Effective April 16, 2020, all procedural time periods and limitation periods under the Construction Act will be restored. This has two major implications for the industry: (i) lien periods are back; and (ii) owners can once again release holdbacks safely.

Click here to read the full article.

On April 9, 2020, OGCA partnered with APP member Alliance Creative Marketing, and other industry partners, to deliver 10,000 surgical masks to health care workers in Ontario. Alliance acquired the surgical masks and appealed to clients to come together to donate to priority healthcare workers through the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care.

Our industry is doing everything we can as contractors, and the OGCA is doing everything it can as an association, to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and protect our frontline workers. Liza at Alliance presented members with an opportunity to make a difference, and the OGCA, Remo General Contracting, Dineen Construction, Gen-Pro, the League of Champions and OSPE were all able to answer the call.

The OGCA views this donation as part of our mission to promote safety excellence among all workers. It is just the start of the construction industry providing much of the equipment front line workers so desperately need.

Alliance Creative Marketing is still working to partner with organizations to secure PPE for frontline healthcare workers. If you are interested in purchasing masks or other PPE for frontline workers, please contact Liza Tam. 

For more information about the OGCA and COVID-19, please visit OGCA.

This week, Statistics Canada began releasing data that will give us the first indications of how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted Ontario’s economy and construction industry. In this data we’ve observed that in March, the economic disruption brought by the pandemic had not yet had a major impact on construction employment, but did have a dramatic impact on building permit activity.

Please click here to read the full OCS Update.

Please check out the latest updates from legal firm Goodmans by clicking here.

This bulletin contains a legal opinion obtained by the Ontario Building Officials Association in regards to questions on how they should carry out their projects and duties, as well as which projects are considered essential.

This is a legal opinion offered by a law firm engaged by the OBOA. As stated, members should also consult with their own internal legal advisors.

This does give us some clarity on how building officials may be carrying out their duties during this time.

The Safety Committee, and the entire OGCA, hope you are all staying safe, practicing social distancing, and washing your hands for at least 20 seconds with soap and water, or using hand sanitizers. We will soon be back to work, and we hope to see you all soon.

In response to growing OHS concerns during the COVID-19 pandemic, the following is a general review of OHS law, due diligence principles and the responsibilities of employers, rights of workers and liability under OHS and WC legislation.

This memorandum is not intended to provide specific legal advice, but rather general guidance in light of the declaration of a COVID-19 Pandemic by the World Health Organization (“WHO”) and unprecedented action taken by all levels of government across Canada to control the spread of the virus.

The Canadian Emergency Management and Response Manual¹ online and in our library, provides a further summary of crisis planning and pandemic response.

Please click here to read the full report from Fasken.

Please click here to see what is now available from Alliance Creative Marketing. A link is included on how to test your mask for functionality.

WSIB’s new Health and Safety Excellence program gives businesses of all shapes and sizes incentive to invest in workplace health and safety.

As an approved provider of the Excellence program, NORCAT can help your business:

• Create a safer workplace
• Improve your health and safety experience
• Save money

If you are interested in learning more about the program, please join us for an Information Session on Wednesday, April 15 at 1:00 pm via Zoom. 

To register, contact excellence@norcat.org

Throughout this difficult time, we have noticed that Canadians are experiencing increased levels of stress as we adjust to a new way of conducting life during the Coronavirus Pandemic. 

Therefore, Benefit Partners, a division of People Corporation who are Preferred Partners to the Ontario General Contractors Association  have partnered with Self Help Works, to provide complimentary access to the LivingEasy cognitive behavioral therapy-based stress management program*.

This program is being made available to ALL OGCA members complimentary up until December 31, 2020 to help you, our members and your employees manage their stress levels. 

Self Help Works also offers an additional six programs:

• LivingLean (Weight Loss)
• LivingFree (Quitting Smoking)
• LivingWellRested (Restore sound and sleep)
• LivingWell (Diabetes management)
• LivingSmart (Regain control over Alcohol)
• LivingFit (Exercise) 

Any OGCA member can add this program to their plan for a low monthly fee. 

Feel free to reach out to Dan Millar (1-877-417-6735 Ext 1) or Vic Skot (1-800-517-8870)  at Benefit Partners for any additional Self Help Works information. 

Thank you.

The latest issue of the Ontario Legislative Reports can be found on the OGCA website under Government Relations. The April 10 issue is available here.

Remember that during the COVID-19 pandemic, all of our upcoming events are on hold. We hope to get back to normal by early June ...