b'Presidents Message OIRCABoard of DirectorsPresident Doug MaikawaTrio Roofing Systems Inc.Past President Tony Pocobene Atlantic Roofers Ontario Ltd.First Vice-President Mark AgiusFlynn Canada Second Vice-President Darcy Beites Douro Roofing & Sheet MetalContractors Ltd.Treasurer Peter Serino Soprema Inc.Director Mike Godfrey Godfrey Roofing Inc.Director Marinos Barlas Schreiber Brothers Ltd.Director Zach Petrachek Atlas-Apex Roofing Inc.Director Jay Campbell Dean Chandler Roofing Ltd.Director Mark Mollison Conestoga Roofing & Sheet Metal Ltd.Director Joel Dandele Dantech Building Technologies Inc.Director David Rauth Rauth Roofing LimitedONTARIO ROOFING NEWS is a market-2021Continues to Be a By Doug Maikawa, President, OIRCA ing and information periodical published for the Ontario Industrial Roofing Contractors Association by MediaEdge Publishing. Advertising in ONTARIO ROOFING NEWSis restricted to the member companies of OIRCA.Published for:Ontario Industrial Roofing Contractors AssociationChallenging Year for the Roofing Industry 940 The East Mall, Suite 301Etobicoke, ON l M9B 6J7Tel: (416) 695-4114 l Toll Free: 1 (888) 33-OIRCAoirca@ontarioroofing.comwww.ontarioroofing.comPublished by:I n the summer issue of ORN, I wrote about our industrys roofingme to our second major challenge. The lack of a skilled workforce has33 South Station St. l North York, ON l M9N 2B2product supply challenges. As I wrote that column, we couldntbeen an ongoing issue within our industry for several years now. While have predicted how much worse this situation would get.the material shortage, on the surface, would appear to balance out theTel: (866) 480-4717 l Email: robertt@mediaedge.caThe other day, our Executive Director Don Marks was in my of- two, we still do not have enough new workers entering our sector of the531 Marion St. l Winnipeg, MB l R2J 0J9fice telling me about conversations he had been having with otherconstruction industry.Tel: (866) 201-3096 l Fax: (204) 480-4420members. Those discussions centred on significant price increasesSome roofing companies see subcontracting their roofing work aswww.mediaedgepublishing.comwith no protection for projects already bid on or awarded. ProjectsPresident the solutionfarming out work to independent subcontracting crews,Kevin Brownare being put on hold as shipment schedules are further delayed foryet another challenge for us. I recently read that an app has been cre- Senior Vice President l Publisher weeks and months. Some suppliers are advising that orders will notated in the U.S. to help roofing contractors hire roofing sub-crews. Robert Thompsoneven be accepted until later in the year. Many projects are being putDirector, Business Development off until spring 2022, and now suppliers are informing us that theseWell, I can assure you that subcontracting is not the answer. Here atMichael Bellthe OIRCA, we restrict our members right to subcontract. As readersBranch Manager conditions will likely continue through much of 2022. of ORN know, we go to great lengths to ensure that new and existingNancie PrivIn some regions of the province, where product distribution ismembers meet strict qualifications for workmanship and safety. Sub- Editor thin, workers are being laid offwith some employers consideringJustyne Esseryclosing their doors until next springall at the time of year whencontracting defeats the whole purpose of that effort. Design Specialist Marisa Giesbrechtroofing work is typically at its peak.To further exacerbate our workforce issues, recent announcementsJunior Design Specialist Raw material pricing and availability have resulted in these fre- regardingconstructorsandbuildingownersmandatingvaccinationBethany GiesbrechtSales Executive quent delays and sudden price increases. Trucker shortages and dieselverification in their workplaces is bound to cause problems with em- Pat Johnstonprices are also affecting material costs across the continent. Hurricaneployees who have chosen not to get immunized.All rights reserved. The contents of this publication may Those who procure and specify roofing services will need to adoptnot be reproduced by any means, in whole or in part, Ida, which recently battered the Gulf Coast of the U.S., will add towithout the prior consent of the publisher. the existing struggle. Natural disasters put a strain on the productsome patience as we move through this challenging period. The strug- Published November 2021supply chain as much-needed building materials will be prioritizedgle to find enough skilled workers and necessary roofing materials willPublication Agreement #40787580for that regions reconstruction. All of these events happening at thedefinitely increase costs, complicate planning and delay roofing con- Ontario Roofing News is printed on 10%post-consumer FSC certified paper using soyasame time is unprecedented. struction for months. The roofing industry is not alone in this regard;based inks. When necessary to mail an issuein an enclosure, we use an environmentally-It appears that the trucking and roofing industries do have some- these issues are becoming more concerning as consumer demand for allfriendly,100% oxo-degradable poly-wrap.thing in common, thougha lack of available workers, which bringsmaterials and products increases.8ONTARIO ROOFING NEWSISSUE 3 2021 THE ONLY SOURCE FOR PROFESSIONAL ICI ROOFING CONTRACTORS IN ONTARIO ORN'