March
2012
-
The CFBA continues to
participate in the construction industry of Ontario at the
Provincial level.
The CFBA attended a COCA
executive meeting March 29th to participate in the
ongoing activities on many issues affecting the construction
industry. This included subjects such as the Ontario College
of Trades, Prompt Payment Legislation, review of the recently
announced Provincial Budget implications for the construction
industry and voicing our concerns about the WSIB review process, and
others.
With regret it was announced
that our Government Relations representative, Mr. David Zurawel,
will be leaving COCA. David has been with COCA for
approximately five years and has contributed significantly to the
positive growth of COCA. He has been instrumental in stating COCA’s
position on many legislative and regulatory proposals by government,
on issues related to the construction industry. We wish David
success in his new adventure. A search process is
underway to find a new government relations rep.
-
The
CFBA attended a meeting
with the Minister of Agriculture at Queen’s Park, on March 22nd,
along with the OFA to support the Horse Racing Industry.
February
2012
-
Gary
Van Bolderen current CFBA President was elected to the
COCA Executive as 2nd Vice Chair, this is an opportunity for us to
get a more exposure within COCA and also more access with regulators
and political shakers and movers within the construction industry
and government. One issue that may be on our plate is to
educate COCA and others about the Farm Building Code upcoming
changes.
December
2011
The
Education Committee has prepared an "Agricultural Building
Checklist" that the membership can use as part of their
"package" they leave with possible customers when quoting on
agricultural buildings. The checklist covers the areas of concern for
required permits etc for construction of agricultural buildings. The
checklist can be viewed & downloaded from HERE.
November
2011
Will
Teron P.Eng from Tacoma
Engineers and former President of the Canadian
Farm Builders Association has been named to the CCBFB/PTPACC Joint Task Force on Farm Buildings.
Code
development priorities to be addressed by joint task groups The Canadian
Commission on Building and Fire Codes (CCBFC) and the
Provincial/Territorial Policy Advisory Committee on Codes (PTPACC) have
formed several joint task groups to address code development priorities
over the next year. The CCBFC/PTPACC Joint Task Group on Farm Buildings
will outline the work necessary to update the technical requirements in
the National Farm Building Code (last published in 1995). This will
include specifying the approach for drafting technical requirements.
Another key element is to determine how to incorporate large farm
building requirements into the National Building Code of Canada 2010
(NBC) and to define the appropriate publication for small farm building
requirements.
CFBA
Representative @ COCA's Report - April
2011
- June 2011
On Tuesday March 22, 2011, Gary Van Bolderen and Dan Reymer represented the CFBA
at a meeting with the Poultry Service Association.
The Poultry Service Association, in conjunction with the Chicken Farmers of Ontario and several other agencies,
have published a Safe Work Practices manual for the broiler chicken industry. This document is intended to
increase safety in their workplace, provide safe work practices to follow when working on a broiler farm,
Their next step is to implement change at the building design stage which will further improve the safety
and productivity of the poultry workers when unloading, catching, or loading birds.
Some examples of design guidelines that they are looking to have implemented would include; door spacing
at 50' O/C with the first door 25' from the front of the barn, second storey ramp heights not to exceed 10',
wider doors to load birds, dimmable exterior lights at each door, and the ability to turn off individual fans.
The CFBA has offered their support as the Poultry Service Association lobbies other organizations to help
implement the changes which will improve the safety and welfare of all those involved in this industry.
Will Teron has been representing the CFBA on the Provincial Technical Advisory Committee on Farm Fires.
Note that the final report has been issued March 2011
The CFBA is acknowledged for their support and contribution to the effort.
Copies are available through OMAFRA (Document: Reducing the Risk of Fire on your Farm, Publication 837).
A copy of this document will be sent out with the Spring Issue of the CFBA Newsletter
