Learn more about what’s happening in the industry with theOADC September & October 2020 newsletter.
LiUNA Local 1059 Charity Partnership Program with Jobi Construction Ltd.!
In mid-October the LiUNA Local 1059 Charity Partnership Program did a cheque presentation with OADC Member, JoBi Construction Ltd! Business Representative Nathan Moniz (centre) joined Jobi’s Brent Parsons and President, Joe Narciso to deliver a $15,000 donation to the Ark Aid Street Mission in London.
Ark Aid works to help people in need get back on their feet by offering a variety of resources including meal programs, counselling, clothing, job search, computer literacy skills, and more. They are thrilled to partner with JoBi Construction Ltd. to help support this outstanding local charity!
$75 Million Investment and Expert Advice Will Improve Training, while making it Safer and More Affordable
Margaret Taylor, Executive Director
The Ontario government is making the skilled trades more accessible by investing an additional $75 million over the next two years to help apprentices cover living expenses during their in-class training. The government is also appointing a five-member Skilled Trades Panel to provide advice and recommendations to the Minister of Labour, Training and Skills Development on developing a new approach to training and certification.
The announcement was made today at Downtown Toyota Toronto by Monte McNaughton, Minister of Labour, Training and Skills Development, Joseph Mancinelli, International Vice President of LiUNA, Patrick J. Dillon, Business Manager and Secretary Treasurer of the Provincial Building and Construction Trades Council of Ontario, and Karen Renkema, Chair of the Ontario Skilled Trades Alliance, among others.
This $75-million investment includes:The Grant for Apprentice Learning, a $5.8 million commitment to support those ineligible for Employment Insurance (EI) while attending in-class training, including a boost of $1.3 million this year and next year.The Apprentice Development Benefit, a $24 million commitment to increase the maximum benefit rates for EI-eligible apprentices attending full-time in-class training, including a boost of $4 million this year and next year.The In-Class Enhancement Fund, a $211.9 million commitment to support training providers so they can deliver higher quality training, including a boost of $11.8 million this year and $22.3 million next year.The Apprenticeship Capital Grant, a $24 million commitment to training providers to upgrade their facilities with state-of-the-art and modern equipment, including an additional $10 million next year.$5.1 million for training delivery agents, and an additional $500,000 for pre-apprenticeship training service providers, to assist them with implementing COVID-19 health and safety measures during the pandemic (e.g. purchase personal protective equipment, cleaning products and digital supports).$4.7 million as part of a multi-year $19.4 million investment in the development of a client-facing digital system to support the skilled trades and apprenticeship system in Ontario. The portal will provide skilled trades and apprenticeship clients with secure and convenient access to online information and services and will bring Ontario in line with digital delivery channels in other provinces.$2.5 million this year and $7.5 million next year to launch the new non-repayable Tools Grant.
WSIB Worksheet now available to adjust premiums reported to exclude CEWS subsidy amounts
The OEA has provided us with an update about the process to request retroactive premiums adjustments for employers who received a subsidy through the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) program used to pay employees who were on leave and not working. At their recent AGM, the WSIB indicated that businesses may retroactively adjust any insurable earnings to exclude CEWS amounts received from March 15, 2020 onwards. This is an update to the Board’s financial relief package. The WSIB now has a worksheet for businesses to adjust premiums contributed. Completed forms or questions about reporting premiums can be sent to employeraccounts@wsib.on.ca. The WSIB will review and process adjustments on the account once they have received the worksheet. Moving forward, businesses that continue to receive a CEWS subsidy used to pay employees who are on leave and not working may deduct those earnings at the time they are reported to the WSIB. In terms of completing the form, the deduction of the CEWS amount from insurable earnings is included for the period in which the business received the subsidy.
- For example, a business who applied for the CEWS claims period of August 30 – September 26, but did not receive the approval/funds until October, should account for any amounts when reporting their October period, as that is when the approval/funds were received.
Latest briefing Note from Sherrard-Kuzz LLP – Mask Wearing
I am pleased to provide you with the latest Briefing Note from our Associate Member, Sherrard-Kuzz LLP, one of Canada’s foremost labour and employment law boutiques, It highlights an October 2nd amendment to O. Reg 364/20 to require the wearing of masks and face coverings in many Ontario workplaces, with certain, specified exemptions. On the subject of mandatory masks on construction sites, in an email exchange with the Province’s Chief Prevention Officer on October 6th , the CPO said the following:
- Guidance is being updated
- Both the masking guide and the updated safety plan guide include a statement that all employers should consider using source control masking in their workplace, in combination with other control measures.
- The safety plan guide also makes reference to assessing the overall risk in the situation, including outdoors vs. indoors.
- We do not have anything that specifically talks about masking in outdoor/more enclosed/indoor spaces, but that would be a matter for the on site risk assessment.
- If there is a concern with the growing number of cases especially in the high density areas employers could add facial covering/masking to their site protocols as an added safety measure.
ODACC
Ontario Dispute Adjudication for Construction Contracts
- To read the 2020 Annual Report, click here.
COCA News
The following Provincial and Government Legislation and Regulation updates were provided by our partner, COCA, for the months of September & October 2020.
COCA Government Relations
COCA Newsletter
- To read the October 2020 Newsletter, click here.
COCA MLTSD Report
- To read the October 2020 MLTSD Report, click here.
COCA Year in Review
- To read the COCA 2019 Year in review, click here.
If you have any questions or have any Provincial news that you would like reported to your organization, please contact Margaret Taylor, Executive Director, 416-684-9599 or mtaylor@oadc.ca.
Government of Ontario News
Ministry of Labour, Training, and Skills Development Monthly Newsletter
CECCO
Construction Employers Coordinating Council of Ontario
- To read the Fall 2020 newsletter, click here