November 29, 2011
KELLY LAPOINTE
New Minister of Labour and Minister Responsible for Seniors, Linda Jeffrey, addresses COCA representatives at the recent Construction Day.
Industry executives, politicians attend Construction Day in Toronto
Key industry stakeholders converged on Queen’s Park last week for the third annual Construction Day.
Close to 40 MPPs and government staff members and 28 Council of Ontario Construction Associations (COCA) representatives from 14 of member organizations attended the event, held during the first session of the new parliament. All told, hundreds of people passed through the reception designed to strengthen relationships with the construction industry.
“The turnout was far and beyond anything I ever imagined,” said COCA President Ian Cunningham. “It was a wonderful opportunity for COCA to build relationships with old friends in the legislature and to meet so many new MPPs as well.
“There’s a great crop of very promising new members. I think this kind of renewal bodes very well for the government in Ontario.”
In past years, Construction Day was a lobbying event, with COCA members meeting with various ministers and opposition members and filling them in on the organization’s key priorities. As Construction Day 2011 coincided with the first day of the session and the election of the Speaker, there wasn’t a chance for that this year.
COCA hopes to work with government to address needs such as the province’ s infrastructure deficit, labour shortages, occupational health and safety, payment issues, WSIB and Construction Lien Act reforms.
“Avoiding accidents must be the highest priority on construction sites and everyone has a role to play in it,” Cunningham told the crowd.
Newly appointed Minister of Labour and Minister Responsible for Seniors, Linda Jeffrey spoke to the stakeholders about the importance of infrastructure in Ontario.
“I’m looking forward to working with you to create jobs, building a strong economy and making sure that everybody who leaves home to go to work comes home safely every evening,” she said.
Progressive Conservative labour critic Randy Hillier and Gilles Bisson, NDP MPP for Timmins-James Bay, also spoke on behalf of their parties.
Hillier, a former electrician and member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, said this 40th session of parliament will be a “unique and dynamic” time as it’s the first Ontario minority government in 26 years.
“It’s a time when industry and stakeholders and the people in this province will get to be heard and heard in a fashion that we haven’t seen in a long time,” he said.
Bisson spoke of the Buy Ontario policy and how it can help business owners in the province.
“We need some way to ensure that the dollars that we spend from public dollars go back in our communities,” said the former electrician, adding that union and non-union workers have a role to play in the province.
Though it will be a very short session, about three weeks, Cunningham is looking forward to the priorities that will be addressed.
COCA was the first stakeholder group of the session to host a reception, which coincided with the reception for the new Speaker, Brant MPP Dave Levac, who has been a strong supporter of the construction industry. The government released its Speech from the Throne and fall economic update as well last week, which focus on growing jobs and the economy.
COCA will host its Welcome to Construction Season reception in the spring and Cunningham hopes next fall’s Construction Day will involve a lobbying component.
500 Hood Rd, 4th Flr., Markham, ON. L3R 9Z3
Phone: 905-752-5408 | Fax: 905-752-5450
Toll free: 800-465-6475 | Toll free Fax: 888-396-9413
E-mail: dcnonl@reedbusiness.com
© Reed Business Information a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.