THE ONLY SOURCE FOR PROFESSIONAL ICI ROOFING CONTRACTORS IN ONTARIO ORN 6  ONTARIO ROOFING NEWS – ISSUE 1 2019 President‘s Message OIRCA Surveys Membership on Subcontracting By Mark Mollison, President, OIRCA OIRCA Board of Directors President Mark Mollison Conestoga Roofing & Sheet Metal Ltd. First Vice President Tony Pocobene Atlantic Roofers Ontario Ltd. Past President Mark Baxter Semple Gooder Roofing Corporation Treasurer Peter Serino Soprema Inc. Director John Petrachek Atlas-Apex Roofing Inc. Director Bob Yule Beacon Roofing Supply Canada Co. Director Joel Dandele Dantech Building Technologies Inc. Director Ron Foran Foran’s Roofing & Sheet Metal Ltd. Director Rob Kucher Cardinal Roofing & Sheet Metal Inc. Director Stephen Patti Flynn Canada Ltd. Director Nelson Rites Crawford Roofing Corporation Director Barry Warner Covertite Eastern Ltd. Director Wesley Lamb Simluc Contractors Ltd. Director Doug Maikawa Trio Roofing Systems Inc. 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Published July 2019 Publication Agreement #40787580 P ast President Mark Baxter’s article titled “Are you Getting What you Paid For?” in the Fall 2018 issue of ORN discussed our Association’s concern with the level of subcontracting taking place in our industry. Mark reported that the OIRCA Board of Di- rectors would be investigating options to restrict members from this business practice. This past April the Active Membership (Roofing Contractor Members) of OIRCA were surveyed to determine their stand on the issue. It was a short survey consisting of just six questions with com- ments encouraged. Question 1 asked if the member supported imposing restrictions on their right to contract out their ICI roofing work to non-OIRCA roofing contractors. Seventy-six per cent voted yes. One member asked how such a system would be monitored… excellent query. Question 2 wanted to know if a member should be restricted from subcontracting any amount of their ICI roofing work to non-OIRCA Members. This question provided a close split of opinion with only 51 per cent answering yes. Question 3 asked if the member voted “no” to the previous ques- tion, what percentage of subcontracting they would consider accept- able. Not surprisingly the spread was large: 0 per cent to 50 per cent. Question 4 wanted to know whether the Member was willing to share their company’s financial information to help the Association determine their level of subcontracting. The result of this question was pretty much evenly split between yes and no. Question 5 tried to determine what level of discipline should be delivered when it is determined that a member has exceeded the As- sociation’s subcontracting limit; fine, probation, termination or a graduated system combining all three. A graduated system was the more popular choice. Question 6 simply asked for additional comments and they were predictably varied. One member commented, “How can we ensure excellence in roofing if it is not our own crews completing the work?” Another took the position, “Subcontracting was, is and always will be a part of the construction industry. Subcontractors in the roofing industry represent a labour source which is so desperately needed…” Another remarked, “As long as the quality of the work of the subcon- tractor meets the OIRCA’s standards, there should be no issue with subcontracting. As an OIRCA member we oversee all the work of our subcontractors.” And, “this is an issue we must deal with…” Our strategic plan continues to prioritize our objective of account- ability. The strategy we have embraced to ensure accountability is the policing of our membership. One of the tactics we have chosen to enforce OIRCA principles is the elimination or reduction of subcon- tracting. Clearly this is an issue that is not easily resolved. Our membership is certainly divided. Perhaps we need to hear from those who specify or procure roofing services. As an architect, engineer or roofing con- sultant, how do you feel about subcontracting? How about building owners or their representatives? Are you comfortable with allowing your chosen roofer to farm out their contractual obligations to sub- contractors or sub-crews? I am aware of roofing consultants who prohibit this business prac- tice. They make it perfectly clear in their tender documents and en- force it on the job site. Perhaps our next step should involve surveying our own Consultant Members. In the meantime I would like to hear from the ORN readership. Let me know directly how you feel about subcontracting in the roofing industry. I may be reached by contacting the OIRCA office. I look forward to hearing from you. Ultimately the strategy is to move this initiative forward by revising our bylaws such that they reflect the messages we have received in our members’ survey. At the same time we will pursue a dialogue with the design community to ensure we are on the right track.