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It has been a very exciting start to 2018. In fact, 2017 ended with a major flurry of activity that extended through the holiday. Last year, we saw attempts to introduce a Federal Prompt Payment Bill that had come from the Senate. While we only got notice of the Senate Bill shortly before it was passed, efforts by OGCA Lien Task Force member Yonni Fushman of AECON did raise a challenge to this ill-conceived and poor second cousin to our own Bill 69.

Apparently, the scammers have decided OGCA is a good bet for hiring people from overseas. We have received dozens of emails from job-seekers from across the ocean, looking to be hired through the OGCA. OGCA has placed a warning on our website (under Contact OGCA) to advise that we have been the victim of a scam. You can read the letter by clicking Learn More.

Arbitration, Mediation and Adjudication of Construction Disputes and Claims
Kirsh Construction ADR Services
HARVEY J. KIRSH, B.A., LL.B., LL.M., C.S., C.Arb., has more than 40 years’ experience in the arbitration, mediation and litigation of construction claims and disputes arising out of infrastructure, public-private partnership (P3), transportation, energy, resource, industrial, commercial, institutional and residential projects. Harvey has been recognized by Canadian and international peer review publications for his expertise and experience in arbitrating and mediating all forms of construction claims and disputes.
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Industry News

Premier Wynne has announced a major Cabinet shuffle in preparation for this June's provincial election. Deb Mathews, Liz Sandals and Brad Duguid have announced they will not run for re-election and have stepped down to allow new Ministers to be appointed.

The changes include Mitzie Hunter - now Minister of Advanced Education and Skills Development, and Steven Del Duca becomes Minister of Economic Development and Growth. 

Click here to see the new appointments.

Request for Qualifications Issued for Orléans Health Hub Project

TORONTO — Infrastructure Ontario (IO) and Hôpital Montfort, have issued a request for qualifications (RFQ) for interested parties to build and finance the Orléans Health Hub (previously known as Orléans Family Health Hub).  Click here to read more…

Prequalified Teams Selected for Macdonald Block Reconstruction Project

TORONTO – Three teams have been prequalified to design, build, finance and maintain the Macdonald Block Reconstruction Project.

Teams were selected based on their design and construction experience, qualified personnel and financial capacity to deliver a project of this size and scope.  Click here to read more…

PREFERRED PROPONENT SELECTED FOR NEW TORONTO COURTHOUSE PROJECT

TORONTO – EllisDon Infrastructure is the preferred proponent to design, build, finance and maintain the new Toronto courthouse project located at 10 Armoury Street, bordered by Centre Avenue and Chestnut Street.

Infrastructure Ontario (IO) and the Ministry of the Attorney General (MAG) selected EllisDon Infrastructure after extensive evaluations following an open, fair and competitive request for proposals process that began in October 2016.  Click here to read more…

Are you looking to set your organization apart? Are you committed to nurturing a safe work environment for your employees? If so, join Rob Ellis and the League of Champions on February 8th & 12th. 

We have two new opportunities for Champions to get involved and engage their future workforce - students - in an open dialogue about safety culture. 

This is your time to shine. Grab your jersey, markers and camera, and get ready to lead the next generation into a rewarding career in the industry. 

February 8th – Seneca College
Newnham Campus (Building A – Great Hall, Room A 1531, 1750 Finch Ave E, Toronto) 
• Speak to 400-600 students with HR, business, and engineering backgrounds
• Champions to arrive at 1:00 pm

February 12th – University of Toronto: Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering
• Speak to civil and chemical engineering students
• Details to be confirmed

RSVP is required, so please express your interest by email to Andrea George at andrea@ogca.ca

Concrete Flooring Association
K. Winter Sanitation Inc.
Safety

Nominations for the 2017 Doug Chalmers Safety Award are now closed!

The award recognizes exceptional contributions to safety and improving safety culture in the construction industry. OGCA would like to acknowledge the outstanding nominations that have been received and we congratulate all those who have been nominated as they are all very strong candidates.

The 2017 recipient will be announced at the 2018 Leadership Day event. If you have not registered your seat yet, don’t delay, click here today.

Tickets are selling fast and we could not be more excited to see you all there.

Strong leaders recognize that solid health and safety performance drives business results. They promote a culture of safety in their organizations, and integrate prevention measures into business strategies, processes and performance measures.

Come out to hear what our leaders on the leadership panel have to say when it comes to demonstrating their commitment to implementing a strong safety culture. Leaders go beyond meeting their legal obligation; instead, they understand that safety matters when it comes to their employers and ensuring they return home safe.

Join us on Friday, March 2, 2018 at 8:00 a.m. at Verdi Convention Centre, 3550 Derry Road in Mississauga.

