Summary of Bill 21 – the Non-Smokers Health Protection Act

(Various Acts Amended), Restrictions Respecting Smoking in Enclosed Public Places and Indoor Workplaces

Bill 21 is currently in Second Reading at the Manitoba Legislature and is expected to be law before the Legislature breaks for the summer on June 10, 2004. The original draft suggested that smoking would be banned on outdoor construction sites, this has since been removed. However, it may serve members and workers in the construction industry well to familiarize themselves with the new law to avoid difficulties or fines on the job site.

The restrictions and allowances of Bill 21 are as follows:

•  Smoking will be prohibited in all enclosed public places and indoor workplaces where the province has clear jurisdiction. It will not apply to federal works or undertakings or on lands reserved for Aboriginals.

The ban will apply to a vehicle used in the course of employment while it is carrying two or more employees.

•  The ban will not apply to outdoor eating and drinking areas, but will enable parameters to be set by regulation respecting when an outdoor area becomes "enclosed".

•  Smoking is to be banned in "group living facilities" such as personal care homes, hospital addictions units, hospital palliative care units and hospices, residential care facilities, residential addictions treatment facilities, residential shelters, children's group homes and treatment facilities. However, such facilities are to be allowed to have a designated smoking room if they choose to with the exception of group living facilities that are exclusively for children.

•  Hotels, motels, inns and bed-and-breakfast facilities are to continue to be allowed to have smoking guest rooms if they choose to. However, they will not be able to designate meeting rooms as smoking rooms.

•  Tobacconists are to continue to be able to allow the testing and sampling of products such as specially blended tobacco in their shops if they choose to.

•  Smoking rooms and tobacconist shops will be required to be physically separate from adjacent non-smoking areas and they will have to be separately ventilated if they are constructed or substantially renovated after the amendments come into force.

•  Owners, employers and/or other persons in charge of a place, area or vehicle (collectively defined as "proprietors" in the Bill) are to be responsible to enforce the ban in their enclosed public places and indoor workplaces. They will also be required to display signage in accordance with requirements established by regulation and ensure that there are no ashtrays in the places where smoking is prohibited.

•  Proprietors of premises where smoking rooms are permitted will be required to take reasonable steps to minimize drifting smoke.

•  The smoking prohibitions do not apply in relation to traditional Aboriginal spiritual or cultural practices or ceremonies.

•  The Minister will be empowered to appoint inspectors to enforce the legislation. Police officers will also be able to enforce it. The amendments will provide officials with necessary enforcement powers such as entry powers.

•  There will be minimum and maximum fines for non-compliance. Proprietors will be liable to:

(i) a fine of not less than $500 and not more than $3,000 for a first offence,

(ii) a fine of not less than $750 and not more than $5,000 for a second offence,

(iii) a fine of not less than $1,000 and not more than $15,000 for a third or subsequent offence.

•  Individuals who smoke in contravention of the legislation will be liable to:

(i) a fine of not less than $100 and not more than $500 for a first offence,

(ii) a fine of not less than $200 and not more than $750 for a second offence,

(iii) a fine of not less than $300 and not more than $1,000 for a third or subsequent offence.

In addition to the power to appoint inspectors, the Bill will consequentially amend The Workplace Safety and Health Act to provide the power to by regulation enable Workplace Safety and Health officials to enforce the ban in workplaces using workplace safety enforcement tools such as improvement orders.

For more information on Bill 21, The Non-Smokers Health Protection Act (Various Acts Amended), visit the following link: http://web2.gov.mb.ca/bills/sess/b021e.php.

Sold out crowd at Pine Ridge and Elmhurst

WCA's Annual Spring Golf Tournament took place on May 26, 2004 at Pine Ridge and Elmhurst Golf Clubs.  The event proved to be a success for the association and its members once again. The single damper of the day was the always uncontrollable "weather factor."  What started as a promising day from Mother Nature, no rain and even a few sunny moments, swiftly turned into a crisp and chilly cloudy afternoon, but the golfers and volunteers persevered to the bitter end. However, as this reporter learned, do not underestimate the power of the weatherman and thermal underwear, a mental note for the next outdoor even.

