Home builders pleased as some activities set to resume
By Jenn Watt
The
provincial government’s decision to allow some construction activities
to resume was good news for the Haliburton County Home Builders’
Association, which issued a press release on Friday, May 1 praising the
decision.
provincial government’s decision to allow some construction activities
to resume was good news for the Haliburton County Home Builders’
Association, which issued a press release on Friday, May 1 praising the
decision.
“Building new homes and communities is a long, complicated
process and requires different construction activities over a number of
seasons,” Keith Thomas, president of the local home builders’
association said. “Losing the entire construction season for site
servicing would be setting our local housing supply back, and risk the
homes that our clients are looking to move into next year. Under the new
provincial guidelines, we will continue to deliver homes safely today
and in the future.”
process and requires different construction activities over a number of
seasons,” Keith Thomas, president of the local home builders’
association said. “Losing the entire construction season for site
servicing would be setting our local housing supply back, and risk the
homes that our clients are looking to move into next year. Under the new
provincial guidelines, we will continue to deliver homes safely today
and in the future.”
As of May 4, the province is permitting work to
resume in several areas, including site preparation, excavation, and
servicing for institutional, commercial, industrial and residential
development.
Those activities had previously ceased as a precaution to limit the potential spread of COVID-19.
The
home builders’ association said earthworks and site grading allow for
physical distancing as each operator is in their own machine and noted
that site grading is essential to every construction site.
“In
addition, the decision allows for site and land-servicing projects to
commence or continue new residential, industrial, commercial and
institutional developments. Underground servicing, the installation of
stormwater controls, water pipes, sanitary sewer pipes, road
construction, including curbs and sidewalk, landscape works, trails,
parks and utilities (telecommunications, water, gas, electricity, etc.)
are necessary for the activation of new homes and eventual occupancy,”
the press release states.
resume in several areas, including site preparation, excavation, and
servicing for institutional, commercial, industrial and residential
development.
Those activities had previously ceased as a precaution to limit the potential spread of COVID-19.
The
home builders’ association said earthworks and site grading allow for
physical distancing as each operator is in their own machine and noted
that site grading is essential to every construction site.
“In
addition, the decision allows for site and land-servicing projects to
commence or continue new residential, industrial, commercial and
institutional developments. Underground servicing, the installation of
stormwater controls, water pipes, sanitary sewer pipes, road
construction, including curbs and sidewalk, landscape works, trails,
parks and utilities (telecommunications, water, gas, electricity, etc.)
are necessary for the activation of new homes and eventual occupancy,”
the press release states.
“We are allowing certain businesses to
reopen under strict guidelines because we are confident they can operate
safely and adapt to the current environment,” Premier Doug Ford said in
an announcement Friday. “While further reductions in the spread are
needed before we can begin reopening the province, we have the right
framework and the right workplace guidelines in place to do so gradually
and safely.”
Sixty guidelines have been established to help
employers reopen workplaces safely to protect workers, customers and the
public, according to the government.
reopen under strict guidelines because we are confident they can operate
safely and adapt to the current environment,” Premier Doug Ford said in
an announcement Friday. “While further reductions in the spread are
needed before we can begin reopening the province, we have the right
framework and the right workplace guidelines in place to do so gradually
and safely.”
Sixty guidelines have been established to help
employers reopen workplaces safely to protect workers, customers and the
public, according to the government.
The home builders said the
industry supports shuttering any site not respecting the Ministry of
Labour’s guidelines for construction site health and safety during the
COVID-19 pandemic.
“We all want safe job sites,” said Joe Vaccaro,
Ontario Home Builders Association CEO. “Adding these new construction
activities along with new provincial COVID-19 health and safety
guidelines means members will continue to focus on worker safety while
delivering keys to the thousands of families waiting for their homes to
be completed. We can keep each other safe while delivering housing
supply across Ontario.”
industry supports shuttering any site not respecting the Ministry of
Labour’s guidelines for construction site health and safety during the
COVID-19 pandemic.
“We all want safe job sites,” said Joe Vaccaro,
Ontario Home Builders Association CEO. “Adding these new construction
activities along with new provincial COVID-19 health and safety
guidelines means members will continue to focus on worker safety while
delivering keys to the thousands of families waiting for their homes to
be completed. We can keep each other safe while delivering housing
supply across Ontario.”
Other work permitted to resume as of May 4:
Garden centres and nurseries with curbside pick-up and delivery only;
Lawn care and landscaping;
Additional essential construction projects that include:
shipping and logistics;
broadband, telecommunications, and digital infrastructure;
any other project that supports the improved delivery of goods and services;
municipal projects;
colleges and universities;
child care centres;
schools; and
site preparation, excavation, and servicing for institutional, commercial, industrial and residential development;
Automatic and self-serve car washes;
Auto dealerships, open by appointment only;
Golf courses may prepare their courses for the upcoming season, but not open to the public; and
Marinas
may also begin preparations for the recreational boating season by
servicing boats and other watercraft and placing boats in the water, but
not open to the public. Boats and watercraft must be secured to a dock
in the marina until public access is allowed.
Lawn care and landscaping;
Additional essential construction projects that include:
shipping and logistics;
broadband, telecommunications, and digital infrastructure;
any other project that supports the improved delivery of goods and services;
municipal projects;
colleges and universities;
child care centres;
schools; and
site preparation, excavation, and servicing for institutional, commercial, industrial and residential development;
Automatic and self-serve car washes;
Auto dealerships, open by appointment only;
Golf courses may prepare their courses for the upcoming season, but not open to the public; and
Marinas
may also begin preparations for the recreational boating season by
servicing boats and other watercraft and placing boats in the water, but
not open to the public. Boats and watercraft must be secured to a dock
in the marina until public access is allowed.
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