Vaccine Policy and Covid-19 Small Business Centre Help

Get the answers you need!

According to a KMPG survey, some 62% of employers who are preparing for employees to return to the workplace will require or plan to require proof of Covid-19 vaccination from their employees. As well, 84 per-cent agree that vaccines are key to avoiding another lockdown and should be mandatory.
According to Public Health Canada, as of Nov. 27, 2021, 75.86 per-cent of the population have been fully vaccinated.
Note: Don’t forget CKCA members are CFIB members (those eligibile) and that gives you access to all the latest updates on implementing Covid-19 vaccination policies in your workplace. Be sure to check out CFIB’s Covid-19 Small Business Help Centre. Get the answers and help you need. Forgot your CFIB member number? Call or E-mail us and we can provide that to you. CKCA – 613-493-5858 or info@ckca.ca

CKCA Stands with Industry!

Download Press Release here.

PRESS RELEASE

July 5, 2021

CKCA Stands with our Industry

The Canadian Kitchen Cabinet Association recognizes there are significant challenges facing our manufacturing sector as a result of Covid-19.  We ask that consumers and builders please bear with our industry partners and consider these key points as we work together to provide products and services to the Canadian and US markets:

  • Supply chain disruption on a global scale.
  • Increased demand for renovations, products for the home
  • On-going skilled labour shortage
  • Covid-19 health and safety protocols

Supply chain disruption has led industry suppliers to create “allocation programs” to best manage the flow of limited supply to keep our industry functioning. As a result, materials such as MDF, white melamine and hardware are in limited supply. These materials are normally readily available and our industry is having to adapt to longer lead times and increased planning in order to deliver on projects.

Increased demand for renovations is caused by an unprecedented surge for renovations to existing homes and new builds. This demand is on top of already existing and previously scheduled projects. It is pushing demand even higher and this increase is expected to continue while real estate prices remain high and borrowing remains low.  The CKCA anticipates demand will continue as other influencers including “aging in place”, will likely keep demand high plus infrastructure investments by other countries including the US that puts demand on building materials.

Trades in general were already experiencing significant labour shortages which is now exacerbated by the slow down in immigration into Canada of skilled workers. Companies have responded by adding more shifts and overtime, however, this causes increased labour costs and is not sustainable long-term.

Strict health and safety requirements align with every employer’s commitment to keep their employees safe. Lockdowns, use of PPE, distancing, daily employee screening and quarantining are part of normal operations now for kitchen manufacturers. This has added more operational load and cost.

Our industry continues to adapt and has operated successfully through this pandemic. We ask for patience and flexibility from consumers and builders as industry manufacturers and suppliers continue to make updates to timelines and prices. Customers remain of the upmost importance to our industry and we remain committed to doing our very best to meet those needs.

CKCA President, Heidi Boudreault says:

“In my 30 plus years in this industry I have never seen these kinds of challenges. While my business is based in Alberta and we are used to adapting to the highs and lows, these current conditions are pushing us all. We are doing our best to meet the demands of our clients who are incredibly important to us. But the fact remains that these are global issues beyond our control.”

CKCA established in 1968, is a national trade association representing the kitchen cabinet industry in Canada. CKCA works to inspire progress and innovation in the industry, by promoting excellence, facilitating continuous improvement and working to ensure high standards for design and manufacturing are upheld.

If you have any questions please contact Sandra Wood, CKCA Executive Director at 613-493-5858 or info@ckca.ca for more details.

Formaldehyde Emissions – Get to Know the New Regulations

Formaldehyde Emissions – Get to know the new regulations

Refreshed Regulations are now available and come into force January 7, 2023. Published in the Canada Gazette we recommend you review the regulations and check with your suppliers as you ready for compliance. Levels of responsibility fall on suppliers as well as manufacturers! Keeping track of compliant product will be important and requires industry record-keeping, labelling and reporting. The new regulations align with the US requirements to help minimize the burden on businesses operating in Canada and the US.
Third party certifiers who certify product can view guidance document here»

CKCA’s Cyber Risk Tool

You don’t have to understand all the tech, but you do have to understand the risk – Use this CKCA tool!

You can’t be an expert at everything. You have to delegate to others to ensure your business is protected against cyber security.

