www.ecao.org 8 I FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, GRAEME AITKEN In putting pen to paper, or fingers to keys, to prepare this message, it struck me that when this issue of The Ontario Electrical Contractor is in your hands I will be quickly closing-in on one year as the Executive Director of ECAO. Rather than discuss how much of an honour this is, how humble I feel to represent such a tremendous organization and group of people, or how quickly the time has passed (all of which are factual); I want to thank all of you for your support, advice, and contributions. You have fully embraced the concept of building our community. I am encouraged by your comments and your actions. ECAO is sitting at more tables and with a greater voice as a result of this. And, this is but the beginning. This community inspires all of us at ECAO. We have now had significant time with the current Ontario government and ECAO has been active in meeting with key ministries including Labour, Finance, and Infrastructure. In meeting with the ministers and, perhaps more importantly, their staff, we have offered our expertise as a valuable and knowledgeable resource for our provincial government. It is clear that there has been a long-term lack of understanding of the construction industry and, more specifically, our portion of this crucial sector of Ontario’s economic prosperity. ECAO’s aim is to ensure that our community is consulted on any contemplated legislative or regulatory change that may have an impact on our industry, our businesses, and our families. As such, we want to be consulted on any such changes affecting us; not only direct legislation such as the Ontario Labour Relations Act, which has clear and obvious impact. In addition to our individual and direct contact with the government, ECAO has also been meeting with them in combination with our labour partners, JEPP, and other industry associations. Once again, as you read in the last issue of this publication, ECAO will be calling on and coordinating with our members and local ECAs to reach out to ministers in their constituency offices. You are their votes! Get to know them and make certain that they know you. As a result of our program assessments, which we reported in the Q2 issue of this You have fully embraced the concept of building our community. I am encouraged by your comments and your actions. ECAO is sitting at more tables and with a greater voice as a result of this.