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In a recent interchange, I was asked what safety meant to the OGCA and to the ICI sector. The individual asking was rather flippant about the interchange and expected me to give the standard fare as a retort. Instead of providing them with the requisite soundbites they were seeking, I took them on a journey to demonstrate what safety means to OGCA members.
In the past week, OGCA issued two bulletins, which we are pleased to include in this newsletter. The bulletins were sent to school boards and municipalities through the media. Please click on the links below to access the bulletins.
To help better prepare construction employers, OGCA and Fasken LLP are proud to present "Guidance for Construction and Establishing Your Workplace Vaccine Policy." The session will be held on Wednesday, May 12 at 10 a.m. (Zoom) and will feature Ron Kelusky, CPO and ADM at the Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development, and Norm Keith, Partner, Fasken LLP. The speakers will discuss the following topics:
Register for this important webinar here: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_ezSoY2FoSe6Yu9ylpHhTPw More contractors are using Ontario’s rapid training program to protect their workers from the COVID-19 spread. OGCA and construction companies can now directly assess the Provincial Antigen Screening Program through the link in the attached memo and order tests for construction essential workplaces. This is a one stop shop for the tests and information on how to apply them and report results. Contractors are increasingly using the program to minimize on site spread, stop outbreaks and keep their sites open. Contact David Frame for additional information. There is a new opportunity for the construction to address our skills gap. Minister of Labour, training and Skills Development Monte McNaughton has introduced the Building Opportunities in the Skilled Trades Act. When it passes, it will replace the failed Ontario College of Trades with a new approach that focuses on reducing barriers and streamlining the process to access training and enter the trades.
TORONTO — A stable and reliable increase in vaccine supply to Ontario is enabling the government to further expand eligibility to book a COVID-19 vaccine appointment throughout the week of May 10, 2021. As of Tuesday, May 11, 2021 at 8 a.m., individuals with at-risk health conditions such as dementia, diabetes and sickle cell disease, as well as Group Two of people who cannot work from home including grocery store, restaurant and transportation workers, will be eligible to book an appointment to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Please click here for the full news release.
Industry News
The virtual event is being held May 11, 12, 13, 18, and 20, 2021 and is focused on buried infrastructure, condition assessment, construction, renovation, asset management and subsurface utility engineering. During the five-day interactive and educational event, attendees will have access to the exhibition hall, 50+ presentations, networking opportunities that include video and live chat features, and CEUs by request. More information, including speakers, exhibitor lists and registration details, can be found at www.catttrenchlessroadshow.ca. About Trenchless Technology Road Show: The May 2021 edition of the CCA Newsletter is now available. Please click here to access it. With COVID-19 cases escalating across the country, newer and deadlier variants of concern threatening wider age groups, and a slow rollout of vaccines, it is essential to remain vigilant and follow worksite health and safety protocols as well as public health measures.
The Rosie Mentoring Program has been developed within the Rosie Initiative to address the limited access women have to role models and mentors. We encourage women in STEM and skilled trades careers to participate in our program where we will match Mentors and Protégées 1:1. This six-month program is open to Canadian women interested in being Protégées and industry professionals – women and men – interested in being Mentors. Protégées must have at least one year of work experience in their respective fields, while Mentors must have over five years of experience. For more information, please contact Amadea Gareau.
innovation Corner
Procore Technologies, Inc., a leading provider of construction management software, has recently announced it has acquired INDUS.AI, makers of an artificial intelligence-powered analytics platform for the construction industry. This acquisition adds computer vision capabilities to the Procore platform, helping owners, general contractors and specialty contractors realize greater efficiencies, safety and profitability. Terms of the transaction are not being disclosed.
As of May 7, they had achieved 104% of their fundraising goal! Amazing dedication and teamwork from event organizers, supporters, donors, volunteers and participants. Congratulations! May 4 was recognized as Ontario’s Inaugural Occupational Safety & Health Day, and we were fortunate to be able to work alongside OGCA in hosting an online celebration event featuring MPP Jane McKenna and a panel of industry leaders. Click here to view the recorded event on YouTube This year’s Safety Week festivities were very different from what we’ve been able to do in the past. Due to Provincial guidelines and COVID restrictions, all Safety Week events were held virtually, and LOC staff begrudgingly postponed all of our scheduled visits. We did, however, send out two Safety Week newsletters highlighting the creative activities that our members have been running. If you would like to receive updates from the LOC, let us know by clicking here.
We look forward to receiving photos from you showing us your team activities from Safety Week. Please send, along with captions to judith@theloc.ca.
