July, 2020
ASSOCIATION NEWS
Thank you for joining us for our 1st Virtual Member Meeting!

Russell Patterson from Goodfellow & Schuett Law discussed the nuances of including employee termination clauses in new employment contracts, the appropriate means of updating employment contracts to include employee termination clauses and best practices to avoid employee termination conflict.

Contact info@mca-ab.com for your copy of the slides if you missed it.

Join us next for the next Virtual legal workshop August 11

ONEROUS CONTRACT CLAUSES with DAN LEDUC

We have sent your contracts to Dan Leduc to review. He is now able to provide comments and guidance on the contract clauses you have been signing. He will provide insight on how to manage onerous clauses in your contracts and reduce your risk going forward.
Workshop Benefits: You will have opportunity to have Dan address your concerns directly.
The Workshop format is virtual, but it will also be interactive.

Space is Limited. Register here
MCA is seeking your input

The last 120 days of Covid-19 may have changed how MCA Alberta can do business, at least for the short to mid term, but it hasn’t stopped us from moving forward on important issues and programs. We continue to provide guidance to the development of prompt payment legislation and we are pushing forward on other important industry issue that, with implementation will benefit our members and the industry.
We are currently seeking member input to three additional MCA opportunities.

Strategic planning 2021 through 2025 – while its not unusual for an association to undertake a 4 year strategic plan, the Covid-19 lockdown of 2020 has provided us with a unique opportunity to evaluate past programs, seriously consider if they should be continued and to look new and innovative approaches the association might pursue going forward. MCA has developed a Strategic planning document the members can respond to and will be initiating small focus group discussions to drill down on key issues and ultimately develop a plan to carry the association forward. If you would like to participate in these discussions please email info@mca-ab.com to register your interest. We will contact you once we have meeting dates confirmed.

MCA Hourbank Group Insurance Program (Benefits by the Hour) – MCA launched a hourbank employee insurance program late last year. The second of its kind and first hourbank insurance program to directly compete with the Merit Insurance program. This has been a bold step for MCA and your input is required to take it to the next level. If you would like to provide your input to a short survey please email info@mca-ab.com to register and we will contact you with next steps.

Gold Standard Journeyman Program – The MCA Alberta Gold Standard Service Contractor program is evolving. We have taken the best of that program and we are building it into an recognition program for High Achieving Pipe Trades Journeymen & Journeywomen. MCA plans to launch the program soon but we want to make sure the program we launch has all the right elements. Over the next couple of months we will be seeking input from a wide range of journeymen, business owners and associate members as we put the finishing touches to the program. If you or someone from your company, a journeyman or apprentice, would like to learn more about the program and provide input on how the program will be delivered, please email info@mca-ab.com to register your interest. We will contact you once we have meeting dates confirmed.
We look forward to receiving your input.

Russ Evans
Executive Director

GOVERNMENT SUPPORT

Relaunch Guidance Documents

When reopening, businesses should become familiar with general and sector-specific guidance documents and implement measures to comply with public health requirements to reduce the risk of COVID-19 among staff and customers.

Find all documents here
INDUSTRY

Cross Bores – What Is It?


Within the ATCO service territory (much of Alberta) there have been a few discoveries of t he existence of cross bores - when an underground utility inadvertently crosses through another during installation. It can go unnoticed for years or decades.
 
There’s no threat unless rotating cleaning equipment is used to clear a blocked sewer. This can damage the gas line to the point of gas leaking into the sanitary or storm systems and then into buildings. Municipalities completing routine sanitary and storm mains maintenance can also damage the gas line.
 
 
  •  If you’ve been contracted to clear a blocked sewer, be aware natural gas lines installed using trenchless methods could have inadvertently penetrated sewer service lines.
  •  
  • Unless the natural gas line is damaged or there is interference, it does not pose an immediate safety risk, however, clearing a sewer service line that’s intersected with a natural gas line could pose danger.
  •  
  • When planning to clear a sewer line, video inspect before the use of rotating equipment (i.e. motorized auger, power-snake or other root-cutting equipment) to clear a sewer service line. This is necessary if the blockage is beyond the outside wall of a building.

Should you suspect a cross bore, please contact ATCO to investigate, verify and repair if necessary. Our Call Centre number is 310-5678. 
Contractor Alert  – Escalating Insurance Deductibles

Due to escalating size and frequency of water damage losses in the Canadian insurance industry the last couple of years, along with the challenges the insurance marketplace is facing in general, we have seen many insurers place significant water damage deductibles on project insurance. These deductibles can have a huge impact on a mechanical contractor.
Over the last couple of years, we have seen these deductibles begin to rise to a level that has become alarming. The increasing deductibles are being placed on Wrap-Up Liability policies, project insurance protecting all parties to the contract, against third party liability losses. They can also be included in Builders’ Risk policies, policies put in place to protect all parties to the contract, against losses caused directly to the project itself. In many cases we are seeing water damage deductible up to and exceeding $500,000!! Obviously, a mechanical contractor needs to be aware what the deductibles are within the two policies placed for the project, as these policies are legally the primary insurance, and are the ones that will be called upon to pay in the event of a loss.

