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With vaccinations increasing steadily and COVID-19 cases on a consistent decline, the prospect of returning to some semblance of “normal” is exciting and starting to materialize as a possible reality for our members and society as a whole. COVID-19 has been a real pain for everyone and created not only an added layer of stress because of the actual pandemic itself, but multiple pandemic-related issues have manifested that are causing our members grief! I want to highlight a few issues that make me cringe and tell you how the OGCA is addressing them.
As part of the OGCA’s continuing efforts to communicate to the Provincial government the absurdity of not allowing all of the ICI construction sector to continue, we provided the attached letter to once again emphasize the importance and lack of rationale for the sustained closure of commercial construction. The OGCA has been diligently communicating this position since the mandated spring shut down, and the government has, unfortunately, demonstrated a lack of desire to engage with our sector on this matter. Ultimately, this government needs to show leadership and deem all of construction as essential to ensure that the Ontario economy rebounds and thrives in the wake of COVID-19. Shutting down one aspect of construction over another without any quantifiable evidence to support this decision is not only unsubstantiated, but a frustration to us all. The OGCA will continue to fight for all of construction to be re-opened and deemed an essential service. Should anyone have any questions, please contact me directly at giovanni@ogca.ca. All Ontarians are now eligible to receive the first doses of an approved COVID-19 vaccine and the second doses are now becoming available. The third wave has been the most difficult for the construction industry, but in the last three weeks, the infection rate has dropped significantly. On Friday, June 11, the whole industry will be opened, hopefully to stay open. The threat has not gone away, and we must all use the tools we have to keep our industry safe from a potential 4th wave. The OGCA will soon be issuing a policy and communications document supporting the implementation of a vaccine policy that sets the expectation that all workers will act to protect themselves, their families and their co-workers. It is also expected that they will receive a second vaccination when available. Reasonable exceptions will be allowed in the policy. As an employer, you have the legal obligation to take every reasonable action to protect the health and safety of your employees. It is our recommendation that the communication and implementation of a vaccine requirement is an important component of this obligation. We will shortly issue the policy and communications material to support your actions to protect your workforce from COVID-19. The governments of Canada and Ontario are investing more than $15 million to protect the health and well-being of residents in 99 municipalities across Northern Ontario. The Government of Canada is investing over $12 million in Northern Ontario municipalities through the COVID-19 Resilience Infrastructure Stream of the Investing in Canada plan. The Government of Ontario is contributing more than $3 million. The majority of funding will support the rehabilitation of water and wastewater infrastructure, repairs to municipal public works buildings, and fire halls. Additional investments will support upgrades to parks, recreational facilities and active transportation networks of multi-use paths and trails for residents across Northern Ontario. The COVID-19 Resilience Infrastructure Stream, implemented in response to the pandemic, allows the Government of Canada to invest up to 80% of total eligible costs for projects in provinces, and up to 100% for projects in territories and Indigenous communities. The Province of Ontario will invest 20% of the eligible costs for projects across the province. For more information, please click here. On June 7, 2021, the Government of Ontario announced that Ontario will move into Step One of its Roadmap to Reopen at 12:01 a.m. on Friday, June 11, 2021. All construction activities will re-open.
Industry News
CBRE has shared with OGCA their top 10 predictions for business life following COVID 19.
You can check out the PDF by clicking here. It breaks down and explains more about each prediction. For more information on this attachment, please contact Steve Brown at CBRE. The latest issue of the Canadian Construction Association's newsletter is now available. Please click here to access it.
innovation Corner
General contractors need to make numerous decisions while on the job, many of which are guided by the Ontario Building Code (OBC). However, the OBC is an immense and complex document that can be difficult to navigate. And if you’ve ever tried to lug that enormous binder on-site, or had to manually swap out pages when an update is issued, you know how cumbersome and inconvenient it can be.
Are you a Safety Champion? Do you know a Safety Champion? Do you know a company who would be a great addition to the LOC? Have you considered joining the League of Champions? If you have any questions or want to learn more about the League of Champions, just let us know. We are here to help. If you have any questions or comments, please contact Judith Reda at judith@theloc.ca 
Safety
The current issue of IHSA's 2-Minute News contains the following:
Click here to access the articles. 
Associate Partner News and Events
Concrete Ontario Concrete Ontario provides a world class plant certification to all its members. The Association is active in a number of areas of the industry including new concrete and admixture technologies, education and training of our clients, environmental stewardship, and ongoing partnerships with many industry partners. Click here to see their profile page. Rosenberg & Parker of Canada Inc. One hundred percent of our concentration is devoted to our clients as we put our surety expertise to work for them. We have provided bonding support for some of the largest construction projects in Canada, the United States and the world. Where there is major construction, you will find Rosenberg & Parker. Our vision is clear and it’s Pure Surety. Click here to see their profile page. While he isn't listed on the profile page, you can also email Cameron Byrne or by phone at 647-612-5404.
