CFBA Director Gary van Bolderen is actively involved in the Construction Industry on behalf of the CFBA and also the Council of Ontario Construction Associations, where he currently holds the Chair position. The CFBA is a member of COCA. Gary provided the following report on his recent activities:

Meetings attended of behalf of the CFBA and COCA:

Sept 22                 COCA Board meeting                     Toronto
Sept 28                 Canadian Construction Association Summit in     Toronto
Oct. 2                    CFBA meeting                                   Guelph
Oct. 16                  Lien Review Teleconference       Barrie
Oct. 19                  CCA Board meeting                         Thunder Bay
Oct. 20                  CCA Board meeting                         Thunder Bay
Oct. 23                  Lien Review Teleconference       Barrie
Oct. 26                  Lien Review Teleconference       Barrie
Nov.  4                  Meet Minister of Labour              Toronto
Nov.  9                  Meet Reynolds re: Lien Review  Toronto
Nov. 10                 COCA Breakfast meeting              Woodbridge
Nov. 13                 CFBA Board meeting                      Guelph
Nov. 17                 Millwright Ass. Board Mtg.           Cambridge
Nov. 12                 PC Patrick Brown Mtg.                   Toronto

COCA is very busy lobbying the Ontario Government regarding four main issues.

1. Ontario College of Trades has completed its report for the Minister.  This review is now in the hands of the government and we are waiting to hear when they will make it public. It is anticipated that it will be available “soon” to quote them.  COCA made a detailed submission several months ago.
2. The Bruce Reynolds review of the Construction Lien’s Act is asking for submissions. COCA has a task force that is tackling this issue.   COCA made a very substantive and complete submission to Mr. Reynolds on Monday. Nov. 9th.  This is a very complex legal document. COCA has had the advantage of the two lawyers familiar with the Liens Act on our task force.  This review is to be completed in the Spring of 2016. COCA will continue to work with Reynolds as he goes through his process.
3. Prompt Payment remains one of the most active files in the construction industry. The objective of PP is to simply have people paid on time for the work that is complete. It is in the details of the proposed legislation that creates a lot of discussion. This may involve holdbacks, third party verification, interim adjudication, and so on.  COCA is part of Prompt Payment Ontario which is a group of about 50 associations and trade councils that is working to present a proposal to government. I attended a Canadian Construction Association (CCA) Summit in Toronto which addressed how the industry will promote the principles of PP.
4. The WSIB is in the process of making significant changes to the way WSIB will assess businesses and how it will create a new system of tracking individual company safety performance. COCA has been directly involved for many years at the WSIB advisory group and is up to date on the actions of the insurance board. The unfunded liability has been reduced from approx. 18 billion to 9 billion.  COCA is urging the government not to increase benefits until the unfunded liability is erased from the WSIB books. Ontario has the best benefit program in Canada. COCA has had presentations made to its Board by the WSIB to explain their plans for the future.

Ian Cunningham (President of COCA ), and myself (Chair of COCA) held a meeting with the Minister of Labour, Mr. Kevin Flynn. It was a very open discussion about COCA’s view about the four main issues COCA is promoting.  While there are no direct results from these types of meetings with Ministers and Deputy Ministers, it is important for COCA to voice the concerns of the construction industry directly to these decision makers in government.

I am attending the CCA meetings, acting as the replacement for Mr. Paul Sibel who stepped down after many years of great service to the industry and COCA. I hope to be on the Board of CCA, and this will be determined at their Annual Meeting in March.

COCA is constantly in communication with industry stakeholders and government officials and political policy makers.  This is a never ending effort to educate and inform government. Positive results are often achieved from months and years of working quietly behind the scenes.  With patience and a commitment to our long term goals, COCA continues to make a difference.   

GvB