ECAO NEWS

Do not forget to #DoTheFive! ✋
ECAO

Watch ECAO Employees #DoTheFive: https://youtu.be/D4BErKRvT-g Help stop COVID-19. We are in this Together!

New ECAO Mission and Vision Statements create an Identity of Purpose and Collaboration
ELECTRICAL BUSINESS

ECAO Mission Statement

To create a community of electrical and communications contractors that band together for support and advancement of the electrical/communications industry in Labour, Government and Public Relations.

ECAO Vision Statement

To differentiate ECAO contractors and their IBEW partners across Ontario as being industry leaders in delivering safe, stable, predictable, high-quality electrical/communications construction and maintenance services

When taken in combination, Graeme notes, these two statements “more properly capture the need for resilience and constantly keep excellence at front of mind”.

Whenever I read about new Mission and/or Vision Statements, I’m curious as to what prompted the decision to do so in the first place.

After analyzing the association, Graeme says ECAO determined that “while we performed well in certain areas, we needed to develop additional core competencies to allow us to sustain our competitive advantage and continue to optimally serve our members—and community—notwithstanding any future disruptions”.

“As a result, we felt it critical to properly reframe ECAO’s identity. After all, identity speaks to purpose, service, and membership collaboration and engagement.”

“In our view, the new statements are ambitious, seeking to ensure that ECAO continues toward improvement for our members, our industry, our community,” Graeme says. “Rather than merely stating what we do, these statements add why we do it and how we do it. I think it also balances the pride of past accomplishments with the plan to accomplish more in the future.”

 INDUSTRY NEWS

Ontario’s building trades ‘will be there to ensure our economy comes roaring back’: Ford
DAILY COMMERCIAL NEWS

Premier Doug Ford was the keynote speaker at the 63^{rd annual convention of the Provincial Building and Construction Trades Council of Ontario, which took place with a modified agenda this year over one day on Oct. 16}

“We are doing everything in our power to prevent another provincial shutdown. Even as we weather the storm, we must see the opportunities amid our present challenges,” Ford said during his address in Toronto. “Now is the time to train our young people, reskill workers looking for their next career and inspire the next generation of tradespeople. When so many students are worried about their future, the trades can offer a good paying career for life.”

Ontario Introduces Plan to Support Small and Main Street Businesses
NEWSROOM ONTARIO

TORONTO — The Ontario government is continuing to help businesses rebuild, reinvest and create good jobs across the province. Today, Prabmeet Sarkaria, Associate Minister of Small Business and Red Tape Reduction, announced Ontario’s Main Street Recovery Plan and later today will introduce the Main Street Recovery Act, 2020, proposed legislation that would support small businesses and modernize rules to allow them to innovate and meet the challenges of today. If passed, the act will remove hurdles faced by small businesses and allow them to pursue new opportunities—while maintaining or enhancing protections for public health, safety and the environment.

One of the items in the Recovery Plan is to enable Community Net Metering demonstration projects to help support local communities to develop innovative community projects like net-zero or community micro-grids.

Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit (CRSB)
GOVERNMENT OF CANADA

One of the new benefits recently announced by the Federal Government is the Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit, which is available to individuals who are unable to work because they are sick or need to self-isolate due to COVID-19. This benefit is administered by the CRA and provides $450 (after taxes withheld) for a maximum two weeks.

Read full details

To view the updated summary of Federal Programs available to individuals and businesses, go to The Federal website for all details including eligibility criteria.

The future of skilled trades in Ontario Part 1: Why did OCOT fail? What should come next?
DAILY COMMERCIAL NEWS

Stakeholders believe the future of skilled trades in Ontario’s construction sector lies in responsiveness to changes in the industry as the demands for a skilled workforce and spaces for apprentices to learn their crafts continue to grow.

It should not be stuck in the past with a cumbersome regulatory body attempting to fulfill numerous dubious mandates, with enforcement efforts fuelling divisions between unions and non-union sectors and health and safety not necessarily the top priority.

Those are some of the views of executives representing diverse construction sector interests, asked by the Daily Commercial News to offer opinions on how the industry should nurture the skilled trades the province needs to ensure a prosperous and productive future.

Consortium building Eglinton Crosstown takes government to court over COVID-19 issues 
DAILY COMMERCIAL NEWS

Crosslinx Transit Solutions (CTS) said it had filed an application with the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, arguing that provincial transit agency Metrolinx and Infrastructure Ontario weren’t addressing the pandemic-related problems with the Eglinton Crosstown project.

CTS said COVID-19 had created unexpected issues like absenteeism, supply-chain problems, and subcontractors exceeding their budgets as they try to keep their workers safe during the pandemic.

Crosslinx said its analysis during the first wave of the pandemic estimated that COVID-19 will add at least $134 million to project costs in 2020. As a second wave begins in the province, CTS said it expects those costs to rise.

