ECAO NEWS

ECAO Annual General Meeting and Social Event- Going Virtual September 16 & 17
ECAO

ECAO is pleased to have a record number of members attending the Annual General Meeting (AGM) on the morning of September 17th. This virtual platform is a convenient way for our members to join us for our annual presentation of the 2019 RH Carroll Safety Awards and the prestigious DJB Wright Award and to learn what ECAO has accomplished in 2019 and key initiatives for 2020. 

Also, don’t miss the live entertainment and Trivia Contest at our Social Event the evening prior to the AGM, on September 16 from 4:30 to 6:30 pm.

Don’t forget to Register: https://ecao-agm2020.eventcreate.com/

IBEW Initiative aims to Boost Canadian Diversity Efforts
ECAO

Sept 3, 2020

IBEW International President Lonnie R. Stephenson recently announced the “IBEW Strong” initiative to grow a more inclusive and representative union, and IBEW leaders in Canada are embracing the push to increase diversity while continuing to educate the best electrical workers in the world. It’s something that’s been an IBEW priority for many years.

3S Stickers
ECAO

ECAO has created these antiracism stickers to help raise awareness for support against racist actions, activities, tones, or remarks made in Ontario workplaces including construction sites! ECAO will be distributing these to our local ECAs and the IBEW Construction Council of Ontario for wider distribution. For more information on the stickers please contact Cathy Frederickson at cfrederickson@ecao.org

SEE IT | SAY IT | STOP IT

Anti-Racism Toolbox Talk and Poster https://bit.ly/30VZMAy 

 UPCOMING WEBINARS

Handling Work Refusals During COVID 19 Pandemic- Norm Keith, Partner
FASKEN MARTINEAU DUMOULIN LLP

Norm Keith has been a frequent presenter for ECAO on various employment and labour issues. Norm will be offering a series of 3 webinars over the next few months on key issues faced by employers during COVID 19 and he provides guidance on what employers should be looking for in the future.

His first webinar will equip employers in their knowledge of the law regarding non-union employees and how to deal with Ministry of Labour inspectors when they get involved.

Date: Wednesday September 23, 10:00am- 12 noon

Zoom meeting details below:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84422677952
Meeting ID: 844 2267 7952
+1 647 558 0588 Canada
+1 778 907 2071 Canada

The following Norm Keith webinars will be as follows:
Preventing Racism & Discrimination on the Job Site- October 15
Improving your Health and Safety Program to Ensure Due Dilligence-November 5

If you have successfully completed Level 3 of the ECAO Fire Alarm and Protection Certification Program, don’t waste what you’ve achieved in the previous levels! It is time to move on and with just one more level, you will become a Certified Fire Alarm Electrician!

We are planning to run the next Distant Learning Level 4 course in Fall. The tentative commencement date is September 16, 2020. The course will start at 6:30 in the evening on a weeknight. Participants are required to have an internet connection in order to attend the course via “Go to Meeting”. They can connect through a computer, laptop, or tablet with a camera and microphone.

Distant learning will benefit you remotely to continue study in the comfort of your own safe environment, especially during the current COVID-19 pandemic. As time is money, you can also save your commute time traveling if you have a restricted schedule or live too far from a Local Training Hall. If you would consider taking the Distant Learning course, please contact our Certi-Fire Program Administrator at contactus@certifire.org or 416-675-3226 Ext 8509

 INDUSTRY NEWS

Ontario Providing In-Demand Skills Training to Over 15,000 People
NEWSROOM ONTARIO

HAMILTON — The Ontario government is providing $37 million to help more than 15,000 people train for new jobs and upgrade their skills to enable them to contribute to the province's economic recovery. The funding will support 86 projects and provide training in high-demand skills like information technology, advanced manufacturing, truck driving, construction, and horticulture. The programs include internships and other hands-on learning experiences, and in most cases, the training is provided at no charge. The announcement was made at the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 105 Training Centre in Hamilton.

Training Programs Will Give Workers and Job Seekers Pathways to Good Jobs
CONSTRUCT CONNECT

Three industry leaders have been appointed as advisers by the Ontario government to engage with youth and key partners to create more supportive pathways into the skilled trades and apprenticeship system.

