On Wednesday, April 15, 2020, the Town of Whitby released the most updated version of the Whitby Green Standard, the planning tool the Town is developing to help advance sustainable new development across the Town.
You can view the documents here
DRHBA's government relations (GR) committee has reviewed the documents and have found some items that members should be aware of. The Whitby Green Standard includes multiple tiers, and Tier 1 is mandatory.
The first, and most important, item that needs your attention is under the Performance Measures section, item ECC 1.7 - Building Energy Performance, which reads that for low-rise residential development, the criteria would be: "Design the building(s) to achieve at least ENERGY STAR® for New Homes, version 17 or R-2000 requirements." This criteria would require builders to build to better than code, and require more than what is mandated in the Ontario Building Code. Item ECC 1.6 - Building Energy Performance - for residential buildings four storeys or more and non-residential buildings, the criteria is "Design the building to achieve 15% improvement over OBC, SB-10, Division 3 (2017); OR TEUI, TEDI and GHGI targets by building type (required for Tier 2)."
DRHBA's team evaluated the entire Tier 1 Site Plan Application Checklist included in the documents, and feel that members should take note of the following items:
Equity and Local Economy: Creating safe, equitable places to live and work which support local prosperity and international fair trade.
ELE 1.1 - Affordable Housing
Culture and Community: Nurturing local identity and heritage, empowering communities and promoting a culture of sustainable living.
CC1.2 - Outdoor Amenity Space
CC1.3 - Cultural Heritage Resources
Land Use and Nature: Protecting and restoring land for the benefit of people and wildlife.
LUN1.4 - Tree Canopy
Sustainable Water: Using water efficiently, protecting local water resources and reducing flooding and drought.
SW1.2 - Residential Driveways and/or Parking Lots
Travel and Transport: Reducing the need to travel, and encouraging walking, cycling and low carbon transport.
TT1.12 - Bike Storage - Short Term
o Non-residential: 2.5% of peak visitors
o Multi-unit residential: 2.5% of peak visitors
o Retail: 2 spaces for every 465 sqm
o Mixed-use: See above requirements
Energy & Climate Change: Making buildings and manufacturing energy efficient and supplying all energy with renewables.
ECC1.3 - Passive Solar Orientation
ECC1.8 - Building Resilience - For residential buildings four storey or more and non-residential buildings
These mandatory criteria will apply to new applications submitted after June 2020 for draft plans of subdivision and Site Plans.
You can send your comments to the Town via an online survey no later than Friday, April 24.
The Town is also hosting a stakeholder consultation session on Wednesday, April 29 from 10 a.m. - noon. Please register here.
The Durham Region Home Builders' Association will also be submitting their comments to the Town.
New order issued to support people with mental health and addictions issues
TORONTO — On the advice of the Chief Medical Officer of Health, the Ontario government is extending all emergency orders that have been put in place to-date under s.7.0.2 (4) of the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act until May 6, 2020. This extension will help protect the health and well-being of people across the province and stop the spread of COVID-19.
This Emergency Order extension includes the closure of outdoor amenities in parks and recreational areas, non-essential workplaces, public places and bars and restaurants, along with restrictions on social gatherings and limiting staff from working in more than one retirement home or long-term care home.
"We are making steady progress in our battle against this deadly virus, but we are not out of the woods by a long shot. It is absolutely necessary to extend these emergency orders to continue keeping all Ontarians safe and healthy," said Premier Doug Ford. "Every effort made by each of us to stay home, practise physical distancing and wash your hands has been, and will continue to be, the key to stopping the spread of this virus."
In addition, the government has introduced a new measure to allow mental health and addictions agencies to redeploy staff within different locations or between programs, and employ extra part-time staff, temporary staff or contractors in order to ensure people continue receiving the high quality care they expect and deserve during the COVID-19 outbreak. Agencies would be required to provide appropriate training and education to achieve the purposes of a redeployment plan.
MNP LLP has prepared a document to help employers and employees sort through the different benefit programs available during the COVID-19 pandemic.
This document includes information about the Canadian Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS), Temporary Wage Subsidy for Employers (TWS), Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB), Business Credit Availability Program (BCAP) and the Commercial Rent Assistance Program (CECRAP). The document also offers information on new income tax deadlines, the CRA My Business Account, and more.
View/download the document
EnerQuality's 2020 training will help you build better, tighter, healthier and more comfortable homes, and now you can receiving this training online and at an excellent price.
Enbridge Gas has made it possible for Ontario homebuilding professionals to register for these high performance new construction workshops at no cost. Eligible participants will receive up to three complimentary registrations.
All other participants will receive up to 95% off the original price.
Thanks to our forward-thinking partners and sponsors for making these workshop series possible.
