MCA Ontario Newsletters

A Message from our President


Already a week into July it's difficult to believe that the AGM we first started speaking abou tlast summer is now just over a month away. I could add numerous analogies that span the entire four-year period I served as the President of our Association. Every day was full but at the end of each week, I could confidently say that our Association and the Industry writ large were getting better.


Looking ahead I eagerly await our AGM. It will be a great opportunity to finally get together in-person. These always offer an excellent venue to discuss topical issues and to set future goals. I encourage those who cannot attend to raise any concerns to the MCAO office so they can be addressed prior to or added to the agenda of that week. Our potential is unbounded, and time is on our side to get it right. Every member has a role to play and an equal vote. Use yours for the benefit of our industry and our members.


A Day on the Hill


In May the Mechanical Contractors Association of Canada (MCA Canada) and the Canadian Institute of Plumbing (CIPH) co-hosted their annual ‘Day on the Hill’. The COVID pandemic put a pause on this activity for nearly three years so it was great to bring participants from all across Canada to this three day event. Leading up to the meeting there was group meetings to prepare for the day with MPs and Senators.


The ‘Day on theHill’ was bounded by key MCA Canada meetings, joint MCAC & CIPH activities and discussions focused on national issues such as price volatility and supply chain issues.  While collective bargaining conflicted with these dates, MCA Ontario was still able to have representation. Feedback from them was that it was an excellent event that opened several doors for discussion with a federal political leaders; conversations that have already led to subsequent engagement by MCA Canada and others for the benefit of our industry.

One great picture of the Day on the Hill:

MCA Ontario Executive member Frank Turano with Marc Garneau (MP – Notre-Dame-de-Grâce – Westmount),

James Maloney (MP - Etobicoke-Lakeshore) and Sonia Sidhu (MP - Brampton South).


MCA Ontario 2022 AGM


If you are not attending your voice can still be heard. If you have any concerns about our industry, anticipated challenges, where we are heading, areas where MCA Ontario can be of assistance to your company etc. send them to the MCAO office. They could become an agenda item for our Annual General Meeting or the Board of Directors meeting. They could also be a point of discussion throughout the week as Board members, members of our community and invited guests intermingle.


Social Media Campaign


Our presence on social media continues to grow and there are plans for much much more, including TikTok! Look for the Ontario Pipe Trades brand on Instagram and Facebook.  It is highly visible in print and our voices have been on radio. Sofar our footprint has covered Southwestern Ontario, it is now into Ottawa and will grow to include Thunder Bay and Toronto in the next couple months. In southwestern Ontario alone we estimate that our message has reached almost 700,000 through the listeners of radio, readers of news be it in print or on-line and of course social media.


More on social media:

  • We have gained over 1K Social Followers, growing at 59% monthly
  • More than 2,400 accounts interacted with OPT content
  • Our top follower age demographic =25-34 (49%)
  • The top follower locations are Toronto, Ottawa & Hamilton


Some of our goals – attract apprentices, dispel misconceptions of the piping trade, the union and what we do, highlight ourgreat work across the province, emphasize our advantages … One of our approaches – To give other people the tools they need to communicate our messages.


Quick hits....


  • MCA Ontario is committed to publishing our new Collective Agreement in record time. While we won’t rush to failure, let there be no doubt that it will come this year. Our goal in fact is to have it out before the fall.
  • We are looking into the provision of training, from in-situ or on-line courses to an Emerging ProfessionalsConference. Plans are in the works!
  • We have begun initial planning for the 2023 MCAO AGM. Where and when needs to be presented and approved atthe AGM but it’s probably safe to think April and ….
  • The application deadline for the MCA Canada Richard McKeagan Scholarship Series is quickly approaching – August 12, 2022.


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

February 26, 2025
MCAO’s HR on Demand 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.
December 18, 2024
Holiday Training Code Giveaway! – Waiting on Workplace Safety In honor of the holidays, we are thrilled to give away a large number of online BuildForce and Workplace Safety training courses to our members! All courses are self-paced, with BuildForce codes qualifying for gold seal certification credits. Courses include: BuildForce o Introduction to Construction Estimating o Construction Project Management Workplace Safety o Workplace Incident Investigation o Conflict Resolution If you would like to request any of the above codes, please contact our Operations Manager, Dylan, at dylan@mcao.org . Happy Holidays!
October 15, 2024
MCA Ontario 2025 Annual General Meeting/Conference
July 1, 2024
Artificial Intelligence Part 2 - Increasing Productivity In the rapidly evolving landscape of technology, artificial intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing various industries. For mechanical contracting businesses, AI offers innovative solutions that enhance efficiency, reduce costs, and improve project outcomes. Here are some AI programs that are already beginning to transform the way mechanical contractors operate: OpenSpace is a reality capture program that utilizes automated 360-degree helmet cameras and AI-powered progress tracking to provide constant worksite updates. ClickUp Brain ’s AI-powered scheduling assistant simplifies scheduling by considering task dependencies, team availability, and project priorities. Field Wire is a data analysis program with sophisticated AI algorithms that provide insight into project trends and anomalies. PlanSwift is an AI-powered estimation tool that measures quantities and dimensions directly from digital floor layouts, streamlining the digital takeoff process. viAct is a safety program that employs a series of cameras to identify possible threats and plan deviations on site to avoid incidents. They boast 95% fewer accidents when used. Rhumbix offers an AI-based field data platform that improves labor productivity and project management through timekeeping and performance analytics. Other similar programs include Deepomatic , Timescapes , Buildots , Fusion 360 , and AVEVA , among many other innovative solutions that are continually being released and enhanced. Integrating AI into mechanical contracting enhances operational efficiency and provides a competitive edge in an industry that thrives on precision and productivity. By leveraging AI you can ensure your projects are executed flawlessly, on time, and within budget, ultimately leading to increased client satisfaction and business growth. Embracing AI today sets the foundation for a more innovative and successful future in the mechanical contracting industry.
May 1, 2024
Bill 149, Working for Workers Four Act On March 21, 2024, the "Working for Workers Four Act, 2023" received royal assent in Ontario.The bill amends various workplace laws, such as the Employment Standards Act, 2000, and the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, 1997. Provisions of the act key to the construction industry include: Enabling additional "super indexing" increases to Workplace Safety and Insurance Boardbenefits. Requiring employers to disclose salary ranges in job postings and inform if AI is used inthe hiring process. Banning the requirement of Canadian experience in job postings. Enhancing oversight of how regulated professions assess international qualifications. Lowering the employment period for firefighters diagnosed with esophageal cancer toreceive compensation. See the full bill HERE!
January 1, 2024
2024 WSIB Premium Rates The WSIB has announced that average premium rates for Ontario businesses will remain steady for 2024. While most sectors have had slight fluctuations, G6 Non-Residential Building Construction was one of few sectors to retain their same average premium rate from2023 of $1.55 per $100 of insurable payroll. This stability, however, may be short lived dueto the WSIB’s announcement of a 6.5% cost of living increase to people receiving in comereplacement, as well as, the 2% super indexing included in Bill 149, which both signal that rates are likely to increase in the future. To access your individual 2024 premium rate statements, visit the WSIB website HERE!
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