November 2016

Mechanical Contractors Associa on of Bri sh Columbia

mcabc.org 223‐3989 Henning Drive, Burnaby Ph: 604‐205‐5058 Fax: 604‐205‐5075 staff@mcabc.org

I am often asked, what is the status of prompt payment legislation in British Columbia? My answer: stalled.

Elsewhere on this issue, we have lately received an update from MCA Canada on the federal prompt payment bill’s progress in the Canadian Senate (resting), the release of the Reynolds’ Report on the Lien Act and Prompt Payment in Ontario, and an announcement from the Alberta Trade Contractors Coalition regarding procedural changes in payment for provincial projects. In BC, we have had a roundtable discussion at the BC Public Construction Council (PCC) quarterly meeting.

While other jurisdictions are making progress on this issue, I feel that we in BC have dropped the ball, content to let others do the heavy lifting. We have lost whatever momentum we gained from the Council of Construction Trade Association’s (COCTA) efforts of two to three years ago.

Message from MCABC Execu ve Vice President Dana Taylor

Where is BC Going on Prompt Payment? Page 1

CIPHEX West 2016 winners

Where is BC going on prompt payment?

Page 2

Vancouver Chapter Dinner & Texas Hold’Em Tourney

Page 3

New op on for appren ces

Page 4

VRCA Awards of Excellence winners

Page 5

Upcoming MCABC events

Informer Highlights

‐ Con nued on page 6

MCABC members win 3 of 7 new product tles at CIPHEX West! Of 64 innova ve new product finalists displayed at CIPHEX West November 2 and 3, 2016, MCABC member companies won three

of the seven tles, decided by a jury of industry experts.

Viessmann’s Randal Stuart, le , and Kenneth

Webster, flank the Vitasol FM, which won

the tle in the alterna ve energy category.

The product uses a patented switching

absorber layer to protect high‐capacity flat‐

plate collectors from overhea ng.

Ron Featherstone of Hy‐Line Sales holds

Smith’s Environmental HE3 Silent Fin. The

perimeter hea ng unit, which took the tle

in the hydronic hea ng category, delivers

high performance in style, and at low tem‐

peratures.

Canplas’s Joe Howdle (le ) and Tom

Woodland show off the Adjustable Angle

Bath Waste and Overfow. The product,

which took the tle in the kitchen and bath

category, can adjust 10 degrees front‐to‐back

and side‐to‐side, to match different tub wall

angles.

November 2016

Mechanical Contractors Associa on of Bri sh Columbia

mcabc.org 223‐3989 Henning Drive, Burnaby Ph: 604‐205‐5058 Fax: 604‐205‐5075 staff@mcabc.org

2

Please help make our holiday fundraiser a

success!

Crohn’s and Colitis Canada has been chosen as the charity of support for this year’s MCABC Christmas Open House fundraiser. Please consider donating silent auction items such as gift baskets, tools, gift cards, or anything else that people might like to bid on! Every penny raised goes to the charity.

And don’t forget to join us for this fun holiday event at our office December 1, 2016, 2:30 to 5:30! We look forward to seeing you and sharing in some holiday cheer.

Above, $2,325 was raised by the MCABC Island Golf Tournament held August 26 at Victoria’s Olympic View Golf Course, benefi ng the BC Cancer Founda on. Le to right: Dana Taylor (MCABC), Cynthia Durand‐Smith (BC Cancer Founda on), Debbie Greenway (BC Cancer Founda on), and Russ Hepworth (Tech Mechanical Systems).

Right, $3,120 was presented to the Spirit of the North Healthcare Founda on, raised by the MCABC & ECABC Joint Prince George Golf Tournament held August 26 at the Prince George Golf & Curling Club. L‐R: Judy Neiser (SOTNHF), Merv Harvey (Bartle & Gibson), Chad Kinsley (R.H. Jones & Son), Karen Emerson (Westcana), and Darcy Bryant (Bryant Electric).

Registra on for this popular event is now open. Don’t miss it!

Click here for more informa on and registra on

November 2016

Mechanical Contractors Associa on of Bri sh Columbia

mcabc.org 223‐3989 Henning Drive, Burnaby Ph: 604‐205‐5058 Fax: 604‐205‐5075 staff@mcabc.org

3

The combina on of Johnson Controls and Tyco brings

together the complementary strengths of two great

companies — Tyco’s world‐class fire, security, life safety and

services business with Johnson Controls’s building products,

technology, integrated solu on and energy storage. This

includes best‐in‐class product, technology and service

capabili es across building management, fire, security,

sensors/controls, HVAC, industrial refrigera on and energy

storage solu ons, to be er serve our regional customers

including large ins tu ons, commercial buildings, retail,

industrial, small business and residen al.

