Category: Union News

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).

I’d like to wish all brothers and sisters of Local 793 a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! This year has not been an easy one. Last New Years’ when we rang in 2020, we certainly did not expect to face such enormous challenges a short 3 months later. December 2019 was the first time we heard the term “coronavirus”. Although, strictly contained to the Wuhan province of China at the time, it was not something we concerned ourselves with. But as we know, by March 2020 that false sense […]

I’d like to wish all brothers and sisters of Local 793 a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! This year has not been an easy one. Last New Years’ when we rang in 2020, we certainly did not expect to face such enormous challenges a short 3 months later. December 2019 was the first time we heard the term “coronavirus”. Although, strictly contained to the Wuhan province of China at the time, it was not something we concerned ourselves with. But as we know, by March 2020 that false sense of security was shattered, as we swiftly found ourselves in the midst of a global pandemic.

What we now call “COVID-19”, has impacted us in an unparalleled way. The world as we knew it ground to a halt around mid-March when both the Ontario and Nunavut governments began ordering the closure of non-essential businesses, and we have not resumed a ‘normal state of operation’ since that time. Things we had come to take for granted like visiting with friends and family, going to a restaurant, concert, movie, or even seeing an unobstructed view of someone’s face – these things were all taken from us, seemingly overnight.

Many businesses and organizations like our own were shut down for months. Many families struggled financially as employees, ours included, began being laid off. Yet some people were not given the option of taking shelter at home and were obligated to carry on working due to the essential nature of their job. These people – grocery store staff, healthcare workers, etc. – are our frontline workers and I hope we never forget their enormous contribution to our country, as they kept us fed and cared for during a time of great fear.

As an organization representing more than 17,000 workers in the construction, mining and industrial sectors, we have to count ourselves lucky. When the virus hit Canada there was much uncertainty, and I did not know whether the government was going to allow our members to keep on working. During this extremely stressful time I sat at my kitchen table with a pen and pad of paper, contacting each and every one of our signatory contractors to inquire whether or not they were going to shut their jobs down. This is also when I started my “vlog” style videos in an effort to keep the membership informed on industry news with regards to COVID-19.

After much deliberation, Ontario Premier Doug Ford ultimately announced that a large majority of the construction industry would remain up and running as an essential service, and fortunately, the mining industry in Nunavut remained up and running as well. This was no small thing and has allowed Local 793 to survive the economic devastation of COVID-19. Upon hearing this good news I was able to turn my attention to the COVID-19 Local 793 Safety Protocol for Jobsite Measures which was set up to ensure members were best protected from the virus. After being re-elected to serve my 7^th term as business manager in September, I was able to hire back much of our staff, and shortly thereafter our training schools were reopened with strict COVID-19 contingency measures.

Some organizations were not as lucky as ours, and many will not survive this pandemic. As we ring in the New Year and celebrate the end of a very hard one, we should think of those less fortunate than ourselves.

Like the many before, this chapter in Local 793’s story will be one of resilience. Chronicled in the 100^th anniversary journal sent out to the membership, is a pattern of hard times followed by big victories. The challenges presented by COVID-19 have seemed insurmountable at times, and they are far from over. Yet as always, this incredible organization will come out on top, all thanks to you – our hard-working members that never quit.

When this is all over, may the things that we could not do bring new meaning and value to us all. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year 2021! Remember, the best is yet to come!

Ontario COVID-19 Science Advisory Table and Modelling Consensus Table as of December 21, 2020. Key Findings • Cases continue to grow and overall case levels are twice the “red” level. Percent positivity is flattening. Our ability to control case growth is still precarious. • Continuing case growth will increase outbreaks in long-term care homes and other congregate settings. • Under all scenarios, ICU occupancy will be above 300 beds within 10 days. Worst case scenarios show occupancy above 1,500 beds by mid-January. • Based on experience in France and Australia, “hard […]

Ontario COVID-19 Science Advisory Table and Modelling Consensus Table as of December 21, 2020.

