The Ontario government is introducing legislation to help bring reliable high-speed internet to underserved and unserved communities sooner. If passed, the changes would remove barriers, duplication and delays, making it easier and faster to build high-speed internet infrastructure across the province.

Please click here to read the full News Release.

Please find attached a media release regarding one of the key recommendations of the Ontario Housing Task Force Report to call for a requirement for municipalities to offer developers an option of securing their obligations under a subdivision agreement by posting a subdivision surety bond.

In the release, Steven D. Ness, President of the Surety Association of Canada, stated: “Developers in Ontario have their cash tied up as security for existing projects. Replacing these deposits with subdivision surety bonds would free up that money to invest in more housing developments.”

Further information and details can be found in the attached English and French versions.

Should you have any questions, or require more information in this regard, please contact Steven D. Ness at sness@suretycanada.com or me directly.

Designed for the construction industry and their legal advisors, get equipped with the latest crucial legal and practice updates from multi‑disciplinary experts and decision‑makers.

• Where are things at in 2022? How has the Act helped, and how is industry actually dealing with gaps, conflicts and uncertainty?
• How to effectively use contractual language and field tactics for managing your evolving legal obligations and mitigating risks due to COVID‑19
• Practical considerations for navigating various dispute processes under the Act – with distinctions based on type of proceeding (including virtual): mediation, arbitration, litigation, adjudication and the interface with liens

PLUS, don’t miss the live mock adjudication featuring an expert demonstration, insights and top tips for navigating key challenges at each stage of the adjudication process – from the perspective of the
adjudicator and the parties to the adjudication.

Please click here for more information.

Building Transformations is hosting a Project Stories virtual broadcast March 11, 2022 at 12 p.m. ET. Register here!

The Gordie Howe International Bridge project is a once-in-a-generation undertaking that will provide much-needed transportation improvements at the busiest Canada-U.S. commercial border crossing. Being delivered by Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority, this vital border crossing is four significant infrastructure projects in one—the bridge, two major Ports of Entry (POE) and a complex interchange connecting the I-75 in Michigan.

Once complete, the bridge will be the longest cable-stayed bridge in North America and will set the record for longest composite steel and concrete cable-stayed bridge deck in the world. Its Canadian POE with border inspection facilities, tolling operations and maintenance facilities will be the largest along the Canada-U.S. border; and the U.S. POE will be one of the largest anywhere in North America.

As Design Lead on the Bridging North America team, members of the AECOM design team will be joined Moriyama & Teshima Architects to discuss the project’s unique challenges and successes, and the effective digital collaboration needed to design this unprecedented public private partnership project.

The life of a traditional construction project often includes months, if not years, of preconstruction planning before shovels go in the ground. In summer 2020, Infrastructure Ontario, Lakeridge Health, PCL and a team of top-tier consultants and trade partners put their heads together to determine how to compress years of construction and build a new, six-storey long-term care home in just months.

What was needed to accomplish this seemingly impossible task? Strong relationships, and an expert team of professionals from multiple disciplines delivering on a precise strategy – all fueled by a relentless passion to achieve a common goal. The result? After just over a year of construction, Lakeridge Gardens, the new long-term care home at Ajax Pickering Hospital, achieved substantial performance on March 2, 2022.

The home includes 320 beds, stands six storeys tall, and covers 273,000 square feet. In addition to bringing 320 beds to the Durham Region, the home’s planning includes evidence-informed infection prevention and control measures and a modern design that prioritizes residents’ quality of life. A nine-station dialysis unit will also be housed on the first floor of the building.

To showcase the innovative collaboration behind the project and to provide insight into the strategy that enabled the home to be built in months instead of years, PCL Construction released a short documentary along with a complementary timeline and a case study.

How effective is your safety culture? You now have an opportunity to measure it and strengthen your program.

The League of Champions (LOC) and its members are focused on Safety Culture and employee engagement as a vital component of safety performance. Now all LOC members are being called on to use the S-CAT tool as the first steps to measure and improve your company’s Safety Culture.

We have now rolled out the Safety Culture program, including the January 19 webinar focused on Safety Culture to strengthen your safety program, and the February 16 webinar “Measuring Your Safety Performance,” which introduced the opportunity of the S-CAT safety culture tool. These presentations are available on the League of Champions website for your review along with the link for registration.

