The eGlance
February 18, 2021
ACEC-Ontario is proud to support National Engineering Month
We are a proud supporter of this years National Engineering Month and it is nearly upon us. The fantastic schedule of events has been posted with bold themes such as Engineering Ethics, Impact & the Future and Working with Interdisciplinary Professions.

Don't miss out, everything is online and free this year for attendees with events during the day and evening from March 1-31.

Follow #NEM2021 on social media!
ACEC-Ontario's Simcoe Chapter held it's first elections
On February 3rd 2021, the new ACEC-Ontario Simcoe Chapter held its second meeting and, subsequently, the first chapter executive elections. The following slate of candidates was proposed and approved for the Simcoe Chapter Executive Team.
 
Chair – Bryan Stanton, Tatham Engineering
Vice-Chair – Mehemed Delibasic, McIntosh Perry
Treasurer – Drew Davidge, RJ Burnside
BPC Rep – John Hagan, Golder
 
Let’s give a warm welcome to the new Chapter executives and wish them the best of luck in their inaugural term.
The Value of Lifelong Learning for the engineering and technology community
Join us at National Engineering Month’s kick-off event. Our moderator Steve Paikin, an acclaimed Canadian journalist, will facilitate a virtual panel discussion with OACETT CEO Cheryl Farrow, OSPE CEO Sandro Perruzza and PEO CEO & Registrar Johnny Zuccon, P.Eng., on the importance of lifelong learning and adapting to a workforce influenced by technological innovation.

Date & Time:
Mar 1, 2021
6:00 PM ET
The Opportunities and Challenges for Hydrogen in Ontario Webinar
As Ontario and Canada rebuild their economy from the impacts of COVID-19 and fight the threat of climate change, the development of low-carbon hydrogen is a strategic opportunity for our province and country.

The Government of Ontario recently released a discussion paper for public consultation that will inform the creation of the province's first hydrogen strategy. The paper sets out a vision for a new hydrogen economy in the province - one that will attract investment, and lead to more job creation, while helping reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Date & Time:
March 03, 2021
6:00 PM - 7:00 PM ET
MTO's 5-Day TLT 127: Critical Structural Construction Issues Course
TLT 127 has been designed to provide strategies to avoid or address common critical issues during structural construction projects. This course prepares operations and consultant staff for structural construction projects.
 
MTO has developed the TLT 127 course to be delivered over 5 days in the virtual format. Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to:
 
  • Identify common issues/risks and apply strategies to circumvent them.
  • Assess equipment, materials and construction methods
  • Differentiate between effective construction practices and potential issues
  • Identify the key requirements of specifications and evaluate contractor submissions
 
Dates:
March 15 – 19, 2021
March 22 – 26, 2021
 
Cost:
$450.00

Registration deadline is Thursday February 25, 2021, 4:30 pm
Request for Qualifications issued for new South Niagara Hospital
Infrastructure Ontario and Niagara Health have issued a request for qualifications (RFQ) for teams to design, build, finance and maintain the South Niagara Hospital Project.

The request for qualifications is the first step in the process to select a team to help deliver the project. Shortlisted teams will be invited to respond to a request for proposals, which is expected to be released in fall 2021.

Click here learn more about the South Niagara Hospital Project.
A FIDIC Bulletin: Workplace Challenges and Best Practices
This bulletin was issued by FIDIC regarding the impact of Covid-19 on business practices in consulting engineering firms internationally. The information presented below was gathered from senior industry leaders and focuses on new and evolved challenges faced by consulting engineering firms in their internal environment with respect to their staff and facilities and their resulting best practices. 
Ottawa announces $3-billion-a-year transit transfer to cities, $5.9-billion for stimulus projects
The federal government is promising to spend $5.9-billion on transit-related stimulus projects and is creating a permanent transit transfer worth $3-billion a year for municipalities.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made the announcement along with the federal infrastructure and environment ministers, Canada Infrastructure Bank chair Tamara Vrooman and Edmonton Mayor Don Iveson. Read complete article on the Globe and Mail.
Metrolinx, IO share changes to contracts and delivery coming down the pipeline
The way projects are procured and delivered in Ontario is shifting. Phil Verster, president and CEO of Metrolinx, and Michael Lindsay, president and CEO of Infrastructure Ontario, both provided separate updates at the Ontario Road Builders’ Association’s virtual summit but their message was the same: change is happening.
 
Metrolinx shifting to different forms of project delivery.

In his presentation, Verster said one of the biggest innovations at Metrolinx is the shift from fixed price contracts to construction management type contracts, such as the alliance model. Read full article on Daily Commercial News.
Ontario’s proposed Highway 413 is a $6-billion sprawl accelerator
The proposed highway would be built beyond the farthest reaches of Toronto’s sprawl. On the northwestern edge of Mississauga, where the 401 and 407 meet, the new highway would head north before arcing eastward, cutting across rural areas of Caledon and then plowing through farmers’ fields on the northern fringes of Vaughan to connect with Highway 400.

The plan, covering some 50 kilometres at a minimum cost of $6-billion, is officially dubbed the GTA West Corridor and more often labelled Highway 413. A better name would be The Sprawl Accelerator. It’s a plan to use taxpayer dollars to encourage real estate developers on the currently rural fringes of the Greater Toronto Area. Read article on Globe and Mail.
Business View Magazine speaks with OGCA President, Giovanni Cautillo
Business View Magazine conducted an interview with OGCA President, Giovanni Cautillo, about the Association’s commitment to advocacy on behalf of its members, as well as his insights into current challenges and the future of the industry in Ontario. Click below to see the edited transcript of that conversation.
Share your thoughts: OEA Professional Development Survey 2021
The Ontario Society of Professional Engineers (OSPE) is the voice of the engineering profession in Ontario. We represent the entire engineering community, including professional engineers, engineering graduates and students who work or will work in several of the most strategic and influential sectors of Ontario’s economy.

OSPE invites our engineering corporations to fill out an important survey that will inform future professional development initiatives from OSPE to benefit your corporation. Your participation in this survey could help answer questions such as:

  • What are some learning gaps that corporations notice when hiring new engineering grads?
  • How can OSPE help bridge these gaps for our corporate clients?
  • What are your company's learning mode preferences?

Your responses will be anonymous and in part, will be used to analyze the landscape of professional development in Ontario. 
U of T survey of constructors seeks best practices for next pandemic
A University of Toronto civil engineering professor is leading research into how the construction sector is dealing with the coronavirus pandemic, in hopes that the next time a pandemic hits there will be a wide range of best practice guidelines to follow.

As it stands, says Prof. Tamer E. El-Diraby, aside from a few triumphs such as its resilience in developing new supply chains and advocacy successes that kept most projects going, the construction sector fared poorly, suffering from fragmented strategies and a general lack of preparedness. Read more.
PEO wants your feedback
The Professional Standards Committee (PSC) at PEO would like to hear from the ACEC-Ontario member firm community. They are asking you to participate in the following public consultation on revising the existing Temporary Works guideline. Details are located here.

Kindly, send your answers by email to consultations@peo.on.ca no later than March 22, 2021.
Does your firm have news that you want to share with the Ontario engineering community? Please send stories to Michelle West at mwest@acecontario.ca.
Association of Consulting Engineering Companies | Ontario acecontario.ca
Association of Consulting Engineering Companies | Ontario | acecontario.ca