March 4, 2010
Council of Ontario Construction Associations AGM
WSIB shouldn't rush rate hikes to cover unfunded liability: COCA president
In its effort to eliminate the unfunded liability, the Workers Safety & Insurance Board should not hike premiums too quickly or it could make Ontario an unattractive place to do business, says the president of the Council of Ontario Construction Associations.
“We have to move forward in consultation with the WSIB in order that there is some balance in the plan going forward,” Ian Cunningham said in an interview at COCA’s AGM in Toronto Feb. 25.
He was discussing a just released report from WSIB chair Steven Mahoney that looks at areas where the board can improve going forward, including eliminating the unfunded liability.
“Chairman Mahoney recognizes that he can’t increase rates in a short period of time; that this would create an uncompetitive look for Ontario and this would disadvantage Ontario employers.”
“On the other side,” Cunningham added, “the province and employers have to be fair to hard-working workers who through no fault of their own become injured in the workplace.”
VIDEO: Canada should embrace rainscreen cladding systems
Canada has been too slow to embrace rainscreen cladding systems, despite the advantages they offer in terms of better performance, low-cost maintenance and longer-lasting structures, says a distributor of architectural building products.
VIDEO: Ontario General Contractors Association shows support for Gold Seal
The entire board of directors of the Ontario General Contractors Association have become Gold Seal Champions, part of an effort to help promote the national construction certification program.
VIDEO: Green building critical in triple bottom line accounting
Building design and construction standards will undergo significant changes as “triple bottom line” accounting becomes more commonplace in the industry, says a Saskatchewan-based economist.
VIDEO: Boom truck tips over at Vancouver condo project
A boom truck tipped over while delivering lumber to a low-rise condominium construction project in Vancouver’s trendy Kitsilano neighbourhood, near Vine Street and First Avenue.
Ontario General Contractors Association launching project management course
The Ontario General Contractors Association in September will launch a new project management course that will cover all aspects of the role from the conception stage of a project through to occupancy and commissioning.
BIM can blur lines of professional responsibility
Building Information Modeling (BIM) may help architects and contractors construct buildings more efficiently, but it can also blur the lines of professional responsibility if something goes wrong, a construction lawyer warns.
Communication was key, says outgoing Construction Specifications Canada president
Improved communication was a major accomplishment for Construction Specifications Canada in the past year, says the association’s outgoing president Brian Colgan.
The risks of LEED certification for contractors
Contractors need to be aware of the risks associated with the LEED rating system, says a construction lawyer at one of the country’s leading legal firms.
New soil regulation ‘problematic’ for industry
Industry officials are concerned a new Ontario regulation that focuses on the management of surplus construction site soils could end up creating headaches and increasing costs.
