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There was definitely a great deal of excitement in the air at the highly anticipated OGCA Symposium that occurred from April 7-9 at the Blue Mountain resort complex in Collingwood. This event was the first major construction conference since the provincial government lifted the masking and other public health requirements that have dominated our lives for the past 24 months.
Industry News
As a continuation of the OGCA’s efforts to keep our members abreast of issues that may affect the progress of work on ICI construction projects, the OGCA would like to remind our members of legislated changes that either come into effect or exemptions that expire July 1, 2022.
CSA Group is inviting interested expert stakeholders to apply for membership on a new Technical Committee (TC) on Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion in Apprenticeship Programs. This TC will be responsible for the development and maintenance of a new Standard, CSA Z301, Equity, diversity and inclusion in apprenticeship programs. The development of this National Standard is being funded by the Canadian District of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America (UBCJA).
The OGCA has been made aware that multiple suppliers in the construction supply chain are issuing letters to our members noting that they would be subject to additional Fuel Surcharges commencing April 1, 2022.
Concrete is the most used construction material in the world and has resulted in a dramatic increase in our quality of life over the past 100 years, but it has a history going back thousands of years, which is why the material is synonymous with both strength and durability.
Working for Workers Act 2, formerly known as Bill 88, has now received Royal Assent in the Ontario Legislature.
The 2022 Federal Budget fell short on providing the right conditions to deliver on the government’s build back better objectives, says the Canadian Construction Association, the national association representing Canada’s non-residential construction industry.
The Ontario government is working for workers by launching the first-ever review of the province’s occupational illness system. Conducted by the MAP Centre for Urban Health Solutions at St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto, an independent research centre with expertise in studying complex community health issues, the review will evaluate how occupational illnesses in Ontario are identified, monitored and prevented. The review will deliver lasting change for injured workers and their families.
As part of the changes related to the definition of road-building machine (RBM) under the Highway Traffic Act (HTA) that came into force July 1, 2017, temporary hours of service exemption certificates have been available to eligible vehicles to help support a smooth transition toward operating as a commercial motor vehicle.
These temporary exemption certificates issued by the Ministry of Transportation will expire on June 30, 2022.
The LOC Safety Culture Survey initiative officially launched February 16, 2022. We are happy to see registrations steadily growing. All League of Champions members are encouraged to participate in this survey as a way to gauge how employees think of your work culture. For questions or further information, please contact Judith Reda, judith@theloc.ca
Please see the below links to participate in Day of Mourning online events: Threads of Life: On Day of Mourning, walk with those who’ve experienced tragedy. Join Threads of Life’s brief online ceremony. Light a candle of your own and renew your resolve to work safely. And if you need someone to walk with you, know that Threads of Life is here to be that companion. National Day of Mourning - April 28 | Threads of Life WSIB: Day of Mourning | WSIB The LOC is proud to support the 2022 Canadian Concrete Expo as a Co-Sponsor, and offer you complimentary admission to the show by Clicking Here. Join us at our panel May 18, 2022, titled "Improving your Safety Culture with the League of Champions". See you there!
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.
Thank you to those of you who participated in our 13th construction symposium this past weekend. It was a pleasure to be able to host you all in person and to network with you all during the event. We hope that you had a good time and were able to join in on some of the insightful and educational sessions that took place over the duration of the event. For those of you who wish to view the photos that were taken, please click here. To view a list of the Symposium Session Presentations, please click here. We would also like to take a moment to appreciate and thank our sponsors for their unwavering support for the symposium. We so are grateful for your help in making this event as great as it can be. Labour market challenges could be an ongoing preoccupation across Ontario as unemployment rates return to pre-pandemic lows, and construction demand in the residential and non-residential sectors is sustained through at least 2026. innovation Corner
Payments in construction are becoming an increasingly large concern: As discovered by PwC, the The Ontario government is working for workers by investing more than $13 million to provide free training and paid electricians’ apprenticeships for more than 2,500 people across the province who are unemployed or looking to earn bigger paychecks. With over $2 billion in infrastructure projects on the horizon, Ontario faces a shortage of electricians and other skilled trades workers. This investment will help the province deliver critical hospitals, schools and roads on time and on budget.
