The Ontario Construction Report – May 2008 – PAGE OCR A5
common ground. appeared in front of Coun- we’ve been able to reach huge change in the industry. But we believe about 300 to
Thurston
“This means that while I cil and made an argument more and more public pro- Every general contractor 500 businesses really are of
Continued on page OCR4
am quoted in the trade press with councillors regarding curement people to show and subtrade at every level, the size that they could ben-
–––––––––––––––––––––– a fair bit, I don’t seek out one of our members. It was them that the standard whether it be the relation- efit from OGCA member-
the spotlight in the general a tense time – feeling out CCDC contract documenta- ship between subtrades and ship – in fact they do,
organizations, overhauling media. what our role should be and tion ensures they receive generals, ‘paid when paid’ because these non-member
the bidding and tendering “In one of our early bat- what should happen. The fair, competitive bids and issues, and third-party con- contractors are enjoying the
documents, and finding tles, at the Region of Peel, I Region of Peel worked with ultimately the lowest possi- sultants, unless the industry results of our consultation
us – that was in the first ble prices because of com- has a strong voice to move with owners on lobbying for
year I was with the OGCA. petition from qualified forward and represent itself, fair and equitable contract-
Ontario Construction Report invited some people who have worked
Since then we have had ex- contractors.” we are going to have prob- ing practices.
with Clive Thurston to comment on his contributions to the industry.
cellent relationships with lems. “I wish non-members
Here are their observations.
them – that started us on our What do you see of the “Without our voice, we could see the value of the
role of consultation, a future? will encounter unfair con- association. We are en-
John Hull, President, Ready Mixed Concrete Association of Ontario
hugely successful approach “The future is still good; tracts and regulatory reform hancing the partnership pro-
(RMCAO)
with a number of owners I think the economy will and it will hurt.” gram resulting in savings,
“I have always enjoyed working with Clive and certainly he brings
that has culminated with stay strong. discounts and other advan-
communication and fairness to the table. He always wants to look
larger owners including the “We need to deal with What do you see for tages, and if they could par-
around the corner to see what other things can be done and where the
Ontario Realty Corporation the infrastructure deficit, ca- growth of the OGCA? ticipate in this symposium,
construction industry will go, whether it be in education, practices or
and the Ministry of Health.” pacity issues, cost of train- “Our membership repre- and discover how much is
trends. The concrete and construction industries I believe are better
ing, education, regulatory sents about 70 per cent of learned, and how many con-
from his involvement.”
How do you feel about reform with the Ministry of the ICI volume, about six to nections are made in just a
owners’ representatives Labour . . . there are so seven billion dollars per couple of days, I think they
Brian Watkinson, Principal, Strategies 4 Impact! Inc.
and middle men? many things about to hap- year. And membership has would want to join the
Watkinson, formerly executive director of the Ontario Association of
“The owners’ rep situa- pen over the next few years, grown to 211 members OGCA.”
Architects, now provides strategic support and advice to businesses in tion developed over years, I think we are going to see a from 170 when I started.
the design and construction sector, their associations and their clients. with a lack of construction
“I’ve watched Clive transform the OGCA into a powerful voice not expertise within public
just for its members, but for the whole industry. . . owners — governments
“True, Clive always prefers to work with owners, government and turned to purchasing depart-
others to arrive at mutually-beneficial solutions to problems, but be- ments. But the procurement
cause he is the head of such a strong business lobby, he’s also able to of computers is not the
‘take the gloves off’ to protect his members’ interests when he needs
same as construction serv-
to.”
ices.
“Steven Bauld (OGCA
Geza Banfai, Construction Lawyer, Blaney McMurtry LLP
Vice President) co-authored
“I’ve known Clive since shortly after he assumed the presidency of
one of only a few books on
the OGCA. Each of us came to the relationship with certain prejudices
the topic of procurement –
about the other; prejudices which in my case were shattered very soon
he is one of the most re-
after I got to know him. Simply put, Clive is a welcome breath of fresh
spected people in the indus-
air in this industry, and we’re lucky to have him.
try on public procurement –
“His motto – which he repeats to anyone who will listen! – is ‘con-
and we have finally been
sultation not confrontation.’ Don’t believe it! Yes, he consults to an un-
able to reach out and talk to
precedented degree, but he confronts too — albeit in a uniquely positive
them and convince them
and constructive way, focused on the problems and never the people,
that we are not the enemy.
directed always to the betterment of the industry as a whole.
“The owners reps desire
“And in this respect he is rather extraordinary, in my opinion. Imag-
to meddle in standard con-
ine the head of a prominent association of general contractors actively
tracts has cost millions of
promoting, in a consistent way, the notion that despite the obvious ten-
dollars and caused great
sions and conflicts of interest that permeate the industry, it is better to
seek common ground; that disagreement should be seen as a source
problems with our mem-
of creative improvement; that engaging with those who may have been
bers, and the public is not
your traditional ‘enemies’ is not only inevitable but necessary!
being served. No one can
“Clive has been doing just that for as long as I’ve known him, and
justify getting just one or
his track record of success speaks for itself.
two bidders on jobs, and
“It’s not an easy road that he’s embarked upon. Effecting cultural
projects are constantly over
change is difficult and frustrating, with lots of ‘two steps forward, one
budget.
step back’ along the way. But the courage that Clive displays and his
“We’re about making
patient persistence remain an inspiration to all of us.”
the system work – and
We are proud to be
TORONTO VANCOUVER CALGARY MONTREAL
GOLD Sponsors
www.trisura.com a step above
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