Construction Labour & Employment Relations Conference
December 4 - 5, 2023 old mill Toronto, Ontario
Construction Labour &
Employment Relations Conference
Building Relationships
that matter
The Construction Labour & Employment Relations Conference is uniquely designed to foster relevant and timely discussion driven by the needs of senior executives and professionals representing Canadian building trades unions and construction employers.
Through candid debate, panel discussions and expert-led presentations, seasoned practitioners and leading advisors will examine significant legislative developments and emerging labour relations trends to uncover real-world solutions that address evolving construction industry challenges.
Join your peers and partners in a collegial and neutral setting that promotes the spirit of bipartisanship to share ideas, exchange perspectives and strengthen relationships that matter.
Continuing Professional Development
The Construction Labour & Employment Relations Conference provides an education-focused executive networking environment for earning required continuing education. Substantive and EDI Professionalism content hours will be updated upon accreditation.
Conference chairs
Richard J. Charney
Senior Partner
Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP
Alan M. Minsky, K.C.
Counsel
Koskie Minsky LLP
Richard J. Charney
Senior Partner
Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP
Read Profile
Alan M. Minsky, K.C.
Counsel
Koskie Minsky LLP
Read Profile
Conference chairs
Richard J. Charney
Global Head of Employment & Labour
Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP
Alan M. Minsky, Q.C.
Partner
Koskie Minsky LLP
Richard J. Charney
Senior Partner
Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP
Alan M. Minsky, K.C.
Counsel
Koskie Minsky LLP
Featured Speakers
Keynotes
Brian O'Byrne
Chair
Ontario Labour Relations Board
Luncheon Keynote
Geoff Smith
Executive Chair
EllisDon Corporation
Hon. Monte McNaughton
Minister of Labour, Training and Skills Development
Government of Ontario
MPP Lambton-Kent Middlesex
Read Profile
FEATURED SPEAKERS
Keynotes
luncheon Keynote
Brian O'Byrne
Chair
Ontario Labour Relations Board
Geoff Smith
Executive Chair
EllisDon Corporation
Dean Ardron
Managing Partner
Ursel Phillips Fellows Hopkinson LLP
Melissa Atkins-Mahaney
Labour Relations Manager & Counsel
International Union of Operating Engineers, Local 793
David J. Bannon
Partner
Hicks Morley Hamilton Stewart Storie LLP
Benjamin A. Barnes
Partner
Gibson & Barnes LLP
Tony Fanelli
Executive Director
Construction Labour Relations Association of Ontario
Bernard Fishbein
Mediator & Adjudicator,
Former Chair
Ontario Labour Relations Board
Stephanie Hobbs
Partner
Goldblatt Partners LLP
Katherine Jacobs
Director of Research
Ontario Construction Secretariat
Inna Koldorf
Partner,
Employment & Labour Law
KPMG Law LLP
Erin R. Kuzz
Partner
Sherrard Kuzz LLP
Lindsay Lawrence
Alternate Chair
Ontario Labour Relations Board
Michael McFadden
Vice-Chair
Ontario Labour Relations Board
Sean McFarling
General Counsel
LiUNA OPDC &
LiUNA CECOF
Patrick McManus
Executive Director
Ontario Sewer and Watermain Construction Association, Greater Toronto Sewer and Watermain Contractors’ Association
Tiffany O’Hearn Davies
Senior Associate
Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP
Jason Ottey
Director of Government Relations and Communications
LiUNA Local 183
Board Member
Skilled Trades Ontario
Carl W. Peterson
Partner
Filion Wakely Thorup Angeletti LLP
Ernie A. Schirru
Partner
Koskie Minsky LLP
Michael G. Sherrard
Managing Partner
Sherrard Kuzz LLP
Chair
Skilled Trades Ontario
Jack J. Slaughter
Vice-Chair
Ontario Labour Relations Board
James St. John
Business Manager
Central Ontario Building Trades
Financial Secretary & Director
Hammer Heads
Sean Strickland
Executive Director
Canada’s Building Trades Unions
Walter R. Thornton
Partner
Mathews, Dinsdale & Clark LLP
Elizabeth M. Traynor
Partner
Siskinds LLP
Graham Williamson
General Counsel
LiUNA Local 183
Melissa D. Young
Chief Executive Officer and Registrar
