b'UPDATEOSWCA ADVOCACY AND INITIATIVES UPDATEOSWCA ADVOCACY AND INITIATIVESISSUES ON THE MOVEBY PATRICK MCMANUS, DIRECTOR, GOVERNMENT RELATIONS & COMMUNICATIONS, OSWCAOSWCA is very active in advocating on behalf of our members. Included below are high-level overviews of some of the key issues we have been working on over the last quarter. WSIB RATE FRAMEWORKMAPLETON WATER ANDof work is now closing in on MODERNIZATION WASTEWATER SYSTEM $20 million, with only 11,000 The new WSIB Rate FrameworkDBFOM CONTRACT residents. If the township were system launched on January 1,The Township of Mapleton hasto borrow the money to pay off 2020. Last October, the WSIB sentannounced that it will be puttingthis backlog, it would maximize information letters out to eachits entire water and wastewaterits allowable debt-to-revenue employer informing them howinfrastructure management intoratio (25%) under Ontario law, the new rate system will work,a design, build, finance, operate,meaning it would no longer outlining what the employersand maintain (DBFOM) contracthave space to borrow for any new rates will be, and detailingfor public tender.other reason until the debt is how each employer comparespaid off. against the average rates for otherThis will be the first municipality companies working in the samein Ontario to utilize a regulatedBy contracting out the industry sectors.utility model approach formanagement, the township its water and wastewateris utilizing private sector OSWCA, alongside the Ontarioinfrastructure. The contract isfinancing without taking on General Contractors Association,unique, in that the townshipany additional debt. The Mayor had been advising the WSIB onwill continue to own all of theacknowledges that water rates the rollout of this communica- assets and have final say over ratewill have to increase, perhaps tions program over the summer,increases each year; however,significantly, to account for the including modifications to thethe successful consortium willneeded work. Nevertheless, WSIB Compass system, whichpropose the rates to council eachby contracting out this work, will include new informa- year and collect the rates as partthe municipality is avoiding tion on how an employer canof the contract.a single year price shock and reduce their premium ratesinstead smoothing out the rate based on corrective actions andThe municipality moved toincreases over a 20-year period return-to-work scenarios.this model because its backlog(as per the contract length).20 H 2 OSWCAFall/Winter 2019'