Category: Union News

On Wednesday, March 24, 2021, the Finance Minister of Ontario, Peter Bethlenfalvy, released Ontario’s 2021 Budget titled: Ontario’s Action Plan: Protecting People’s Health and Our Economy. The Ontario Construction Sectariat (OCS) has summarized the 2021 Ontario Budget, and it contains some initiatives and spending plans that are of interest to Local 793 and OETIO. Here are some highlights: Investment in Infrastructure One of the key drivers of the government’s plan is to create growth through investment in infrastructure. This includes strategic investments in transit, highways, schools, hospitals and broadband. Planned […]

On Wednesday, March 24, 2021, the Finance Minister of Ontario, Peter Bethlenfalvy, released Ontario’s 2021 Budget titled: Ontario’s Action Plan: Protecting People’s Health and Our Economy. The Ontario Construction Sectariat (OCS) has summarized the 2021 Ontario Budget, and it contains some initiatives and spending plans that are of interest to Local 793 and OETIO. Here are some highlights:

Investment in Infrastructure

One of the key drivers of the government’s plan is to create growth through investment in infrastructure. This includes strategic investments in transit, highways, schools, hospitals and broadband. Planned investments over the next 10 years total $145.4 billion, including $16.9 billion in 2021-22. Key highlights include:

• $30.2 billion over the next 10 years in hospital infrastructure.
• More than $21 billion over 10 years to support the planning and/or construction of highway expansion and rehabilitation projects.
• $200 million to provide infrastructure funding to larger, strategic projects and to sports facilities.
• Doubling investments in the Indigenous Community Capital Grants Program, which will help address long-term infrastructure needs and fast-track shovel-ready on and off reserve projects. 

Helping Workers with the Cost of Training

Ontario is committed to helping workers learn new skills to further their careers. This includes: 

• An estimated $260 million in support to about 230,000 people in 2021, the government is proposing a new Ontario Jobs Training Tax Credit, which would provide $2,000 per recipient for 50 percent of eligible expenses.
• $85 million to support the Skills Development Fund to help training and employment organizations assist workers during the province’s economic recovery. The funded projects will give laid-off workers immediate access to training supports or new jobs, improve the quality of training, and support traditionally underrepresented groups. 

Building Opportunities in the Skilled Trades

Ontario is investing a total of $288.2 million in 2021-22 in its Skilled Trades Strategy, which includes the following improvements:

• Providing an additional $38.6 million over three years to expand the Specialist High Skills Major program.
• Investing $3 million over three years in a new pilot bursary program for hands-on learning in the skilled trades.
• Expanding the Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program (OYAP).
• Developing a digital portal that will enable secure and convenient access to online information and services for apprentices.

Protecting Workers

Over the past year, Ontario initiated and implemented a wide range of measures to promote workplace health and safety, protect workers and help reduce the spread of COVID-19 in workplaces. Ontario is building on these efforts by ensuring that resources are available for employers and workers through initiatives that include:

• Providing free occupational health and safety training for health and safety representatives in up to 60,000 small businesses by investing $3.5 million annually over a three-year period.
• Increasing funding for the Ontario Mine Rescue program by $2.9 million in 2021-22.
• Renewing the occupational health and safety strategy for 2021-26.

Providing Employment & Training Supports

Ontario continues to support workers hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic by investing an additional $614.3 million during 2020-21 and 2021-22 to provide targeted employment and training supports. This includes:

• $85 million to support Skills Development Fund to help training and employment organizations assist workers during the province’s economic recovery.
• $117.3 million to assist women, racialized individuals, Indigenous peoples, youth and people with disabilities who are facing the highest rates of unemployment during the pandemic.
• $194 million to further support Ontarian workers with additional employment and training programs and services that are responsive to the province’s economic recovery.

 

CLICK HERE to view the complete copy of the 2021 Ontario Budget

CLICK HERE to view the OCS Bulletin on the 2021 Ontario Budget

The Honourable Anita Anand, Minister of Public Services and Procurement, and Pam Damoff, member of Parliament for Oakville North-Burlington, joined Local 793 Business Manager Mike Gallagher at the Union’s head office and training campus in Oakville on Monday, March 15, to announce a substantial federal government investment in two projects. CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE ANNOUNCEMENT Joining Gallagher and a limited number of guests for the announcement were Local 793 President Joe Redshaw, Treasurer/Executive Director of OETIO Rick Kerr, as well as OETIO apprentices and instructors. All COVID-19 safety protocols were […]

The Honourable Anita Anand, Minister of Public Services and Procurement, and Pam Damoff, member of Parliament for Oakville North-Burlington, joined Local 793 Business Manager Mike Gallagher at the Union’s head office and training campus in Oakville on Monday, March 15, to announce a substantial federal government investment in two projects.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE ANNOUNCEMENT

Joining Gallagher and a limited number of guests for the announcement were Local 793 President Joe Redshaw, Treasurer/Executive Director of OETIO Rick Kerr, as well as OETIO apprentices and instructors. All COVID-19 safety protocols were adhered to for the event, including gathering limits, social distancing, mandatory face mask-wearing, and having hand sanitizer stations readily available.

