b'Chairs Message OIRCABoard of DirectorsChair of the Board Mike Godfrey Godfrey Roofing Inc.Past President Jason Campbell Dean Chandler Roofing Ltd.First Vice Chair Mark Mollison Conestoga Roofing & Sheet Metal Ltd.Second Vice Chair Ryan Warner Covertite Eastern Ltd.Director Joel Dandele Dantech Building Technologies Inc.Director Marinos Barlas Schreiber Brothers Ltd.Director Mark Agius Flynn CanadaDirector David Rauth Rauth Roofing LimitedDirector Doug Maikawa Trio Roofing Systems Inc.Director Darcy Beites Douro Roofing Sheet Metal Contractors Ltd.Director Joe DiBratto Applewood Roofing & Sheet Metal Ltd.Director Mary Smith Soprema Inc.ONTARIO ROOFING NEWS is a market-ing and information periodical published for the Tariffs and the RoofingOntario Industrial Roofing Contractors Association by MediaEdge Publishing. Advertising in ONTARIO ROOFING NEWSis restricted to the member companies of OIRCA.Published for:Industry in Ontario By Mike Godfrey, Chair of the Board, OIRCA Ontario Industrial Roofing Contractors Association190 Attwell Drive, Suite 350Toronto, ON lM9W 6H8Tel: (416) 695-4114 l Toll Free: 1 (888) 33-OIRCAoirca@ontarioroofing.comwww.ontarioroofing.comPublished by:A s I write this columnmy first since assuming the role of OIRCA chair chemicals and products were obtainable internationally, designers and33 South Station St. l North York, ON l M9N 2B2we are awaiting U.S. President Donald Trumps tariff threats to actually ma- contractors were challenged to build roofing systems that met the speci-terialize. This is after a 60-day reprieve from his original tariff launch date.fications required to meet manufacturers long-term warranties. As a re- Tel: (866) 480-4717 l Email: robertt@mediaedge.caThe constant media coverage of this economic event has many in the roof- sult, systems were contaminated with non-compliant materials and acces-ing industry wondering, with concern, how this may impact their businesses insories, with building owners, in some cases, receiving compromised roofs. 531 Marion St. l Winnipeg, MB l R2J 0J9Tel: (866) 201-3096 l Fax: (204) 480-4420Ontario. On the surface, we assume some comfort knowing that many roofingIt is in times such as these that designers and contractors look towardswww.mediaedgepublishing.comproducts we use every day are in fact manufactured right here in Canada. their industry associations for support. The OIRCA and the CRCA (Ca- President Roof membranes incorporated into all three generic types of ICI roofing sys- nadian Roofing Contractors Association) of course want to assist theirKevin BrownSenior Vice President l Publisher temsBUR, mod-bit and single-plyare available and manufactured domes- members during crises such as these, but there is very little we can do otherRobert Thompsontically. Roof insulation, polyiso, expanded and extruded polystyrene and stonethan to keep everyone properly informed so that, individually, these com- Sales / Branch Manager wool are also available from Canadian manufacturing plants. Vapour and airpanies can make professional decisions that best suit their operation andNancie PrivSenior Editor barriers, along with roofing accessories, are all accessible and producedlocally. their clients and customers needs. Justyne EsserySo, on the surface it would seem as though we are well positioned to weath- Recently we issued a Members Bulletin addressing this very subject.Senior Design Specialist er the tariff storm. When you drill down, though, it is not quite that simple.We relied upon advice that we shared with members back in 2021 andMarisa GiesbrechtDesign Specialist The raw materials that are used in these Canadian-produced roofing materials,2022. Specifically, we encouraged members to scrutinize their existing andBethany Giesbrechtfor the most part, are not available locally. Chemicals in particular are sourcedpending contracts. Contract provisions addressing price increases, materi- National Sales Executive from abroadsome from the U.S., others from China and elsewhere. Roofingal availability and substitution of material clauses must be included. Con- Pat JohnstonAll rights reserved. The contents of this publication may fasteners, critical to the application of roof insulation and some membranesider force majeure clauses that release parties from obligation or liabilitynot be reproduced by any means, in whole or in part, systems are also imported, primarily from the U.S., and were in very short sup- when circumstances beyond their control such as acts of god or govern- without the prior consent of the publisher. Published March 2025ply not that long ago. ment sanctions may justify their use. Changes in law provisions that coverPublication Agreement #40787580Should Canadian-made roofing products become less attractive to othertariff impositions allowing for time extensions and cost recovery are also markets such as the U.S., one would expect production of these materials toworthy of consideration.Ontario Roofing News is printed on 10%post-consumer FSC certified paper using soyabe reduced, resulting in the cost of domestic sales to go up. Retaliatory tariffsBeyond these helpful pieces of advice, associations such as ours havebased inks. When necessary to mail an issuein an enclosure, we use an environmentally-could also play a role in making roofing systems more expensive here. Two-waytheir hands tied. At time of writing, we await the March 4th deadline offriendly,100% oxo-degradable poly-wrap.tariffs are bound to have an impact here at home. 25-per-cent tariffs and Canadas retaliatory tariffs on goods from the U.S. When we went through supply chain issues just a couple of years ago, pric- How this actually impacts the roofing industry here in Ontario, only timePlease return undeliverable copies to:ing and availability of these materials proved difficult. While many of thesewill tell. 190 Attwell Drive, Suite 350, Toronto, ONM9W 6H84ONTARIO ROOFING NEWSISSUE 1 2025 THE ONLY SOURCE FOR PROFESSIONAL ICI ROOFING CONTRACTORS IN ONTARIO ORN'