OTTAWA, March 8, 2024 – With March 11 marking World Plumbing Day across the globe, the Mechanical Contractors Association of Canada (MCAC) is encouraging its members and all Canadians to take a moment to reflect on the important role plumbing plays in their day-to-day lives.

“On World Plumbing Day, we celebrate and recognize just how important the plumbing industry is in Canada and throughout the world,” said Charlie Webb, President and Chair of MCAC. “Plumbing serves as the backbone to our public health infrastructure. Whether it is clean drinking water or proper and efficient sanitation systems, plumbing should continue to be celebrated for safeguarding Canadians and the wellbeing of our communities.”

Beyond the immediate health implications in Canadian homes, schools, hospitals and businesses, the plumbing and mechanical contracting sector is a vital contributor to the Canadian economy. Across the country, plumbing and mechanical contractors are relied on in all aspects of Canada’s economy, as well as supporting the various sectors that rely on reliable water and sanitation systems.

“While we often take for granted the role that plumbing plays in our daily lives, World Plumbing Day provides an opportunity to celebrate this essential industry,” Webb continued. “I would encourage all Canadians to take a moment today to ‘Thank a Plumber’ and to recognize how fortunate we are to have a vibrant and capable plumbing and mechanical contracting sector in Canada.”

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“Any and all steps taken to encourage greater participation in the trades is welcomed by our industry and our association,” said MCAC CEO Tania Johnston. “We would also encourage the government to look at other creative ways to make the trades a more inclusive career choice. Last year we recommended that the government adopt tax deduction programs to reduce the often-higher cost of gender-specific PPE. This would help support the government’s goal of recruiting and retaining Canadians to the skilled trades, and help fill the labour shortage facing our sector.”

Cost and accessibility of gender-specific personal protective equipment (PPE) is a significant safety issue for women in the trades. A 2022 report from the CSA Group found that:

• 58 per cent of women use PPE that is the wrong size at least some of the time;
• 28 per cent don’t wear all the required PPE because of fit issues; and
• 38 per cent use a workaround to make their PPE fit.

In addition to the challenge of proper-fitting PPE, there is often an economic hardship: gender-specific PPE for women can cost up to twice as much as equipment for their male counterparts.

MCAC urges the federal government to implement a program modeled after the federal tradesperson’s tools expenses deduction, specifically aimed at women in the skilled trades, to help improve occupational health and safety and remove a barrier to entry for women seeking careers in the skilled trades.

“The Mechanical Contractors Association of Canada was pleased to see the Government of Canada’s announcement today on the 9-8-8 suicide crisis helpline.

Health and safety remains of critical importance to our industry, and mental health is no different. An accessible phone number that provides immediate support for those in crisis is welcomed by our industry.

We all have a role to play in removing the stigma around mental health, and to share the message that ‘it’s okay to not be okay.’”

At its 2023 Annual General Meeting, the Mechanical Contractors Association of Canada (MCAC) elected Charlie Webb, President and CEO of Anderson Webb Limited in Sarnia, Ontario, as President and Chair of the MCAC Board of Directors for 2023-2024. He is preceded by Derek Ermen of Moncton, New Brunswick.

“I am very excited to be stepping into the role of MCAC President during this busy and transformative time for the mechanical contracting sector in Canada,” said Webb. “Across the country our industry is dealing with unique challenges alongside exciting opportunities. Our sector has an essential part to play for a healthy Canadian economy, and our association is well-positioned to maximize that role on behalf of our members.”

Prior to its Annual General Meeting, the MCAC Board of Directors – alongside management of provincial and local mechanical contractor associations – undertook several days of strategic planning for the association. While there is still work being done on the new strategic plan, the themes of advocacy, growth, and innovation stood as critical pieces for MCAC moving forward.

As well, the association has recognized the significant challenges ahead with respect to availability of a skilled workforce, the need to advocate for and promote best practices in the industry, and the need to understand and educate how the transition to net zero will impact the mechanical contracting sector in the years ahead.

“What was clear during our strategic planning was that there is a significant role that MCAC will need to play in the years ahead,” Webb added. “As President and Chair, I am looking forward to seeing that planning process continue, and mapping out a clear strategy for the association moving forward. At the same time, we have a tremendous opportunity to raise the profile of our sector and the critical work we do across the country, and I am excited to take that on.”

Another important initiative highlighted by Webb was the role the association can play to elevate the value of Canada’s mechanical contracting sector, citing several key partnerships as a place to begin.

“As a national association, we are fortunate to have a number of organizations as partners that we can rely on and work closely with for the betterment of our industry,” he noted. “By working with these stakeholders – including government, labour, and industry associations—we can help to ensure that MCAC members are recognized as leaders, not just in our sector, but in the construction industry at large.”

The budget contained the least new funding or initiatives for the skilled trades in recent memory. This is a reflection of a deteriorating fiscal situation, as well as a sense among government officials that a tight labour market will an overheated construction sector should level off when interest rate hikes start to bite in the infrastructure space. There is a strong hesitation against doing anything that would quickly pour fuel on that fire and new funding
could only lead to further tightening and increased labour costs for construction businesses.

MCAC – Budget 2023 Summary