Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) has posted several tender opportunities for Canadian Black owned or led small businesses.

For details on these tender opportunities, please see the list of tender notices.

As additional tender opportunities are expected to be posted in the future, we encourage interested businesses to subscribe to these email notification service search results on Buyandsell.gc.ca to receive notification when these related tenders are posted.

These tender opportunities are part of a procurement pilot program to open bidding opportunities for Canadian Black owned or led small businesses. The pilot program will inform the expanded use of targeted approaches to increasing diversity in future procurements and support opportunity and economic growth for Black Canadians. It supports the Black Entrepreneurship Program, which will help Black Canadian business owners and entrepreneurs grow their businesses and succeed now and into the future.

If you need help understanding the federal procurement process or registering as a supplier, please contact the Office of Small and Medium Enterprises. We have a network of offices across Canada.

Remember: Stay informed about website updates and procurement news by subscribing to the Email notification service for Buyandsell.gc.ca news.

Office of Small and Medium Enterprises
Public Services and Procurement Canada - Ontario Region / Government of Canada
4900 Yonge St. – 10th Floor, Toronto, ON M2N 6A4
Ont.OSME-BPME@pwgsc-tpsgc.gc.ca
Tel: 416-952-0843 / Toll Free: 1-800-668-5378
www.tpsgc-pwgsc.gc.ca/ontario/bpme-osme/index-eng.html

As COVID-19 continues to impact general contractors, companies that rely on sharing information via traditional methods, like paper or in-person, struggle with restrictions on numbers and the increase in work-from-home activities. This has significantly impacted field supervisors and other key project roles as those who would usually drop off timesheets, daily progress and safety reports can no longer do so.

Before the pandemic, general contractors had begun identifying lag issues getting the field data to the business office. Those who did not invest in technology solutions have grown into an even greater problem as central business offices may not deliver the field data.

For some GCs, Ontario’s 6-month shutdown of ICI construction presented the perfect time to update data collection methods and sharpen the office’s digital toolbox. By implementing real-time resource management solutions, such as cloud-based labour tracking, field reporting, project tracking and system integration, managers ensure that critical functions are performed seamlessly from any location.

Even when field employees are working in remote locations or working from home, data is captured as it happens and can be shared and synced with other systems as soon as there is service. It also eliminates manual data entry, keying errors and reallocation of job costs, and it connects your employees with accurate field progress data to make them as efficient as possible and keep projects on budget.

For a list of platforms that provide off-site reporting, visit the OGCA Innovation website and the AON Technology Corner.

Warmest wishes for the New Year from the League of Champions!

The LOC Webinar Series successfully delivered 13 webinars between April and December, 2020.

What began as an industry response to the COVID-19 pandemic has grown into a virtual opportunity for industry leaders to share best practices and receive industry updates. The success of the webinars continues to be directly related to the multi-association promotion and social media advertisement.

If you have missed any of the webinars, recordings of all webinars are available on the LOC website, and a link to our YouTube channel can be found here NEWS | League of Champions. 

It would be an understatement to say that 2020 was filled with challenges and obstacles that we could never have expected.

I want to take this opportunity to extend my appreciation for your membership and continued support of the League of Champions. With the beginning of every new year, new projects are planned, goals and targets are set. My goal for 2021 is to meet, in person, as many Members and Patrons as I can.

As restrictions begin to loosen as the year progresses, please keep the League of Champions in mind when you are hosting staff training, first-aid or even staff appreciation events. An invitation to your office or site will give me the opportunity to personally thank your staff for their continued drive towards safety excellence. If you have any suggestions on how the League of Champions can support your continued efforts in creating a culture of safety, please let me know.

I am so excited to build 2021 into a year focused on health and safety with you, our Membership. If you have any questions about the League, or would like information on how to join, please contact me directly. 

Mark your calendar for the mornings of March 5, 12 and 19 for the Leadership Conference to be presented in three parts of 75 minutes each.

Unfortunately, we will not be able to meet in-person this year, but through the magic of Zoom, we will present you with the information you need to keep your workers safe.

You will hear from leaders in government and the industry, including CPO Ron Kelusky, about new programs and information that will be of great benefit to you. We will celebrate improvements in workplace safety and welcome new members to the League of Champions.

The second day of the conference will feature a panel discussion focusing on construction's struggles and successes controlling COVID-19. Industry leaders will discuss the challenges and strategies they found successful to keep their employees safe.