Johnson Controls and Tyco have highly complementary

businesses, which will enable the combined company to offer

regional customers comprehensive and innova ve building

technology solu ons as part of a broader global network.

Johnson Controls and Tyco will link complementary branch

networks and independent channels to best serve customers

in all local markets, and the local Johnson Controls or Tyco

team you know and trust will con nue to be your primary

contact for sales, service and support.

Johnson Controls and Tyco merger update

A new program offered through Thompson Rivers University and SkillSource is designed to train Levels 3 and 4 Steamfi er/Pipefi er appren ces to achieve Red Seal Cer fica on through blended learning. The program includes online and hands‐on classroom training, job placements, work rota ons, and gap training. Program highlights:

Level 2 appren ces in this innova ve program will complete the remainder of their technical training with less me away from work. Learn more here.

TRU offers accelerated op on for upper level steamfi er and pipefi er appren ces

Blended Levels 3 and 4 training

Reduced classroom me – 10 weeks for Levels 3 and 4

Flexible online learning

Transporta on allowance for appren ces

In‐depth trades skills assessment

Customized appren ceship support

Division 15 Mechanical’s Bob Cooke elected BCCA chair

Bob Cooke, president and CEO of Division 15 Mechanical Ltd., has been elected as board

chair for the 2016‐17 term of the Bri sh Columbia Construc on Associa on (BCCA).

MCABC president Dale Miller, principal at Division 15, says “Bob Cook’s elec on as chair of BCCA is a great move

by VRCA members. Bob’s leadership skills have been proven by Division 15’s growth and its track record as a quality mechanical

contractor. Under Bob’s leadership, Division 15 has earned one Gold and seven Silver VRCA Awards of Excellence in the last six

years, and was named Contractor of the Year in 2016.”

Major B.C. projects that Bob Cooke has been involved in include the BCIT Aerospace Technology Campus and the Surrey Waste

Transfer Sta on (LEED Silver).

November 2016

Mechanical Contractors Associa on of Bri sh Columbia

mcabc.org 223‐3989 Henning Drive, Burnaby Ph: 604‐205‐5058 Fax: 604‐205‐5075 staff@mcabc.org

4

Can you build a happier workforce? Nearly half of Canada’s working popula on are unhappy in their current roles which means employers have a reten on risk on their hands.

Have you ever hired someone you think is a good fit, but a er the “honeymoon stage” they’re less engaged and less produc ve? They might be

considering moving to another company in hopes of finding something fulfilling long‐term.

What can you do to improve reten on both before and a er making a hire? Read more in the Hays “Fit” Series blog.

Register for a webinar by Wa s on November 10 that will help you compare digital and me‐chanical mixing capabili es and understand how the digital approach offers a smarter, saf‐er, and more accurate way to meet facili es' mixed water demands.

Digital mixing technology provides an intelligent way to control water temperature in commercial and ins tu‐

onal facili es. Used in hospitals, hotels, universi es, office buildings, and mul ‐family residences, it provides an automated

approach that allows facili es managers to remotely monitor and control water temperatures. With its ght temperature regula on, even during low‐ and zero‐demand periods, the technology allows for temperature stabiliza on in accordance with ASSE 1017.

As commercial facili es increasingly incorporate (or upgrade) building automa on systems, digital mixing technology can be integrated into those systems to deliver enhanced protec on for residents, pa ents, employees, visitors, and others who not only need but expect safely tempered water.

Learn about digital mixing

We think all our members are winners but here are those who were recognized with awards at VRCA’s Awards of Excellence on October 5: Mechanical Contrac ng — More than $8 Million Division 15 Mechanical Ltd. for its contribu on to the UBC DES Phase 6‐9 DPS & UBC DES Phase 6&7 ETS

Mechanical Contrac ng — $3 to $8 Million

Tro er & Morton Building Technologies Inc. for its

contribu on to the UBC District Energy Centre

Mechanical Contrac ng — Up to $3 Million

PML Professional Mechanical Ltd. for its contribu on to The View

Electrical Contractors ‐ $2 to $8 Million Houle Electric Ltd. for its contribu on to Northern Rockies Regional Recrea onal Centre

In addi on to the gold awards for project specific excellence, awards were

also presented to member companies and individuals for outstanding accomplishments and to recognize innova on and commitment to safety.

Safety Houle Electric Ltd. In recogni on of its superior safety record (Trade Contractor 200,000 or more person hours)

Innova on & Produc vity Houle Electric Ltd. for the Connected Snow Removal Camera Solu on

Member of the Year Division 15 Mechanical Ltd. The awards recognize the industry’s most pres gious construc on projects of the year, for use of innova ve techniques, new materials and/or excep onal project management.

MCABC execu ve vice‐president Dana Taylor presented awards in the mechanical contrac ng category for projects valued up to $3 million and between $3 million and $8 million.