A consensus was also reached among the WCA and MCSA staff and the volunteers and hole sponsors from MTS media and AXA Pacific Insurance that we would all have felt a lot safer manning the holes while sporting hard hats. Ironically, not a single one was to be found, but not to fret as we are all well insured. Perhaps next tournament, your registration tickets will include the following reminder: Closest to the pin does NOT also mean “aim at the volunteer.” And on that note...

The WCA Golf Tournament Team Winners were comprised of:

Pine Ridge golfers Terry Driver, Paul Duncan, Darryl Berard and Kevin Aab, Derksen Plumbing and Heating, who all received a golf travel bag on wheels.

Other prize winners at Pine Ridge included:

• Hole #8, Chipping Contest, Sponsored by Manitoba Construction Safety Association, Prize: Golf Bag

Winner: Bruce Harris, Construction Labour Relations Association of Manitoba (CLRAM)

• Hole #14, Closest to the Hole, Sponsored by Lehigh Inland, Prize: Driver Winner: Mike Normandeau, Normandeau Roofing
• Hole #16, Closest to the Hole, Sponsored by Winnipeg Construction Association, Prize: Bike

Winner: Peter Wightman, Construction Labour Relations Association of Manitoba (CLRAM)

• Hole #18, Longest Drive, Sponsored by Lafarge Canada , Prize: Steel BBQ set & case

Winner: Mark Murray, All-Fab

The Elmhurst prize winning golfers were:

• Hole #8, Closest to the Hole, Sponsored by Winnipeg Construction Association, Prize: Bike

Winner: Walter Fuellbrandt, Otis

• Hole #10, Chipping Contest - Sponsored by Manitoba Construction Safety Association, Prize: Golf Bag,

Winner: Garth Evans, Midwest Engineering

• Hole #14, Closest to the Hole, Sponsored by Lehigh Inland, Prize: Driver,                                    Winner: Richard Wroblewski, R.J. Millwork
• Hole #17, Longest Drive, Sponsored by Lafarge Canada, Prize: Steel BBQ set & case

Winner: Mike Armstrong, Bituminex

Draw Winners:

Prize: 1 weekend golf package for two at Elkhorn Resort & Conference Centre

Winner: Brent Smith, Lafarge Canada

Prize: Garage Door opener courtesy of Overhead Door of Winnipeg, MB

Winner: John Harrison, Kenroc Building Materials

Prize: Hilti Canada Saw

Winner: John Neil

Prize: Webber Baby BBQ, courtesy of MTS Media

Winner: Jim Glanfield, Otis

Putting Contest draw for $100.00

Winner: Ray Dickinson, Manitoba Construction Safety Association

Raffle prize for the Jazz golf clubs and bag

Winner: Glen Jackson, Bockstael Construction

WCA would like to formally thank all participants, sponsors, staff and volunteers who made the event possible. We also extend a special thank you to United Rentals who, on their own accord, distributed promotional golf shirts. Hope to see you again at the fall tournament in Hecla.

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7th Annual Skills Canada Manitoba Competition

Winnipeg Convention Centre, May 26-30, 2004

Over 400 students from across Manitoba are competing in 40 different skilled trades and technology contests in Winnipeg from May 26th to 30th.  This year's competition also highlights the 60th anniversary of apprenticeship training in Manitoba as Skills Canada Manitoba also hosts the national competition for the first time. 

The competitions are open to the public's viewing at no charge during the day from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm on Friday and Saturday.

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City Crossings

Portage and Main Competition

On April 30, 2004, the winners of the City Crossing Winnipeg International Design Competition/2004 were announced as follows:

First Prize was awarded to Competition Entry Number 73 and composed of Registrant: Janet Rosenberg + Associates, Architect: Corbett Cibinel Architects, Team Members: Peter Von Tiesenhausen, Leni Schwendinger, Robin Chubb, of Toronto .

Second Prize, Competition Entry Number 55 was presented to a local Winnipeg firm, Registrant: LM Architectural Group, Architect: Terry Danelley, Team Members were comprised of: Andrew Brimble, Mel Michener, Michael Farion, Richard Derksen, Darrell Sawatzky, Carson McCance and Spencer Court .

Third Prize was won by Competition Number 58, Registrant: Sandra McKee, Architect: Yoshihara McKee Architects with Team Members: Peter Coe, Yostinori Nito, and Heidi Christianson of New York .