To purchase your tickets today or to learn more, visit OGCA’s event page

Safety Pass is an online course developed by the industry, for the industry and addresses key issues to support contractors and their workers in an effort to continually raise the bar for safety in our industry. 

The Safety Pass will:

  • Ensure a consistent level of Health & Safety knowledge across the industry.
  • Allow workers to focus on site and hazard-specific training faster.
  • Reduce training duplication industry-wide
  • Enable worker mobility – workers do not have to re-take The Safety Pass when they start a new job

Safety Pass is free for the first year and fully transferable from site to site. It will be valid for three years and accepted industry-wide.

To learn more, contact Lyndsy Miceli at lyndsy@ogca.ca

It is that time of year again and even though safety is at the forefront of our minds on a day to day basis, it is time to begin planning events that celebrate safety.

Save the date for the following:

  • Safety Week 2018 | May 7 - 11 | Be Part of Something Big
  • NAOSH 2018 | May 6 - 12 | Making Safety a Habit

Those who have events planned, please share the dates with OGCA so we can promote what safety leaders are doing to promote safety awareness, because “when we work together, our workers are safer and our industry is strong.”

Our Leadership Day event could not be possible without our generous sponsors. Thank you for your support.

Event Sponsor | Infrastructure Health and Safety Association (IHSA)

Title Sponsors | BlueDrop Learning Networks (SkillsPass) & Procore Construction Management & 4S Consulting Services

Partner Sponsor | e-compliance

For Sponsorship opportunities, visit OGCA’s event page for more details.

Masters Insurance Limited
Association of Printing and Data Solutions Professionals
Member News

PCL Agile brings together DFMA (design for manufacture and assembly), self-perform work, and strategic procurement/purchasing to overcome the logistical challenges associated with traditional on-site construction approaches.

Engaging PCL’s off-site production facility and own forces work crews, PCL Agile designs, engineers, manufactures and assembles modular building solutions at every scale and for a full range of applications from hinge to high-rise.

 

 

President Clive Thurston and PCL’s Terry Olynyk tour PCL’s Agile Design for Manufacturing and Assembly plant. 

EllisDon extends its invitation to all OGCA members to “shoot and score” for charity. There is fun for the whole family with a 1-hour family skate on the Saturday afternoon after 1:00 p.m.

Event Details:
When | April 20-21, 2018 | Friday - 5:00 pm to 11:00 pm, Saturday - 10:00 am to 7:00 pm
Where | Sports Village, 2600 Rutherford Road, Vaughan, ON L4K 5R1
Entry Fee | $1,200 per team
Threads of Life Donation | $400 per Contractor / Union
Team insurance is available | $150 per team
For more details on how you can register your team, please contact Dan Fleming at dfleming@ellisdon.com or call 416-616-0252.

Associate Partner News and Events

In a recent decision, the Court of Appeal for Ontario held it is possible to comply with all relevant regulations under the Occupational Health and Safety Act (“OHSA”), and at the same time violate the general duty under the OHSA to take “every precaution reasonable in the circumstances for the protection of a worker”. In other words, despite there being a regulation that specifically addresses a particular workplace risk (such as fall protection), there may be cases in which more is required from an employer than compliance with the regulation. Exactly how much more will be determined on a case-by-case basis depending on the nature of the workplace and work being done.

The decision is important because it has the potential to create considerable uncertainty about workplace health and safety standards, and raises the bar for employers seeking to become or remain compliant with the OHSA. For a detailed discussion of the decision and its potential impact on employers, please click here to read the Briefing Note.

If you have questions, or would like assistance addressing occupational health and safety matters in your workplace, contact your Sherrard Kuzz LLP lawyer, or reach us through info@sherrardkuzz.com.

Stay Ahead of the Curve With Superior Piping.
Ontario Pipe Trades Council
The United Association (UA) has been training qualified piping professionals for over 150 years. With 17 state-of-the-art training centres, we train: Steam/Pipefitters, Gasfitters, Sprinkler fitters, Refrigeration & Air Conditioning Mechanics, Plumbers, Instrumentation Mechanics and Welders. Stay ahead of the curve, and stay on time and on budget with our superior piping skills.
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Naylor Association Solutions
Legislative & Legal Updates

The latest Legislative Report is now available on the OGCA website. Please click here to read the January 9, 2018 edition.

Calendar of Events

Clive Thurston, President, OGCA and Howard Doucette, Chief Estimator, Graham Construction and Engineering present this 90 minute webinar – Today’s Minefields in Construction.

Estimators, PMs and CEOs should join the session to hear about the OGCA’s methods and tactics for dealing with SGCs. The OGCA has a very prescribed and detailed process for members when addressing this issue.

Learn about these processes, letters, qualifying bids, post tender negotiations, etc. and the law as it applies to them, including the Competition Act.

Click here to register.