A COVID-19 UPDATE TO MEMBERSHIP - Thursday, May 14, 2020
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Ontario Government
Lifting Essential Workplace Limits on Construction
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"We are taking a cautious, practical and reasonable approach to restarting the economy, while maintaining the health and safety of the people of Ontario as our top priority," said Minister Phillips. "This will allow Ontario to emerge from this outbreak with a clear path to economic recovery that keeps people safe and healthy."
The government and health and safety associations have released more than
90 safety guidance documents
to assist employers in multiple sectors, including construction, retail, facilities maintenance and manufacturing. As new sectors of the economy begin to reopen, additional resources will be made available to help protect the safety of workers and the general public.
To support business-owners, workers and the economic recovery of the province, the government has launched a website to provide businesses with information on personal protective equipment (PPE) suppliers. The
Workplace PPE Supplier Directory
has an up-to-date list of Ontario companies and business associations that are ready to supply personal protective equipment.
Click
H
ERE
for the full media release.
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WSIB Industries/Sectors with Highest
COVID19-related Claim Volume
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The tables below list the industries/sectors with the highest COVID-19 related claim volume. North American Industrial Classification System class references are in parenthesis. Any industry/sector not listed has fewer than five allowed claims. Construction is still in the less than 5 category and appears to be performing very well.
To date:
- 513 claims have been allowed
- 164 claims not allowed and
- 2,807 claims pending.
The date and additional information can be found on the WSIB website
HERE
.
Click the tables below to enlarge
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WSIB's COVID-19 resources webpage is
HERE
.
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Free Online Questionnaire Helps Monitor
COVID-19 Symptoms
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The app - "Sentinel" - will allow each employee (or visitor) at a construction site to report their health situation daily – quickly and easily – from their smartphone, tablet or computer. The data will be directed to the employer and then compiled for the purpose of ensuring effective monitoring and, ultimately, the safety of all workers. Users will be required to create a profile, register employees, and then the system is ready for use. Sentinel is available online, free of charge, to all construction companies. Click
HERE
for more details.
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The Ontario government is extending the Declaration of Emergency under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act until June 2. This additional time will ensure the province has the necessary tools and health care capacity to contain COVID-19, while gradually reopening businesses, services, and amenities safely.
The declaration will allow Ontario to continue to enforce current emergency orders, such as restricting retirement and long-term care home employees from working in more than one facility and prohibiting events and gatherings of more than five people. Click
HERE
for the full release.
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Federal Government Unveils New COVID-19 Stream for Provincial Infrastructure Program
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The federal government is preparing to spend more than $3 billion in infrastructure money on projects to make facilities more pandemic-resistant and encourage outdoor activities in the age of COVID-19, Infrastructure Minister Catherine McKenna says.
- The total value of the program is 10% of the $33.5B Investing in Canada Program or $3.35B
- Ontario’s share likely to be around 40% or $1.34B
- The program will be delivered through agreements with provinces and territories
- Promises more flexibility, faster approvals
- Feds will pick up 80%
- Eligible projects include projects such as retrofitting and upgrading municipal or provincial buildings, including to allow for things like physical distancing or better hygiene practices to prevent the spread of the virus, health facilities, schools and recreational projects such as parks, trails, bike lanes or multi-use paths
- projects must be completed before the end of the 2021 construction season.
- The federal government’s release states Minister McKenna consulted with the provinces and territories over the last two months working with provinces and territories to determine the best ways to use existing programs to respond to some COVID-19 needs
- The program appears to be targeted to help smaller local contractors and local governments. School boards and hospitals with relatively small projects (given the completion date of December 31, 2021) that are in the advanced planning stages and ready to go
- Click HERE for full article from the National Post
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Free COVID-19 Return to Work (RTW) Considerations Brief
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As the Ontario economy reopens and employees are permitted to return to work on-site, the potential for increased absenteeism is real. At the height of the pandemic scare, the Government of Ontario introduced a new COVID-19-related protected leave under the Employment Standards Act, 2000, to complement the general duty to accommodate disability and family status under human rights legislation.
Sherrard Kuzz has also put together a complimentary "RTW considerations" overview which can be viewed
HERE
.
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Free COVID-19 Webinars for Construction & H&S
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COVID-19 Litigation Webinars & Briefs
Since the outbreak of COVID-19, presenters
Kennaley Construction Law and Sherrard Kuzz LLP
have provided many free webinars on navigating COVID19 litigation as it applies to the construction sector.
Webinars take place every Tuesday at 9AM,
finishing with participant Q&A.
