Dear RAIC members,

Ensuring the federal government keeps architecture in mind when developing its ongoing COVID-19 response is critical. To that end, the RAIC will continue to focus efforts to inform and press the government regarding the specific needs of the profession.

We have heard from architects and firms from across the country regarding the lack of clarity on eligibility for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) and the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS). As we shared in our last update on April 8, 2020, the number one cited challenge during this pandemic is financial hardship—as indicated in the results of the RAIC COVID-19 Pulse Survey.  

The RAIC sent its fifth letter advocating on behalf of architects and the profession to the federal Minister of Finance on April 14, 2020. Providing information about the various architect employment scenarios (e.g. employees, sole proprietors, small, medium or large firm owners or partners), the RAIC reinforced the message that  COVID-19 Economic Response Plan benefits must be available to all architects, regardless of their employment scenario. Without economic support, architects and firms are at significant risk of job loss, inability to provide paycheques for employees, inability to rehire staff, inability to protect jobs and unable to prevent company shutdowns.  

We urged the government to make the Canada Emergency Response Benefit and the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy available to all architects, regardless of employment scenario, size of the firm, or practice. We also asked that the government extend subsidy benefits to business owners who rely on dividend income which may not qualify for the wage subsidies. Ensuring the ability for all architects to access emergency response benefits is vital.

We made the following recommendations to take under consideration for upcoming changes to benefits:

• Make the Canada Emergency Response Benefit and the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy available to all architects, regardless of employment scenario and size of firm or practice
• Extend subsidy benefits to business owners who rely on dividend income which may not qualify for any of the Economic Response Plan benefits e.g. wage subsidies
• Eliminate minimum payroll requirements for the Canada Emergency Business Account loan program

 As a reminder, the Government of Canada began accepting applications for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit and Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy starting April 6, 2020. Read more about other supports in Canada’s COVID-19 Economic Response Plan. 

Many of you continue to support our advocacy efforts by writing or calling your member of parliament—or federal ministers. Your efforts are crucial during this time. Our voices are more important than ever and we encourage you to continue to participate and amplify the voice of the architectural profession. Please let us know the results of your efforts by emailing info@raic.org so, we may assist you in any way possible.  

During this time of physical distancing, it is  important  to remain connected and supported. The RAIC will be setting up an online forum  to create a space to ask questions, engage in discussion, share ideas and resources, and learn from each other. More details to be announced next week.

In between these messages, please check our COVID-19: Updates, Information and Advocacy page for more information.

Proposed Changes 1527 (NECB17 Div.A and Div.B, various), 1617 (NBC15 Div.B 9.36.1.3), 1608 (NBC15 Div.B 9.36.5)

The RAIC and Canada Green Building Council (CaGBC) have worked together to provide feedback on the National Energy Code for Buildings (NECB) and the National Building Code (NCB). Both are vital to achieving the Canadian Greenhouse Gas (GHG) reduction targets, and to advance the building sector’s ability to provide energy-efficient, low carbon and climate-resilient buildings. Letters were sent to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, Codes Canada (Canadian Commission on Building and Fire Codes) and the National Research Council of Canada.

The CaGBC and RAIC thanked the Government of Canada for the important work of developing regulatory tools that will shape not only the future of Canada’s construction industry but also the livability of homes and buildings in the face of a climate crisis. The CaGBC and RAIC also offered support in promoting the rapid adoption of the updated NECB and NCB through organizational advocacy and communications.

Construction Contract Administration and Field Review for Architects (24 credits)

Introduction to Successful Accessible Design (24 credits)

Project Risk Management (24 credits)

APRIL'S WEBDAY WEDNESDAYS: Universal Design

Every Wednesday in April, learn how universal design can create environments that can be accessed, understood, and used to the greatest extent possible by everyone. Through lectures and case studies, the April series looks at the past, current, and future of accessible architecture and universal design.

April 29 - An Investigation of the Costs of Accessibility – Building to RHFAC Gold
Presented by Darryl Condon Architect, AIBC, AAA, SAA, OAA, NLAA, AIA, FRAIC, LEED AP | Managing Principal with HCMA Architecture, and Aiden Callison Architect AIBC, LEED AP | Principle with HCMA Architecture

The RAIC is committed to working through these challenging times and supporting the community as best possible. We will continue to advocate for architects and the profession as rebuilding and restructuring begin. We are also working to enable solutions in response to the themes expressed by you. The first resource we created was a webinar. Financial Management during COVID-19 was held on April 14, 2020 and sold out two hours after being announced. The session was open to anyone, and RAIC members were eligible to receive 1 CEU. A recording of this webinar will be available on the RAIC Learning Management System by April 17, 2020. Find out more.

Stay tuned for more webinars to support you. A panel on supporting mental health, insurance, and contracts is coming soon.

Additionally, for a limited time, the RAIC is offering a Pay Later option for all continuing education offerings. The Pay Later option allows participants to defer payment until September 30, 2020, at which time a credit card will be automatically charged. If you would like to select the Pay Later option, please contact Pamela Burke, Education Administrator at (613) 241-3600 x 205.