Key Findings
• Cases continue to grow and overall case levels are twice the “red” level. Percent positivity is flattening. Our ability to control case growth is still precarious.
• Continuing case growth will increase outbreaks in long-term care homes and other congregate settings.
• Under all scenarios, ICU occupancy will be above 300 beds within 10 days. Worst case scenarios show occupancy above 1,500 beds by mid-January.
• Based on experience in France and Australia, “hard lock-downs” of 4–6 weeks can reduce case numbers in Ontario to less than 1,000 per day and possibly much lower with increased testing and support.
• With lower case numbers we can maintain safe ICU care for COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 patients who require it.
• As noted in previous briefings, public health restrictions will require more resources(e.g. testing, isolation/quarantine support) in communities and essential service workplaces where exposure is higher.

CLICK IMAGE TO ENLARGE:

Source: https://covid19-sciencetable.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Evidence-on-COVID-19-Pandemic_2020.12.18-Final-1.pdf

Welcome to the first digital edition of Making Tracks, the magazine. We are very excited about the advantages of digitizing and enhancing the user experience. Digital magazines are dynamic. They can be instantly accessed and read on tablets, smartphones, and other digital platforms, anywhere and anytime. They can be digitally stored and shared immediately with a single click. Digital magazines are interactive, offering links to important resources and information for quick access, as well as video content! Utilizing current technology is a more-environmentally friendly and cost-effective approach to publishing and […]

Welcome to the first digital edition of Making Tracks, the magazine. We are very excited about the advantages of digitizing and enhancing the user experience.

Digital magazines are dynamic. They can be instantly accessed and read on tablets, smartphones, and other digital platforms, anywhere and anytime. They can be digitally stored and shared immediately with a single click. Digital magazines are interactive, offering links to important resources and information for quick access, as well as video content!

Utilizing current technology is a more-environmentally friendly and cost-effective approach to publishing and keeping Local 793 members informed.

Enjoy the digital edition debut of Making Tracks:

CLICK IMAGE TO OPEN MAKING TRACKS, THE MAGAZINE

Please be advised that all Local 793 offices across the province will be closed over the Christmas holiday period, December 24 at Noon to December 31, 2020 and on New Year’s Day, January 1, 2021. Offices will re-open at the regular time on January 4, 2021.

Please be advised that all Local 793 offices across the province will be closed over the Christmas holiday period, December 24 at Noon to December 31, 2020 and on New Year’s Day, January 1, 2021.

Offices will re-open at the regular time on January 4, 2021.

On Thursday, November 5, 2020, the Ontario Minister of Finance, Rod Phillips, released the 2020 Budget titled Ontario’s Action Plan: Protect, Support and Recover. The Budget contains some initiatives and spending plans that are of interest to Local 793 and OETIO: Retraining and Skilled Trades: The Province is planning to invest an additional $180.5 million, to help people retrain and upgrade their skills, over three years in micro-credentials, employment services and training programs, including apprenticeships. COVID-19 Recovery Assistance Skills Plan: Through Employment Ontario, the Province committed to fund $100 million in […]

On Thursday, November 5, 2020, the Ontario Minister of Finance, Rod Phillips, released the 2020 Budget titled Ontario’s Action Plan: Protect, Support and Recover.

The Budget contains some initiatives and spending plans that are of interest to Local 793 and OETIO:

• Retraining and Skilled Trades: The Province is planning to invest an additional $180.5 million, to help people retrain and upgrade their skills, over three years in micro-credentials, employment services and training programs, including apprenticeships.
• COVID-19 Recovery Assistance Skills Plan: Through Employment Ontario, the Province committed to fund $100 million in 2020-21 for skills training programs for workers most affected by COVID-19. This dedicated funding will help more workers receive the guidance and assistance they need to upgrade their skills and find good jobs.
• Ontario’s Skilled Trades Strategy: The province came out with 3 pillars of Ontario’s Skilled Trades Strategy, designed to modernize Ontario’s skilled trades and apprenticeship system, and help enable the province’s economic recovery.

