TORONTO — The Building Industry and Land Development Association (BILD) has issued a statement supporting the Ontario government’s decision to deem construction sites an “essential workplace.”
“With families waiting to close on new properties, sales of existing homes and countless other logistical details associated with buying and selling a property, it is essential to keep the industry working,” said a March 24 BILD statement.
“The health and safety of employees, suppliers and customers is the industry’s top concern,” said David Wilkes, president and CEO of BILD.
“The industry has taken proactive steps such as reducing staff to a bare minimum, practising social distancing for inside work, prioritizing outside work where trades are not in close proximity with each other and increasing on-site sanitation and sanitation facilities.”
The BILD statement argued it is not feasible to delay the completion of homes near closing without a significant effect throughout the GTA.
In addition, with housing supply already at crisis levels, stopping construction will create long-term implications to housing supply in the future.
“As the premier stated yesterday, Ontario workers have the right to refuse unsafe worksites and should report these conditions to the appropriate authorities. Many BILD members have adopted policies to close down worksites if someone is feeling unwell,” said Wilkes.
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