PAGE OCR A2 – January 2009 – The Ontario Construction Report
WSIB: Industry groups lead initiative to solve problems
STAFF WRITER – The OCR Construction Report
whole process and organiza- the right course,” Thurston concerning the WSIB and in touch with the problem;
tion.” wrote. programs like Workwell and that we do not get it, some of
Clive Thurston, president clear there is a problem and “We have had a very pos- “We delivered a clear Accreditation continue to be us have been accused of sab-
of the Ontario General Con- it is growing. Why is it that itive meeting with the Min- message that we want to be received too regularly” not otaging some endeavours,”
tractors’ Association, says he some groups who contribute ister of Labour,” Thurston part of solving the problems to support the conclusion Thurston writes. “It seems
believes in consultation nothing to WSIB seem to said in a second email, sent challenging the WSIB and that the government is fail- the WSIB has taken the path
rather than confrontation, so have the government’s ear just before Ontario Con- the industry… This can only ing to listen to he people of shooting the messenger
when he sent an open letter: while those of us in the front struction Report went to be done through a working who pay WSIB’s premiums. instead of listening to those
“Storm Clouds on the Hori- lines and who pay the way press. “The industry has framework of employer con- “This is not acceptable,” who do get it.”
zon: WSIB and the Indus- have none?” come together as one single sultation and participation.” Thurston says. “The WSIB “The industry is stepping
try”, his public comments In follow-up communica- voice forming the WSIB In- “We believe the Minister is an insurance company up together to reassert the in-
carried exceptional weight. tions (see the complete letter dustry Task Force.” heard us and we look for- funded entirely by its clients. dustry perspective for an ‘in-
“Programs and policies on Page A3), Thurston ob- Members include Ontario ward to his reply.” No government money is in- surance’ program that is paid
have been launched by the served that impending legis- construction associations “We as a group are meet- volved. Yet we who employ for by us and intended to
WSIB and the Ministry of lation requiring mandatory from all areas and the Coun- ing with WSIB senior man- the staff at the WSIB to man- help injured workers. We
Labour with little or no con- coverage for most independ- cil of Ontario Construction agement to reinforce the age this ‘insurance’ program are united in coming to-
sultation for those who pay ent contractors in the con- Associations (COCA), message,” Thurston said. have little say in its operation gether to improve the system
for the WSIB,” Thurston struction industry is “only chaired by Thurston. “We cannot continue to react and there is insufficient ac- and defend the reputations
wrote. “That is not to say one issue which is sympto- “(We) literally represent to policies and programs. countability on how our and the efforts of our mem-
that we do not agree with matic of the problems with thousands of construction (It) is time the WSIB in- money is spent.” bers. We will no longer be
some of these efforts but it is WSIB. My views are on the employers who employ tens cludes industry experts and Thurston concludes his passive bystanders on how
of thousands of workers.” stakeholders in a more com- open letter with observations our money is spent, nor will
“This group has consoli- prehensive form of consulta- that the OGCA is “confused we stand by any longer and
dated the construction indus- tion to ensure programs can and disappointed by recent be accused of supposed in-
try’s concerns, delivered be brought forward with in- comments by senior WSIB justices while those who risk
strategies to help and offered dustry support.” Staff.” nothing and pay nothing try
to work with the government In his open letter, “It has been suggested to influence and decide our
to put the (WSIB) ship on Thurston says: “Complaints that the associations are not fate.”
Open shop associations establish Merit
Canada for national, united voice
GINA MONACO – Special to The OCR Construction Report
OSCA.
Other founding member associations
A new, national association to pro- Support and promote the right of
are those in Alberta, British Columbia,
mote and support Canada’s open shop employers and employees to operate
Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Nova Scotia,
construction sector has finally arrived. within a free-enterprise system of com-
New Brunswick, Newfoundland and
Leaders from across the country met in merce;
Labrador. The new executive commit-
Banff in November to finalize the struc- Support and promote wages and
tee members for Merit Canada are:
ture, goals and political agenda for working conditions being determined
Roger Dootson, chair, representing
Merit Canada. directly between employers and em-
Merit Contractor’s Association of Al-
Approximately 70 per cent of ployees or through collective bargain
berta; Heather Cruickshank, secretary-
-
Canada’s construction workers are con- ing processes, as freely chosen by the
treasurer, representing Merit
sidered open shop or non-union. Merit parties;
Contractor’s Association of Nova Sco-
Canada was founded by the provincial Encourage and support a business
tia; and Jim Laurence, vice-chair, rep-
associations to establish a national climate where construction contracts
resenting Independent Contractors and
voice to lobby at the federal level for are awarded on the basis of merit;
Businesses Association of British Co-
fairness and equity with regard to Encourage and promote recruiting
lumbia.
human resource policies and issues. and compensating employees on the
Phil Besseling of Besseling Me-
Merit Canada member associations basis of skills, efficient deployment of
chanical in Stoney Creek is a member
administer the largest multi-employer human resources and individual merit;
of the new Board of Directors for Merit
benefit plan in Canada’s construction Exchange information and opinions
Canada. For him, as for all the mem-
industry. And now training and educa- between members and other national
bers, it’s the issue of fairness that he
tion programs are also being made stakeholder organizations, federal gov-
hopes to encourage, especially when
available under the newly-created Merit ernment departments, federal agencies
federal funds for training are doled out.
College of Training. and the news media;
“We don’t currently have a national
“It only makes sense for our organ- Support and encourage sound na-
voice speaking for us and although the
izations to formally join together under tional legislation and policies affecting
Canadian Construction Association has
the Merit Canada label to combine construction industry human resources,
tried, it cannot wear two hats,” Bessel-
ideas and resources in support of devel- including but not restricted to: labour or
ing said. “We needed a national inde-
oping, marketing and delivering bene- industrial relations; federal government
pendent voice that would address the
fit training programs to construction procurement regulations and policies;
many issues we have.”
companies and their employees across hiring and compensation practices; em-
Lack of awareness by politicians and
Canada,” Roger Dootson said in a re- ployment and safety standards; appren-
bureaucracy is one of those issues. For
cent interview. Dootson is a founding ticeship and training; employment
example, training programs adminis-
member and Chairman of Merit insurance; international and intra-na-
tered by the federal government are de-
Canada. tional labour mobility
veloped after input from labour.
.
In the New Year, the association will The founding member association in
“Training funds have to be properly
launch its website and promotional pro- Ontario is the Open Shop Contractor’s
applied and equally distributed through
gram. The head office will be located in Association (OSCA).
community providers and not just to
Edmonton. “We’ve been trying for many years
union-training centres. Not many in
Merit has adopted a set of philo- to develop a united voice that would ad-
government positions who deal with
sophical principles that will eventually vocate at the federal level on behalf of
funding know that the majority of con-
be developed into policy positions. The open shop workers,” said Marie Son-
six principles are: nenberg, executive director for the
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Please see page OCR A3
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