MCAO's 2010 Annual Meeting/Conference  A Great Success!

MCA Ontario's 2010 Annual General Meeting/Conference was held at the RIU Guanacaste Resort in Guanacaste, Costa Rica this past April.

The conference agenda featured several focused informational/business sessions of value to all members; the "Reeka Challenge" Golf Tournament along with our Presidents Reception/Dinner.

MCA Ontario would like to THANK ALL MEMBERS who participated in this year's conference and making it one of the most memorable thus far!

TEE TIME! At The CMCEF Annual Golf Tournament!

Spots are still available for the 6th Annual CMCEF fundraising Golf Tournament, which takes place on Wednesday July 6th, 2010 at Grey Silo Golf Club. The tournament will once again feature a scramble format with your fees including green fees, golf cart, lunch and dinner. Registration (which includes direct impact to the Foundation) is only $200, and the first 144 golfers will tee off at 11:00 am. Last year this event raised more than $18,000 to benefit CMCEF so lets help them do it again by filling out the attached Registration Form and faxing it to the CMCEF Office. We hope to see you at this wonderful event. FORE!

Zone Geographic Scope Maps - Sent to All Local Offices

Please note that copies of Maps of each Zone, as outlined in the ICI Provincial Collective Agreement, were recently prepared and distributed to all MCAO Affiliate Zone Offices.  These Maps are meant to be used as a quick reference Guide. For a detailed description of your Zone's jurisdiction, please be sure to always refer to the Collective Agreement.

If you would like to receive a copy of the new MCAO Map Booklet, please be sure to contact the MCAO Office (Attn: Christina).

MCAO  Safety Group

Want to significantly increase safety awareness in your workplace? Want to receive CASH REBATES for doing so??... MCA Ontario is proud to have acted as facilitator for a Safety Group Program geared to Mechanical Contractors - going on 10 years now. Participating Mechanical Contracting firms have achieved total rebates from the WSIB during this period of over $7,000,000. Along with the rebate, these firms have dramatically improved their safety policy, practices and the level of overall safety awareness among their employees.

The MCA Ontario Safety Group focuses on peers coming together to share "best practices" regarding safety and, as a collective, learn new techniques to enhance safety. Let us help directly impact the safety achievement potential of your organization through the ongoing support, seminars and group workshops offered under this program.

Local Group Chapters can be formed with participation of 10 firms in your Zone! Just complete/fire in to MCAO the enclosed application form to register for the 2011 year.

Note: There is no cost to join the Group/participate in it!

HST In Ontario- Effective July 1, 2010 / Bill 168 Violence & Harassment Prevention

This is a reminder that the HST comes into effect on July 1st, 2010. Attached is a document that provides valuable information as to how the new tax will apply to the Construction Industry. Please also find attached a document by the Law Firm Ogilvy Renault, with respect to recent amendments made to the Occupational Health and Safety Act pertaining to Violence & Harassment Prevention Program requirements that become "the law" in Ontario on June 15th, 2010.

Infrastructure Health and Safety Association in Full Swing

In early 2010 the amalgamation of three key Safety Associations: CSAO (Construction Safety association of Ontario), E&USA (Electrical & Utilities Safety association), and THSAO (Transportation Health and Safety Association of Ontario) took place. Upon amalgamation, Michael Dilisle was appointed as CEO of this newly formed organization.

The IHSA Board of Directors will be composed of 18 Labour & Management representatives including 1 labour/mgmt from the Mechanical Industry. Each sector represented on the board will also have a specific Advisory Council which will address safety issues that relate specifically to that trade. MCA Ontario recently nominated Tom Lachance and Dave Holek as Management Representatives to this Advisory Council; and MCAO is most pleased to advise that both were recently formally appointed.

Currently, MCA Ontario is involved directly in two CSAO Joint Labour Management Committees: The Pipe Trades and the Service Sector Committees. It is our hope that these Committees and the services (provided by the former CSAO) are kept intact as they continue to provide an invaluable service to our membership and the construction industry alike.

The inaugural General Meeting for the IHSA is scheduled for June 14, 2010. The members of the IHSA Board of Directors are scheduled to be revealed at this meeting. 

Please look for further information on the IHSA in future MCAO Reports.

News & Views ...

As always, MCA Ontario welcomes your feedback on any articles appearing in the MCA Ontario Report. We also encourage your input/suggestions with respect to future topics you feel should be addressed in this newsletter/you feel would be of importance/interest to all Members. Please contact us in this regard at 905 856-0342; and be sure to check out the latest updates on our website: www.mcao.org!!!