“The overall objective of the funds is to improve the quality of training in the skilled trades and help tradespeople prepare for available jobs in the workforce as our economy continues to grow – especially post-pandemic,” Anand said.

Funding for the two projects comes through the Ministry of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion. It is part of the Union Training and Innovation Program (UTIP) 2020 call for proposals that allocated $63.5 million over five years for 68 projects across Canada.

Both projects are funded 50 per cent through UTIP and 50 per cent through the Operating Engineers Training Institute of Ontario (OETIO).

The first project provides $698,000 to enable OETIO to purchase new equipment to ensure heavy equipment apprentices can meet the Ontario College of Trades Apprenticeship Standards and evolving industry standards.

Heavy equipment upgrades include the purchase of a track excavator, a tractor-loader-backhoe, a bulldozer, and an autonomous remote-controlled excavator. These will allow OETIO to adapt to current technology and replace aging capital assets.

The second project is designed to respond to the impacts resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic and ensure safety for all staff and students by shifting a portion of its learning to a virtual environment and adapting classroom settings.

The project received $633,700 to support program optimization in a post-COVID-19 environment, promoting innovation through apprenticeships. It will allow for the purchase of video equipment to record instructor lectures, demonstrations and tutorials, migration to Office 365, upgrades to classroom equipment and tablets, WIFI upgrades, classroom furniture and video recording of field exercises.

“We appreciate the support of the federal Liberal government allowing us to continue to provide high-quality training to both new apprentices entering the industry and to existing members seeking to upgrade their skills on the latest equipment,” Business Manager Gallagher said. “This investment is matched by the Operating Engineers Training Institute of Ontario, which represents an investment in OETIO and the entire construction industry to ensure we are able to purchase the latest equipment and train our apprentices.”

The investment from UTIP will also help reduce barriers in the trades among under-represented groups and ensure that skilled trades workers have the supports they require to succeed.

“The funding will also aid the participation of key groups in our labour force, like persons with disabilities, racialized minorities, Indigenous people and newcomers,” Anand said.

Local 793 has a long history of training those from key groups facing barriers and helping them get the training needed to launch well-paying careers in the trades.

“As Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Indigenous Services, I have been so proud of the work Local 793 has done in the Indigenous communities,” Damoff said. “Keep up the great work. Your reputation is second to none when it comes to training.”

Watch the announcement below:

Income tax receipts representing Union and working dues for the 2020 taxation year, as well as other taxable benefit receipts from OEBAC (T4A’s), are now available to download or print on the Union website. All tax receipts and T4A’s were mailed out to members’ home addresses by Thursday February 18, 2021. If you do not receive your Union dues tax receipts and/or T4A slips by Friday, March 12, 2021, please contact the OEBAC Member Call Centre at 1-844-793-1919 To access your receipts online, log into your member profile on the Local […]

Income tax receipts representing Union and working dues for the 2020 taxation year, as well as other taxable benefit receipts from OEBAC (T4A’s), are now available to download or print on the Union website.

All tax receipts and T4A’s were mailed out to members’ home addresses by Thursday February 18, 2021. If you do not receive your Union dues tax receipts and/or T4A slips by Friday, March 12, 2021, please contact the OEBAC Member Call Centre at 1-844-793-1919

To access your receipts online, log into your member profile on the Local 793 website and click DOWNLOADABLE TAX FORMS (see image below).

Please be advised that the Barrie Office is permanently closed, effective January 29, 2021. IUOE Local 793 is currently seeking a new office location.

Please be advised that the Barrie Office is permanently closed, effective January 29, 2021.

IUOE Local 793 is currently seeking a new office location.

Please note that the Local 793 Emergency Relief Grant (phase II) expired on December 31, 2020.  However, any retroactive claims can still be made up until the deadline of February 28, 2021 through the 793 Portal on the Union website.

Please note that the Local 793 Emergency Relief Grant (phase II) expired on December 31, 2020. 

