PAGE OCR 4 – March 2009 – The Ontario Construction Report
Ron Barrie wins GCAO Ethics and Integrity Award:
Applying the Golden Rule
STAFF WRITER – The OCR Construction Report
est impeccable integrity.” And Terry Dun- the circumstances on the job site, the work
lap, vice-president of mechanical contractor is completed effectively, and the true cost to
Retired construction manager Ron Barrie Modern Niagara, said: “Ron has always everyone is far lower than litigation and dis-
summarizes the essence of ethics in the con- displayed integrity in his efforts to get the putes.
struction industry is the proper application job done on time and on budget for the Barrie says when he discovered that
of the Golden Rule. “We must stop thinking client while also being proactive and under- partnering, co-operation and goodwill are
of Integrity and Ethics as a goal; but rather standing of the needs of all his sub-trades.” more effective approaches to the construc-
as the obvious and automatic result of treat- In an interview, Barrie outlined how he tion business, than confrontation and self-
ing each other as we would like to be has applied ethical parameters in real life sit- interest, he discovered he soon found others
treated,” he says. uations, especially in the complex issues of share the same values. “Sometimes I felt I
After receiving the Integrity and Ethics whether discussions about sub contractor was catching up rather than leading the
Award from the General Contractors’ Ron Barrie receives GCAO ethics Asso- quotes relate to bid shopping or scope of wave,” he said. When the spirit of co-oper-
ciation of Ottawa in February, Barrie said he work concerns.
and integrity award
ation and partnering becomes infectious, “a
applied the principle that “the project be- If he saw a sub trade had submitted a lot of energy is created, which leads to pos-
comes the client” and that “all stakeholders higher bid than expected, “I would phone up In some cases, he says, sub trades run itive results,” he says.
have the obligation to serve the best inter- (the sub) and say: ‘Here’s where we are at. into unexpected problems, perhaps project Barrie says he will enjoy his retirement
ests of the project.” He retired as senior You were not the low bidder. I just want to related, or externally, that affect their ability on a 23-acre property in Martintown, about
construction manager at PCL Constructors review your scope, to make sure that we to complete their work. He said one ap- 20 minutes east of Cornwall. Most of the
Canada Ltd. after 47 years in the industry. have a great price.’” proach could be to stick to the wording of land is rented to a neighbouring farmer, but
Large projects before his retirement in- Conversely, if he sensed the low bid was the contract and if necessary draw on the he maintains 4.5 acres on his own. “I enjoy
cluded the Ottawa Airport expansion, the too low, he would make a similar call to the bond or litigation. A much better approach, being outside doing physical work – it’s nice
Victoria Memorial Museum and Queens sub trade to make sure the quoted price had he said, is for the general contractor, owner, to have a big field around the house, not a
Center, at Queens University in Kingston. been truly inclusive of everything required and others in the project to find ways to casino or fire station.” Barrie says he also
Subcontractors, owners, engineers and for the work. In some cases, the sub trade work to help the sub trade perhaps with ad- enjoys reading, especially contemporary
designers all say that they have enjoyed realized he had made a bidding error, and ditional compensation. By accommodating history.
working with Barrie with his approach to decided to withdraw the bid, Barrie says.
teamwork and co-operation on the job site. The objective, Barrie says, is to get a
“The term ‘lead by example’ would very low, but fair price – while the North Amer ONTARIO TRUSS REPORT-
aptly apply to Ron,” said Paul Benoit, pres- ican style of business is the “lowest bidder
ident and CEO of the Ottawa Macdonald- gets the work” it doesn’t help anyone if,
Cartier International Airport Authority
Report on the OWTFA AGM –
. after the job commences, things don’t work
“Over the several years that Ron has been out and claims and litigation drain resources
involved with the OMCIAA, we have ben- and money. He says this is why he much Mississauga, January 2009
efited from Ron’s ability to consistently pro- prefers the construction management rather
vide leadership, guidance, advice and than firm price bid approach to the business.
support, not only to his own PCL team, but It allows for flexibility and accommodation
STAFF WRITER – The OCR Construction Report
turers. While the industry already dominates
the entire project team which included the to ensure everyone is treated fairly and the
the residential market in Ontario it is be-
client and consultant team.” project can succeed.
At the end of January the leading mem-
lieved that this new quality control program
Dale Craig, chairman of the board at J.L. Barrie says compassion and common
bers of the Ontario Truss industry met to dis-
will provide a key building block for further
Richards, said: “Ron has a very practical, sense are important in ensuring projects are
cuss the future of their industry. The
inroads into commercial construction proj-
first principles style coupled with the high- completed fairly
economic turmoil began to take hold at the
ects.
.
end of 2008 and the industry used this meet-
With proven design standards the build-
ing in early 2009 to discuss ways to operate
ing codes can continue to be expanded for
effectively in this new climate.
wood. Recently the British Columbia code
The meeting began with a presentation
was changed to allow for six storey build-
by noted economist Peter Norman of the
ings. Currently four is the maximum height
Altus Group Economic Consulting com-
for the rest of Canada. Europe has already
pany. His outlook, while bleak, showed the
shown that even higher buildings are quite
possibility of growth in 2010. He also illus-
feasible in wood.
trated why things are not as bad in Canada
The final part of this all day meeting was
as they are in the US market.
the election of the new leadership for the as-
This allowed for a seamless segue to truss
sociation. Returning as president is Gerry
manufacturing consultant Todd Drummond
Frey of Mar-Span Truss Inc. Rounding out
who talked about the principles of lean man-
the executive is Gary Lalonde of Locke
ufacturing. Drummond said this about the
Truss, and Greg Ruhl of Kent Trusses. The
US, “the carnage in the industry has already
other Directors are Rick Brouckxon of LP
started and only the lean and efficient will
Engineered Wood Products, Marvin Wight
survive”. He challenged the industry to un-
of Simpson Strong-Tie Canada Ltd, Rupert
derstand the true costs of operating their
Evans of Brough & Whicher and Mark Fox
business, improve those cost structures and
of Terra Nova Truss.
therefore dramatically increase the effi-
The Ontario Wood Truss Fabricators As-
ciency of their operations.
sociation (OWTFA) represents the common
A key element for the truss industry for
interests of the truss industry in Ontario, in-
both internal and external reasons is the de-
cluding promoting the use of wood trusses
velopment of an industry sponsored quality
in residential, commercial and agricultural
control program. With the quality assump-
structures. For more information please con-
tions now in place in Appendix G of the
tact Mike Phillips, executive director of the
building code the need for industry quality
Ontario Wood Truss Fabricators Association
standards became self evident. This program
(OWTFA) at 416-235-0194 or
is now being rolled out in 2009 among the
www.owtfa.com
members of the association’s truss manufac-
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