Skilled Trades Ontario
Dean Ardron
Managing Partner
Ursel Phillips Fellows Hopkinson LLP
Melissa Atkins-Mahaney
Labour Relations Manager & Counsel
International Union of Operating Engineers, Local 793
Read Profile
David J. Bannon
Partner
Hicks Morley Hamilton Stewart Storie LLP
Read Profile
Benjamin A. Barnes
Partner
Gibson & Barnes LLP
Tony Fanelli
Executive Director
Construction Labour Relations Association of Ontario
Bernard Fishbein
Mediator & Adjudicator,
Former Chair
Ontario Labour Relations Board
Stephanie Hobbs
Partner
Goldblatt Partners LLP
Katherine Jacobs
Director of Research
Ontario Construction Secretariat
Read Profile
Inna Koldorf
Partner, Employment & Labour Law
KPMG Law LLP
Erin R. Kuzz
Partner
Sherrard Kuzz LLP
Read Profile
Lindsay Lawrence
Alternate Chair
Ontario Labour Relations Board
Michael McFadden
Vice-Chair
Ontario Labour Relations Board
Sean McFarling
General Counsel
LiUNA OPDC & LiUNA CECOF
Read Profile
Patrick McManus
Executive Director
Ontario Sewer and Watermain Construction Association,
Greater Toronto Sewer and Watermain Contractors’ Association
Tiffany O’Hearn Davies
Senior Associate
Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP
Read Profile
Jason Ottey
Director of Government Relations and Communications
LiUNA Local 183
Board Member
Skilled Trades Ontario
Carl W. Peterson
Partner
Filion Wakely Thorup Angeletti LLP
Read Profile
Ernie A. Schirru
Partner
Koskie Minsky LLP
Michael G. Sherrard
Managing Partner
Sherrard Kuzz LLP
Chair
Skilled Trades Ontario
Jack J. Slaughter
Vice-Chair
Ontario Labour Relations Board
Read Profile
James St. John
Business Manager
Central Ontario Building Trades
Financial Secretary & Director
Hammer Heads
Sean Strickland
Executive Director
Canada’s Building Trades Unions
Walter R. Thornton
Partner
Mathews, Dinsdale & Clark LLP
Elizabeth M. Traynor
Partner
Siskinds LLP
Read Profile
Graham Williamson
General Counsel
LiUNA Local 183
Melissa D. Young
Chief Executive Officer and Registrar
Skilled Trades Ontario
Katherine Jacobs
Director of Research
Ontario Construction Secretariat
Read Profile
Inna Koldorf
Partner, Employment & Labour
KPMG Law LLP
Brian O'Byrne
Chair
Ontario Labour Relations Board
Michael G. Sherrard
Managing Partner
Sherrard Kuzz LLP
Jack J. Slaughter
Vice-Chair
Ontario Labour Relations Board
Read Profile
Sean Strickland
Executive Director
Canada’s Building Trades Unions
Dean Ardron
Partner
Ursel Phillips Fellows Hopkinson LLP
Read Profile
David J. Bannon
Partner
Hicks Morley Hamilton Stewart Storie LLP
Read Profile
Benjamin A. Barnes
Partner
Gibson & Barnes LLP
Kathryn Carpentier
Partner
CaleyWray
Read Profile
Aminah Hanif
Associate
Cavalluzzo LLP
Read Profile
Elizabeth M. Traynor
Partner
Siskinds LLP
Read Profile
Tom Mackay
Director, Health and Safety
Electrical Contractors Association of Ontario
Read Profile
Alexis Mantello-Clement
Director of Labour Relations & Legal Counsel
EllisDon Corporation
Read Profile
Sean McFarling
General Counsel
LiUNA OPDC & LiUNA CECOF
Read Profile
Jeffrey D. A. Murray
Partner
Stringer LLP
Read Profile
Tiffany O’Hearn Davies
Senior Associate
Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP
Read Profile
Carl W. Peterson
Partner
Filion Wakely Thorup Angeletti LLP
Read Profile
Emma Phillips
Partner
Goldblatt Partners LLP
Read Profile
Merissa Preston
Partnerships & Business Development
LiUNA Local 506 Training Centre
Read Profile
Daniel Shields
Partner
Shields O’Donnell MacKillop LLP
Read Profile
Aaron Sinclair
Registered Psychotherapist, Executive Director
De Novo Treatment Centre
Jack J. Slaughter
Vice-Chair
Ontario Labour Relations Board
Read Profile
Margaret Taylor
Executive Director
Ontario Association of Demolition Contractors
Read Profile
Carmine Tiano
Director of Occupational Services
Provincial Building & Construction Trades Council of Ontario
Read Profile
Elizabeth M. Traynor
Partner
Siskinds LLP
Read Profile
Graham Williamson
Senior Legal Counsel
LiUNA Local 183
Read Profile
Key Themes and highlights
- Collective Bargaining 2022: One-off or harbinger of the future?