Read the full list of VRCA winners here.

And the winner is...

November 2016

Mechanical Contractors Associa on of Bri sh Columbia

mcabc.org 223‐3989 Henning Drive, Burnaby Ph: 604‐205‐5058 Fax: 604‐205‐5075 staff@mcabc.org

5

MCABC 2016 Calendar of Events

November 14 ‐ 17 MCAC Conference Orlando, Florida

December 1 MCABC Open House 2:30 to 5:30 p.m.

MCABC Boardroom, Burnaby

November 23 Vancouver Chapter Dinner & Texas Hold’Em Tourney

Romer’s, Port Moody

Your latest member benefit: Discount on UPS shipping services

MCABC members can now take advantage of our newest member benefit: a 30%‐discount on all UPS outgoing

shipments and a 25% savings on imports!

As a member of MCABC, you can save on all outgoing shipments – including exports – and on imports through the

UPS Members Benefit Program. Already have an account with UPS? Our discount can easily be applied to exis ng accounts.

With a variety of services, UPS’s exper se, resources, and technologies can help support your shipping needs. To enroll , visit the

Members Benefit Program or call 1‐800‐MEMBERS (1‐800‐636‐2377).

Did you know: every MCABC company membership comes with membership for an

unlimited number of employees who work for that company. So why keep us all to

yourself and a few top execu ves? Are there other people in your organiza on who

might like to receive MCABC news and informa on? Maybe someone else could

benefit from knowing about MCABC events and courses? Share the love! Send this

subscrip on link to everyone in your company who might want to be in the know with

MCABC:

Share the MCABC love!

Yes! Please sign me up to receive

MCABC news, events,

and networking opportuni es!

November 2016

Mechanical Contractors Associa on of Bri sh Columbia

mcabc.org 223‐3989 Henning Drive, Burnaby Ph: 604‐205‐5058 Fax: 604‐205‐5075 staff@mcabc.org

6

Meanwhile, we have a government that, by and large, seems

oblivious to the issue. It’s only ac on was to issue a report a

year or two ago that the minister responsible will request a

review, similar to that in Ontario, assigning the BC Law Ins tute

to look at payments in conjunc on with amending the Lien Act.

The Deputy Ministers Industry Infrastructure Forum (DMIIF) is

doing something, we hear, to incorporate guidelines for

‘prompter payment’ for government‐purchased construc on

work. How we’d know this, except by coincidence, is part of the

mystery of our diverse and disconnected industry. Forum

members – at least two of whom are representa ves of MCABC

member companies – operate under a gag rule whereby “Any

member wishing to communicate Forum business must have it

jointly approved by the co‐chairs prior to release.” How this

restric on supports the forum’s mission of improving

construc on industry‐government rela ons is anybody’s guess.

While some argue that being ready to mobilize and act on this

issue is difficult when the leadership driving the issue is so far

removed at the federal (O awa) and Ontario provincial

(Toronto) levels, other Western jurisdic ons manage to make

progress. During the me BC has sat on its hands, Alberta

created the Alberta Trade Contractors Coali on (ATCC) which

includes mixed associa ons such as the Alberta Construc on

Associa on and others. A recent ATCC news release announced

changes to Alberta Infrastructure (AI) payment protocols that

“oblige AI to approve and pay invoices within set periods of

me, plus carve out deficiencies to be resolved and pay

undisputed por ons of an invoice according to their protocol.

They also post online when payments have been made, so the

trades and sub‐trades know when they can expect payment.”

ATCC laments “these protocols only apply to AI projects and

while AI is a significant owner of construc on projects and has

some influence, their protocols are voluntary and do not have

to be applied beyond AI projects.” Here in BC we are led to

believe a similar arrangement has been achieved but no one

can tell us because of a prohibi on “to communicate Forum

business.”

Over the past two years or so I have met with three government

MLAs (two of them, twice) and one provincial minister on the

prospect of moving legisla on forward, and all of the them

delivered the same message: If you want government to move

on this request, the BC construc on industry must be on the

same page and show a united front. And that has been our

Achilles’ heel but we can get back on track.

So moving forward, MCABC will call together the members of

COCTA – the trades associa ons – to gauge interest in and

energy for this endeavor. It’s me for the membership to again

stand up and shout out the need for this legisla on. We need

champions within the associa on, like those mechanical

contractors who stood up with MCA Canada to lead the

Na onal Trade Contractors Coali on of Canada (NTCCC) to its

present stage of having legisla on posi vely debated in the

Senate, and members of parliament speaking op mis cally of a

good outcome when it reaches the House of Commons.

BC mechanical contractors, come out and help champion

prompt payment for our industry!

‐ Con nued from page 1 — Message from MCABC Execu ve Vice President Dana Taylor