The third day will include a panel presentation that will help you with your strategy to help achieve excellence in workplace health and safety. The focus will include supporting mental health, managing subcontractor performance and updating your OH&S program.

Details and a list of presenters will be available in the next few days. Mark your calendars now.

While we will continue to mail out the OGCA Directory for 2021, you can now access it directly online.

Many of our members opted to have a profile page. Those who didn't have one in the 2021 Directory are encuraged to have one in the next edition. The profile page is free (with a black and white logo), and you can add a coloured logo for a small fee. This is a great way to promote your company and show off some of the projects you have completed.

Our Associate Partners also have a section in the Directory, and many of them have also promoted their companies with a profile page.

Please feel free to check out the directory by clicking here.  

Aecon Group Inc. is proud to launch the Aecon Diversity in the Trades (ADT) program! Modelled after the successful Aecon Women in Trades program, ADT offers opportunities for underrepresented groups including women and Black, Indigenous and People of Colour. Apply now!

As per the direction of the Associate Partner Committee and the OGCA Board of Directors, we are pleased to profile two of our APP members in this issue of the newsletter.

4S Consulting Services Inc. (click here to see their Profile Page)

4S is a leading Canadian OHS firm that helps businesses in developing and implementing a sustainable OHS program through its three pillars – Consulting (COR™/ISO 45001, OHS support), 4SafeCom™ (a proprietary safety management software with 80+ online training modules), and Training (CPO-approved provider for online JHSC & blended working at heights).

Western Surety Company (click here to see their Profile Page)

For over 100 years, Western Surety has been committed to partnering with contractors across Canada to help them grow and prosper. It always has been and always will be about the people! Stay safe everyone!

The Employment Law Alliance (ELA) is the largest network of labour and employment lawyers worldwide. Sherrard Kuzz LLP is a proud Canadian member of the ELA. This month, the ELA will host a webinar entitled, Employment Law in Canada: A Year in Review. Details are set out below. We hope you will join us. If you have questions about this webinar, kindly contact webinars@ela.law.

Our ever popular Canadian Year in Review webinar will take a look back at workplace-related developments in 2020 and examine what we can expect to see in 2021, including:

• drug and alcohol issues, including testing and workplace misconduct
• the impact of COVID-19 on Canadian employers
• the impact of social movements and political speech on workplaces
• important developments in specific Canadian jurisdictions

January 19, 2021 - Noon Eastern
View Program & Register

Now, more than ever, as we grapple with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, we need ways to support the wellness of our youth and young adults. 

For several years, Sherrard Kuzz LLP has proudly supported Head to Head, a Canada-wide, community based program that connects elite athletes, including Olympians, with youth to promote resilience and wellness.

On February 10, 2021, Sherrard Kuzz LLP will sponsor a Head to Head webinar featuring two Olympians and World Championship Medalists.   

Learn directly from these athletes how they use skills acquired in their sporting careers to build resilience and stay motivated through the challenges of this pandemic.There is no cost to you – our guests.  Simply sign up and participate with your family.

We hope this opportunity leaves you feeling positive and motivated, with a few new tools to manage feelings of anxiety and stress.

• Date:         February 10, 2021
• Time:        7 p.m. EST
• Register:  By February 5, 2021 HERE (a Zoom link will be sent 24 hours prior to the event)

The latest issue of the Ontario Legislative Reports is now available on the OGCA website. Please click here to access the latest issue.

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 January 2020, please contact Mary Wademan at OGCA.

Ontario’s Prevention Council Chair released the statement below today:

Thank you for your ongoing leadership and commitment to Ontario’s health and safety sector. 

Many organizations and health and safety partners are beginning to have important conversations about the impact of systemic barriers on Black employees. This work is an essential starting point to combating racism and discrimination in workplaces and communities.

Please click here for the full statement.

Mark your calendars now for the 2021/2022 Canadian Concrete Expo, taking place February 17 and 18, 2022, at the International Centre, Mississauga.

OGCA is co-sponsoring this event and will be providing one of the business sessions. More informaiton will be coming out throughout 2021 so watch this space. For more information, please click here.

This year, thanks to COVID-19, OGCA's Symposium will be held as a virtual event on Friday, April 9, 2021. We are currently working on the sessions that will be presented. Among them will be The Digital Transformation of the Construction Industry and how Cyber Risk will change your business, presented by Marsh.