- Confronting the Skilled Labour Shortage: What is the impact? What are the obstacles? What are the solutions?
- The real deal on the new model replacing OCOT: Implementation of a new apprenticeship and skilled trades system in Ontario.
- Ontario’s Construction Economy and Industry Outlook.
- Recent and important Ontario Labour Relations Board decisions: What they mean and why they are important.
- Challenges and Opportunities: Digitization and the Drive towards Sustainability in Construction
- Human Rights and Diversity, Equity & Inclusion in Construction: What more can we do as an industry to foster a more inclusive and positive workplace culture and avoid liabilities.
- Fitness for duty, drug and alcohol testing, and workplace safety: Union- and employer-side perspectives.
- Discipline, Discharge and Non-Culpable Termination
- Re-examining the province-wide bargaining scheme and designation orders in the ICI Sector of the construction industry
- And much more…
Key Themes and highlights
- Collective Bargaining 2022: One-off or harbinger of the future?
- Confronting the Skilled Labour Shortage: What is the impact? What are the obstacles? What are the solutions?
- The real deal on the new model replacing OCOT: Implementation of a new apprenticeship and skilled trades system in Ontario.
- Ontario’s Construction Economy and Industry Outlook.
- Recent and important Ontario Labour Relations Board decisions: What they mean and why they are important.
- Challenges and Opportunities: Digitization and the Drive towards Sustainability in Construction
- Human Rights and Diversity, Equity & Inclusion in Construction: What more can we do as an industry to foster a more inclusive and positive workplace culture and avoid liabilities.
- Fitness for duty, drug and alcohol testing, and workplace safety: Union- and employer-side perspectives.
- Discipline, Discharge and Non-Culpable Termination
- Re-examining the province-wide bargaining scheme and designation orders in the ICI Sector of the construction industry
- And much more…
NEW! practical workshop
The Nuts and Bolts of Ontario Construction Labour Law
An informal description for the newly initiated
DECEMBER 6, 2023 | 8:00am – 1:00pm
Enhance your professional development by leveraging the knowledge of two seasoned leaders specializing in construction labour law with more than six decades of combined experience.
Key areas* to be covered include:
- Construction Industry in Ontario: Adapting to the Commercial Structure
- Hiring Halls
- Historical Perspective
- Craft Unionism
- Accreditation
- Sector
- Consequences of Accreditation
- Province-Wide Bargaining
- Certification in the ICI Sector
- After Certification
- Contracting Out/Subcontracting
- Employer in the Construction Industry
- Dispute Resolution: Arbitration and Jurisdictional Disputes *This list is not exhaustive
Ernie A. Schirru
Partner
Koskie Minsky LLP
Workshop Leaders:
Richard J. Charney
Senior Partner
Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP
Gain a Competitive Advantage in Construction
Whether you are a more seasoned labour relations practitioner who is interested in expanding your opportunities in the growing construction industry or a junior to mid-level professional aiming to be the next rising star, this intensive workshop has been designed to provide you with the practical information and guidance needed to help you quickly navigate the unique world of construction labour law.
The workshop and networking opportunities have been created for the purpose and benefit of the following participants:
- Labour Relation Lawyers interested in Construction
- Junior Lawyers and Associates
- Junior- to Mid-Level In-House Legal Counsel
- New Business Managers & Representatives
- Junior- to Mid-Level Construction Association Executives
- HR and Labour Relations Professionals in the Construction Industry
- Legal Assistants supporting Lawyers practicing Construction Law
- Articling Students
Roll up your sleeves for this intensive workshop and benefit from the opportunity to thoroughly understand the fundamentals of construction law, ask the questions you want, and get the answers you need. Acquire the ability to confidently deal with the crucial elements of construction labour relations.
Workshop registration is inclusive of networking breakfast, morning refreshment break and lunch with your peers and partners.
NEW! practical workshop
The Nuts and Bolts of Ontario Construction Labour Law
An informal description for the newly initiated
DECEMBER 6, 2023 | 8:00am – 1:00pm
Enhance your professional development by leveraging the knowledge of two seasoned leaders specializing in construction labour law with more than six decades of combined experience.
