by Mary Van Buren, CCA President
The health, safety and well-being of our workers, their families and friends, and the communities we operate in has always been the top priority for our industry.
The Canadian construction industry has been delivering essential services across Canada during the COVID-19 crisis, under challenging circumstances for both businesses and the workforce. Like many industries, construction has been hit hard by COVID-19 as provincial governmental ordinances required partial or complete work stoppages. Many operations have been impacted by supply chain disruptions, staff shortages, increased cost of materials, and the implementation of stringent protocols in accordance with health authorities to keep workers, their families and the community safe.
The industry is willing and able to lead the country out of this recession – however, it must survive the current COVID-19 crisis in order to thrive in recovery. To do this, the industry needs fair consideration from federal, provincial and municipal governments, as well as private owners, for the costs of these delays.
We are asking all those in the industry to support the creation of an Emergency COVID-19 Construction Cost Reimbursement Program by sending a letter to your Member of Parliament. It takes only two minutes to make your voice heard.
CCA is recommending that eligible costs be reimbursed up to 5 per cent of the contract value as a starting point, subject to the program being adjusted as the duration and full impact of COVID-19 become more clear over time.
Providing extensions of time and fair compensation for reasonable costs incurred, supported by sufficient documentation from the contractor, would alleviate the pressure on businesses already dealing with serious financial repercussions from the COVID-19 crisis.
Infrastructure will be a key component to Canada’s economic recovery. The federal government has hundreds of critical projects that are already in progress or need to be maintained. Many of these are essential to the well-being of our citizens and support the delivery of essential services – like water, energy, transportation and healthcare.
It’s important that the industry and government continue to work together during this crisis. We are stronger together.
About CCA
Across Canada, CCA represents more than 20,000 member firms drawn from 63 local and provincial integrated partner associations. CCA gives voice to the public policy, legal and standards development goals of contractors, suppliers and allied business professionals working in, or with, Canada’s non-residential construction industry.
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