Member Respirator Donations

Within 24 hours of last weeks OCA appeal for either N95 or P100 respirator masks for the Ottawa Hospital - 2 member firms offered up surplus supplies. A big shout out to Paul McDonald of McDonald Brothers Construction and Sharon Godin and Robert Kumm of Wade General Contracting of Petawawa.
Respirator Masks - Donations Needed Still but the cavalry may be coming as 3M tries to respond
In the past month 3M has ramped up production to meet the world-wide surge in demand but supply locally and nationally is still inadequate. It may be changing shortly based on news out of the US. Click HERE for March 22 news report

In the meantime please email [email protected] if you can spare any N95 or P100 respirator masks for Ottawa Hospital. Drop off at OCA offices - 9 Antares.
Request for Specialized Filters for Reusable Respirator
Hi John
"I am an anesthesiologist. We will be the physicians intubating and looking after COVID-19 patients in the ICU setting. My close colleagues are specifically looking to privately purchase or receive through donation reusable respirator FILTERS. This is not gear that is procured by the hospitals typically. As such, do you have any specific knowledge of anyone who has 3M 7093 OR 6035 filters?? We would take a large quantity. 

This gear is literally life saving for us and our patients - if we get infected we will infect others."
Kind regards, Brad

Note to OCA Members - Anyone with knowledge or connections to source these 2 filters shown below can relay it to myself at [email protected]
Update from Ottawa Chief Building Official Frank Bidin
Since my last communique with you on Wednesday, March 18th we’ve seen a very quick escalation from all levels of government in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This includes the Federal Government’s announcement to close our country’s borders, the Province of Ontario declaring a state of emergency, and the City making the decision to close City facilities to the public and make significant changes to in-person services. To that extent, Building Code Services (BCS) is providing the following alternate service delivery:
 
Submitting Building Permit Applications
Clients can submit their complete Application submission packages with payment (cheque) via Courier to: City of Ottawa- Building Code Services
100 Constellation Drive, Ottawa, ON K2G 6J8
 
Alternatively, smaller residential applications can be submitted online via [email protected] . 
  
Issuance of Building Permits
Clients are to contact Building Code Services at 613-580-2424 ext. 29312 or e-mail [email protected] .
 
Building Inspections
As a reminder, BCS Inspections staff will not enter occupied areas of the following building types for the purposes of carrying out their duties:
  • Personal dwellings, including homes, apartments and condo units;
  • Long-term care facilities, seniors’ residences and retirement homes;
  • Hospitals; and
  • Daycare facilities.
 
Permit Holders are encouraged to speak directly with their assigned inspector regarding options for an in-person inspection. I encourage you to reach out to a member of the BCS management team if you have questions relating to permit processing or inspections and we will get back to you as soon as possible. Additionally, questions can be forwarded to [email protected] or call 613-580-2424 ext. 29312.
  
Frank Bidin, CBCO
Chief Building Official - Building Code Services City of Ottawa
BDC Rolls out working capital support for entrepreneurs
As announced by the Minister of Finance effective March 18th new relief measures for qualified businesses have been put in place by BDC. These include:

  • Working capital loans of up to $2 million with flexible terms and payment postponements for up to 6 months for qualifying businesses;

  • Postponement of payments for up to 6 months, free of charge, for existing BDC clients with total BDC loan commitment of $1 million or less;

  • Reduced rates on new eligible loans;
Member Question to OCA
Can you advise of any businesses experienced with construction job-site cleaning especially in regard to COVID-19?

Any suggestions from the membership are welcome and will be shared in future newsletter. Email [email protected]
Published On-Line G & M - March 22
"Unions urge federal, Ontario governments to protect construction workers during pandemic"
March 21
CCA recommends that construction and related manufacturing activity remain open.
Union & Non-Union legal matters addressed in Mathews Dinsdale advisory to OCA
Mathews Dinsdale specializes in construction labour relations law and has provided OCA with a 4-page detailed advisory for Owners, contractors and employer organizations with respect to site closure, lay-offs and related matters. It covers off both Union and Non-Union employees.
Mental Health & Covid-19
From the Royal Ottawa Hospital

News about COVID-19 is around us all the time, and we understand how overwhelming and anxiety-inducing that can be.

So, what should we do when we're feeling anxious or distressed about the novel coronavirus pandemic?

Andrew Jacobs, one of our Psychologists at The Royal, shared some tips on CBC Radio.
Some key points from the interview: 
  1. Keep in mind that anxiety isn’t always a bad thing. “Anxiety is what gets us to act, gets us to move, gets us to take the actions that we need to in order to function,” says Jacobs. 
  2. Remember, you are not helpless! “We have a great deal of tools, and means, and recommendations from very reputable sources on how we can actually work to contain this.”
  3. If someone expresses their fears and worries to you, it’s best to commiserate and share their concerns. Instead of saying “don’t worry,” acknowledge their feelings and talk about a way to work together. “It also helps decrease that sense of isolation that a very anxious person might be feeling,” says Jacobs.
  4. Social isolation doesn’t have to be mental isolation. Jacobs suggests this might be a good time to rekindle old connections. “Maybe it’s time to call someone you haven’t spoken to for months... and to build that community so that you feel that sense of support whether or not you’re seeing the person face to face.”

Reach out for help if you need it. Phone lines at the Distress Centre of Ottawa are open 24/7. 7 days a week DISTRESS LINE 613-238-3311 - CRISIS LINE 613.722.6914
Laughter is good for your Mental Health
click on image to go to YouTube 10 second video
OCA News Resources on Covid-19
OCA has posted in the NEWS section of the website 2 pages dedicated to Covid-19.

  • One page is a compilation of useful resources - Click HERE

  • Another is a listing of our newsletters on Covid-19 - Click HERE.