MCA Ontario Newsletters

MCAO Members Continue to Benefit from MCAT Training Access
As part of MCA Ontario’s ongoing partnership with MCA Toronto (MCAT), members continue to receive access to industry-leading construction training courses at preferred pricing.

MCAO members can register for MCAT courses starting at $500, while MCAT members continue to benefit from standard member pricing and completion discounts.

Successfully Completed This Spring

Microsoft Project Training (Virtual) - April 10, 17, 24 & May 1, 2026
Art of Construction Management (Virtual) - May 8 & 15, 2026
Introduction to Construction (Virtual) – May 22, 29, 2026

Upcoming Course: Introduction to Construction

June 5, 2026
9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Virtual

For course information or registration assistance, please contact: Operations Manager at mcao@mcao.org

MCA Ontario Training Series

Stress Management Training

MCA Ontario, in partnership with the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA), will be hosting a Stress Management Training session on June 4, 2026, at 12:00 p.m. (90 minutes)

This session will focus on supporting both personal and professional well-being by helping participants better understand the causes and impacts of stress. Attendees will also gain practical strategies to manage stress effectively, build resilience, and maintain focus in demanding work environments.

This is a valuable opportunity for members and their teams to strengthen mental health and enhance overall workplace performance.

Mark your calendar and join us for this important session.

Click here on June 4th to Join!

Virtual RSOS workshop for the Instrumentation and Control Technician Trade

The standards development workshop is scheduled for September 21 to October 9, 2026. This will be held as a virtual workshop using MS Teams.

The sessions will be scheduled over a few weeks and will be no longer than 4 hours each. Basically, the commitment is for about 25 hours of time. The plan is for two online 4-hour sessions with the whole group to look at the “big picture” of the trade and its standard. Then there will be smaller groups participate in three sessions to work on details in assigned sections of the standard. Following this will be a re-group all together for another 3-4 hour session to address any concerns and to review and approve the draft. In addition to on-line participation, the ask is for approximately 3 hours off-line time to review documents and prepare comments between sessions.

Participants will be paid an honorarium of $30/hr per hour of virtual time, plus another flat $100 to all participants for offline review upon completion of all sessions.

Please reach out to the MCAO office if you or anyone you know is interested in participating.

MCAC 2026 National Conference

Registration Now Open - Kelowna, British Columbia

The 2026 MCAC Annual National Conference will bring contractors from across Canada together for: Industry discussions, networking opportunities, professional development Innovation and productivity insights.

MCA Ontario 2026 AGM/Conference
Danube River Cruise | May 4–11, 2026

A special thank you to all attendees who helped make the 2026 MCA Ontario Annual General Meeting & Conference aboard the Danube River Cruise such a tremendous success.

Your participation, engagement, and enthusiasm helped create an unforgettable experience filled with collaboration, networking, and industry connection.

To access a copy of the MCA Ontario 2025 Annual Report, please visit our website: https://www.mcao.org/annual-reports

Looking ahead to 2027

We look forward to welcoming everyone again next year for another outstanding MCA Ontario conference experience. Additional details about the 2027 conference will be shared in the coming months.

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Looking for more?

Our intent is to make this a quarterly newsletter that is full of timely and valuable information for you. If you would like to see a specific topic or concern included in a future version please reach out to us at mcao@mcao.org. We welcome any feedback and/or questions you may have.

MCA Ontario Newsletters

March 2026

March 25, 2026

Why Operational Intelligence Is Becoming the Industry Advantage The construction landscape is continuing to evolve, and a clear trend is emerging for mechanical contractors across Ontario. Success in the coming years will not be defined by company size alone, but by how effectively firms operate, make decisions, and leverage the systems behind their teams. For many years, growth in the industry often meant scaling headcount to take on more work. That approach is becoming increasingly difficult to sustain. Ongoing labour shortages, combined with rising operating costs, are pushing members to rethink how they structure their businesses. The focus is shifting toward maximizing productivity per employee rather than simply increasing workforce size. This shift places greater emphasis on operational efficiency. Beginning to adopt tools and processes that reduce administrative burden will improve visibility across projects. Streamlined workflows, better data management, and emerging technologies such as AI-supported document review and automated reporting are helping teams handle routine tasks more efficiently. As a result, staff can dedicate more time to higher-value activities like project planning, coordination, and on-site problem solving. This all reinforces an important strategic direction. Competitive advantage is increasingly tied to how well a company organizes its internal systems, manages information, and supports its workforce with practical tools. Firms that invest in improving their processes are better positioned to respond quickly to bid opportunities, manage project risk, and maintain healthy margins in a challenging market. Looking ahead, the most resilient and competitive contractors will be those who successfully combine skilled labour with smarter, more efficient systems. Strengthening both sides of that equation will be key to delivering projects effectively and sustaining long-term growth in Ontario’s mechanical contracting sector. Are you planning for the future of the industry?

