In January 2020, Infrastructure Ontario released the Project Agreement (redacted) with Fengate PCL Consortium for the MacDonald Block reconstruction project - a $1.536 Billion at Queens Park.
TCBN would like to thank our labour member AMAPCEO, the union for Ontario's Professional Employees. AMAPCEO has been a leading champion to ensure that the MacDonald Block Reconstruction Project includes a Community Benefits Agreement.
MACDONALD BLOCK RECONSTRUCTION PROJECT ($1.536 Billion)
In January 2020, Infrastructure Ontario released the Project Agreement (redacted) with Fengate PCL Consortium for the MacDonald Block reconstruction project at Queens Park.
TCBN would like to thank our labour member AMAPCEO, the union for Ontario's Professional Employees. AMAPCEO has been a leading champion to ensure that the MacDonald Block Reconstruction Project includes a Community Benefits Agreement.
Community Benefits on this project will focus on two main areas:
Workforce Development: such as employment and training opportunities, including apprenticeships to members of disadvantaged communities and local residents
- The agreement commits to an aspirational target percentage (%)
- The percentage has been redacted in the document however, 10% has been the consistent goal on all pilot projects
- PCL will include community benefits language in all subcontracts
- Requirement for experiential learning and at minimum, 10 on site educational opportunities
Social Procurement: such as purchasing goods and services from local businesses and social enterprises
- PCL is committed to collaborating with local businesses to gain understanding of the capabilities and capacity of local resources and use this information to help shape manageable scopes of work that can be executed safely
Local Communities
The project agreement has identified local communities which are in close proximity to the project and may benefit from community benefits opportunities on the project. This includes: Regent Park, Thorncliffe Park, Flemingdon Park, Victoria Village
Following consultation with Stakeholders, other communities can be prioritized
Community Partners
Project Co will partner with local workforce development agencies and community organizations to support the Community Benefits Plan and establish tools, policies, and protocols to deliver on its objectives. They have listed but are not limited to working with:
- Toronto Community Benefits Network
- Access Employment
- George Brown College
- Good Jobs for All Coalition
- Miziwe Biik Aboriginal Employment and Training
- The Career Foundation
- YWCA Toronto
- Working for Change
- Carpenters Local 27
- LiUNA Local 506 & 183
- Operating Engineers Local 793
- Central Ontario Building Trades and its affiliates
Next Steps
Community Benefits Plan - to be submitted within 150 days after Financial close
Community Benefits Working Group - established within 45 days after Financial close, meet monthly until CB plan and working group terms of reference complete, quarterly thereafter
Community Benefits Working Group Terms of Reference - submitted within 45 days after Financial close, finalized within 90 days
Community Benefits Reporting - Quarterly with annual reports