City of Toronto expects contractors to keep city projects on schedule despite COVID-19 pandemic

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Ontario Construction News staff writer

The City of Toronto has issued memo to general contractors urging them to continue to work to keep projects on schedule, even if workers are absence because of illness or self-isolation because of COVID-19.

“It is the expectation of the city that contractors will continue to abide by the terms and conditions of their contracts, which includes adherence to contract schedules, having regard to the role of general contractors as the Constructor under the Occupational Health and Safety Act and any relevant instructions from public health authorities or the Ministry of Labour,” wrote Frank Moliman, acting director, of the city’s project management office.

“In light of the current extraordinary conditions, we are requesting, where possible, that if contractors experience labour shortages due to illness or self-isolation of their workers, they make best efforts to fill the gaps they may experience due to worker absenteeism, by seeking additional workers through their union affiliations, where they exist, respecting all labour trades’ contractural obligations.”

However, Clive Thurston, president of the Ontario General Contractors’ Association (OGCA), retorted: “Where those other areas are is anyone’s guess, considering this is a national pandemic and since we already had a shortage of workers before it hit, I’m amazed that the City of Toronto thinks that we can just pull workers out of our hat.

“Further, rather than take the normal procedures and workarounds of when inspectors can’t operate, they are including a condition that after the pandemic is over, inspectors will be able to order you to uncover your work, despite the fact that you may have fully documented it and used an engineer or architect to certify that work so that we could continue to proceed,” Thurston wrote

“This is an unacceptable risk and would raise the costs on projects and lead to disputes as to who is going to be responsible for paying for uncovering the work and then storing it.”

In his letter to contractors, Molinari offers contractors an opportunity to raise issues with the city regarding project delays because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“As we address the unprecedented challenges in the weeks and months ahead we ask that if you find yourselves in a situation where you are unable to address shortages in the work force, and/or equipment and supplies, please immediately notify the city’s project manager and advise on a proposed plan of action.”

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