PAGE OCR B2 – April 2008 – The Ontario Construction Report
Six Years Later . . . . A review of OGCA Progress
CLIVE THURSTON, PRESIDENT, OGCA – The OCR Construction Report Special Feature
pants are expected this year with over • Six years ago, Gold Seal and Manage-
This article is reprinted from a March 14 dustry over the last six years.
70 sponsors with numerous booths and ment training by the industry were al-
2008 posting on the association’s website,
information handouts for members cov- most non-existent. We have resurrected
• Led the fight against Bill 124 to require
http://www.ogca.ca all contractors to be licensed and carry
ering a multitude of topics. This is the a healthy and vibrant program, set up a
major defect insurance.
best opportunity to learn and network liaison team with the colleges, helped
Just over six years ago, the OGCA
within the OGCA family. create EDCON (a collection of Ontario
re- – Result - ICI sector exempted.
solved to change its image and strengthen
• Created a Member Assistance Plan to Associations working to improve man-
• OGCA became more sophisticated in
its role in the Construction Industry. Surveys the use of lobbyists and created a Gov-
provide funding to fight legal issues agement training and reaching the
of our members confirmed a need to be- ernment Relations section.
that affect the industry. young to inform them about the value
come far more proactive and interactive
• Created the Early Dispute Resolution of a career in our industry). We worked
• OGCA was appointed to the Building
with other industry stakeholders. Advisory Council to assist in future de-
Program which has been highly suc- with local associations to deliver pro-
W
cessful in avoiding legal confrontation grams and continue to invest large
e have achieved that and more. Mem- velopment of Code-related issues.
bership grew to over 200 and has remained
between members and owners and amounts of resources to develop new
• Restarted regular meetings with OAA
at that level for several years now
improved courses for all.
. We are and CEO executives to share issues.
quickly resolving disputes.
far more proactive and liaise with industry
• Safety is our major goal. We were one • We sit on the Colleges Ontario commit-
• Joined OAA and CEO in demanding
stakeholders such as the OAA (Ontario As- changes at ORC.
of the original founders of Safety tee and were one of only four organiza-
sociation of Architects) , CEO (Consulting
Groups; OGCA has representation at tions that met with the Premier and
• Result - changes were made and we
Engineers of Ontario) local associations continue to have a major impact.
WSIB and on many committees includ- several Ministers for over three hours to
and the government.
ing the Minister’s Action Committee. discuss the capacity issue and the need
• Our tender work and intervention in
Y
to coordinate construction training in
ou may not always feel the impact your hundreds of issues has led to successful
Recently, the Chair of WSIB, respond-
association has, but everything we do affects adoption of OGCA and CCA bidding
ing to an issue we brought to his atten- this Province.
and impacts your ability to work in the con- conditions, and contracts have been
tion, agreed to meet at our offices with • The Student Initiative program, com-
struction industry
plete with a DVD, speakers manual,
. While many of you have changed.
our member and personally look into
first hand experience from assistance with
his issue. We were instrumental in get- handouts and displays, is aimed at at-
• Created the Construction Symposium
tender issues, WSIB and other direct issues which has grown in just five years to be
ting the first construction WSIB Board tracting the next generation of young
that affect an individual firm or its employ- one of the largest events of its kind in
member appointed and he is the first people to the construction industry.
ees, there are many larger issues that you Ontario. A key goal was to keep it af-
representative from a premium paying Since its inception, OGCA members
may not have noticed. Had the OGCA not fordable so every member of the
sector. We continue to be proactive on have spoken at events from Thunder
been there to speak for you, your ability to OGCA, no matter its size, could afford
the issue of mandatory coverage, the Bay to Ottawa.
continue would have been in jeopardy
underground economy, CAD 7 reform • A new, more interactive website with
. to attend. This has been, in large part,
I still hear many ask, “What is it that due to the tremendous sponsor support
and leveling the playing field for the in- online payment and registration, news,
OGCA does for me?” Please take a few which, in itself, is an indication of how
dustry between good performers and opinions, articles, links to other valu-
minutes to review some of the key water
bad. We are involved in the soon to be able sites, a resume posting service and
- others view the importance of interact-
shed moments that impacted you and the in- ing with the OGCA. Over 600 partici
launched pilot project for Accreditation much more, has been launched.
-
and helped develop its guidelines over • We are a key member and founder of
the last two years. We have a part time the Construction Advisory Council
Safety Consultant working to assist our working with the Ministry of Public In-
members. This has proven highly valu- frastructure.
able and is laying the groundwork to • As members of COCA, we are very
create a full time position at the OGCA. proactive on several fronts including
• CSAO research shows OGCA members representatives on the COCA WSIB
over the last fifteen years have 35% Committee, Safety Committee, and the
fewer LTI’s than the rest of the 723 rate Lien Act Committee. We are working
group. with ORBA on the landfill regulations
• We have worked with industry experts and the OSWCA on dewatering per-
to create our Guide to Dealing with mits.
Onerous Supplementary Conditions, • We deal with hundreds of calls from ar-
Guide to Prequalification for Contrac- chitects, suppliers, and owners asking
tors, Best Practices Guide to Concrete, for advice and guidance. The OGCA
Revised Document 100, and soon to be has, for the first time, had access to
released the Guide to MOH Projects both the Ontario Public Procurement
and Guide to Best Practices for Close-
out.
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Please see page OCR B5
TORONTO VANCOUVER CALGARY MONTREAL
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