Introducing New OCS Staff

The OCS is pleased to welcome two new staff to the team!

Ali Ahmad joined the OCS on August 30, 2022, as a Research Analyst. Ali recently completed his Masters in Economics at McMaster University. Ali also holds an Honours Degree in Economics from the University of Waterloo and appears on the Dean’s Honour List.

You can contact Ali at [email protected] or 416-620-5210 ext. 222.

Linette DeGraaf  joined the OCS on September 13, 2022, as the Event & Engagement Lead. Linette brings 20 years of experience in event planning. Linette has an Honours Degree in Political Science from the University of Western Ontario.

You can contact Linette at [email protected] or 416-620-5210 ext. 226.

Canada’s Building Trades Unions Launch Project to Support Small, Medium-Sized Contractors and Increase Opportunities in the Skilled Trades

Canada's Building Trades Union launched In the Trades, a federally funded program that will help apprentices get started in the skilled trades. Over the next two years, In the Trades will provide financial incentives and training support for unionized small and medium-sized contractors that hire, train, and retain first-year apprentices to address labour availability across Canada.

UA Local 71 Reports Ottawa Construction Industry 'Booming'

The latest job numbers are in and they herald good times for unionized Ottawa-area plumbers, pipefitters and welders in the ICI sector, members of United Association (UA) Local 71.

September’s Mid-Month Economic Nugget Report – with an Emphasis on Manufacturing shipments & New Orders

Already, in 2022, there has been an unprecedentedly large number of mega-sized industrial projects that have been given go-aheads. One wonders to what extent the Federal Reserve’s current program of aggressive interest rate hikes will slow this work down. For a variety of reasons, as set out in the five following bullet points, perhaps not as much as one might suppose.

Construction Act Timelines ‘the blunt instrument’ to getting paid: arbitrator

Ontario’s new Construction Act opens the door to several claim paths for contractors but understanding what they are and the best avenues to reduce the time and cost is not that straightforward.

Call for Exhibitors

In an effort to address the skilled trades labour shortage, the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training, and Skills Development has partnered with Enterprise Canada, who will be hosting a series of showcase events for students across Ontario called “Level Up: Unlock your Future in the Skilled Trades”.

Learn more about this initiative here.

If you’re interested in participating to help promote the skilled trades to the youth, please contact Kate Lear, Communications & Public Affairs Consultant, at [email protected].