NTCC
A National Scope of OSM
Where does a well organized and cohesive provincial organization turn to gain a national perspective?  In the case of OSM, the National Trade Contractors Coalition of Canada (NTCCC) has much to offer, most notably participation in a coalition of major national construction industry members.  Currently the NTCCC is comprised of eight national trade organizations, including the Ontario Sheet Metal and Air Handling Group.  Founding members include the Mechanical Contractors Association of Canada, the Canadian Electrical Contractors Association, the Canadian Masonry Contractors Association of Canada, the Canadian Automatic Sprinkler Association and the Canadian Roofing Contractors Association. Given the NTCCC’s reputable profile and its excellent management education programs, a number of other national associations are looking to become a part of this growing organization.  The Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Contractors of Canada and the Thermal Insulation Association of Canada joined recently and, according to Richard McKeagan president of the Mechanical Contractors Association of Canada and NTCCC media liaison, there are several national associations looking at joining the coalition.

One of NTCCC’s great strengths is its ability create a climate of synergy among the coalition members by bringing them together, creating the conditions for a exchange and sharing of ideas.  While individual constituencies may differ, all member associations have common sets of problems, issues and concerns.  Consistent cross industry consultation results in benefits for all.  The most powerful intersections revolve around negotiating contracts and getting paid.  The key to success, NTCCC believes, lies in meeting the ever-rising expectations of clients.  As McKeagan points out, the NTCCC assists contractor members to respond quickly and creatively to client needs, to embrace change by exploring new opportunities including educational initiatives.  One such example is the highly popular instructional session “Are You Getting Paid?” part of the NTCCC’s National Seminar Program. The half-day seminar draws on "tongue-in-cheek, worst-case scenario” humour to advise contractors “how to get paid and paid on time.” Following an overwhelming response from participants, NTCCC has now developed a “Getting Paid Package” that will soon be made available to organizations wishing to host their own event.  NTCCC has also developed a “Best Practices Guide for Trade Contractors” available in downloadable format from its website.

NTCCC is also working through its affiliations with the Construction Sector Council and the Canadian Construction Association (CCA) to provide on-going services for its members.  McKeagan is particularly proud of NTCCC’s recent educational initiative a trade contractors’ guide designed to aid contractors in negotiating advantageous contracts.  Inviting input from its coalition members and commissioning legal assistance, NTCCC created a guide to the Canadian Construction Association’s recently revised standard stipulated price subcontract document specifically for subcontractors.  “Given that the industry as a whole finds the subcontract document in use across Canada acceptable,” says McKeagan, “we determined that a working guide would enable our subcontractors to interpret it more easily and to see how to use appropriate clauses for their own contracts.  In other words, the new guide explains clauses and explains why they are important, alerting contractors to avoid unintended liabilities.”

NTCCC is also forming a relationship with the Canadian Apprenticeship Forum - Forum canadien sur l’apprentissage (CAF-FCA) a not-for-profit organization that promotes and supports Canadian apprenticeship training and education. CAF-FCA’s mandate is to influence apprenticeship strategies through research, discussion and collaboration across Canada.  “Since all of our members hire apprentices, it’s clear we should be talking with them,” says McKeagan.  As a result, CAF-FCA executive director Allison Rougeau has been invited to address members at the next NTCCC meeting.

NTCCC also has a formal working relationship with the Construction Sector Council (CSC) and the Trade Contractors Council of the Canadian Construction Association.  The CSC is a national organization financed by both government and industry committed to the development of a highly skilled workforce to support current and future needs of the Canadian construction industry.   Given that the NTCCC has only been around since 2004, it has covered a lot of ground but as McKeagan points out, its focus is simple “NTCCC doesn’t have to answer to anyone but its own constituent members which leaves us free to concentrate wholly on their common interests and concerns.”