 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
The following is a link to the most recent Daily Commercial News (DCN) article titled: “OGCA’s pre-budget submission urges government to disclose full list of construction projects.” The OGCA will continue to impress upon the provincial government all of the opportunities in construction to “Build for Recovery.” The Government of Ontario is actively consulting with people across the province to hear ideas on how the government can continue to support people and employers during COVID-19. As builders, employers and taxpayers, pre-budget consultations are an important opportunity to communicate the importance of investing in ICI infrastructure to economic recovery. Please read the 2021 OGCA Budget Consultation Submission for more information. This year, we are happy to provide a template 2021 Ontario Budget Submission for all OGCA members using our advocacy tool. Submitting could not be easier. Simply provide your postal code, and the tool will automatically draft a letter for the Minister of Finance and your local Member of Provincial Parliament. Use the 2021 Pre-Budget Submission tool now! We highly encourage you to submit on behalf of your organization. Submissions close on February 12, 2021. We will be sending out a reminder in advance of the deadline. 2020 was a year fraught with racially charged events that have changed the very nature of our society and our construction industry. February is Black History Month, and the OGCA wants to acknowledge that efforts are now being made to make our industry a more equitable and inclusive place to work. Things are changing for the better.
Black Canadians, and Black Canadian Construction workers in particular, have often been a forgotten part of Canadian History. For Black History Month, we would like to shed light on the history of black workers in our industry and our society at large.
The panel discussion will be on “Health & Safety, Training Initiatives, and Broad Government Plans to Support Ontario Businesses During COVID-19”. CLICK HERE to register now. Conducting an appropriate harassment investigation is a critical component of maintaining a respectful and inclusive workplace. Under the Occupational Health and Safety Act, an employer is required by law to conduct an investigation in response to an allegation of workplace harassment.
He was Past President (Chairman) of the Ontario General Contractors Association, the Construction Safety Association of Ontario (now known as IHSA) and a Board member of the Canadian Construction Association. Ed and his brother Ray grew Curran Contractor Ltd. into one of the leading companies in the Sarnia/Lambton region and were leaders in promoting the construction industry, and our community, locally and provincially. Ed was also a member and contributor to many local organizations and charities. He was always a gentleman and will be missed by his many friends and colleagues. The Association sends its sincerest condolences to Ed’s wife, children, grandchildren and family. Please see his obituary, which is attached hereto.
Industry News
On January 28, 2021, RESCON hosted a webinar on Mitigating the Spread of COVID-19 in Construction. If you missed the webinar, RESCON has generously provided the recording of the webinar. It can be found by clicking here. The Government of Ontario has launched an online consultation on Digital Identity. The consultation, available at Ontario.ca/digitalID, will be open from February 2, 2021 until February 26, 2021 and feature surveys for members of the public and small-to-medium-size enterprises (SMEs), as well as subsequent virtual focus groups for SMEs to be organized in the near future.
innovation Corner
Rhumbix is a cloud-based platform built for construction firms. Using Rhumbix, general contractors can gather real-time field data on construction projects using a combination of mobile and web-based applications specifically designed for front-line field personnel and project managers. Today’s construction ERP (enterprise resource planning) systems are built primarily to support finance and accounting workflows, and they are not optimised for capturing, storing and leveraging field data. This often means that the details on what is happening in the field is disconnected from and inaccessible to project teams. Rhumbix gathers accurate insights at a level of detail that is especially suited for controlling complex, dynamic operations across various work processes, including time and attendance, production and progress, labour productivity, change management, and complex field reporting. By augmenting and empowering existing systems and processes, Rhumbix allows users to utilize their existing backend solutions while overcoming the challenges inherent in traditional, manual field data capture and reporting protocols. For more information on Rhumbix, read their AON Technology Profile or visit Rhumbix.com. The League of Champions is proud to present our first webinar of 2021, being held on Tuesday, February 16, at 2 p.m. Please join us to hear Ways to Support Employees' Mental Health During COVID-19. Special guest speakers include the Hon. Michael Tibollo, Minister of Mental Health and Addictions, and Liz Horvath from the Mental Health Commission of Canada. Minister Tibollo will speak to the provincial Roadmap to Wellness. Ms. Horvath will be addressing the impact of stress on mental and physical health and safety, and she will share coping strategies to help workers focus and improve their wellbeing. Click here to register. Did you know that the League of Champions has recently partnered with Threads of Life in support of the Steps for Life 2021 Walk? The LOC works to empower Leaders to be Health & Safety Champions, and we encourage you to join us and register a team for this annual event that is taking place during the first week of May. Working Safely is all of our responsibility, and together, we can be the change. Many of our members already work with Threads of Life, a national charity that provides peer support to Canadian families who have experienced workplace tragedy. Join us in spreading the message of Safety Excellence and Prevention. Sponsorships are still available in support of this event. If haven’t registered a team yet, we encourage you to do so. To learn how to get involved with the LOC and the Steps for Life walk, contact judith@theloc.ca. For information about partnership or sponsorship opportunities, contact Threads of Life’s Director of Partnerships and Fundraising, Scott McKay at smckay@threadsoflife.ca or call toll-free to 1-888-567-9490. 