Participants in the Safety Culture program will enjoy the full use of the S-CAT program and the implementation support to target, conduct and compile the survey.

NORCAT has been contracted by the LOC to provide support for members during implementation of the survey and for review and analysis of the data. This cost is being covered by the LOC, as an increase in funding has been allocated by the CPO for this important initiative.

This is a unique opportunity with only a small investment of a little time to learn about, collect data to help improve your safety culture, and focus your safety initiatives and spending.

Utilize the following link for more information and to register. https://www.theloc.ca/safety

After two years of distancing and isolation, it’s time to do something together! The Steps for Life walk is a chance to unite around a worthwhile health and safety cause, and registration is open now! Steps for Life-Walking for Families of Workplace Tragedy is a national fundraising and awareness walk aimed at promoting the importance of workplace health and safety, and supporting families affected by work-related fatalities, life-altering injuries and occupational disease. A blend of in-person and virtual events are planned for this spring. You can walk on your own or team up with family, friends and colleagues. When we take Steps for Life, wherever we walk, #WeWalkTogether!

We want to thank LOC member EllisDon for sharing this video on why they support and participate in Steps for Life. By participating and supporting this event, you are helping Canadian families living in the aftermath of workplace tragedy to heal.

Hopefully you will be registering a team to walk, however if you don’t, your support of this great charity would be appreciated. You can donate to my page by clicking this link Steps for Life 2022 - Toronto: Judith Reda.

Our Champions at NORCAT are pleased to host their Charity Hockey Tournament supporting Threads of Life once again. It’s a great time to trade in your hard hat for your hockey helmet in support of a fantastic charity. For 2022 Tournament and Registration details, please click here. If you have any questions, contact Dan Fleming or Judith Reda.

Are you a Safety Champion? 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

OGCA is happy to announce that Leadership Day will be held as an in-person event this year.

Leadership Day is being held Friday, May 6, 2022 beginning at 8 a.m. at Bellvue Manor, 8083 Jane Street, Vaughan. Please mark your calendars, and a Save the Date will be sent in the coming week.

Nominations are now being accepted for the Doug Chalmers Award, and the fillable form is attached.

For any questions or inquiries, please contact Daniela Polsoni, Daniela@ogca.ca or Judith Reda, judith@theloc.ca.

On March 1, 2022, all public health regions in Ontario moved to the Roadmap Exit Step under
O. Reg 364/20 to the Reopening Ontario Act. Under this last step in the reopening plan, any business that is open is required to follow the advice, recommendations and instructions issued by the Office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health (CMOH), including any advice, recommendations and instructions:

• On physical distancing, cleaning or disinfecting
• Requiring the business or organization to establish, implement and ensure compliance with a COVID-19 vaccination policy
• Setting out the precautions and procedures the business or organization must include in its COVID-19 vaccination policy
• On screening individuals by, among other things, posting signs at all entrances to the premises of the business or organization, in a conspicuous location visible to the public, that inform individuals on how to screen themselves for COVID-19 prior to entering the premises. Note: active worker screening is no longer required but can be implemented voluntarily.

For more information, please click here.

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.

Clive Thurston Consulting will be hosting a small hybrid course on Construction Bidding and Contract Award featuring Clive Thurston and Geza Banfai of McMillan LLP.

The course will be hosted virtually and will feature a guest from FCA Insurance.

This program is being recognized by the SAC, OAA, PEO and the AATO for continuing education. All participants will be provided with a certificate at the end of the session.

To register, please click here*.

Date:   April 13, 2022
Time:   8 – 12:30 p.m.
Location:   Virtual

*Zoom Link will be sent one week prior to the event.

Pricing:
OGCA & CDAO Members $125.00
Non – Members $200.00

Registration is still open for the OGCA's 13th Construction Symposium. If you wish to sponsor this event, please click here for all the information you will need.

If you wish to register, please click the registration form here. Once you register, you will be sent the information on the sessions, as well as the session check off sheet.

Hope to see you all in Blue - April 7-9, 2022 at the Blue Mountain Resort.