Use Coupon Code OGCA2021 at checkout. Valid up to June 30. CLICK HERE to register now and help keep everyone safe with more certified JHSC members. On May 29, 2020, the Government of Ontario introduced a regulation under the Employment Standards Act, 2000 (“ESA”) that provided relief to any employer that had temporarily laid off or reduced the wages and/or hours of a non-union employee due to COVID-19. The regulation largely exempts any such layoff or reduction from being deemed a termination of employment, such that there is no obligation to provide ESA notice or severance pay. The employee is deemed to be on an Infectious Disease Emergency Leave (“IDEL”).
From Sherrard Kuzz: Our April 30, 2021, briefing note addressed key components of Ontario’s paid Infectious Disease Emergency Leave (IDEL). A follow-up briefing note on May 10, 2021, answered FAQ from clients. As we indicated in these notes, employer reimbursement of paid IDEL will be facilitated by Ontario’s Workplace Safety and Insurance Board through the COVID -19 Worker Income Protection Benefit Program. The portal through which an employer may apply for reimbursement is now open and can be accessed here. Prior to applying, an employer should ensure it has available:
Payments are expected to take two weeks to process, with initial payments being made by the end of June and bi-weekly thereafter. An organization can check the status of a claim here. For more information on the COVID-19 Worker Income Protection Benefit Program, visit the Ontario Government’s information page or contact Sherrard Kuzz lawyer at info@sherrardkuzz.com. We’ll respond promptly.
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. Education & Events
Adjudication and prompt payment provisions of the Construction Act came into force on October 1, 2019. Ontario Dispute Adjudication for Construction Contracts (“ODACC”) is the Authorized Nominating Authority (“ANA”) under the Construction Act. To help better prepare construction employers, the OGCA and ODACC are proud to present "Adjudication – A Practical Tool in Construction Dispute Resolution" on Tuesday, June 15 at 10 a.m. (Zoom). Topics will include:
The session will be hosted by Giovanni Cautillo, OGCA President, and will feature two industry experts from ODACC, Elise Teitler, Project Manager ODACC, and Matt Ainley, Construction Consultant, Adjudicator.
Location: Online Webinar via Zoom Description: Join the TCA's Young Construction Leaders (YCL) and TCA's Environmental Committee on Tuesday, June 22, 2021, at 11 a.m. for a panel discussion on the implementation of the Ontario excess soils regulation that came into effect on January 1, 2021. Four industry experts will be sharing their experiences over the past six months while highlighting the importance of early involvement in managing soils both on and offsite. Moderator: Speakers: Submit your question(s): Please submit questions for our panellists here by 5 p.m. on Monday, June 14, 2021, and they will do their best to answer them during the seminar. REGISTER HERE! With the next stage of the excess soils regulations due on January 1, 2022, our members must start to prepare themselves for the updated requirements. As a means to assist our members with this process, we have the attached information sheets to help conceptualize how the framework will affect the soil removed from your sites. Should you have any questions on the information contained therein, please contact the OGCA offices directly. As more and more people work from home, IT Security concerns are on the rise. Vubiz has developed a series of short courses to address this issue. They include:
For a free demonstration of these courses, please call or e-mail Norm Vokey of Vubiz (416-949-2071). RESCON has its fourth COVID-19 webinar on June 29, 2021, from 1 p.m. – 3 p.m. This webinar will be covering all matters to do with vaccination rollout and policy in the workplace. We'll be sending out the webinar agenda very soon! To Register for the webinar, please click on the Eventbrite link here: RESCON's Fourth COVID-19 Webinar or contact Ahd AlAshry. If you have any questions regarding the event, please contact Ahd AlAshry or Andrew Pariser. Last week, I became aware of a study by The Ontario Drug Policy Research Network noting a spike in opioid related overdoses and deaths that have disproportionally affected the construction industry. According to the study, almost 30% of those that died worked in the industry.
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ONTARIO GENERAL CONTRACTORS ASSOCIATION
180 Attwell Drive, Suite 280 | Toronto, Ontario M9W 6A9 Tel 905-671-3969 |
Our associate member and Health & Safety Partner, 4S Consulting Services Inc., a CPO-approved provider, is offering a 5% DISCOUNT on the JHSC Online Bundle. 
The Toronto Construction Association is hosting this free event on June 22, 2021, at 11 a.m. and has generously opened it up to OGCA members.