However, any retroactive claims can still be made up until the deadline of February 28, 2021 through the 793 Portal on the Union website.

NEWS RELEASE January 21, 2021 — Ottawa — Impact Assessment Agency of Canada The Government of Canada oversees rigorous environmental assessments to ensure good projects that support economic growth and environmental protection get built. After a thorough review based on the best available science and evidence, and extensive public engagement, the Minister of Environment and Climate Change, the Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, announced on January 21, 2021, the  Government of Canada’s decision to approve the Milton Logistics Hub Project, subject to 325 conditions. The Milton Logistics Hub (the Project), proposed by the Canadian […]

NEWS RELEASE

January 21, 2021 — Ottawa — Impact Assessment Agency of Canada

The Government of Canada oversees rigorous environmental assessments to ensure good projects that support economic growth and environmental protection get built.

After a thorough review based on the best available science and evidence, and extensive public engagement, the Minister of Environment and Climate Change, the Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, announced on January 21, 2021, the  Government of Canada’s decision to approve the Milton Logistics Hub Project, subject to 325 conditions.

The Milton Logistics Hub (the Project), proposed by the Canadian National Railway Company (the Proponent), is expected to reduce overall regional emissions for certain pollutants, including greenhouse gas emissions, by transitioning from trucks to lower-emitting train shipment. The Project will also contribute to a resilient economic recovery from COVID-19 by strengthening Canada’s supply chains, attracting investment, and boosting Canada’s trade potential by addressing bottlenecks in important corridors.

In his Enviromental Assessment Decision Statement, the Minister established 325 legally-binding conditions on the Proponent to protect the environment and human health – many of which go beyond those initially proposed by the independent joint review panel and 40 of which address air quality specifically. Should the Proponent decide to go ahead with the Project, the conditions imposed would make it the most stringently regulated intermodal logistics hub in Canada, and among the most stringently regulated in North America. The conditions include measures to address effects on air quality, human health, groundwater and surface water, migratory birds, species at risk, fish and fish habitat, the use of lands and resources by Indigenous peoples, and physical and cultural heritage.

In response to concerns raised during the environmental review process regarding the potential for the Proponent to further expand the Project, as well as traffic and safety concerns, the Minister also established a legally-binding condition that will require the Proponent to limit truck traffic to 800 vehicles entering the site per day, averaged on a monthly basis. In addition the Proponent will also be required to establish a community liaison and communication process, and to document and respond to feedback from the community, as well as demonstrate how this feedback is addressed. This includes liaising with potentially affected parties to identify and address potential impacts on traffic and road safety.

The Impact Assessment Agency of Canada will enforce conditions before construction, during construction, and over the course of all project operations. Failure by the Canadian National Railway Company to meet these conditions is a violation of federal law. Any changes to the Project will need to be considered by the Minister through an amendment process to determine if they can proceed.

Going forward, the Proponent will also be required to obtain all necessary authorizations and/or permits. This includes an approval from the Canadian Transportation Agency under the s. 98 of the Canada Transportation Act.

In addition to the formal conditions, Environment and Climate Change Canada intends to work with the Government of Ontario to develop a regional air quality management strategy in the Greater Toronto Hamilton Area. Leveraging expertise from both governments and other potential partners, the strategy involves scientific work to inform the development of a plan to address air pollution from key sources in and around the region, many of which will remain irrespective of whether the proponent decides to proceed with the Project.

This collaboration is expected to support long-term health and environmental benefits to the seven million Canadians that live in the area, including in Milton, Ontario. Work on the development of the Strategy will take place over the next two years and will focus on actions that can be implemented quickly, as well as over the longer-term.

The World Health Organization consistently ranks Canada’s air among the cleanest in the world. However, there is more to be done, particularly in some regional airsheds, as some 25% of Canadians still live in areas where one or more national air quality standards are not being met. For that reason, the Government of Canada also intends to use the Strategy as a pilot approach to regional airshed management in Canada, under the Air Quality Management System.

QUOTE
“Canadians expect us to take meaningful action to protect the environment while also supporting economic growth, not just for today but for future generations. Today’s decision to approve the Milton Logistics Hub Project, which is subject to a wide range of conditions that the Proponent must comply with to protect human health and the environment, demonstrates that the federal regulatory process meets the economic and environmental objectives of Canadians at the same time.”
– The Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Environment and Climate Change

Are you looking for a new and exciting career? IUOE Local 793 is now accepting applications for our Heavy Equipment Pre-Apprenticeship and Apprenticeship Programs at OETIO. Courses will be starting in May 2021. Please join us for our Online Information Session on Wednesday, February 3, 2021 at 10:00AM For more information, visit: https://www.oetio.com/info-sessions

Are you looking for a new and exciting career? IUOE Local 793 is now accepting applications for our Heavy Equipment Pre-Apprenticeship and Apprenticeship Programs at OETIO. Courses will be starting in May 2021.

