OCS Talks

Ontario Construction Secretariat
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Ontario Construction Secretariat (OCS) CEO, Brian Barron, discusses all things related to Ontario's unionized ICI construction sector with professionals from across the industry. An educational industry podcast that addresses varying topics, challenges, and opportunities within Ontario's unionized ICI construction sector. Episodes will feature leaders from across the industry to explore different subject matter. It is our hope that listeners find these short podcast episodes engaging, thought-provoking, and digestible.

Episodes

  1. JAN 26

    Tariffs, Trade, and Steel: What It Means for Ontario’s Construction Industry

    Steel is one of the most critical materials in any project, so to say any disruption in supply chain would be an understatement. All of us are familiar with the current tariffs and the uncertainty they have caused, but how does this impact construction? In this episode of OCS talks, we look into what tariffs mean and the impact they’ve had on steel in the construction industry. Gord Rados is the Executive Director at Ontario Structural Steel Fabricators Association whose mission is to promote and advance the structural steel industry in Ontario by supporting education, safety, best practices, and technical excellence. Working alongside industry partners and associations, we advocate for safer, more efficient collaboration across the construction sector and strive to strengthen the voice of structural steel fabricators through unity and shared expertise. Chapter Markers: 0:00 – Intro 1:07 – Mandate and goal 3:28 - Impact of Tariffs 8:58 - Reliability in pricing and uncertainty 11:52 - Why can’t we source everything in Canada? 17:00 - How we move towards a local supply chain 18:43 – Biggest concern with Steel Fabricators 22.42 – Final thoughts Call to Action: Subscribe for more industry insights and expert conversations. Have a question or topic suggestion? Reach out to us at info@iciconstruction.com or visit iciconstruction.com. Tags and keywords Ontario, ICI Construction, Ontario Construction, Steel Fabricators, OCS Talks, Tariffs, Supply Chain, Construction Projects Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    24 min

  2. 10/15/2025

    The Role of Associations in Ensuring Quality and Professionalism in Construction

    There are several things that make a project successful in the eye of the owner, but quality and professionalism are at the top of that list.  Unfortunately, many project owners dread the thought of building a new project because it often leads to headaches during construction or warranty issues. This is where hiring the right contractor becomes key to a project’s success. There are several considerations when picking the right contractor, but quality and professionalism are always going to be the measure by which a project and its workers are ultimately evaluated.  In this episode of OCS Talks we look at what is being done by contractor associations to reinforce the quality and professionalism of their industry. Like everything, not all contractors or products are created equal. So, what role do associations play in making sure the best quality work is done by the contractors that are part of the association.  Don Marks, Executive Director of the Ontario Industrial Roofing Contractors Association and a member of the OCS Board of Directors. Keywords Health & Safety, Associations, Roofing, Construction, Contractors, Members, Industry, Commercial, Institutional, Ontario, Labour Relations, Quality of Work, Bidding, Quality and Professionalism Chapters 0:00 – Intro 2:20 – About the Ontario Industrial Roofing Contractors Association 5:20 – Quality Control and the Role of the Association 11:10 – Procurement and Promoting Membership 16:45 – Roofing and the Building Envelop 21:30 – Association Membership 31:15 – The Nature of Bidding on Projects 33:20 – Final Remarks Key Quotes “Occupational health and safety has been the driving force behind our association for as long as I can remember” – Don Marks “We believe that our association and our members are accountable to the building owner” – Don Marks Resources & Links Ontario Construction Secretariat Ontario Industrial Roofing Contractors Association Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    38 min

  3. 07/16/2025

    Becoming an Apprentice and Training Tomorrow's Labour Force

    Training is one of the most crucial elements to consider when selecting the right people to build a project. An unqualified worker installing material or equipment will lead to costly errors or long-term warranty issues. When you have a highly skilled tradesperson you can bet they have the skills and know how to complete the task on-time and on-budget, while providing you with something that will last. Most people are familiar with the college and university streams of education, but how many know about trades training centres throughout the province. There are over 100 of them, and they are geared towards guiding an apprentice through a full apprenticeship with the goal of achieving their certificate of qualification in their chosen trades. One of the best parts is that they earn while they learn. You won't find that in any university or college. With trades training centres you won't go deep into debt, but you will get a great education and a great job, and you'll be setting yourself up for a really strong retirement. In this episode of OCS Talks we have Scott Wood, Provincial Training Director of the Ontario Sheet Metal Workers Training Centre and we're examining trades training centres and how they foster an apprentices journey to becoming a highly skilled journeyperson. Chapters: 0:00 - Intro 03:18 - Becoming an apprentice 08:35 - Earn while you learn 11:48 - Funding model for the training centres 16:23 - Innovation in training 21:30 - High level of education and apprentices 25:00 - Learning styles 29:15 - Sheet metal competition 33:40 - Community outreach 39:00 - A career in the trades43:15 - The value of unions 48:28 - Final remarks Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    51 min