Adam Melnick, Director of Government and Community Relations with the Heat and Frost Insulators and Allied Workers Union Local 95, Andrew Paliser, Vice-President of the Residential Construction Council of Ontario and Jennifer Green, Director of Competitions and Young Women’s Initiatives, Skills Ontario were appointed to head this new committee.

“A personal goal for this committee is to help us return to an environment where gaining an apprenticeship in a skilled trade career is treated with the same enthusiasm and optimism that pursuing a post-secondary education holds,” said Adam Melnick.

Part of the mandate of the new youth advisers is to advise on increasing awareness of the skilled trades among elementary school students, starting in Grade 1, with a focus on Grades 7 and 8, and on making it easier for high school students to learn about the options and to begin an apprenticeship pathway while continuing to earn secondary school credits. The advisers will then report back to the ministry.

Ontario Extends Support for Employers and Employees Impacted by COVID-19
NEWSROOM ONTARIO

TORONTO - The Ontario government is helping protect jobs and businesses by extending protection to prevent temporary layoffs from automatically becoming permanent job losses. Although Ontario is now in Phase 3 of reopening, this extension will give businesses more time to reopen and return to full operations. This extension will last until January 2, 2021. 

Under Ontario labour laws, termination of an employee after 13 weeks of being temporarily laid off triggers costly payouts which, for many businesses, could be the difference between survival and closure. This regulatory amendment delays these terminations and severance liabilities.

Ontario Expanding Youth Training Programs to Promote the Skilled Trades
NEWSROOM ONTARIO

TORONTO — The Ontario Government is investing $43 million in expanded youth training programs to give young people exposure to more employment options. The programs will help increase awareness and encourage youth to acquire the skills that will start them down the path to lifelong success while supporting Ontario's economic recovery and future prosperity.

Building construction investment increases (rebounds) in May 2020 
ELECTRICAL BUSINESS

August 18, 2020 – Statistics Canada recently reported total investment in building construction increased 60.1% to $13.4 billion in May 2020, partially rebounding from large declines in April.

The easing of COVID-19 construction restrictions in May—most notably in Ontario and Quebec—led to growth in all components of residential and non-residential investment.

Despite rebounding strongly in May, investment levels remained 16.5% below the level observed in February 2020.

One Ontario e-permitting program ‘groundbreaking’: RESCON president
CONSTRUCT CONNECT

The newest effort to streamline Ontario’s project approvals process through e-permitting recently picked up momentum with the announcement that the Residential Construction Council of Ontario (RESCON) has joined the fledgling One Ontario Program.

One Ontario was established by Toronto’s AECO Innovation Lab to establish a set of provincial guidelines for data and information exchange during the development approval process. One Ontario aims to ensure that developers, municipalities and other government agencies are all working in harmony using the latest digital protocols such as web-based geographic information system applications, BIM tools and automated code-compliance checking algorithms.

The end goal is to streamline the municipal approvals process, thus minimizing uncertainty and risk for developers and speeding up construction.

IHSA Strategic Planning - External Stakeholder Input
IHSA

Infrastructure Health & Safety Association (IHSA) is asking IHSA Members and Stakeholders to complete a short survey to provide input that will help them in developing their strategic plan, to ensure it aligns with the future workforce needs in various sectors like construction. If you have any questions please contact Ken Rayner at krayner@ihsa.ca

To access the survey click here https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/CMMQR8L 

Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) Small Business Health and Safety Awards
WSIB

Applications for our Small Business Health and Safety Leadership Awards are now open. This year, our awards will recognize Ontario’s small businesses that showed exemplary health and safety during the pandemic and went the extra mile to keep their employees and customers safe.

The top three businesses will receive a monetary prize, $5,000 (gold), $3,000 (silver), $2,000 (bronze), and recognition at a ceremony in November. The first place winner will also be featured in a promotional video.

Any Ontario business with fewer than 50 employees is eligible and applications can be completed online through our website. Businesses have until October 5, 2020 to apply.

To apply, fill out our Small business health and safety leadership awards application.

Applications are due: October 5, 2020

Diana Rea
Stakeholder Engagement Lead
Workplace Health and Safety Services
Cell. 437 991 4506
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