Register today for one or more of these acclaimed workshops. But don't forget your team! We've created the Team Builder promotion just for you. For every three paid registrants from your organization, you'll receive one registration at no charge.
Advanced Building Science
May 7 & 8, 1 p.m. - 4 p.m. EST
$0/$19.95 (regular price $309)
Energy Star® for New Home V17 Builder Training
21 & 22, 1 p.m. - 4 p.m. EST
$0/$149 (regular price $309)
CHBA Net Zero/Net Zero Ready Builder Training (New)
June 1 & 2, 1 p.m. - 4 p.m. EST
$0/$249 (regular price $899)
While many workplaces remain closed to due Ontario's mandatory shutdowns, some essential workplaces are grappling with ensuring sufficient employee attendance to meet their businesses' operational needs.
Generally, while an employer cannot seek a medical certificate to confirm that an employee is ill or exhibiting COVID-19 related symptoms, an employer may require an employee who takes declared emergency leave or infectious disease emergency leave to provide evidence reasonable in the circumstances to substantiate the leave. Further, a preference to be placed on lay-off to enable access to the CERB or other benefits is not a valid reason to refuse work, absent special circumstances that engage human rights considerations. In many cases, employees without special needs may be expected to abide by the employer's regular attendance policies and will not be entitled to refuse work unless they have engaged in a valid work refusal under the Occupational Health and Safety Act.
In view of the multiple competing considerations arising in the circumstances, attendance issues must be addressed on a case-by-case basis. If your essential workplace is facing attendance management issues, you are encourage to contact Templeman LLP for advice specific to your workforce.
-Templeman LLP
Follow @LlpTempleman for daily updates and information.
To OHBA Renovator Members,
It has been said many times already, but to say it again, we are facing unprecedented times. I know personally how hard the renovation sector has been hit by the COVID-19 State of Emergency as many of our existing projects have been postponed by homeowners.
Pioneer Craftsman has been in business for over 65 years. We have survived the 1990 recession, survived the 2008-2009 financial crisis, and we are preparing to survive this current COVID-19 State of Emergency.
Through OHBA, we are reaching our to the renovator membership to focus in on renovator and trade contractor specific issues and potential initiatives that can be presented to the provincial government.
Through the OHBA Renovators' Council, we will be hosting a Zoom Renovator Roundtable on Thursday, April 23, at 2 p.m. to discuss the current challenges and initiatives we will need from the government to help support us during this time and into the recovery phase.
As always, be safe, practice social distancing, and we are all in this together.
Thank you,
Jamie Adam
Chair of the OHBA Renovators' Council
President of Pioneer Craftsman
Past-President of WRHBA
DRHBA would like to thank all of its builder members that took time out of their busy schedules to calculate how the Community Benefits Charge (CBC) could potentially impact their business, and to write a letter to the Ministry telling them how this charge will impact affordability.
The Durham Region Home Builders' Association also sent in a letter expressing our concerns that the charge could potentially add tens of thousands of dollars to the cost of a home in Durham Region.
The Ontario Home Builders' Association, whose staff have really led the charge on advocacy on this issue, also submitted a letter to the province.
We know that our members' letters will be read and they will make a difference. There is still more work to be done, but together we can help make housing in Durham Region more affordable.
To help builders comply with health & safety guidelines during the COVID-19 pandemic, Reliance is offering wash station tanks at cost.
Click here for technical specs
Click here for representative information
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced today that applications for the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) will be open on April 27.
The Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy is a program designed to help employers that have been impacted by the pandemic and to help Canadians stay employed.
The subsidy could cover up to 75% of an employee's wages (to a maximum of $847 per week). Employers who have seen a drop in gross revenue of at least 15% in March and 30% in April and May are eligible for the subsidy - regardless of the size of the business. The program is available for 12 weeks, from March 15 to June 6, 2020.
The federal government also has an online calculator is available to help employers determine how much their subsidy may be. You can also determine if your company is eligible, which employees are eligible and how to apply on April 27.
Click here for the calculator and eligibility information
The Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board (KPRDSB) and the Peterborough Victoria Northumberland and Clarington Catholic District School Board (PVNCCDSB) boards were reviewing their bylaws to be renewed in June because their bylaws were expiring at the end of June. However, with the passing of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Support and Protection Act last week, the boards now have the opportunity to extend their bylaws for up to six months after the termination of the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act.
DRHBA has been in touch with Watson & Associates, the consultant retained by the boards, and they have told us that the school boards are going to extend their existing bylaws until at least September, and there will be no public meetings or public engagement at this time.
View/Download the Background Study
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Phone: 905-579-8080
Email: info@drhba.com
Address:
1-1255 Terwillegar Avenue
Oshawa, Ontario
L1J 7A4
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