Lobbying Information
Subject Matters
- Budget
- Economic Development
- Government Procurement
- Health
- Infrastructure
- International Development
- International Trade
- Labour
- Taxation and Finance
Subject Matter Details
Grant, Contribution or Other Financial Benefit, Policies or Program, Regulation
- Undertake initiatives to support newcomers and mental health in the construction industry.
Legislative Proposal, Bill or Resolution
- Drafting submissions for government-led consultations on the gig economy and Just Transition.
Policies or Program
- Communicating with government officials about mental health initiatives in the construction industry, including the Merit Mental Health First Aid Kit. The goal of these communications is to inform government officials of private-sector mental health initiatives -- and to secure support for private-sector mental health initiatives.
- Community-Benefit Agreements (also known as social procurement), that may be a requirement of any federal-provincial-territorial infrastructure agreements and funding. Lobbying specifically related to construction, infrastructure, commercial and industrial issues.
- Economic policy relating to: the development and implementation of economic policies that reflect market realities, support for future economic sustainability and growth; economic certainty for open shop contractors; skilled labour shortages and supports free movement of labour across Canada: infrastructure investment; and, controls for commodity price volatility. Activities include submitting input during the budget consultation.
- Employment Insurance: Participating in government-led consultations on the modernization of the Employment Insurance (EI) program, more specifically about the impact on workers in the construction industry” to the list of subject matters.
- Engaging with government regarding the country’s COVID-19 virus response and the potential impact on the Open Shop Construction Industry and health and welfare benefits to its contractors
- National Infrastructure Assessment: Communicating with government officials about the design and establishment of the ‘National Infrastructure Assessment’, more specifically about the construction industry’s role in planning, building and maintaining infrastructure
- National Pharmacare program. The impact of a Canadian Drug Agency or related body, a pharmacare universal model, and the differences between a single-payer versus fill-in-the-gap model. Relating to the national framework as well as the provincial jurisdictions.
- Open tendering versus closed tendering. Supporting competition in the construction industry based only on price and productivity while ensuring a level playing field between non-unionized workers and contractors when competing for work against unionized workers and contractors. Lobbying related to construction, infrastructure, commercial and industrial issues.
- Suicide Prevention: Participating in government-led consultations on the creation of a 3-digit phone number (similar to 9-1-1) for mental health emergencies. The number would be used to connect individuals to appropriate mental health crisis services and suicide prevention services in their geographic area.
Communication Techniques
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Written communication
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Oral communication
Government Institutions
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Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC)
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Finance Canada (FIN)
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House of Commons
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Infrastructure Canada (INFC)
In-house Organization Details
Description of the organization's activities
Merit National Open Shop Advocacy Ltd. (operating in conjunction with the Merit Contractors Association) is incorporated under the federal Not-for-profit Corporations Act. It provides comprehensive group health benefits and training, mental health, and human resource tools to its members in the construction industry. Its 1,700 member companies employ more than 50,000 people.
Responsible officer name and position during the period of this registration
Malcolm Kirkland,
President/Chief Executive Officer
Organization's membership or classes of membership
The Corporation is authorized to establish Class "A" Members and Class "B" Members as follows:
1) The Class "A" Members shall be entitled to receive notice of and to attend all meetings of the Members of the Corporation and each Class "A" Member shall have one (1) vote at each such meeting, except for meetings at which only Members of another Class are entitled to vote separately as a Class;
2) Except as otherwise provided by the Canada Not-For-Profit Corporations Act, S.C. 2009, c. 23 the Class "B" Members shall not be entitled to receive notice of, attend or vote at meetings of the Members of the Corporation.
Government funding
No government funding was received during the last completed financial year.
In-house Organization Contact Information
Address:
13025 St. Albert Trail
103
Edmonton, AB T5L 4H5
Canada
Telephone number:
780-455-5999
Ext.
189
Lobbyists Details
Employees who lobby for the organization
- Elizabeth Hammell,
Director, Client Services |
No public offices held
- Malcolm Kirkland,
President/Chief Executive Officer |
No public offices held
- Glenna Laing,
Senior Director of Workforce Development |
No public offices held
- Line Porfon,
Chief External Relations Officer |
No public offices held