McNaughton announces new Construction Advisory Panel

THE BLUE MOUNTAINS, ONT. — The Ontario government has established a new advisory panel to provide advice on a broad range of construction sector issues, Minister of Labour Monte McNaughton has announced.

The Construction Advisory Panel will meet with the minister three times a year, a Sept. 26 release said. Issues identified that could be discussed include labour and employment law, the rise of new equipment and technologies, workplace health and safety, and injury prevention.

The panel will be made up of between 8 to 12 members with representation from both labour and employers, with the following composition:

∙ At least one employee or employer representative from the Industrial, Commercial and Institutional (ICI) sector.

∙ At least two employee or employer representatives from the six other sectors of the construction industry.

∙ At least two employee or employer representatives from industry labour groups/employer groups or associations.

The Ministry of Labour already oversees several construction-related working groups and committees, such as the Construction Health and Safety Action Plan Advisory Group and the Provincial Labour-Management Health and Safety Committee.

“The new advisory panel will build on those efforts while enabling construction partners to express their concerns directly to the minister,” the release stated.

“Construction is a vital engine of growth for our economy, creating good quality jobs across our province. That’s why it’s important that we listen to and work closely with our construction partners,” said McNaughton in the statement. “This is an opportunity for the construction sector to bring their issues, concerns and changing trends directly to me and our ministry.”