An HR partner might not be a role that your business can support in-house. Most companies don’t add an HR person until they hit 50 people. In the meantime, if you have a question that relates to hiring, performance management, compensation, legislation, conflict, termination (and other human resources topics) it can be hard to know where to start.
We are introducing a potential solution for those of you without HR in-house. MCAO is partnering with Dee Pipher, CHRL to offer HR support.
If you would like to set up a 30 minute chat with Dee for HR advice, fill in THIS FORM to give some context. You will then be sent a link from Dee to set up a time through calendly.com.
The cost of the 30 minute consult is covered by MCAO. More in depth consultations may need to be covered by the contractor organization.
If your questions are of a legal nature, or are outside of the scope of HR, Dee may refer you to an employment lawyer.
Following the success of our recent mental health presentation, MCAO is proud to partner with the Mental Health Commission of Canada to offer Working Minds, a specialized mental health training program for construction industry managers.
The Working Minds course will be held on March 20, 2025, and is a one-day online course designed to help managers recognize mental health challenges, break down stigma, and foster open communication in the workplace. Participants will learn to:
Participation is limited to 15 spots per session on a first-come, first-served basis, with an initial limit of one participant per member company. If demand is high, additional sessions will be offered.
For more details, visit the official
Working Minds Website or contact our Operations Manager Dylan at
dylan@mcao.org to secure your spot.
Negotiations for the next collective agreement have begun at the local level and are expected to progress to provincial level items beginning in March.
Reflecting on our discussions thus far, we are optimistic that our efforts will result in a strong agreement that benefits our industry.
MCAO will be providing periodic updates throughout the negotiation process, so be sure to watch for our 2025 Bargaining Update emails to stay informed.
Thank you for your continued support.
The Infrastructure Health & Safety Association (IHSA) has developed new guidelines to support health and safety mentorship in the construction industry. This resource provides guidance and templates to help workplaces implement a structured mentorship program that enhances safety awareness and reduces workplace incidents, particularly for new or inexperienced workers.
The guidelines offer a comprehensive and adaptable framework to assess and improve existing mentorship efforts, ensuring a tailored approach that meets the unique needs of each workplace. Additionally, structured evaluation tools for both mentors and mentees help track progress and identify areas for improvement.
Members can access the full guidelines and templates by downloading the PDF
HERE!
A special thank you to all attendees for helping make our 2025 Annual General Meeting/Conference in the beautiful Riviera Maya, Mexico, such a success! We appreciate your participation and enthusiasm.
To access a copy of the MCAO 2024 Annual Report, please visit our website HERE!
We look forward to seeing you all again next year!
MCA Ontario is excited to continue our CultureAlly DEI Series, building on the success of our first session. This ongoing series, delivered in partnership with CultureAlly, provides engaging and impactful training designed to foster inclusive workplaces.
The next three sessions will explore key topics essential to strengthening diversity, equity, and inclusion in your workplace:
Upcoming Sessions:
📅
Unconscious Bias – April 17, 2025, at 1:00 p.m. ET |
Register Here!
📅
Inclusive Leadership – July 10, 2025, at 1:00 p.m. ET |
Register Here!
📅
Cultural Competence – October 16, 2025, at 1:00 p.m. ET |
Register Here!
About the Facilitators:
Each session will be led by experienced trainers from CultureAlly, using a first-voice co-facilitation approach. This ensures that individuals with lived experiences from marginalized communities are authentically represented while sharing the educational space with a co-facilitator from a different background.
There is
no limit to the number of participants for these sessions, and we encourage all members to attend.
Southern Ontario businesses seeking to scale operations, adopt innovative technologies, and enhance productivity can now access significant financial support through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario). Eligible companies may receive up to $10 million in interest-free, repayable contributions, covering up to 50% of eligible project costs.
Key Details:
To apply, businesses must prepare a comprehensive application package, including a detailed business plan, financial statements for the past two years, and projected financials for the project's duration. There is no set deadline, and applications are accepted on an ongoing basis.
For more information click
HERE!
The Ontario government is investing in programs designed to help more women develop valuable skills, secure meaningful employment, and advance their careers. This initiative focuses on removing barriers in industries where women have been historically underrepresented, such as skilled trades and technology, fostering greater economic inclusion. Through targeted training, mentorship opportunities, and employer partnerships, these programs will continue equip women with the tools they need to succeed in today’s evolving workforce.
For more details, read the full announcement HERE!
Registration is open for the 2025 Emerging Leaders Conference, taking place from March 27-28, 2025 in Toronto, Ontario. Hosted by the Mechanical Contractors Association of Canada (MCAC) and spearheaded by the association’s Future Leaders Advisory Council, attendees will take away valuable learning and networking connections.
Sessions for the 2025 Emerging Leaders Conference address a variety of topics, including mental health in the workplace, the emergence of Artificial Intelligence (AI), technology and project management, contract and industry practice issues, and interactive sessions around Lean and Pull Planning.
More information about the conference, including registration information, is available
HERE!
In a recent address, Bank of Canada Governor Tiff Macklem reaffirmed the central bank’s commitment to its 2% inflation target, even as proposed U.S. tariffs pose new economic challenges. He warned that these tariffs could lead to significant structural changes in Canada’s economy, including reduced investment and productivity. Macklem emphasized that monetary policy will remain focused on price stability. He also announced the launch of the Bank’s monetary policy framework renewal process to ensure it remains effective in guiding the economy through evolving conditions.
Read the full report
HERE!
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.
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Mississauga, ON L4W 0G4
Phone:
905-629-0344
Email:
mcao@mcao.org
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Saturday & Sunday: Closed
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