What better way of showing your commitment to being a Leader in Safety than joining the League of Champions! The LOC is very proud to see the incredible dedication demonstrated by our new members who made the commitment during Safety Week. Join us in welcoming our two newest members: Vestacon - Construction Managers & General Contractors, and Graham Construction & Engineering LP Graham Construction - We Love to Build. If you have any questions or comments, please contact Judith Reda 
Safety
Having trouble viewing this? Click here for the web version. 2-Minute News
The Prevention Council is committed to Ontario’s Occupational Health and Safety system and acknowledges that falls is the lead cause for injury, disability and death in Ontario’s workplaces. May 3-7 marks this year’s Construction Safety Week and Falls Awareness Week. Falls Awareness Week is an annual social awareness campaign focused on preventing falls in the workplace. For this year’s week-long campaign, the Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development has collaborated with the Infrastructure Health and Safety Association (IHSA) to provide key fall prevention resources for Ontario’s construction sector, where falls are consistently the leading cause of worker death and injury. Given this unprecedented time, this year’s week-long campaign has shifted to a virtual platform to help stop the spread of COVID-19. Click here for the full statement. 
Associate Partner News and Events
On April 29, 2021, the Government of Ontario passed Bill 284, the COVID-19 Putting Workers First Act, 2021. The legislation amends the Ontario Employment Standards Act, 2000 (“ESA”) to provide time off (paid and unpaid) for COVID-19 related matters including vaccination. On April 30, 2021, Sherrard Kuzz published a briefing note to address key components of Bill 284. We now share with you common questions we have received from clients (not already addressed in the initial briefing note). Click here for the next installment. Virtual care has become one of the most valuable benefits an organization can offer its employees. In fact, research has shown that virtual care can reduce absenteeism and boost productivity. And according to the Canadian Attitudes on Healthcare and Telemedicine Report, 70% of Canadians believe virtual care represents the future. Please click here to read the latest newsletter from the Cleveland Clinic. Please be advised that Norm Keith of Fasken is now offering all OGCA members a 15% discount for legal services, including the following:
He is available to help during any type of workplace complaint, accident, or emergency and can be reached on his cell: 416-540-3435, or by email at nkeith@fasken.com
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. 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. On Thursday, May 6, Monte McNaughton, Minister of Labour, Training and Skills Development, introduced Bill 288: Building Opportunities in Skilled Trades Act to make the province’s skilled trades and apprenticeship system more efficient, accessible and easier to navigate.
Education & Events
We are all looking forward to hosting the AGM and Conference as an in-person event in September. Registrations are now open, and the early bird rate will be in place until June 30. Among the activities planned is a session with Sébastien Sasseville.
Please click here to access the registration form, the questionnaire and the sponsorship opportunities. Over the 17 years I’ve been a counselor, I’ve worked individually with hundreds of people to address a variety of problems. Whatever issues I help clients with, there are some common themes that end up emerging. One of the most common: Are these thoughts or feelings I’m having normal?
HERNDON, Va.- May 3, 2021 — Beacon announced today the finalists in its inaugural Female Roofing Professional of the Year contest, a North American program shining a spotlight on inspiring women in the roofing industry. Beacon encourages the public to vote for these distinguished finalists now through June 7 by visiting the Female Roofing Professional of the Year contest website. A while back, OGCA posted notice of this contest in its newsletter. Please click here to see the finalists and vote by June 7, 2021. Calendar of Events
You are cordially invited to the inaugural Building Diversity Awards Gala, on Thursday, May 13 at 6:30 p.m. Come see how the construction industry is winning by building equity on the job site! During this virtual event, we will announce our 2021 award recipients who are leading on diversity, equity and inclusion in the construction industry. The gala will be a night to remember with a massive speed mentoring session, inspiring keynote speakers from Canada and the United States as well as special giveaways, entertainment and musical performances from local talent. For more information, please click here.
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ONTARIO GENERAL CONTRACTORS ASSOCIATION
180 Attwell Drive, Suite 280 | Toronto, Ontario M9W 6A9 Tel 905-671-3969 |
Despite meeting the challenges of keeping workers safe, the increased risk of exposure on larger sites, the threat of COVID-19 variants, and workers' ability to be vaccinated on-site make the construction primed for early vaccine adoption. Most recently, the Ontario Government announced that on May 11, at 8 a.m., individuals with at-risk health conditions and Group 2 of workers who cannot work from home, including construction, will be eligible to book a vaccine. 
This is Canada’s largest trenchless technology event.
We at the LOC have enjoyed a fantastic start to May, beginning with the 
Our member 
Sébastien Sasseville empowers leaders to lead with purpose and inspires organizations to embrace change. An endurance athlete, his extraordinary accomplishments — which include summiting Mount Everest, completing the mythical Sahara race and running across Canada — are made even more impressive by the fact that he lives with Type 1 Diabetes. Having held diverse sales roles in several Fortune 500 companies, Sébastien marries his extensive business experience with his inspirational achievements to deliver dynamic messaging on change management, leadership and teamwork.
