b'FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, GRAEME AITKENA writing this, our province isnumber of our members are small businesses,the altered manner in which we offer training At the time of entering our third variation of a lockdown, oras defined by his portfolio, and is a passionateandconductbusiness.ECAOhasquickly stay-at-home order, with a record number ofspeakeronbehalfofECAOandotherpivotedandcontinuestoevolvetomeet cases being registered on an all too frequentsmall businesses. thechangingcircumstances,whichspeaks basis. Nonetheless, and in part due to ourHowever,noneofthishappenswithoutvolumesforthecreativityanddedication performancethusfarinthepandemic,considerable effort by ECAO and our variousoftheseprofessionals.Mostimportantly, constructionprojectshavebeenpermittedthough, my team has dealt with the isolation to continue to operate. In addition to ourallies. Our labour partners, the IBEW CCO,from colleagues, the disruption in the focus performanceinkeepingtransmissionrateshave been with us fully in these efforts asand manner of doing their work, COVID low in our sector, we have had some criticalhave their individual Local Unions. Our localfatigue, the need to adapt to changing hours support from others in convincing Premierelectricalcontractorassociationshavealsowhen issues important to our members arise, Fords cabinet to recognize the importanceaided us significantly, as have various otherthebuildingoftwonewcommittees,the of construction to our provincial economy,associationswithwhomweareaffiliated.adaption of a new Performance Management our members and the skilled trades workersFinally, and certainly not the least important,Process, and the various other side effects in our employ. aretheherculeaneffortsofourlobbyists:of this pandemic of which you are all aware; RubiconStrategyInc.,includingAaronand, they have done so in a way that has MinisterofLabour,TrainingandSkillsGairdner and Andrew Balfour. As will comeset the standard for all associations in (and Development,theHonourableMonteas no surprise to Rubicon although I findoutside) our community! I hope that you are McNaughton,hasbeenastrongandit distasteful that ECAO (and others) mustas proud of them as I am, and I ask that you relentlesschampionforECAOandotherspayforaccessIamextremelypleasedlet them know when you have occasion to intheconstructionindustry.Ministerandimpressedwiththetremendousteamcommunicate with them.McNaughton has kept us informed, soughtRubicon has put at our disposal.our input and continually impressed upon hisI am also taking this opportunity to extend colleagues in government that constructionKeeping with the ECAO is thriving duringsincere gratitude and admiration, on behalf of should remain open. As well, the Ministersthe pandemic theme, it is difficult for methe ECAO team and I, to ECAOs Executive staffhasbeenequallypersuasiveandto convey accurately and fully how amazingCommittee,BoardofDirectors,Electrical unrelenting.WhilethereareseveralotheryourECAOstaffhasbeenandcontinuesTrade Bargaining Agency, as well as our other members of cabinet that have advocated onto be throughout. I will, however, attemptcommitteesandrepresentativestoother our behalf, I believe it is important to identifyto do so. ECAO has not lost a step in thecommittees,boardsandassociations.Your one additional individual, and his staff, asprogress we set out to accomplish before theprofessional and impassioned representation having unequivocally advanced our interests:pandemic hita tribute to their focus andofECAO,andourmembers,throughout PrabmeetSarkaria,AssociateMinisterofgenuine concern for our members. In fact,andbeyondourcommunitythroughout SmallBusinessandRedTapeReduction.your ECAO team has managed to fast trackthepandemichasbeennothingshortof MinisterSarkariaknowsthatasignificanta number of our goals by taking advantage ofexemplary and inspired!www.ecao.org6'