Please join us for our Online Information Session on Wednesday, February 3, 2021 at 10:00AM

For more information, visit: https://www.oetio.com/info-sessions

The Ontario government has again declared a province-wide stay-at-home order. The order, expected to be in place for at least 28 days (February 9), will require everyone to remain at home with exemptions for grocery stores or pharmacies, health care services, and essential work. The order will go into effect on Thursday, January 14, 2021. It is important to note that the vast majority of construction projects Local 793 members are working on have been deemed essential. A full list of projects that will remain up and running are contained […]

The Ontario government has again declared a province-wide stay-at-home order. The order, expected to be in place for at least 28 days (February 9), will require everyone to remain at home with exemptions for grocery stores or pharmacies, health care services, and essential work.

The order will go into effect on Thursday, January 14, 2021.

It is important to note that the vast majority of construction projects Local 793 members are working on have been deemed essential.

A full list of projects that will remain up and running are contained in the Ontario Construction Secretariat (OCS) bulletin below.

Click here or click the image below to be redirected to the OCS website.

You can view the full list of enhanced province-wide shutdown measures introduced by the Ontario government here.

To get the latest case data and updates, learn how to protect yourself and others and get advice on what to do next if you think you might have COVID-19, click here.

Local 793 SUB PLAN

The Local 793 Supplemental Unemployment Benefit Plan, or “SUB Plan,” came into effect on November 1, 2020. The SUB Plan tops up employment insurance (EI) payments for members out of work or unable to work due to illness or injury, maternity or parental leave, or because they’re attending a trade school.

This benefit pays up to $250 per week for a maximum of six weeks (in a calendar year) and stands in addition to any EI benefits the member receives from Service Canada. Members may apply contingent on meeting eligibility criteria.

Visit: www.oebac.org/sub-plan for more details, including how to apply.

January 7, 2021 To: Members of IUOE, Local 793 Please be advised that an Officers’ Meeting was held on January 7, 2021 to address the vacant positions that resulted from the retirements of Vice President Joe Dowdall and Executive Board member Bill Boyle, effective December 31, 2020. In accordance with Article XXIV, Subdivision 1, Section (f) of the IUOE Constitution, please be advised of the following appointments: i) Dave Turple has been appointed to Vice President to complete the term vacated by Joe Dowdall ii) John Kelly has been appointed as an Executive Board […]

January 7, 2021
To: Members of IUOE, Local 793

Please be advised that an Officers’ Meeting was held on January 7, 2021 to address the vacant positions that resulted from the retirements of Vice President Joe Dowdall and Executive Board member Bill Boyle, effective December 31, 2020.

In accordance with Article XXIV, Subdivision 1, Section (f) of the IUOE Constitution, please be advised of the following appointments:

i) Dave Turple has been appointed to Vice President to complete the term vacated by Joe Dowdall
ii) John Kelly has been appointed as an Executive Board member to complete the term vacated by Bill Boyle

As a result of the above, the following appointments were also made:

iii) Tony Wark has been appointed as an Executive Board member to replace Dave Turple
iv) Ryan Wilbee has been appointed as Auditor to replace John Kelly
v) Stephen Rubinoff has been appointed as Guard to replace Tony Wark

We are confident that Brothers Turple, Kelly, Wark, Wilbee, and Rubinoff, and will continue working towards the best interests of Local 793 in their new roles.

Fraternally yours,
Mike Gallagher,
Business Manager – Local 793
International Vice President

Please note that your Monthly Pension Payments, via Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT), will be processed on the 1st of every month which correlates with your official Retirement Date. However, if the 1st of the month falls on a weekend or on a Statutory Holiday, the Banks can only process payment into your respective bank accounts on the next Business Day. (For example, January 1, 2021 falls on a Statutory Holiday, therefore, your Monthly Pension Payment will be in your Bank Account on Monday January 4, 2021).

Please note that your Monthly Pension Payments, via Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT), will be processed on the 1st of every month which correlates with your official Retirement Date.

However, if the 1st of the month falls on a weekend or on a Statutory Holiday, the Banks can only process payment into your respective bank accounts on the next Business Day.

(For example, January 1, 2021 falls on a Statutory Holiday, therefore, your Monthly Pension Payment will be in your Bank Account on Monday January 4, 2021).