HCAW News
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COVID-19 Response Framework: Keeping Ontario Safe and Open —Lockdown Measures November 25, 2020
Latest information from the Government of Ontario
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Daily COVID-19 Screening Now Required in Ontario Workplaces - September 26 2020 September 28, 2020
On Friday, September 25, 2020, the Government of Ontario amended O. Reg 364/20, effective Saturday September 26, 2020. This Regulation sets out the Rules for Areas in Stage 3.
The amendment imposes a requirement that “the person responsible for a business or organization that is open shall operate the business or organization in compliance with the advice, recommendations and instructions issued by the Office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health on screening individuals.”
The same day, the Ministry of Health issued its COVID-19 Screening Tool for Workplaces (Business and Organizations). Please click here for this. The Tool provides screening questions for any worker or essential visitor (defined in the Tool) seeking to enter the work environment. The Tool does not apply to patrons of a workplace, essential workers who travel outside of Canada for work, or emergency services or other first responders who may enter a workplace for emergency purposes.
Bottom Line: Effective September 26, 2020, each Ontario workplace is now required to pro-actively screen employees for COVID-19-related symptoms and risk factors prior to entry into the work environment, each day the employee seeks to enter the work environment (this would not apply to an employee working at home that day). The screening tool should include, at a minimum, the questions identified in the Ministry of Health’s COVID-19 Screening Tool for Workplaces (Businesses and Organizations).
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Cloud Permit Rollout - Building Department Fee Increases June 15, 2020
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City of WindsorC OVID-19 Service Updates May 19, 2020
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COCA Advocacy April 21, 2020
The Council of Ontario Construction Associations (COCA) has been lobbying on behalf of the industry on four main issues stemming from the CORVID19 pandemic:
- WSIB – To ensure that claims stemming from COVID19 are not attributed to a individual employers, but if approved they should be spread over a larger class
- Exempting the Construction Act from Regulation 73/20, which in effect extended lien rights for the duration of the state of emergency, and inadvertently froze the release of holdback
- Lobbying the government to make a statement that would protect contractors from delay claims and their attendant costs (and possible litigation)
- Asking the provincial government to come up with a cash recovery program for contractors to improve liquidity and mitigate the costs incurred while working under an unprecedented set of conditions
No.’s 1 & 2 have been addressed. COVID19 related cases will be attributed to all Schedule 1 employers, and not to any individual firm. And late last Thursday the Construction Act was exempted from Regulation 73/20, which means your lien rights will rely on the Construction Act and will expire in 60 days after CSP or last day on the job. And since they now will expire, the owners can determine if the title is cleared and if it is, release the holdback.
The last 2 points continue to be the focus of discussions with the Ontario Government (as well as the Federal Government, through NTCCC). Below is a link to a letter writing campaign to raise the awareness of these concerns across all MPP’s. It will take you 5 minutes to fill in your name, address and email and hit send. Anyone can send this letter, so you can circulate to family, friends or anyone else who may support this. This link will be shared with all 30 of COCA’s member organizations.
Every letter helps, especially when it comes from members of the MPP’s own riding. Thank you for taking the time to do this.
https://www.coca.on.ca/contact-your-mpp/
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The Link2Build Layperson's Guide to the Construction Act October 23, 2019
The Link2Build Layperson's Guide to the Construction Act
This guide helps you understand and adapt to Ontario's new Construction Act, which came into full effect October 1st.
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New City of Windsor Standard Specs and AS Drawings June 26, 2017
New City of Windsor Standard Specs and AS Drawings