Even though BIM is now talk of the industry and is being widely discussed for its contribution, there are still many confusions and uncertainties around how it can contribute to contractors immensely, especially in context with Small to Medium Size GC’s.
 The next guest of the podcast 'The BIM Student' - Season 3 features the OGCA’s very own Erich Schmidt - Manager, Public Affairs and Innovation. Take a listen and learn how we at the OGAC continue to advocate for the adoption of technology with General Contractors.
Join us this year by celebrating Safety Culture in your programs throughout Safety Week 2022. Some of our Champions are opting for virtual programs, while others are planning in-person events. Following two long years of restrictions, both LOC and OGCA staff are pleased to remind you that we are ready, willing and able to join you at your events. For Safety Week event ideas, or to arrange LOC and OGCA staff to visit you, please contact Judith at judith@theloc.ca Our friends and Champions at Hamilton-Halton Construction Association are hosting an informative session on Naloxone training on May 5 in Hamilton as part of their Safety Week activities. This invitation has been extended to LOC and OGCA membership. If you are interested in taking part of this training, click on the attached link for further details and registration. The session is taking place at the Waterfront Centre, 555 Bay Street North, Hamilton ON L8L 1H1. Please click here for more information. 
Safety
OGCA is happy to announce that Leadership Day will be held as an in-person event this year. This year’s event is being held Friday, May 6, 2022 beginning at 8 a.m. at Bellvue Manor, 8083 Jane Street, Vaughan. To register and for more information, please click here.
For any questions or inquiries, please contact Daniela Polsoni, daniela@ogca.ca or Judith Reda, judith@theloc.ca 
Associate Partner News and Events
Procore has released the results of its 2022 Customer Return On Invest (ROI) report, which explores how the company is helping its global customers – including Canadians – tackle some of the industry's biggest challenges including sustainability, safety and the labour shortage.
Passive House Canada is hosting an Annual Conference May 25 - 27, 'In the Face of Climate Change', an in-person event in Victoria and broadcast online through a virtual platform as well.
The conference will address the increase in adverse climate change events, and how Passive House design and technology can create healthy, climate resilient buildings and homes. A number of important topics will be covered including: climate resilience, indoor air quality, building codes, technical, embodied carbon, unique case studies, and more!
Ryerson MASc student Steph Tzanis is conducting a survey as part of their thesis. The focus of the research, supervised by Dr. Mark Gorgolewski, is to investigate the level of awareness and perceptions of design for disassembly (DfD) in the Ontario building design and construction industry. The overall goal is to improve circularity in the industry through DfD principles. The research has been approved for Mitacs funding, partnered with Sustainable Buildings Canada.
Legislative & Legal Updates
Ontario is moving through the graduated Plan to Safely Reopen Ontario and Manage COVID-19 for the Long-Term. Workplace safety measures and public health measures under the Reopening Ontario (A Flexible Response to COVID-19) Act (ROA) are gradually lifting in the absence of concerning trends.
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 Daniela Polsoni at OGCA. Clarity in Contracts
The Canadian Construction Documents Committee (CCDC) has presented several webinars explaining the use of our standard construction documents over the past couple of months. As previously mentioned, we would like to share the edited recordings we have prepared with you. These recordings are available to be re-sold to your members in conjunction with your other educational materials and are not to be posted publicly or given out for free. Please use the links below to access the webinars on YouTube. CCDC 31 – 2020 Service Contract Between Owner and Consultant Document Webinar: CCDC 21 – 2016 A Guide to Construction Insurance & CCDC 41 – 2020 Insurance Requirements Document Webinar : Education & Events
As Ontario continues it safe plan to reopen, there are psychological considerations that will likely affect workers and employers because of the re-opening with suggestions on mitigation.
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ONTARIO GENERAL CONTRACTORS ASSOCIATION
180 Attwell Drive, Suite 280 | Toronto, Ontario M9W 6A9 Tel 905-671-3969 |
The Day of Mourning is a time for remembrance, but also a time when many choose to share their personal stories to honour their loved ones and their own experience, and to help others understand the impact of a death, serious injury or illness caused simply by going to work. We at the League of Champions encourage everyone to schedule some time April 28 to reflect.
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