Pandemic has not resulted in upswing in claims in construction industry
CANADIAN LAWYER

Although the COVID-19 pandemic may still be raging, it hasn’t resulted in a big upswing in claims. Jeffrey Armel, partner in Litigation Group at Koskie Minsky LLP says, “I’m somewhat surprised, because when the amendments [to the Construction Act] came down, … we thought there’d be a flurry of activity” in claims, including based on force majeure clauses. 

Ontario committee’s COVID infrastructure report a ‘head scratcher,’ says Cautillo
CONSTRUCT CONNECT

Several construction industry stakeholders were confused about the recommendations contained in a recently released report from the province’s Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs called The Economic Impact of COVID-19 on Infrastructure.

The Fifth Interim Report on the Economic and Fiscal Update Act, 2020, sets out the all-party committee’s findings and recommendations following a review of how the COVID-19 crisis has affected Ontario’s infrastructure sector. To review the 10 recommendations Read More.

 UPCOMING WEBINARS

ECAO Sponsored Zoom Webinar- Prompt Payment and the Interim Adjudication Process- October 27, 10:00 am.
ECAO

In this 1-hour webinar, Lindsay Reynolds, ODACC Registered Construction Adjudicator, will present an overview of the Ontario Construction Act, define the terms and timelines under Prompt Payment legislation, and describe the Interim Adjudication process.

Date: Tuesday October 27, 2020, via Zoom

Time: 10:00 am to 11:00 am

Register in advance for this meeting: https://bit.ly/3dt08U0

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing zoom information about joining the meeting.

About this Event

On October 1, 2019, amendments were made under the Ontario Construction Act. These new changes, specifically Prompt Payment legislation and Interim Adjudication, are still widely unknown and substantially unused within the construction industry. Endeavouring to increase awareness and the utilization of this new system, ODACC Registered Construction Adjudicator Lindsay Reynolds is offering a free webinar for construction industry professionals interested in learning about the changes and their rights under the Act.

Construction supply chain disruptions in times of uncertainty - CCA Webinar
EFC

The Canadian Construction Association invites you to join them for their next CONnected webinar:

When: Thursday, October 22, 2020
Time: 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. EDT

Registration: click here

Expert panel:

• Mary Van Buren, President, Canadian Construction Association
• Derek Nighbor, President and Chief Executive Officer, Forest Products Association of Canada
• Ed Whalen, President and CEO, Canadian Institute of Steel Construction
• Bart Kanters, President, Concrete Ontario

Learning outcomes:

• Is there a potential risk of disruption or shortages in critical raw materials?
• How can you mitigate the risk of disruptions?

 OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY

The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOH) Keep your job site safe with these guidelines
CANADIAN CENTRE FOR OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY (CCOH)

The second wave of COVID-19 is here and it's important not to let your guard down when it comes to keeping your workspace safe. The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOH) has published safety guidelines specifically for construction sites. These tips will help remind your workers of proper protocols and helps supervisors ensure work sites are kept save.

To read the full list of COVID 19 Protocols for construction work sites click here.

Workplace Safety Insurance Board (WSIB)-First Aid Program Extension
WSIB ONTARIO

Important update on COVID-19

The Ontario government recently announced that first aid providers in certain regions will be included in phase two of reopening the province, and have permission to reopen and resume in-class first aid training. While in-person training is now being permitted, WSIB encourages providers to continue delivering blended training where it is possible to do so and to prioritize access to people and organizations working in front line, essential services.

WSIB is extending recertification and certification until Dec 31, 2020.

MINISTRY OF LABOUR EXTENDS WAH TRAINING DEADLINES DUE TO COVID-19
SAFETY FIRST CONSULTING PREFESSIONAL CORPORATION

In April of this year, the Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development extended Working at Heights (WAH) training renewals for a year. The extension will apply to workers who successfully completed their working-at-heights training between February 28 and August 31, 2017. The validity period, normally three years, would have ended this year. It will now end in 2021.

The extension will ensure affected workers can continue to work when possible. Construction will move ahead without interruption.

Take Your Kids to Work Day- November 4, 2020 Being Held Virtually
THE LEARNING PARTNERSHIP

Take Our Kids to Work Day is an annual career exploration event, held every November, where Grade 9, students across Canada spend the day in the life of a working professional. Developed by The Learning Partnership, the initiative started as a one-day event for students in the Greater Toronto Area in the Canadian province of Ontario Currently, it is a national event with more than 250,000 students, 18,000 teachers and 75,000 organizations participating each year. The next Take Our Kids to Work Day will take place on Wednesday, November 4, 2020.

For more information and to register for the virtual event go here: https://www.thelearningpartnership.ca/take-our-kids-to-work