MCA Ontario Newsletters

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!


Mental Health Awareness Month


The month of May is Mental Health Awareness Month in Canada. Since its inception, Mental Health Awareness Month has been a cornerstone of addressing challenges faced by millions of Canadians living with mental health conditions. Throughout the month the country actively participates in movements dedicated to eradicating stigma, extending support, fostering public education and advocating for policies that prioritize the well-being of individuals and families affected by mental health.


On May 16 th, 2024 the Mechanical Contractors Association of Canada will be hosting their insightful webinar; Building Awareness: Addressing Mental Health in the Construction Industry.The webinar delves into the often-overlooked signs and symptoms of mental health challenges inthose around us. Helping to gain a deeper understanding of the barriers individuals face in seeking help, learning to identify these obstacles, and discovering the pivotal role leadershipplays in cultivating an environment that champions mental health awareness and education.


For more information and to register click HERE!

For access to the MCAC 9-8-8 Toolkit click HERE!




Artificial Intelligence Part 1- The Basics


Artificial Intelligence (AI) is rapidly integrating into various aspects of daily life, from spell-checking documents to optimizing business processes for enhanced productivity. In one of its more basic forms, ChatGPT can be a useful tool offering time saving solutions for a variety oftasks. Try some of these prompts to test it out and see just how useful it can be in your day-to-day life.


  • Craft a paragraph marketing the following initiatives:
  • Draft a job posting for a position requiring the following requirements:
  • Compose a letter of termination outlining these parameters as grounds:
  • Amalgamate this information in the form of an invoice for a client:
  • Please give me suggestions on how to resolve this employee conflict:
  • You can even simply ask Chat GTP for a list of helpful prompts.


However, while software like ChatGPT provides a handy framework, human proofreading iscrucial for accuracy, especially for sensitive matters such as terminations or conflicts. It is advisable to avoid inputting sensitive company or personal details, as anything entered becomes part of the public domain.


Stay tuned for Part 2 in our next newsletter, where we will delve into industry specific AIprograms and additional strategies for enhancing productivity in your business.


MLITDS Struck by Campaign


The Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development will be continuing its Struck-by campaign through 2024 to March 31, 2025.  The campaign will focus on Single/Multi-family residential, Industrial, Commercial, Road/sewer/water, and will include a variety oftactics, including field blitz inspections. Inspectors will be checking:

  • Operation, maintenance of equipment
  • Storage or handling of material
  • Inspection of rigging equipment
  • Worker training for material handling activities
  • Signal person in place when required


While inspecting workplaces, inspectors will be checking that employers are complying with the Occupational Health and Safety Act and engaging with workplaces to promote compliance.


For more information on Struck-by hazards click HERE!

For access to IHSA working at heights training click HERE!

Learn more about other MLITSD workplace compliance initiatives HERE!



IHSA Fall Awareness Week


IHSA is gearing up for their 7th annual Falls Awareness Week in Ontario set to run from May 6th to May 10th, 2024. This initiative aims to foster open discussions to transform workplace attitudes towards fall prevention, one the major causes of fatalities and serious injuries in the construction industry. They urge participation by collectively promoting workplace safety insocial media using #IHSA news and #StandDown4Safety to share experiences and tips.


IHSA offers a FREE Downloadable Tool Kit comprising safety talks, resources, forms, checklists,articles, advisories, posters, webinars, and new YouTube videos focused on preventing falls inconstruction.


For more information or to download the Toolkit click HERE!



Free Women's Mentorship Program


The Canadian Apprenticeship Forum (CAF) has introduced the National Mentor DevelopmentProgram for Women in the Skilled Trades, aiming to enhance mentorship skills for women andgender diverse individuals in trades. The four-month online program, conducted by experts and tradeswomen coaches, is offered free of charge across Canada.


The program was developed in collaboration with CAF partners, the Office to Advance WomenApprentices, and Excellence in Manufacturing Consortium. It addresses the need identified by tradeswomen for mentorship, as highlighted in consultations held during CAF's conferences which underscored the importance of establishing mentoring programs for women in trades.


To participate or become a coach please apply HERE!


TSSA Fee Changes


Effective May 1st, 2024, the TSSA is implementing a 5% increase to all fees. When averaging feeincreases over the past three years this puts their fee increases at 2.94%, markedly lower than the 4.57% average rate of inflation over the same period.


The TSSA reviews their fees annually to ensure that they are adequately resourced and cancontinue to maintain its safety mandate and regulatory responsibilities.


Learn More HERE!



Ontario Repeals Bill 124


The Ontario Government has decided to repeal Bill 124, which had imposed a 1% annual cap on wages for public sector workers. The bill was introduced in 2019 and faced criticism from unionsand workers who argued that it hindered their ability to negotiate fair wages, particularly in lightof rising living costs. The repeal of Bill 124 is expected to result in increased bargaining power for public sector unions and could lead to higher wage increases for workers.


Read more HERE!


Congratulations to the students of McMaster University


Congratulations to the Student of the McMaster who placed in the top four at the MCAA student chapter competition.  The students from McMaster needed to win several preliminary contests in order to be invited to the finals held in Orlando where they competed against 24 other winners from across North America.


The final competition involved submittinga proposal as the prime mechanical contractor for the Kansas City Zoo Aquarium including all piping, HVAC,controls and additional work requiredfrom the bid document.


Read more about the competition HERE!


MCA Ontario 2025 Conference


More details will be provided in early fall. Click here for a virtual tour of the resort!

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 atmcao@mcao.org. We welcome any feedback and/or questions you may have.

MCA Ontario Newsletters

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.
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!
December 1, 2023
Holiday Giveaway! MCA Ontario recently purchased a large number of Project Management and Estimating Courses from BuildForce Canada to be distributed to our members throughyour local MCA’s! To celebrate the holiday season, we kept 10 BuildForce course codes to offer to members who subscribe to our newsletter. (Limited to one per company). Please email our Operations Manager Dylan Knight at dylan@mcao.org with your zone andcompany name to request one.
October 1, 2023
MCA Ontario 2024 Annual General Meeting/Conference Our 2024 Annual General Meeting/Conference is on the horizon! Join MCA Ontario as we explore the city of London April 11-19. Click the photo below to view some of the exciting tours and dinners we have planned for our conference. We hope to see you there!
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