ECAO is pleased to welcome a new staff member to the team!

Patryk Wrobel joined ECAO on July 25, 2022, as a Labour Relations Analyst. Patryk is a recent graduate of the Master of Industrial Relations and Human Resources program at the University of Toronto. Patryk also holds an Honours Degree in Psychology from Ryerson University.

Prior to joining the ECAO, Patryk was a Human Resources Administrator for Switch Health, where he supported the core human resources team by conducting research, analyzing data, preparing reports, triaging employee requests, and facilitating employee offboarding. During his career, Patryk has also worked for Zafin as a Human Resources Intern, was a teaching assistant for Ryerson University’s Human Resources Management course, a grading assistant for Western University’s Industrial Relations and Labour Studies course and provided administrative support to a private practice psychology clinic.

This is a new role at ECAO, and Patryk will be assisting ECAO in creating and providing a comprehensive range of analytical and support services for all labour relations processes, including collective bargaining preparation and grievance/arbitration administration. He will be contacting our members regularly to collect information so please be sure to welcome him to ECAO! Calls are already in process!

Minister of Finance Peter Bethlenfalvy released the government’s Fall Economic Statement: Ontario’s Plan to Build: A Progress Update.

There is little in the way of new announcements, rather the statement focusses on previously announced initiatives and sets the stage for ongoing economic uncertainty. Given current economic conditions, the government is now projecting a $12.9 billion deficit in 2022–23. Over the medium term, the government projects declining deficits of $8.1 billion in 2023–24 and $0.7 billion in 2024–25.

Highlights for Ontario’s construction industry include ongoing commitment to building a skilled workforce, and an update on previously announced infrastructure projects.

Preparing Students for the Jobs of the Future and Building a Skilled Workforce

• Emphasizing STEM Education Across All Grades
• Building a Pipeline of Job-Ready Graduates
• Encouraging More Students to Enter the Trades
• Helping More People Learn a Trade in Ontario 
• Making It Easier for Skilled Workers to Come Work and Live in Ontario

Building Ontario – Capital Infrastructure Plan

• Roadwork
• Major Transit Projects
• Hospitals
• Schools and Child Care
• Redevelopment of Ontario Place

The full 2022 Ontario Economic Outlook and Fiscal Review can be found here. 

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In recent weeks, there has been an increase in respiratory illnesses in Ontario. Earlier this week, the Chief Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Kieran Moore, strongly recommended the use of masks indoors. The message was further supported by Dr. Joel Moody, Chief Prevention Officer and Assistant Deputy Minister.

Viruses can spread between people in the same ways whether at work or at home. Many settings and activities in the workplace can result in a higher risk of transmission. This notice is to remind employers that it is important to have a plan in place on how to keep workers safe. 

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November 14^th to 18^th is anti-bullying week. As an employer, you have watched your duty to prevent workplace harassment evolve from an HR function to a wider health and safety imperative.

36% of North American workers have reported being bullied on the job by a co-worker or a person in a position of authority.

The duty began with human rights laws which ban not only harassment but all forms of discrimination. While these protections remain in effect, they cover only harassment based on race, national origin, sex, age and other personal characteristics listed in the human rights laws. In the past decade, jurisdictions have extended these protections to all workers by making harassment prevention a duty under OHS laws.

The first generation of OHS harassment rules pretty much-mirrored workplace violence requirements. But as their flaws became exposed, lawmakers began to re-engineer them. The culmination of these efforts is the federal Bill C-65 rules that took effect on January 1, 2021, and which now represent the state-of-the-art for OHS harassment regulation.



For this week, OHS Insider has made our 12-step compliance game plan on Workplace Harassment Prevention free for everyone to access. Stand up to bullying and make a difference for your employees by clicking the button below.

Now more than ever, skilled tradespeople are in high demand to fill well-paying jobs and build rewarding careers. Approximately 700,000 skilled trades workers are expected to retire in Canada by 2028, creating an ever-growing need to recruit and train thousands more.



That is why Ottawa is making targeted investments to remove barriers and get more Canadians the apprenticeship training they need to build good, well-paying careers in the skilled trades.

The Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion, Carla Qualtrough, announced over $33 million over five years for the Skilled Trades Awareness and Readiness (STAR) program.

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Do you know the difference between a hazard assessment and a risk assessment? It’s one of the most misunderstood elements of health and safety but knowing the difference helps you better protect your electrical employees and contractors. Download Alcumus’ free guide to learn how to properly define, identify, and implement hazard and risk assessments in the electrical field.

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TeksMed is excited to tell you about the newest benefits available to your employees, as part of your ECAO membership: QuikCare Platinum and QuikCare Mental Wellness.

Quick Care Platinum: When an employee’s physician recommends a diagnostic scan, or refers them to see a specialist in one of the below mentioned specialties, and the wait time is greater than 21 days, they can simply contact the QuikCare Platinum Helpline at 1-833-355-ECAO (3226) for rapid

intervention. TeksMed will liaise with the employee to obtain the required documentation to utilize our exclusive network of specialists and diagnostic imaging services. Appointments typically occur within two weeks, as opposed to the months it may take in the public healthcare system.

Quick Care Mental Wellness: QuikCare Mental Wellness aims to provide an accessible and clinically proven resource for the improvement of mental health, which your employees can access from the privacy and comfort of their own home, helping them learn techniques to better manage negative moods and stress. Your employees can

simply contact the confidential QuikCare Mental Wellness Helpline at 1-833-355-ECAO (3226) for rapid assistance, and TeksMed will look to obtain the required information needed to arrange for an assessment to be conducted. The worker will then be connected with a therapist, who will guide them along the 12-week long cognitive behavioural therapy program.

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Reserve and Save on Airport Parking!

With a network that spans coast-to-coast, Park’N Fly is focused on providing our customers with cost-effective parking options while enjoying a park happy experience with every stay. To access your member discount and save you have three options:

Reserve via Park’N Fly App: Easily reserve your next parking stay using the Park’N Fly app and get the lowest rate! Plus, save your payment information to your reservation and you’ll be able to check in and out from the convenience of the app. Download today or click to learn more at www.parknfly.ca/app.

Reserve as a Rewards Member: Existing Park’N Fly Rewards members can sign into your rewards account and start getting the lowest parking rates by adding your corporate discount code to your profile. Sign into your account via the Park’N Fly Canada app or online at www.parknfly.ca/rewards.

Not a Park’N Fly Rewards Member? Enroll today by clicking Join Now and start earning free days. Plus, Aeroplan members also earn 50% more Aeroplan points when you add your member number in your Park’N Fly Rewards profile.

Reserve Online: Click RESERVE ONLINE (to the right), select your preferred location, and enter your travel dates and times to reserve your next parking stay.   

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