MCAT Pipeline. Winter 2007
(click here for full magazine in Adobe pdf format)

ON THE COVER:  Accreditation - Have Your Say About A Historical Development in Construction Health and Safety
The Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) and the Construction Safety Association of Ontario (CSAO) will open public discussions about establishing an accreditation program for construction contractors. Read more...

President’s Message. ndustry Luncheon Rings In New Year
By R. KELSON, MCAT President, Geo. A. Kelson Ltd.
When you’re finished changing, you’re finished. – Benjamin Franklin
It has been a busy time for MCA Toronto and its members. I would like to take the time to reflect on some recent association occurrences before looking forward to the future of our association and our industry. Read more...

Watters Marketing Inc. Providing promotional products and excellent service
When it comes to providing clients with promotional strategies, Watters Marketing Inc. is committed to guaranteeing “total customer satisfaction.”
“Our success is based upon excellent customer service and guaranteed product satisfaction,” said company President, George Watters. “And, we are proud to promote Canadian-made products in an effort to keep our industrial base strong.”  Read more...

 Gold Seal Certification - Now certifying health and safety personnel
The Gold Seal Certification program will soon being certifying personnel under the designation “Construction Safety Coordinator.” Gold Seal will being accepting applications early in 2007.  Read more...

Ontario Construction Secretariat - Third Quarter Economic Update
Recently updated data show that Ontario’s economy is currently experiencing the weakest growth in the country. The Ontario Construction Secretariat (OCS) consensus forecast, based on the most recent financial institution forecasts, shows a sharp downgrade to the economic growth outlook over the rest of 2006 and into 2007 compared to forecasts at the beginning of 2006.  Read more...

Calendar of Events

MCAT 2007 Labour Advisory Committee

MCAT 2007 Public Relations Committee 

Ten Steps to a Sustainable Building

LEED™ Green Building Rating System Explained
The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design™ (LEED) green building rating system was originally developed by the U.S. Green Building Council to provide a recognized standard for the construction industry to assess the environmental sustainability of building designs. The Canadian Green Building Council (CaGBC) has since adapted the USGBC LEED rating system to the specific concerns and requirements of buildings in Canada. Read more...

Bid Error: A Mere Technicality or Material Non-compliance?
By OWEN D. PAWSON, Miller Thomson LLP
The Supreme Court of Canada’s 1999 decision in M.J.B. Enterprises Ltd. v. Defence Construction (1951) Ltd., [1999] 1 S.C.R. 619, [1999] S.C.J. No. 17 is an important case for both contractors and owners. Since that decision, however, the courts are still trying to come to grips with the issue of errors in the bid and whether they are fatal “non-compliance,” or mere technicalities capable of being “corrected” (or ignored). Read more...