May 19
's webinar will explore:
- review new and developing issues as regards COVID-19
- back to work OHSA and employment labour issues
- prompt payment, adjudication and construction dispute resolution in the new world of and following COVID-19
- Q&A
For past webinars/briefs click
HERE
.
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International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials
(
APMO) on Safer Re-opening of Buildings
May 13 through June 3
The “After COVID-19” series is designed to provide jurisdictions, health departments, building owners and managers, and contractors with detailed information and guidance on reopening the various building types. Click
HERE
for details and to register.
From Construction Links Network
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Construction after COVID19:
Finding new Coherence Amid a Shaken Industry
T
hursday, May 14th, 3:00pm-4:30pm
Featuring: Mary Van Buren President, Canadian Construction Association; John Gamble President & CEO, Association of Consulting Engineering Companies – Canada; Sandra Skivsky Chair, National Trade Contractors Council of Canada; Clive Thurston President, OGCA; Patrick Thompson (Moderator) Partner, Construction Group McMillan LLP
Click
HERE
for details and to register.
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Partners in Prevention Health & Safety (conference) Virtual Series
May 26 through May 29
During these unprecedented times, Workplace Safety & Prevention Services (WSPS) understands that protecting your business and your people are of the utmost importance. That is why WSPS is moving its annual Partners in Prevention Health and Safety conference online to help prepare you and your employees get back to work safely.
Who Should Attend?
- Business Owners
- Human Resources
- Managers, Supervisors, and Trainers
- Front-line Workers
Agenda:
May 26 | 11:00 am - 12:00 pm
May 27 | 10:30 am - 12:00 pm
May 28 | 10:30 am - 12:00 pm
May 29 | 10:30 am - 12:00 pm
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COVID-19 Links & Resources from CCA
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For a list of construction-specific, up-to-date information covering latest news & announcements,
guidance & best practice documents, and financial/government subsidies/support,
click
HERE.
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Send This 30-second Auto Message to Your MP Regarding Construction Cost Reimbursement
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The CCA has made this a 30-second exercise for its members. Request the federal government to alleviate some of the financial pressure the industry is experiencing by creating an Emergency COVID-19 Construction Cost Reimbursement Program
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MP's need to hear from construction companies on this.
Click
HERE
to view the CCA email
, then c
lick on the blue button which will link you to an auto-template; just fill in your details and your MP's information will automatically be added.
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COVID-19 Links & Resources from COCA
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For a list of construction-specific, up-to-date information covering latest news & announcements,
guidance & best practice documents, and financial/government subsidies/support,
click
HERE.
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Send This 30-second Auto Message to Your MPP to Achieve Relief from Delay Claims
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The Council of Ontario Construction Associations (COCA) is your voice at Queen’s Park.
COCA is seeking relief for contractors like you from delay claims that have been caused by the COVID19 pandemic. Because their usual methods of lobbying have been curtailed as a result of the pandemic, COCA has turned to a digital advocacy tool. If you have not already done so,
please click here
and enter your home address and your email address and send a message supporting COCA to your MPP. It is simple and takes about
30 seconds of your time.
We encourage you in the strongest way possible to participate. And after you do, forward this message to your work colleagues, your workers and everyone you know in the industry. Please help out.
The more people from our industry that participate, the much greater is the chance of securing the relief our industry needs.
Many thanks for your help.
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COVID-19 Links, Previous Webinars, Briefs & Resource from OGCA & League of Champions
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Niagara Area Building Inspections, Permits, Planning Offices - Update by Municipality
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The NCA has compiled updates from Niagara's municipal building and planning departments, including building inspections, building permits, planners' availability, and more. Click
HERE
.
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REPORT YOUR STATUS -
COVID-19 Niagara Construction Job-Site/
Office Closures/Restrictions/Business Notices
To assist our members in sharing the status of their companies/projects at this time, we are posting your
job-sites and/or office closures, business notices and/or restrictions
here
.
Please complete form
here
for us to post the information on our website
or tag us with your changes on Facebook and/or Twitter. Or, just
email
and let us know your updated information.
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The Niagara Construction Association (NCA) is monitoring the COVID-19 situation closely and will do what we can to ensure members have up-to-date information by communicating through e-blast, social media posts, and
COVID-19 RESOURCES.
(please navigate the drop-down menu for industry-specific news, updates, information, and links).
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Please do not hesitate to contact me at
karin@niagaraconstruction.org
with any concerns or questions, or suggestions to our website/eblast COVID-19 information.
Thank You,
Karin Sheldrick
General Manager
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www.niagaraconstruction.org
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