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As the government continues to open up certain sectors of the economy, it has continued to fail to reopen the entire ICI sector. This oversight, in our opinion, is extremely damaging to the economy of Ontario and our ability to help restore Ontario to a healthy position.
As economic recovery begins, the OGCA has been hard at work, trying to restart our industry. Despite having the best safety record in Canada, ICI construction is the only form of construction in the entire country that has not fully opened. In the past month, the construction sector has lost 94,000 jobs, and 50,000 ICI construction workers are currently jobless. We, as contractors, know that our province cannot afford to have any contractors fall victim to the shutdown. Ultimately, there remains no barrier to opening up the entire construction industry. Our industry is committed to stopping the spread of COVID-19 and restarting our economy. Through careful planning, OGCA members have communicated to us that sites could safely restart as of May 19th. The only thing in our way is the Government of Ontario. To assist in our advocacy, we are asking you, your staff and anyone who may be interested in filling out the advocacy tool and email or tweet to their local MPP. You can directly email or tweet by clicking here. Members of the Ontario Legislature need to know that this is affecting hard-working families in their area. Please forward this email on to your staff, family or friends who are concerned about Ontario’s economic recovery. I’m pleased to announce that Julian Toy, H.S.C. Substance Abuse Professional, will be contributing to the OGCA Newsletter starting today, on different aspects of Mental Health during COVID-19. Please check out the Education and Events section. Julian, as some of you know, is a member of the Ontario Association of Mental Health Professionals and has participated in several OGCA initiatives, including speaking about identification of Substance Abuse at our Leadership Conference March 6. Julian also worked as a CWB certified welder and machine operator at a wholesale lumber yard. His contact information will be included as a resource for our members to contact directly with questions and/or training needs. OGCA is taking another important step to support our members, giving you the ability to connect directly with a counsellor and trainer, experienced in the ICI sector, with Mental Health and Substance Abuse.
Industry News
REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI): RFI: Design-Build Standing Offers PSPC is seeking information from respondents with interest, individually or as part of a consortium/joint venture, in one or more aspects of the proposed approach. The scope of work under the Standing Offers will include the design and construction phases, potentially including the provision and installation of furniture and information technology infrastructure. Estimates for individual fit-up work packages (inclusive of design and construction) vary but maximums are estimated to be upwards of $60M (including taxes) per project. Individual projects will normally be within the same office building/complex and will take place on one or more floors. PSPC would consider the possibility of pre-qualifying different groups of design-builders based on cost scope ladders segregated by construction values (e.g. <$10M, $10-$25M, $25-$60M). These figures are provided for context only and does not reflect any commitment regarding the opportunities that will be solicited or contracts that will be awarded. The RFI and details on how to submit a response can be found in the notice link above. PSPC is seeking comments, ideas, responses or information no later than May 22, 2020 at 2:00 p.m. EDT. Members of the OGCA involved in design build for office fit up projects may wish to respond to this. If you do so, please copy the OGCA office.
This presents a unique challenge: implementing the CPO’s guidelines and our own programs and best practices to protect our workers. The third webinar in this series is focused on providing you with the information and tools required. Chief Prevention Officer Ron Kelusky will discuss the COVID-19 Guidelines that have been issued to set expectations for the operation of construction during the pandemic, and their application. He will also discuss the services provided to support contractors. Craig Lesurf, President of the Gillam Group, and Chair of the League of Champions, will present Gilliam’s program for operations during COVID-19. This will include a plan for breaching physical distancing. This presentation will support you and your firm by being prepared to put an effective plan in place to reopen your sites and keep them safe and healthy. Please register through this link. 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 or phone 905-671-3969. 
Associate Partner News and Events
The initial shocks of the last several weeks are abating, as the construction industry is settling into a “new normal” of enhanced site safety measures, disrupted supply chains, and greater uncertainty generally. While the pandemic has certainly elevated everyone’s stress level, our present circumstances are forcing the industry to make quick adaptations as it rethinks attitudes and practices that were prevalent mere weeks ago. It may also contain the seeds for the kind of innovation for which the industry is renowned. The speakers are as follows: Mary Van Buren - President, Canadian Construction Association Please click here to review the McMillan Invitation and register. Please note that we have updated the OGCA website with the latest edition of Sherrard Kuzz's Briefing Note #6, updated to May 8, 2020. Answers to Frequently Asked Questions for Employers. Please click here to access the latest update. We write to update you on the topics Kennaley Construction Law and Sherrard Kuzz will be covering in their next webinar on COVID-19 and the Construction Industry in Ontario, scheduled for Tuesday May 12, 2020 at 9:00am, when they will explore the following: We look forward to seeing you there! As usual, to register, please visit our website at www.kennaley.ca and click on “Our Webinars”. With COVID-19 upon us, Kennaley and Sherrard Kuzz will be running regular free webinars to assist construction participants to better manage their risks, including those associated with delay, frustration, force majeure, claims, changes in the work, notice, schedule extensions, suspension of work, termination of contract and dispute resolution, as well as (with the help of our friends at Sherrard Kuzz LLP), OHSA, labour and employment issues including best site practices, work refusals, lay-offs and termination. The first such Webinar was conducted on March 26, 2020 and was very successful, attracting well over 500 attendees. Given the response and demand, we have scheduled regular Webinars on Tuesdays at 9:00 am. To register for upcoming seminars, please click as per the above. To view past webinars, click here. As we come together as an industry to tackle the challenges created by COVID-19, it's always great to hear from our community leaders as they share their valuable insights and perspectives from their regions. Time / Date: Upcoming Sessions from Procore: Industry CEO Roundtable: Thursday May 21, 2020 Industry CEO Roundtable: Wednesday, May 27, 2020 Alliance Creative Marketing has the following face masks, IR Thermometer, Supervisor Vest for OGCA members.
Legislative & Legal Updates
The latest issue of the Ontario Legislative Reports (May 11, 2020) is now available online at the OGCA website. Please click here to access this report, or to see earlier editions. The Ontario Legislative Report is updated every two weeks and explains the intention and status of legislation and regulations that could impact the construction industry. For issues prior to April 2019, please contact Mary Wademan at OGCA. Education & Events
Healthy communication is one of the most important things you can do to protect and support Mental Health. In this series of articles, I will focus on a specific aspect of communication with practical suggestions on how to apply it.
Jane Snyder, MHNE, RNCP, ROHP, and the Director of Operations/Health and Safety at Snyder Construction, has prepared Lesson 3 - Nutrition for Anxiety Relief. Please click here to read it. |
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ONTARIO GENERAL CONTRACTORS ASSOCIATION
180 Attwell Drive, Suite 280 | Toronto, Ontario M9W 6A9 Tel 905-671-3969 |
The government has taken the initial step to open the industry and we expect all sectors to be fully operational in the next few weeks.
This webinar will take place on Thursday, May 14, 2020, from 3 pm to 4:30 pm (ET), including Q&A. There is no charge. We strongly encourage you to register for what promises to be an informative and helpful session on how the industry is doing as it adapts to a challenge of historical significance.