Safety
2020 presented the construction industry with our most significant health and safety challenges to date. OGCA, IHSA and the League of Champions have focused on providing the construction industry with the information and tools to manage the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the extreme challenges, our industry has successfully remained open and continues to keep workers safe.
On November 22, 2019, the Minister of Labour, Training and Skills Development announced the Supporting Ontario’s Safe Employers (SOSE) Program, led by the Office of the Chief Prevention Officer (CPO). Today, I am happy to provide you with an important update on this program.
This issue of IHSA's 2-Minute News, includes the following:
Click here for the web version of the newsletter. 
Associate Partner News and Events
Aon is a leading global professional services firm providing advice and solutions in Risk, Retirement and Health. Aon develops insights driven by data & analytics, and delivered by experts that reduce volatility for businesses. The Aon (Construction Services Group), is a specialty practice dedicated to delivering solutions specifically to clients in the Construction Industry. Please click here to view their profile page. On January 1, 2021, the new Work Place Harassment and Violence Prevention Regulations (the “Regulation”) and associated changes to the Canada Labour Code (“Code”) came into force. The Regulation and amendments to the Code place substantial obligations on a federally-regulated employer to implement preventative and protective measures to address workplace violence and harassment. Learn more in this Briefing Note from Sherrard Kuzz. Every employment relationship comes to an end. Although termination of employment can trigger potential liability for an employer, liability can often be minimized or eliminated with planning and sound decision-making.
Employers have a legal obligation to ensure managers and supervisors are "competent." This half-day due diligence course provides managers and supervisors with practical knowledge to identify, assess and control hazards, and effectively implement their organization's OHS management system and the legal duty under the Criminal Code will also be addressed.
Building what's next starts with advancing women. Join us to see how. TITLE: Foundations for Progress: The Future of Women in Construction Grab a seat at this roundtable to hear how championing women and working to create a more inclusive world will impact the direction of the construction industry. We'll cover:
Concrete Ontario presents the Fundamentals of Concrete course that incorporates all the vital components required to begin a career, as well as gain valuable insight into the concrete industry. The course will take place virtually in two half-day sessions. By the end of this course, attendees should have a comprehensive understanding of the many benefits and uses of concrete and a renewed appreciation for the world’s most used construction material. Register here
Legislative & Legal Updates
The latest issue of the Ontario Legislative Reports is now available on the OGCA website. Please click here to access the latest issue. Education & Events
These are stressful times for us all. The Managing Anxiety During a Pandemic course is available free through a Sampler by clicking here. The COVID-19 pandemic is a period of extreme uncertainty. In times like these, people have heightened levels of anxiety. They have so many questions to which there are no definite answers. This course examines the causes and symptoms of anxiety. It also explores strategies that can be used to manage and alleviate anxiety. Course length: 0.5 hours. To take the course, simply click on the link above. You do not have to register, there is no tracking, no certificate and no bookmarking. Feel free to share the link with colleagues, friends and family. During the last several months, there has been a wave of jobsite fatalities in Ontario. It is very stressful and difficult for everyone, particularly when there is a lack of information on resources that can help the worker’s families, co-workers and involved supervisors/managers deal with the event.
When the Canadian Construction Expo had to be cancelled for 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it was decided that something had to be done to keep people connected, especially those who had established relationships during the previous three years. The opportunity came with the creation of a digital magazine, appropriately called Stay Connected. This magazine, in digital format, will be published nine times leading up to the next Concrete Expo from February 17-18, 2022. The publication provides excellent industry related content, forecasts, best practices, new technology, tips, interview, event's calendar and engaging contesting. For a free subscription to the digital edition, please click on the Canadian Concrete Expo logo on the front cover of the magazine. OGCA has had a long-standing relationship with VUBIZ, which offers courses to OGCA members at a reduced rate. They have just updated the list of courses being offered to OGCA members at the 50% discount level. For a listing of general interest courses, including Health and Safety, Business, Communications, Compliance, Finance, Human Resources, IT, Personal Development, please click here. Calendar of Events
We are thrilled that EllisDon has joined us as our first lead sponsor and event partner. To learn more about the nominations process and to get insights about the benchmarks used to decide the winners, join the free online information session held every Wednesday in November at noon. Please click here for the full press release. To register for the free online information sessions, please click here. The February newsletter from the Canadian Construction Association is now available. Please click here to access it. 
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
ONTARIO GENERAL CONTRACTORS ASSOCIATION
180 Attwell Drive, Suite 280 | Toronto, Ontario M9W 6A9 Tel 905-671-3969 |
Giovanni Cautillo, President of the OGCA, gets into a Panel Discussion on Wednesday, February 10, 2021, from 9:30-11 a.m. with Hon. Monte McNaughton, CPO, Director of OHS Inspectors & other Industry Leaders, hosted by 4S Consulting Services Inc.
It is with sadness that we announce the recent passing of Edward (Ed) Curran on January 27, 2021. Ed was President and a board member including a founding contractor member of the Sarnia Construction Association. 
Toronto Community Benefits Network, in partnership with community, labour and construction industry partners, is pleased to announce the launch of the first annual province-wide Building Diversity Awards (BDA) and Recognition Program.