Two Honourable Mentions were bestowed upon Competition Entry Number 82, Registrant: Julie Snow Architects, Architect: Julie Snow, Team Members: Tim Bicknell, Curlstian Dean, Takuma Hanoa of Minneapolis and Competition Number 69, Registrant: Quadrangle Architects Limited, Architect: Ronald Rom Colthoff, Team Members: Rob Dyson, Archie Hughes, Henry Jim, Effie Paoblos, Nat Cannistraro, Nathan Rehorick, located in Toronto.

The competition was initiated by The City of Winnipeg with an entry deadline set for April 21, 2004. It was a single-stage multidisciplinary design competition concerning the four-block area defined by the intersection of Portage Avenue and Main Street which included the intersection at ground level and the concourse level below grade. Competitors had to consider key redevelopment issues including enhancing pedestrian and vehicular connections within the downtown and pedestrian access to the buildings and concourse while reinforcing the symbolism and commercial importance of the famous intersection.

The primary focus of the competition seemed to be the opportunity to reopen Portage and Main to pedestrians, as it currently continues to offer only vehicle access which may have negative effects on downtown revitalization. Currently, an estimated 92,300 vehicles pass thru the intersection while approximately 20,000 pedestrians traverse it, mostly in the underground concourse.

The City, with the support of the neighbouring property owners intends to attempt to build the winning design for an anticipated construction budget up to $10 million, and they may also draw design ideas from other competition entries. Former Mayor Glen Murray initiated the competition with a municipal commitment of $100,000 in prize money. Presently, the corner of Portage and Main contains the most highly valued real estate in the city of Winnipeg.

To view the winning designs and for more information regarding the competition, follow the link to: City Crossings.

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Millennium Library

More than books...

The Millennium Library project which officially started back on February 25, 2003, when the Winnipeg Library Foundation launched its community campaign to raise $3 million, is quickly getting closer to becoming a physical reality.

The first phase of the capital fundraising campaign successfully raised $15 million consisting of $3 million from the federal government, $3 million from the province, $6.4 million from the city and over $5 million from Winnipeg 's private and corporate sector. As a major incentive for other Winnipeggers to support the campaign, Hartley Richardson had announced that the family's Richardson Foundation would provide $1 million in matching funds for the first million dollars raised by the community. This gift is added to an earlier $1 million given to the campaign to bring the Richardson family's support for the Library campaign to $2 million.

A major expansion and redevelopment of the Centennial Library into a contemporary central branch is taking place with 40,000 square feet of much needed additional space and 139,000 square feet of renovated space. The project also includes a grand entrance with access to the skywalk, a multi-level reading terrace, panoramic elevators, a large meeting room complex and a reading garden.

Construction began almost a year after the initial public announcement with on site work beginning in February 2004 on reinforcing the building's foundation to support the weight of the glazed curtain wall and four-story reading terrace. The Millennium Library project started with employing some 60 workers, a number that is expected to rise to approximately 150 site workers this summer.

Materials required for the project's construction and renovation will incorporate over 1000 cubic meters of concrete, 350 tons of structural steel, 100 tons of reinforced steel, 100,000 sq. ft. of carpet and 15,000 sq. ft. of glass for the curtain wall. The existing three floors of the Library are being transformed by major changes and the fourth floor is an entirely new addition. As well, more changes are taking place to the skywalk, parkade and the park behind the Library.

As of this past month, May 2004, it has been reported that steel studs are multiplying throughout the building and plumbing and electrical work is mostly complete. Doors frames are next to be installed and over the next several weeks, hundreds of sheets of drywall will enclose the walls, starting to transform the space into A rejuvenated facility that will combine improvements to the infrastructure with a major investment in furniture, shelving and equipment to create a more welcoming environment. This great public building, that is the Millennium Library, is another important player in the revitalization of downtown Winnipeg.

To see the live version on the City of Winnipeg's webcam, click here to go to the City of Winnipeg's Home Page, then click on the "Millennium Library Webcam", located on the right sidebar. 

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Edited by Jackie Petrus, WCA Construction News Reporter. 

Comments or questions?  Email wca@wpgca.com.