  4. 06/25/2025

    Mediation and Conciliation within Collective Bargaining

    The collective bargaining process in unionized construction is an important institution.  Generally, the discussions are productive with the goal of both labour and management benefitting from a new agreement.  But what happens when the parties need help moving the discussions along? In this episode of OCS Talks we look at the role conciliation officers play in working with both parties to reach a mutually beneficial agreement, review how discussions have changed over the years, and talk about some successful strategies to employ when there are challenges at the table. Sandra Shime is the Director of Dispute Resolution Services at the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development. Sandra is also a valued member of the OCS Board of Directors and uniquely positioned to discuss the intricacies and role of mediation and conciliation in Ontario's unionized ICI construction sector. This episode will offer listeners and viewers keen insight into the purpose of conciliators and the important role they play in the collective bargaining process. Chapters: 0:00 - Intro 01:55 - Sandra's career 03:22 - The role of conciliators/mediators 07:45 - What makes a great conciliator 10:35 - Win-win strategies in bargaining 14:10 - The role of media in bargaining 19:35 - Recent trends in bargaining 22:48 - Final thoughts Key Quotes: "Most of our team has about 15-20 years in bargaining experience when they come to the Ministry, so they're really experts in bargaining and dispute resolution processes" - Sandra Shime, Director of Dispute Resolution Services "We often encourage parties to build their relationships, through good labour-management practices like committees to keep that communication open" - Sandra Shime, Director of Dispute Resolution Services Resources & Links: Ontario Construction Secretariat⁠ ⁠Disputes Resolution Services⁠ ⁠Sandra Shime LinkedIn⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    26 min

  5. 06/05/2025

    Fundamentals of Construction Labour Relations Course

    Labour relations can be a delicate balance in the construction industry. Many factors influence how successful labour relations operates in construction; everything from economic conditions, to regional influences, to how a particular job is being run can impact workers and relationships between labour and management.  In this episode of OCS Talks we look at today’s construction labour relations landscape and how we are helping to prepare our member’s labour relations experts for future bargaining rounds. Three years ago, the Ontario Construction Secretariat (OCS) undertook the task of developing the Fundamentals of Construction Labour Relations Course to provide a strong and consistent foundation for both employee and employer bargaining agents.   There's no better person to discuss this topic with than Cole Carson, Labour Relations Manager at Irving Oil. Cole has a wealth of experience across labour relations in different sectors and different provinces, and is also the Facilitator for the Fundamentals of Construction Labour Relations Course. This episode is a perfect introduction to anyone who's interested in gaining a better understanding of Ontario's construction labour relations landscape and anyone with interest in taking the Fundamentals of Construction Labour Relations Course. Chapters: 01:45 - Cole's background in labour relations 05:35 - The uniqueness of the construction labour relations 10:30 - The Fundamentals of Construction Labour Relations Course 18:40 - Benefits for course attendees (bargaining, communication, and jurisdictional disputes) 31:10 - Collective bargaining training and strategies 40:10 - Final thoughts from Cole and Brian Resources & Links: Ontario Construction Secretariat (https://iciconstruction.com/) The Fundamentals of Construction Labour Relations Course (https://ocs.swoogo.com/ocs_lr_course/5656220) Keywords: Labour relations, Ontario unionized construction, ICI sector, collective bargaining, communication and collaboration, training, course, contractor, owner, jurisdictional disputes and grievances, OCS Talks Podcast, Cole Carson, Brian Barron Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    45 min

  6. 04/09/2025

    The BuildForce Forecast featuring Bob Collins and Bill Ferreira

    The unionized Industrial, Commercial, and Institutional (ICI) construction sector in Ontario continues to see opportunity—but not without risks. In this episode of OCS Talks, Brian Barron is joined by BuildForce Canada’s Bill Ferreira and Bob Collins to explore their 2024–2034 forecast and its implications for contractors, unions, and the broader workforce. The discussion dives deep into what’s driving growth—namely transit infrastructure, healthcare, and power generation—while also addressing looming concerns around inflation, trade tariffs with the U.S., material costs, labor supply, and project delays. Learn where future opportunities are emerging, how demographic shifts are straining the workforce, and what it will take to avoid a projected shortfall of 50,000 skilled workers in the coming decade. This episode is a must-listen for contractors, project managers, union reps, and anyone tracking the pulse of Ontario’s construction landscape. Chapters: 00:35 – Ontario’s construction market outlook 02:19 – Key drivers: transit, healthcare, and power 04:35 – The state of industrial and commercial sectors 08:30 – Risks on the horizon for ICI projects 10:12 – U.S. tariffs and their potential fallout 13:16 – Material costs and project contract concerns 15:51 – Transition opportunities amid economic shifts 20:34 – Skilled trades and labor supply 22:22 – Forecasting a 50,000-worker shortage 27:19 – Recruiting newcomers and reshaping industry perception Key Quotes: “Healthcare and transit systems will be key drivers going forward.” — Bob Collins “We’re going to be around 50,000 workers short over the next 10 years.” — Bill Ferreira “Our economies are just so integrated, we need cooler heads to prevail.” — Bill Ferreira Resources & Links: • BuildForce Canada • Ontario Construction Secretariat Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    29 min
  • 6 Episodes

About

Ontario Construction Secretariat (OCS) CEO, Brian Barron, discusses all things related to Ontario's unionized ICI construction sector with professionals from across the industry. An educational industry podcast that addresses varying topics, challenges, and opportunities within Ontario's unionized ICI construction sector. Episodes will feature leaders from across the industry to explore different subject matter. It is our hope that listeners find these short podcast episodes engaging, thought-provoking, and digestible.

Information

  • Creator
    Ontario Construction Secretariat
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    6
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025. Ontario Construction Secretariat
  • Show Website
    OCS Talks