News

Along with the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS), which open April 27, 2020 there are also a number of additional programs available to employers including:
– Business Credit Availability Program
– Canada Emergency Business Account
– EDC Loan Guarantee for Small & Medium Enterprises
– BDC Co-Lending Program for Small & Medium Enterprises
– Deferal of WSIB Insurance Premium Payments,  Income Tax & GST/HST
– Increase in the Employer Health Tax Exemption

To read more please click here.

For any WSIB questions, we have contracted TeksMed through ECA Ontario to provide support for all issues. The number is 1-877-850-1021. This is a complimentary service for ECA Ottawa members.

Business owners can call a new HOTLINE established to answer questions concerning your essential business status. The ‘Stop The Spread’ hotline number is 1-888-444-3659. The line will be available from 8:30am – 9:00pm Monday – Friday and 8:30am – 5:00pm Saturday & Sunday.

The emergency order regarding the suspension of limitation periods and procedural time periods under the Construction Act has been lifted. This allows for the release of holdback payments to contractors and subcontractors in the normal course, helping to resolve a potentially significant cash flow problem.

The suspension was lifted on April 16, 2020 to give the industry time to prepare for these changes. Once lifted, parties will have the same amount of time to meet a deadline that had been remaining before the suspension began on March 16, 2020.

New Drop Off Rules – City of Ottawa’s 100 Constellation building has now been closed to the public and in order to facilitate the receiving of physical documents (such as signed and sealed performance bonds, contracts) during this time. Supply has made arrangements to allow vendors to drop off their documents at the Provincial offense’s fine payment drop box which is located on the exterior of the building just to the left of the front doors. You MUST indicate that your envelope is for Supply Services, 4th floor West.

Issuing Employee ROE`s:
ROEs need to be coded with a reason for why they’re being issued:

Use Code A — Shortage of Work / End of Contract or Season if
You’ve closed your business or adjusted your workforce as a precaution.

Use Code D — Illness/Injury for:
Actual illness or an employee who has tested positive.
An employee who has travelled and is now self-isolating.

Use Code N — Leave of Absence if
The employee is showing no symptoms but is making a personal choice to distance themselves just to be safe.

NOTE: Do not put a note in BOX 18. This “flags” the ROE in the system and may slow processing.

In speaking with Algonquin College, they have suspended all Trade School and intakes for new apprentice until at least April 6, 2020.  All Ministry exams are also suspended until April 6, 2020. When new information is available we will post it for your information.

Ontario Electrical Safety Code (27th Edition)  

We will add your name to our waiting list and let you know when the next available date is.

ECA Ottawa will be offering training courses to provide the electrical industry with an overview of new and amended requirements of the OESC (27th Edition) which comes into effect May 2019. This is the Level 1 course.

General – Level 1

Covers highest impact rule changes in the OESC including:

• Requirements for bonding and grounding in Section 10 have been reorganized and reduced in size with changes that will improve safety and simplify installations
• Expanded use of Tamper-resistant receptacles in educational facilities and hotels/motels
• Requirements for installing an identified (neutral) conductor at each control (switch) location of permanently installed luminaire
• Providing adequate working space for electrical workers to undertake necessary repairs, maintenance and installation of transformers greater than 50kVA
• Prohibiting the installation of cables in concealed locations in corrugated roof decking
  
  REGISTRATION

Courses are limited to 20 people’ therefore registration will be on a first come, first served basis with a MAXIMUM 3 office staff per company for now. We will be running multiple courses so if you did not make it in this first course, please email our office so that we can reserve your space on priority basis for the next course. Please email  melanie@ecaottawa.org.

On March 19, 2019 the Federal Liberal Government tabled the 2019 Federal Budget. It proposes $22.8 billion in new spending over the next five years. GDP is projected to grow by 1.8% in 2019 and 1.6% in 2020, before increasing in subsequent years.  There are several highlights that can and will affect the electrical contracting industry.

Click here to read a review of the 2019 Federal Budget.
Click here for the federal government’s budget webpage.