Workshop Leaders:
Richard J. Charney
Senior Partner
Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP
Labour Relations
Ernie A. Schirru
Partner
Koskie Minsky LLP
Construction Labour Law
Key areas* to be covered include:
- Construction Industry in Ontario: Adapting to the Commercial Structure
- Hiring Halls
- Historical Perspective
- Craft Unionism
- Accreditation
- Sector
- Consequences of Accreditation
OLD MILL TORONTO
- Province-Wide Bargaining
- Certification in the ICI Sector
- After Certification
- Contracting Out/Subcontracting
- Employer in the Construction Industry
- Dispute Resolution: Arbitration and Jurisdictional Disputes *This list is not exhaustive
Gain a Competitive Advantage in Construction
Whether you are a more seasoned labour relations practitioner who is interested in expanding your opportunities in the growing construction industry or a junior to mid-level professional aiming to be the next rising star, this intensive workshop has been designed to provide you with the practical information and guidance needed to help you quickly navigate the unique world of construction labour law.
The workshop and networking opportunities have been created for the purpose and benefit of the following participants:
- Labour Relation Lawyers interested in Construction
- Junior Lawyers and Associates
- Junior- to Mid-Level In-House Legal Counsel
- New Business Managers & Representatives
- Junior- to Mid-Level Construction Association Executives
- HR and Labour Relations Professionals in the Construction Industry
- Legal Assistants supporting Lawyers practicing Construction Law
- Articling Students
Roll up your sleeves for this intensive workshop and benefit from the opportunity to thoroughly understand the fundamentals of construction law, ask the questions you want, and get the answers you need. Acquire the ability to confidently deal with the crucial elements of construction labour relations.
Workshop registration is inclusive of networking breakfast, morning refreshment break and lunch with your peers and partners.
NEW! practical workshop
The Nuts and Bolts of Ontario Construction Labour Law
An informal description for the newly initiated
DECEMBER 6, 2023 | 8:00am – 1:00pm
Enhance your professional development by leveraging the knowledge of two seasoned leaders specializing in construction labour law with more than six decades of combined experience.
- Province-Wide Bargaining
- Certification in the ICI Sector
- After Certification
- Contracting Out/Subcontracting
- Employer in the Construction Industry
- Dispute Resolution: Arbitration and Jurisdictional Disputes *This list is not exhaustive
Key areas* to be covered include:
- Construction Industry in Ontario: Adapting to the Commercial Structure
- Hiring Halls
- Historical Perspective
- Craft Unionism
- Accreditation
- Sector
- Consequences of Accreditation
Labour Relations
Ernie A. Schirru
Partner
Koskie Minsky LLP
Workshop Leaders:
Richard J. Charney
Senior Partner
Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP
Gain a Competitive Advantage in the Construction Industry
Whether you are a more seasoned labour relations practitioner who is interested in expanding your opportunities in the growing construction industry or a junior to mid-level professional aiming to be the next rising star, this intensive workshop has been designed to provide you with the practical information and guidance needed to help you quickly navigate the unique world of construction labour law.
The workshop and networking opportunities have been created for the purpose and benefit of the following participants:
- Labour Relation Lawyers interested in Construction
- Junior Lawyers and Associates
- Junior- to Mid-Level In-House Legal Counsel
- New Business Managers & Representatives
- Junior- to Mid-Level Construction Association Executives
- HR and Labour Relations Professionals in the Construction Industry
- Legal Assistants supporting Lawyers practicing Construction Law
- Articling Students
Roll up your sleeves for this intensive workshop and benefit from the opportunity to thoroughly understand the fundamentals of construction law, ask the questions you want, and get the answers you need. Acquire the ability to confidently deal with the crucial elements of construction labour relations.
Workshop registration is inclusive of networking breakfast, morning refreshment break and lunch with your peers and partners.
Conference and workshop Registration
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Construction Labour Relations Construction Labour Relations Construction Labour Relations
CONFERENCE:
December 4-5, 2023
Practical Workshop:
December 6, 2023 | 8:00am - 1:00pm
Conference Venue
Old Mill Toronto
21 Old Mill Rd
Toronto, ON M8X 1G5
Tel: (416) 236-2641
Contact
Forum Director
Gene Beil
Email: gene.beil@vertraforums.com
Tel: +1 (416) 900-0963
vertraforums.com
Office Address
VERTRA Forums, Inc.
20 Bay Street, Suite 1100
Toronto, ON M5J 2N8
Canada