January 2026

January 21, 2026

New AED Requirements and WSIB Reimbursement Starting January 1, 2026, construction projects with 20 or more workers and an expected duration of three months or longer in Ontario will be required to have a Health Canada–licensed Automated External Defibrillator (AED) on site under O. Reg. 157/25 of the Occupational Health and Safety Act. The regulation also sets out requirements for signage, inspections, accessories, and ensuring a worker trained in CPR/AED use is present while work is underway. To help offset costs, the province has introduced a WSIB reimbursement program through Bill 30, the Working for Workers Seven Act, 2025. Key details for members: Reimbursement of up to $2,500 per AED, limited to one AED per qualifying construction project Separate applications required for each project, with no limit on the number of projects a contractor may apply for AEDs must be purchased between July 1, 2025 and June 30, 2027 Only Health Canada approved AEDs qualify (verified through the MDALL database) Applications opened January 1, 2026, and must be submitted through WSIB online services with approved reimbursements expected to be credited within approximately 60 days. Reimbursement details and applications HERE! Read the legislation HERE!

October 2025

October 28, 2025

Upcoming Release: 2025 Collective Agreement The finalized 2025 Collective Agreement will be available online next week. Hard copies will also be sent to local zone offices for appropriate distribution by the end of November. If you have any questions, please contact our office at mcao@mcao.org

August 2025

August 20, 2025

Upcoming MCAO Events MCAO is hosting two very exciting important events in October on back to back days so that you don’t need to travel twice! October 23 – Joint Leadership Conference The Electrical, Mechanical, and Labour Sectors Unite! Join the Electrical Contractors Association of Ontario ( ECAO ),Mechanical Contractors Association of Ontario ( MCAO ) and Construction Labour Relations Association of Ontario ( CLRAO ) for the 2025 Joint Leadership Conference! October 24 - MCAO’s S.M.A.R.T. Innovation Evening Experience a dynamic speed networking format at the Hockey Hall of Fame, where participants will rotate between supplier & manufacturer to discuss progressive solutions to challenges in the mechanical contracting industry. Click HERE! to register for both events!

June 2025

June 25, 2025

Free Project Management PMP Training Spots are Filling Up! MCAO, in partnership with ECAO and CLRAO, is offering a fully funded training opportunity for MCAO member contractors: PROMEX – Project Management Skills for Construction Excellence. Delivered in collaboration with the Schulich School of Business at York University, this program enables participants to earn a Master’s Certificate in Project Management (MCPM). Participants will also be eligible to write the PMP® exam through the Project Management Institute (PMI)—all at no cost, thanks to the Ontario Skills Development Fund. Program Details: The course runs for a total of 8 weeks: 6 weeks of project management training through Schulich ExecEd 2 weeks of AI and digital tools training through iKITES Live virtual sessions every Tuesday and Thursday, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. PMP® exam prep and fees covered Upcoming cohorts September 4, 2025, and October 23, 2025. Get the full program overview and registration steps in the brochure HERE !

April 2025

April 23, 2025

New MCAO Training Webpage We are excited to announce the launch of a dedicated training section on our official MCAO website! This new hub is designed to be your one-stop destination for all things training-related, featuring everything from updates on upcoming and past MCAO training sessions, to exclusive giveaways and a range of free training resources. Whether you're seeking technical courses, safety certifications, or leadership development opportunities, our new platform makes it easier than ever to access the training you need to grow your staff’s skills. Explore training programs tailored to your professional goals and stay informed on the latest offerings. Be sure to check back regularly for updates, new resources, and more chances to win through our training-related giveaways!