About Us - Ontario Construction Consortium

WORKING FOR A STRONGER ONTARIO

“For the betterment of the construction industry and communities across the province.”

The workforce in Ontario’s Construction Industry makes up more than one-third of the entire workforce in Canada. When significant changes and issues arise in our province’s construction sector in our province, it ripples across the country.

The OCC was formed in 2018 to ensure that the government stays informed on the adverse effects these new policies will have on education, safety, quality of work and the reputation of our industry in the public eye.

Strengthening The Industry

In the construction sector, we must ensure the quality of work, safety standards and professionalism are high. We owe no less to our employers, our workers and our province’s citizens.

The Ontario Construction Consortium will be diligent in advocating for a workforce that sets the standard nation-wide. Working with government, industry, media and the public, the Consortium will prepare briefs, whitepapers, news columns and other materials to inform government and stakeholders about issues within Ontario’s construction sectors: industrial, commercial, institutional and residential.

How We Build A Better Province

Through Advocacy, Education, Networking, Safety Demonstrations and Workforce Development – the Ontario Construction Consortium will ensure our industry is the safest and most reliable in the country.

Advocacy

We work on behalf of the most skilled workers in Ontario’s construction industry. By ensuring the most experienced and well-trained craftsmen are well-matched with every aspect of a project, we can ensure quality builds that will stand the test of time. Yes, this benefits our industry, and advances the province as a whole.

Quality of Work

The OCC will continue to advocate for our highly-trained workforce. The training, testing and accreditation they must go through and attain in order to be allowed on a job-site ensure a quality of work that is long-lasting. Shoddy or inefficient work can take a toll on budgets in both the short term and the long term.

We have much work ahead of us. By preparing briefs, position papers and other materials, The Ontario Construction Consortium will inform the government and stakeholders of these issues that affect all of Ontario’s construction sectors – industrial, commercial, institutional and residential.

Through advocacy, education, networking, safety and workforce development, The Ontario Construction Consortium will ensure that the construction sector in our province remains one of the best in our country.

Education

Our organization will utilize leading-edge resources – people with decades of experience – to educate government, industry, media and the public on issues affecting the construction industry.We take our role seriously when it comes to delivering comprehensive education to workers and decision makers. Whether you are a frontline worker or a provincial government official – the OCC strives to be a trusted voice for Ontario’s construction sector.

Research and Initiatives

We will conduct research on issues critical to the industry – informing government, business and the media. Construction is a fast-changing field – the Ontario Construction Consortium will track trends and new developments in materials and building techniques from around the world. Conferences, webinars, website updates and social media posts will all be used to spread the word.

Safety

Maintaining high standards of safety, efficiency and workmanship are at the heart of our mission. Ontario’s communities should be built by the best workers our industry has to offer. We will advocate tirelessly on their behalf to ensure a legacy of quality construction projects that will build better communities.

Workforce Development

In the construction industry, we can’t afford to let the quality of work, professionalism and level of knowledge become lax. Our organization will be diligent in helping maintain a workforce that is second to none. Working with government, industry, media and the public we will be a voice for the very best in Ontario’s construction sectors; industrial, commercial, institutional and residential.

Networking

Through events, seminars and digital media we will inform a network of professionals from both inside and outside the industry. Connecting groups of stakeholders will help in our research and will also formulate a clear picture of the industry’s current state and future direction.

Phil Gillies

Phil Gillies is a former MPP for Brantford, and a former Minister of Skills Development and Youth for the Province of Ontario. His career in public policy, strategy and communications has spanned four decades. In 2014 Phil was Manager of Policy for Toronto Mayor John Tory’s campaign. At Mayor Tory’s request, in 2015 Phil served as Secretary of the Mayor’s Task Force on Toronto Community Housing. In 2016 the Leader of the Ontario Progressive Conservative Party presented the Trillium Special Achievement Award to Phil in recognition of his 50 years of service to the Party.

Phil has been a commentator on CBC Radio’s Metro Morning and on Newstalk 1010, and is a guest columnist in the Toronto Star, Toronto Sun and the Hamilton Spectator. He is a Member of the Mentor’s Circle for Toronto Community Housing and sits on the Advisory Board of Proud Politics.

You have been such a strong voice and a huge help to me taking on this file. I truly appreciate all you are doing to help bring everyone together. It's important.

Monte McNaughton

OCC E.D. Phil Gillies recently discussed housing issues with Ontario Municipal Affairs and Housing Minister Hon Steve Clark.

On December 2nd OCC’s Director Phil Gillies met with Vaughan Mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua a the Empire Club of Canada, where Mayor Bevilacqua gave an inspiring speech on purpose drive leadership, and highlighted the remarkable development underway in Vaughan.

OCC’s Phil Gillies talks infrastructure with Toronto Mayor John Tory at the Canadian Club breakfast on December 4.

OCC’s Phil Gillies (left) with Ontario Labour Minister Monte McNaughton and IUPAT President Bruno Mandic at the Empire Club luncheon on January 15.

E.D. Phil Gillies joined construction industry stakeholders for Toronto Deputy Mayor Michael Thompson’s presentation to the Empire Club. Amongst the people joining Councillor Thompson (third from the left) were Andy Manahan – Executive Director of the Residential and Civil Construction Association of Ontario (third from the right) , Phil (second from the right) and Mike Yorke, President of Local 27 of the Carpenters Union (on the right).

OCC’s Phil Gillies (second from right) has been elected to the board of the Public Affairs Association of Canada, Ontario Chapter.

Phil is excited to be joining other public affairs leaders in guiding the discipline in our province.

On February 11th OCC’s met with Colleen Dignam, from the Employment and Social Services Division at Toronto City Hall.

Colleen works on Community Benefit Agreements – these are contracts negotiated on major building projects, that see some specific benefits from the project flow back to the community. This might be jobs and/or training (a percentage of the people working on the project will be apprentices, members of disadvantaged communities, minorities); or purchasing of goods and services from local businesses; or supplementary benefits for the community surrounding the building project – parkland, day cares, affordable housing…..

There are 27 of these projects across the province valued at over $43 billion.

This is a big program and it’s growing. The Ontario Construction Consortium, supports it!