an HR professional can be overwhelming. The good news is we can help by working with you to design a range of compliance audits and checklists to keep you on track and on top of the law.  Join us as we break down our Annual Labour and Employment Check-Up for Employers:

1.   Employment Standards

• What employment standards-related agreements must be in writing?
• What records must be maintained?
• Which requirements are best suited for an annual audit?

2.   Human Rights & Accessibility

• When are policies and training required?  When are they recommended?
• What and when are the filing obligations under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act?

3.  Workplace Safety & Insurance and Occupational Health & Safety

• What are the record keeping, posting and reporting obligations?
• What policies, programs and training must be reviewed annually? 
• What are the inspection and risk assessment obligations?
• Which requirements are best suited for an annual audit?

4.  Employment Agreements

• Which provisions of an employment agreement should be reviewed annually?
• How to implement a new and updated employment agreement with an existing employee.

DATE & TIME:
Wednesday February 26, 2020; 7:30 – 9:30 a.m.  (breakfast 7:30 am; program 8:00 am)

LOCATION:
Hazelton Manor - 99 Peelar Road, Concord, ON

COST: 
Complimentary

REGISTER:
By Monday February 17, 2020 Click here

The latest issue of the Ontario Legislative Reports is now available on the OGCA website. Click here to access the December 24, 2019 and January 11, 2020 issue, and earlier issues.

For reports prior to February 2019, please contact Mary Wademan at the OGCA offices.

OGCA is pleased to support of the Canadian Concrete Expo 2020, January 22nd, 23rd @ the International Centre Toronto.  

Members can pre-register to attend the show by clicking here for your OGCA complimentary VIP pass ($50.00 p.p. value).

The Canadian Concrete Expo continues to grow each year and we are proud to report we have added an additional 100,000 sq.ft. of exhibit space to our show floor. 350 Exhibitors dedicated to the Concrete Construction industry and more than 6000 attendees.

Please view website for additional information.

Mark your calendars for the upcoming Golf Tournament being held on Monday, July 6, 2020 at the Glencairn Golf Course in Milton.

Registration forms will be available as of May.

Be sure to watch this space as the tournament sells out quickly!

This year, we will be holding the AGM and Conference at Langdon Hall in Cambridge from October 6 - 9, 2020.

Hotel space is limited.

Watch this space for registration forms, coming in June!