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NDP Confirms Support for Prompt Payment
New Democratic Party officials in conversations with COCA staff have confirmed Leader Andrea Horwath's support for Prompt Payment legislation for Ontario's construction industry.
Recognizing that subcontractors should not be subsidizing construction owner's projects with their own money, NDP policy staff has confirmed that they will work with the construction industry to pass into law legislation that will create a level, rules-based transaction environment. This will ensure the equal rights to payment for all players in Ontario's construction industry.
This achievement is the result of COCA and many of its members diligently working through the political and electoral process to gain acceptance of the industry's desired objective including, but not limited to the Electrical Contractors Association of Ontario and the Interior Systems Contractors Association of Ontario.
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Advance Polls Open Wednesday September 21st - Vote Early....Have Your Say
 All COCA members are encouraged to have their say in who forms the next government at Queen's Park and get out and vote.
Elections Ontario is opening its advance polls as of Wednesday September 21st.
Those wishing to vote before E-Day, Thursday October 6th can do so between the hours of 10:00am and 8:00pm at their local returning office in their electoral district.
Advance polling locations information can be found on the Elections Ontario website at the following link:
http://www.wemakevotingeasy.ca/en/advance-poll-locations.aspx.
To make sure people go to the right advance polling station, they can check by using their home address at the following Elections Ontario webpage:
http://faq.elections.on.ca/faq/performsearch.do?type1QuestionId=2
Anyone with any questions can contact David Zurawel at 416-968-7200 ext. 223 or dzurawel@coca.on.ca. |
Arbitrator's ruling sees verbal threat classified as workplace violence
An August 18, 2011 arbitration decision has provided insight into how the workplace violence and harassment amendments (Bill 168) to the Occupational Health and Safety Act are to be applied in the workplace. Since their introduction more than a year ago there has been little, if any, case law available to interpret how the amendments ought to be applied to incidents of workplace violence and harassment. While a single case seldom constitutes iron-clad legal precedent by which all future incidents are to be interpreted the potential now exists for significantly greater employer responsibility and liability associated with workplace incidents involving the uttering of threats and the use of inappropriate language.
COCA members are strongly urged to review the legal summary of the case contained at the following link and to pass it along to their respective members.
http://www.minkenemploymentlawyers.com/uncategorized/verbal-threat-considered-workplace-violence-resulting-in-employee%E2%80%99s-termination/
This case has been referred to the Ministry of Labour for examination so as to determine more precisely what the adjudication decision means for Ontario employers. We will keep you informed of additional information as is becomes available.
Anyone with any questions can contact David Zurawel at 416-968-7200 ext. 223 or dzurawel@coca.on.ca.
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July building intentions see ICI sectors decline while residential values increase
National building permits values were down 0.6% to $6.6 billion in July following increases for both May and June. Gains in the residential sector off-set declining ICI intentions.
Year-over-year, national building intentions are up 4.3%. The residential sector is up 12.8% to a preliminary value of $3.87 billion, non-residential permit values have declined 5.7% from the previous year to $2.71 billion.
The Ontario marketplace fairs less well. Combined construction sector intentions are down 3.5% year-over-year to a preliminary value of $2.47 billion. While the province's residential sector saw gains of 12.7% worth $1.36 billion, the non-residential component of the industry is off 18.0% from the previous year coming in at a just $1.11 billion.
The national industrial component lost 40.1% from June with July intentions totaling just $368 million. Lower intentions for utility buildings and transportation facilities in Ontario and Quebec were the chief driver.
The institutional sector enjoyed its third consecutive month of growth as intentions for educational facilities in Ontario, Saskatchewan and two other provinces came in 17.1% higher, valued at $758 million.
Canada's commercial sector building permit growth was largely flat at just $1.6 billion for July.
July residential sector permit values were up 2.4% to a value of $3.9 billion driven largely as a result of an increase in value of multi-family and single-family dwellings in Ontario and Quebec.
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COCA's 2011/2012 Business Plan Approved
Readers may not be aware that COCA operates on a November 1 to October 30 financial and business planning cycle. In preparation for the upcoming 2011-12 year, on September 20th staff presented a draft business plan and supporting budget to the Board of Directors for discussion. President Ian Cunningham characterized the plan as a steady as she goes document with incremental improvements and organic growth in all areas of operation but with no major new initiatives. The plan which is aligned with the organization's long term strategic plan, recognizes the important need to connect with the new government created by the election on October 6th whether it be Liberal, PC or NDP, majority or minority by proposing two Construction Days and a Welcome to Construction Season Reception at Queen's Park to initiate and strengthen our reach into government. Once the new government is in place COCA will take its priority messages to key ministers and critics and will provide rookie MPPs with an orientation to construction. There was vigorous discussion around the goals and tactics outlined in the plan before both the plan and budget were approved by your Board of Directors. We look ahead to another year of heightened activity and growth providing full value for the investments members make in their provincial construction federation.
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Summer Member Visits
The summer of 2011 was filled with visits to member organizations to meet with their contractor members to get a true sense of the front lines of our industry. Included in this flurry of member visits were reporting to the TCA's government relations committee on happenings at Queen's Park, golf tournaments with the members of the BCA, the SSMCA, the CFBA, and the HHCA, updating the members of the HHCA's safety group on the implementation of the Dean Report's recommendations, reporting on the activities of COCA to the Board of the LDCA followed by a round of golf, participating on the 1st annual COCA conference planning committee of the BCA, reporting on the successes of COCA to the Board of the GVCA followed by their annual Open House, updating the OPCA's membership on the achievements of COCA at their annual conference at Taboo Resort and attending the annual members barbeque of the BCA.
We thank those member organizations who extended invitations to COCA and who welcomed us so warmly and we look forward to attending events hosted by other member organizations in the near future. We would very much like the opportunity to meet with as many member organizations as we possibly can each year to better understand the issues and concerns of their members.
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