CKCA went to THE source for cyber security insights and have partnered with Canadian Cyber Threat Exchange to produce this handy checklist (please log in as a CKCA member to view this great tool).

Give this checklist to your IT contact and get them to go through it and respond to you. Remember it won’t be your IT contact paying the ransomware, it will be you! So if you want to make sure your IT has got your business covered, show them this list and see what they say.

Did you know about 70% of Canadian companies have experienced an attack and that number is growing?

It can’t happen to you? Really? Check out these stories:

  • Trail Appliances, western Canada’s largest appliance retailer has been impacted by a Cyberattack. Read more »
  • Drowning in threat information? Getting advice from the right sources is important. Read more»
  • At the end of the day, every organization owns the responsibility to acquire, implement and manage their IT. Read more»

Talk Outside the Box

Michelle Hoy of ClearBuild Solutions starts a podcast series interviewing people she has worked with in the industry over the past 21 years.

A way to shine a light on stories of how diverse and interesting the wood sector can be.

Listen here. 

CKCA is launching Medical Benefits Plan

CKCA has created a medical benefits plan

Why?

  • Because it’s tough getting and retaining skilled labour.

  • Offering medical benefits can help.

  • But that’s costly, many companies can’t afford them and many are just paying too much for them.

We can help!

What we did:

Over the past year we surveyed 9 CKCA member companies.
Looked at their plan design, what they were using and spending.
Went to market with a bigger volume and a list of what we needed.
Leveraged our larger group to get a better deal!
Check out what savings these 9 companies are getting.
It’s astounding.

What can we do for you?

Just submit a copy of a recent medical benefits bill plus your benefits book to the CKCA Group Advisor. We can do a full analysis and comparison. Let’s see if we can save you money and get
you a better plan.
You’ve got nothing to lose, plenty to gain!
You or your broker can call CKCA Group Advisor Alice Bejancu at
613-286-2313 or email alice@ingeniousinsurance.ca

Here’s 3 tips for a good plan.

Unlimited drug coverage – Canada pays the fourth highest rates for medication in the world. Medications for diabetes, arthritis and cancer can cost tens of $thousands. You don’t have to settle
for a capped program!
Get the CKCA FOB for you and your staff that gives you access to brand name medications at the generic cost because most plans these days only cover up to the cost of generic substitution.
Preferred Pharmacy Network means many carriers have partnered with Costco to offer lowest dispensing fee and provide free home-delivery anywhere in Canada. Your Drugs will be reimbursed at a 10% higher reimbursement level, plus you don’t need a Costco membership to take advantage; just let the host know you are there to use the pharmacy.
Help us help you!

CKCA President Message for Year End 2018

CKCA President – Mike Slobodian, Decor Cabinets (Manitoba)

Message to close out 2018.

Some of you may be familiar with one of my favorite books called “Everybody Matters – The Extraordinary Power of Caring for Your People like Family”.  This is the story of the Barry-Wehmillar company’s cultural shift to caring written by Bob Chapman the CEO.

One of the stories from the book, and there are many, that really struck me was when Bob was asking a colleague what he felt good about in his life.  The gentlemen was very successful and owned a number of companies employing thousands of people. He answered that what made him feel good was a minority scholarship program he created that supported about 6 to 8 people each year.  Bob proceeded to comment that “you feel good about helping six or eight people outside the company, but the hundred thousand people who work for you every day, whose life and joy depend upon the way they’re treated, their just objects to your wealth?”

The fellow had no immediate response but after considering he made the following statement…. “I get it. I thought I worked so I could do good. You do good at work.”

We so often look outside our work lives to help others and get great joy and satisfaction from doing just that.  Whether it’s helping a neighbor or friend, volunteering at your church, volunteering or donating to your favorite charity.  These are all great things and we should continue to do them but if we stop and look around us each day where you  work there are so many people right there that could benefit from having a little joy, a kind word, a helping hand or maybe just a genuine smile added to their work lives.

So my challenge to all of us is to not just go to work so that you can do good elsewhere but to take a look around you and see if there is opportunity to do good and spread joy right where you work.

My hope is that we all experience and find opportunities to bring joy and peace to those around us this holiday season and throughout the coming year.

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and a healthy, happy and prosperous New Year!

Merry Christmas everyone, be blessed and be a blessing!