b'MESSAGE FROM THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICERRESISTING COVID FATIGUE BRYAN HOCKING Chief Executive OfficerW elcome to the Fall 2020 issue ofcontractssocontractorscanhaveentireindustry.Ultimately,wehope ROADBuildermagazine.Imsome semblance of comfort knowingthe MTO stays committed to its $2.3 sureImstatingtheobviousthatanyadditionalexpenseswillbebillion spend.when I say this edition lands on the taildealt with in a reasonable and timelyAnothermajorconcernisthatsome end of a monumental year for ORBA,manner. The problem, MTO tells us,municipalitiesarenowholdingback its members and the construction com- is that this issue extends to all govern- in capital spending in a bid to soften munity at large. Yet as much as wedment contracts and must therefore bethe economic impacts of COVID-19 on allliketoeliminateCOVID-19fromdealt with on a larger scale. our vocabulary, now is not the time totheiroperationsandthereforeavoid lose focus on our peoples health andInfairness,theMTOhasintro- deficits, which is, of course, unaccept-the recovery of our industry. ducedsomenewcontractlanguageableatthemunicipallevel.These whenitcomestoprojectextensions.financialanxietiescouldbehelped In the last issue, I wrote how ORBATheyrecentlyannouncedexcus- withamuch-neededstimulusfrom isembracingitsadvocacyroleablenon-compensableextensionsthefederalgovernment,sowewill throughout the pandemic. I can reportoftimeoncurrentprovincialhigh- have to wait and see if that support with confidence that we have not lostwayscontractsforprojectsthatareeventually comes down from Ottawa. steam.Ourteamcontinuestomeetdelayed specifically due to COVID-19.It is our understanding that all prov-with Ministry of Transportation (MTO)Granted, this isnt as pressing an issueincial governments have been making leadersandindustrypartnerstoas incurred expenses, but it is a start.astrongcasetothefederalgovern-communicate our members concernsThe issue of contract language duringment for such funding, but thus far to and define the road to recovery. RestCOVID-19 is one that has taken muchno avail. assuredthatCOVID-19wasalsoalonger to resolve than we would have principal focus during our Septemberpreferred, but it seems that things areIN GOOD STANDING25th board meeting, and will remain soat least moving in the right direction.While many organizations are feeling until we resolve several key issues. Weve also been working diligently tothefinancialstrainofCOVID-19,I For one, weve yet to see the introduc- address delays and uncertainties withinam pleased to say ORBA is in a more tion of clear contract language relatedMTOs project pipeline. The tenderingfortunateposition.Ourfinances to the additional costs of doing busi- process is going much slower than weremain strong, having benefited from ness in our climate. Even after all thesewould like, and although we under- thesuccessful2020AnnualConven-months, contractors lack clear remediesstand that few plans are going as theytionandAGMthattookplacein when dealing with additional expensesshould at this time, we would muchToronto before the world shut down. that are a direct result of the pandemic,prefer to see the MTOs projected roadOur convention and AGM is always particularlyregardingcontractswithbuildinginitiativesbeingtenderedasubstantialgeneratorofrevenues, the MTO.well in advance of each quarter so ourand this year was no different. Thanks members can schedule their activitiesto the success of the convention and The MTO is well aware of this issue. Inaccordingly. After all, without a clearaverywellattendedRoadBuilding our regular interactions, the Ministryview ahead, contractors have no choiceAcademy,bothheldinFebruary, assuresusitisworkingalongsidebut to consider cutbacks, layoffs andORBAiswellpositionedtoweather multiple organizations (e.g., Metrolinx,delayed investments in such things asthe storm in 2020. Unfortunately, the Infrastructure Ontario, etc.) to amendcapitalexpenditures.Thisaffectsthebalanceoftheyearhasseenmany 6Volume 16, Issue 4|www.orba.org'