Read full article  here
Construction Energy Solution

Why wait until your construction project is completed to get a natural gas line installed? With ATCO’s Construction Energy services, you don’t need to wait. You can use natural gas to provide energy onsite during all phases of construction. Natural gas is a cost-effective alternative to traditional fuels such as diesel or propane, and the installation is simple and fast. Contact us early in your development process to access construction energy for your project.

See full brochure here
EDUCATION & TRAINING
LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES
Upgrade your knowledge and skills by engaging in live webinars, self paced online learning and virtual Instructor-led online training.

Virtual Instructor led training (live)
July 15, 22, & 29: NEW How to Forecast a Large Construction Project. Register here.
July 16: Getting Paid and Managing the Cash Flow. Register here .
July 21: Managing Change in Construction. Register here .
July 23: CCA Subcontracts 101. Register here.
July 28: Managing Shop Drawings, Samples and Submittals. Register here.

Product Technical Training Webinars (live)
July 14: Chilled Beams (commercial focus) Register here

Complimentary Webinars
July 15: Application for Smart Water Management in Commercial Buildings. Register here
July 23: NTI Boiler Series . More info to follow.

E-learning  (self guided)
MCAC is proud to partner with BuildForce Canada to provide these courses:

 Construction Project Management – Course outline here .
Construction Law – Course outline here .
Communication, Negotiation & Conflict Resolution – Course outline here .
Intro to Estimating- – Course outline here .
Intro to BIM – Course outline here .

View full course outlines and register here.

If there is a topic that you would find helpful please contact Lisa@mca-ab.com.

The Mechanical Contractors Association of Canada (MCAC) is now accepting applications for the 2020 Richard McKeagan Scholarship Series, an annual program that will see more than $14,000 awarded in scholarships for students across Canada studying in mechanical contracting and mechanical engineering fields.

NEW MEMBERS
Waterhouse Mechanical
100, 18112 – 105 Ave
Edmonton, AB
T5S 2T4
Kyle Waterhouse
587-920-9090
SAFETY
Working in summer

Extreme heat and sun exposure are just a couple of the hazards of working outside in summer. Learn about some typical summer hazards and suggested controls in this Working in summer document .

HEALTH & BENEFITS
Hour Bank Group Insurance – MCA Employee Benefit Plan
MCA Alberta is pleased to offer hour bank group insurance to our members through our MCA Employee Benefit Plan.
C overage includes: Life insurance, accidental death & dismemberment, disability insurance, health care (including eye exam, prescription drug and paramedical services coverage), travel insurance and dental care.

For more information or a free, no obligation proposal for a plan that will best suit your company, please contact Vicky at 403-250-7237 or Vicky@mca-ab.com.
Check out our Member Discount Programs
today! Click HERE
HR CORNER

New seminar coming this summer.

August 18: ORIENTATION & ON-BOARDING – in the New Reality



Did you know… Studies show that 19% to 37% of new employees quit within their 1st year and 22% of staff turnover occurs in the first 45 days of employment. New employees who went through a structured on-boarding program were 58% more likely to be with the organization after 3 years.
This interactive workshop will provide you with tips and ideas about how to improve your new employee orientation process – for employees working from home as well as at the regular workplace.

Register here

Employment Standards
General holidays
  Alberta has nine general holidays, though employers and employees can agree to additional days being considered as general holidays.
  • An employee is entitled to general holiday pay if they have worked for the same employer for at least 30 workdays in the 12 months prior to the holiday.
  • Most employees are entitled to general holidays and receive general holiday pay if one of the following applies to them:
  • a general holiday is a regular day of work, or
  • they have worked on a general holiday that is not a regular day of work.
  • ·To be eligible for general holiday pay employees must:
  •  work their scheduled shift before and after the holiday (unless employer consent is given for the absence), and
  • work on the general holiday if required and scheduled to do so.
Learn more about general holidays here .
FEATURED AFFINITY PROGRAM




 Jim Pattison Lease is happy to bring a unique offer to MCA members. Through your MCA membership you are now able to access fleet discounts below the factory invoice price of vehicles from certain manufacturers. For example, on select new model 1 / 2 ton 4x4 pick-ups, you can save up to $15,000 through the MCA/Jim Pattison Lease program.
To discuss your fleet needs and find out how this MCA/Jim Pattison Lease program can save you money please click here for full brochure and contact details.