OSPE - The Voice - Fall 2020 - 22

COVER STORY

* Phase 1: Immediate and urgent measures needed today to create
the conditions to re-open the economy, looking at strategic multisectoral economic levers.
*P
hase 2: Short-term investments required to sustain the initial
economic growth in Phase 1. These measures should support
technologies that drive efficiencies and reflect the work force
reality post COVID-19.
*P
hase 3: Additional medium and long-term supports that create a
prosperous transition to a knowledge-based, innovative economy
that engineers are key in helping create and sustain.
OSPE's goal is to make sure engineers are put in a position to
thrive once the economy begins reopening. Promoting public safety
and the environment, while advancing a diverse and inclusive
society must be reflected in government plans moving forward.
The recommendations made to date include:
Phase 1: Provincial
1. Adopt, in the immediate term, the recommendations presented
by the Construction & Design Alliance of Ontario (CDAO) in
their letter dated April 22, 2020.
2. Support small and medium sized engineering firms by tackling
increasing liability insurance costs through regulatory reform.
3. Provide further relief to Ontario's businesses and families by
making surplus electricity available at current market rates.
4. Work with the Federal Government to upgrade and modernize
the digital infrastructure that will ensure businesses and
workers succeed.
5. Support local manufacturing innovation and production
Phase 2: Provincial
1. Implement a clear and transparent analytical process to review
new and existing programs, policies and initiatives in order to
identify who in Ontario will benefit, who might be harmed and

THE VOICE Fall 2020

who will be left out - as part of the approval and provincial
funding process.
2. Work towards a sustainable transition, by encouraging the use
of Distributed Energy Resources (DERs) and emissions free
technology.
3. Accelerate the electrification of the transportation system,
including EV adoption.
4. Modernize Ontario's Building Code.
5. Invest in talent development, knowledge training, and supports
for engineers across the province.
6. S
upport engineering students and recent engineering graduates.
7. Drive the transformation of engineering education.
8. Create a dedicated fund to support Ontario businesses in
Research and Development (R&D) activities with a strong
focus on local commercialization, including development
and protection of Intellectual Property (IP) for Ontario and
Canada's benefit.
9. Invest in Ontario's Mining Industry to ensure proper clean-up
of Ontario's orphaned and abandoned sites.
10. Improve home affordability by eliminating the HST on new
construction home purchases.

ON THE WEB

For more information on these recommendations, and
to view both Provincial and Federal letters please visit
https://ospe.on.ca/covid-19-updates-from-ospe/.
We look forward to continuing to connect with our
members and discuss the long-term economic recovery
of our province and country.

https://ospe.on.ca/covid-19-updates-from-ospe/

OSPE - The Voice - Fall 2020

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