b'MESSAGE FROMTHE MCAS PRESIDENTGreetings to our association members,It has been a full and frustrating 18 months for our members and associates. The global pandemic of COVID-19 has forced many changes to our business practices and how we deliver services.Everything from increased sanitization to masking to mandatory vaccinations on our job sites have been encountered. To make matters worse, there has been no consistency from client to client or from jobsite to jobsite as we have had to deal with a patchwork of different interpretations and policies from general contractors to owners.I sympathize with all my fellow members and want to let you know that you are not alone in this confusing time.The Mechanical Contractors Association of Saskatchewan (and MCAC) have been working hard through the pandemic to provide clear guide-lines and interpretations (based on local and provincial health orders).Several policies and guides have been issued to our members to assist them through the pandemic.As we see the light at the end of the tunnel, and an anticipated return to normal, we will continue to support and assist our members.While many advocacy issues and engagements with governments were put on the back burner during the past 18 months, your association continued dialogue and progressed on many files. These include the ongoing merger of gas inspections, Saskatchewan Health plumbing in-spections and licensing and electrical inspections under one roof at TSASK. To date, the transition has been relatively smooth, and we continue to dialogue with TSASK on future improvements, such as a preferred contractor program and the addition of plumbing inspections.MCAS has heard from our advocacy partners at Merit and SKSA regarding ongoing discussions between SaskBuilds and the provincial gov-ernment on capital expenditures in construction and upgrading of existing infrastructure. It appears that we will all see a very busy 2022 and 2023, as some of these projects start coming out for tender.Recently, MCAS teamed up with several other trade associations, along with Merit Contractors, to address new policies at the Saskatchewan Apprenticeship and Trade Certification Commission that we felt would be detrimental to new entrants in the compulsory trades.I am pleased to report that our lobbying was successful and SATCC will begin registering potential apprentices on the first day of their employment so they can track indentured hours, but the $200 fee will NOT be required to be paid until the actual date of indentureship (900 hours or less).MCAS continues to supply top notch education opportunities, and many of our members have taken the opportunity to upgrade their qualifications.As always, we are happy to hear from all our members on what is first and foremost on their minds as they try to grow their businesses and encourage them to talk with us so we can help.Remember, the association only exists to help promote our members, our trade and our business, so tell us what you would like to see! We can help.Regards, Ken Swann, President MCAS6 MCASwww.mca-sask.com'