 

The 3 Pillars of Ontario’s Skilled Trades Strategy 

1) Break the stigma attached to a career in the skilled trades and attract and train youth by:

• $17 million increase in awareness of careers in the skilled trades through Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program
• $6 million boost in funding through Skills Ontario
• Investing $21 million in Ontario’s Pre-Apprenticeship Training program
• Providing an additional $500,000 to pre-apprenticeship training service providers
• Appointing three Youth Advisors
• Investing $42 million in Specialist High Skills Major programs

2) Make it easier for people to be part of the skilled trades with an investment of $75 million over the next two years by:

• Appointing a five-member Skilled Trades Panel to provide recommendations on ways to modernize the system
• Investing $2.5 million this year and $7.5 million next year to launch the new non-repayable Tools Grant
• Investing $5.8 million in the Apprentice Development Benefit, including a $1.3 million boost this year and next
• Investing $24 million in the Apprentice Development Benefit to supplement EI benefits, including a $4 million boost this year and next
• Investing $4.7 million in 2021-22 in multi-year commitment to develop new digital portal to support skilled trades and apprenticeship system in Ontario
• Committing a total of $211.9 million to the In-class Enhancement Fund in 2020-21 and 2021-22, including a boost of $11.8 million this year and $22.3 million next year
• Investing an additional $10 million in 2021-22 in the Apprenticeship Capital Grant for a total investment of $24 million
• Investing $5.4 million to assist training delivery agents with implementing COVID-19 health and safety measures

3) Increase employer participation in sponsoring and hiring trained apprentices by:

• Establishing a new Skills Development Fund which will provide $30 million over two years beginning in 2020-21
• Investing $21 million in 2020-21 to support a new Achievement Incentive Grant for employers
• Supporting business participation by investing $20 million in 2020-21 for a new Group Sponsorship Grant to encourage small to medium sized employers to provide full scope training
• Working with industry on workforce planning for major infrastructure projects

Ontario’s Infrastructure Plan

The “Recover” component of the government’s action plan includes $4.8 billion in new spending. Highlights include an additional $680 million over four years for broadband infrastructure, and an extra $1.3 billion over three years to reduce electricity costs to industrial and commercial employers.

In addition to the new $680 million broadband infrastructure funding, Ontario’s capital plan currently includes:

• $62.7 billion over ten years for public transit projects including the Ontario Line, the Scarborough Subway Extension, the Yonge North Subway Extension, and the Eglinton Crosstown West Extension. The Province indicated that it is accelerating the delivery of its subway expansion projects and calling on the federal government to put up 40% of the total costs.
• $27.2 billion over ten years for hospital projects including the Weeneebayko Area Health Authority New Replacement Hospital, Unity Health — St. Joseph’s Health Centre Redevelopment project, the Cortellucci Vaughan Hospital, and the South Bruce Grey Health Centre — Kincardine Site Phase 1 Redevelopment project.
• $1 billion for the newly established COVID-19 Resilience stream, which provides for the accelerated delivery of priority municipal infrastructure projects, school retrofits, and long-term care facilities.

 

Ontario’s Infrastructure Spending Outlook ($ Millions)

	2020-21	2021-22	2022-23	10-Year Total
Transit	4,799	5,457	5,844	62,708
Provincial Highways	2,587	2,561	2,764	22,017
Hospitals	2,064	2,573	2,557	27,229
Education	2,392	2,567	2,388	20,073
Postsecondary Education	634	629	486	4,225
Social	168	232	192	2,351
Justice	615	822	850	4,348
Total*	15,767	17,571	18,007	162,679

Source: 2020 Ontario Budget

*Total includes several smaller sector categories excluded from this table; Total also includes third-party investments primarily in hospitals, colleges and schools.

 

For a complete copy of the Ontario Budget, visit https://budget.ontario.ca/2020/pdf/2020-ontario-budget-en.pdf