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The OGCA has continued to push back on the buyers of construction that maintain positions that are fixed and attempt to download risks onto our members. This has been accomplished when our members provide us with language that they find questionable or problematic in tenders. The OGCA then responds accordingly and provides a letter to the buyer of construction highlighting the vexatious language, but also provides possible suggested language to facilitate better terms and conditions for our contactors. These letters have been very effective in changing the tone and content in tenders and ultimately benefiting all those bidding said project.
After over three decades of service to the Ontario General Contractors Association (OGCA), Mary Wademan, the OGCA Office Manager, has decided to retire this April after the Symposium. Mary has been a steadfast fixture with the OGCA for the length of her service and has always sought to deliver her best to the association. Mary, on behalf of the entire OGCA: the Board of Directors; the members and their families; the stakeholders; and the staff, we would all like to say “thank you.” Your mark has been etched permanently into the very fabric of the OGCA. Please join me in congratulating Mary on her retirement and send well wishes to mary@ogca.ca or directly at 647-401-8838. The Ontario government has announced $22 million in funding for infrastructure projects across 14 municipalities in Southwestern Ontario. On January 6, Minister Monte McNaughton announced that municipalities will be able to use the funds for better roads, improved sewer systems in Lambton Shores, and a new fire and paramedic station in North Middlesex. For more information, please click here. It is with great sadness that we announce the recent passing of Raymond (Ray) Curran on January 2, 2022. Ray was President and a Board member, including a founding contractor member, of the Sarnia Construction Association (SCA).
innovation Corner
CanBIM is hosting an Industry Summit on January 20, 2022 at 11:50 a.m. ET. This Summit is organized by CanBIM's Prefabrication, Offsite and Modularization Think Tank. Industry thought leaders will present strategies and case studies that highlight the challenges and opportunities faced within various construction sectors and how new prefabrication and modular methods can help to address those challenges. Please click here for more information and to register. The OGCA is excited to host a webinar with Aon, PCL and Latium about a ground-breaking partnership between the insurance industry and the construction industry to build a foundation for the aware and predictive job site. RSVP now for “The Rise of the Aware and Predictive Jobsite” on January 26 from 10-11 a.m.
As we get settled into the New Year, I wanted to take a moment to recognize the incredible members of the League of Champions. I would like to extend my appreciation to our members and thank you for your continued support of the League of Champions. Although January has us stretched to our limits navigating through this current chapter of COVID, I wanted to take a moment to encourage you to reflect on our combined industry successes in 2021 and encourage every person to remain vigilant over the coming weeks. As we continue to manoeuvre our way out of COVID both personally and as an industry, please keep the League of Champions in mind when you are hosting staff training, first-aid or staff appreciation events. We at the League are ready, willing and able to support you with your continued Safety initiatives. Strengthening an organization's safety culture can help streamline communication and bring teams together while improving safety records and driving safer outcomes. In 2022, the League of Champions (LoC) is launching a new Safety Culture initiative that will support members measuring and taking action to improve their safety culture.
Do you know a Safety Champion? 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 Stay safe. Many people are shocked to know that, if this is a typical day in Canada, three families will learn that their loved one has died as the result of a traumatic workplace injury or occupational disease, and hundreds of workers will be seriously injured or made ill because of work. Threads of Life is a national charity that provides hope and healing to these workers and their families.
Safety
This issue contains the following updates:
Please click here to read the full updates. 
Associate Partner News and Events
Stephenson’s Rental Services Inc. (“Stephenson’s”) is pleased to announce a strategic investment in Centre de Location GM Inc. (“Location GM”), a Québec based equipment rental company with four branches. This investment marks the first step for Stephenson’s in its plan to expand in the province of Québec. Alexandre Cantin and Jean-François Cantin, respectively Shareholder and CEO and Shareholder and CFO of Location GM, will continue in their respective roles and retain significant equity participation in Location GM. It is intended that operations in Québec will continue to be operated under the Location GM brand. Please click here to read the English Press Release, or click here to read it in French.
Bluedrop introduced the globally unique training platform for upskilling and credentialing workforces that stretch across many employers – seamlessly connecting workers, employers, training providers, instructors, inspectors, and government. Our flagship SkillsPass ISM Platform, first introduced in 2008, delivers a practical working solution for complex training situations that overwhelm the capabilities of traditional LMS tools. More than a decade later, the platform is actively delivering upskilling, industry-specific training, and credential management with Governments, Workers Compensation Boards (WCBs), and industry groups around the globe, including six Canadian Provinces. Approaches to upskilling and credentialing across many employers is hard… we fix that! To find out more visit https://bluedropism.com/ As the year draws to a close, the construction industry is looking ahead to the challenges and opportunities the new year will bring. According to Procore, a leading provider of construction management software, here are some trends to watch in 2022:
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 2021, please contact Mary Wademan at OGCA.
CCE is quickly becoming a must attend national event with over 300 national and international exhibitors. CCE has over 30 co-sponsoring and supporting sponsor associations representing the concrete and construction industry. Each of these associations contributes to the educational sessions provided and promoting CCE to their members. Attendance has increased by almost 30% each year due to high quality exhibit floor, excellent conference sessions and an abundance of networking opportunities. For details, please click here. Clarity in Contracts
The OGCA believes that information is power and having accurate, clear and understandable information in construction contracts could be the difference between success or potential bankruptcy. Recently, the members of the OGCA have tabled a considerable number of tender issues to the association and have requested assistance in removing, clarifying or qualifying onerous language from tender documents. The onerous, dictatorial and one-sided style of tender terms and provisions are only going to increase as the buyers of construction continue to attempt to download all responsibility onto our general contractors.
Education & Events
We unfortunately continue to discover new and more aggressive variants of concern that put our health at risk over and over again. A number of studies have thankfully shown that booster shots provide a better level of protection than just two doses alone. The event will feature:
This event is a great opportunity to understand what things will look like moving forward with variants of concern and the boosters, and what it all means for your workplace. To register, please click here or contact Ahd AlAshry (Alashry@rescon.com) Learn to manage construction project risk and earn The Osgoode Certificate in Construction Law, starting February 1, 2022. Designed for industry, you will get a solid understanding of the core legal issues impacting construction projects today.
Calendar of Events
Registration is now open for the 13th OGCA Construction Symposium, April 7-9, 2022. We are still hoping to hold this as an in person event. Attached is the registration form, and we have extended the early bird rate to February 11. If you are planning to sponsor the event, I have attached the sponsorship package as well. We hope to see you there! 
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ONTARIO GENERAL CONTRACTORS ASSOCIATION
180 Attwell Drive, Suite 280 | Toronto, Ontario M9W 6A9 Tel 905-671-3969 |
A technology innovator with three decades of domestic and international experience, Bluedrop ISM is an industry-recognized training management solutions provider that aims to assist people & employers threatened by a fast-changing labour market to survive and thrive.
Canada’s only national trade show serving the concrete, aggregates and construction industries is back, better and stronger, February 17-18, 2022 at The International Centre, Toronto