Committees

Member Services

Member Advantages

The member services committee of ECAO uses the collective purchasing power of the entire membership in order to obtain products and services at discount rates which would not ordinarily be available to individual companies.  ECAO has teamed up with key providers to the electrical industry to help members save on items and services they use every day through negotiated price reductions and value-added packages. These benefits of membership are only available to current members of ECAO and include:

• ECAO has partnered with Avis to provide the members with great discounts and value-added offers on leisure and business travel.
• Publications produced by ECAO, the Canadian Electrical Contractors Association (CECA) and the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) in the U.S.  ECAO members have access to publications at member prices through ECAO’s affiliation with CECA and NECA.
• Choice Hotels discount plan provides discounts for business and leisure accommodations for owners, employees and mobility workers.  You'll receive discounted room rates, room upgrades (subject to availability), free coffee and a newspaper, plus free local calls, data ports and continental breakfast at most locations.
• Corporate Express is ECAO’s preferred supplier of office products in terms of overall value, quality of service, product offering and customer service.  ECAO members receive 48% off the retail price without the need to search multiple suppliers.
• Members can take advantage of professional web site development services from Digital Internet Group at specially reduced rates for ECAO members.  Prices range from $400 for a single page, $800 for 3 pages or $2,800 for a full website (5-10 pages).   For members with unique needs, a fully customized online solution can also be provided.
• Fuel discount group purchase plans provided by Esso and Petro-Canada.  By partnering with two competing service providers, the fuel purchase program has not only expanded the members' opportunity to obtain discount fuel but has increased the overall benefit to the association and therefore its members.
• Federated Insurance provides ECAO members with preferred rates on commercial general liability and property insurance as well as personal lines such as home and auto.
• Jim Peplinski's Leasemaster National provides ECAO members with an individualized leasing experience at fleet leasing rates.
• Lumbermen's has been providing credit reports since 1915 and is widely considered to be the most up to date and factual source for construction and project credit information.  The ECAO program is $895 plus GST annually and includes:
  • Ontario Weekly Lien and Litigation Bulletin
  • 10 On File or 5 fully updated Credit Reports Construction
  • Project Credit reports
  • Third Party Collection Services
  • Five (5) free Legal Demand Letters
  • Construction Lien Registrations, and
  • Litigation Services.
• ECAO members and their employees are entitled to a 10% discount from Mark’s Work Wearhouse on Mark’s and Dakota Work Pants & Shirts, Coveralls, Overalls, Carhartt & Helly Hansen Merchandise, DH & Dakota Jeans, T-shirts, Polo’s, Sweatshirts, Work Gloves, Safety Accessories and CSA Approved Safety Footwear.
• MERX is the most complete source of public tenders, private tenders, U.S. tenders and private-sector construction news available in Canada.  ECAO members receive a 10% discount on their Private Construction Service.
• NEBS has everything to be your top business resource with cheques, business forms, office supplies, promotional and advertising items, work apparel, labels and envelope printing - plus expert advice to start, promote and manage your business.  ECAO members receive 10% off of products purchased for the first time and 5% off product re-orders.
• The Quality Connection Health & Safety Program provided by the Joint Electrical Promotion Plan available exclusively to ECAO members.
• ECAO’s Health & Welfare Insurance and Group RRSP/Pensions for non- bargaining unit employees are provided by Skipwith & Associates.  Our relationship with Skipwith & Associates spans a decade and is one of our most valuable member advantages.

Feedback

In order to keep the array of services up to date and of high quality, the member services committee regularly surveys the members' opinions with respect to the quality of existing products and services and the need for new or additional lines.

ECAO will be conducting future surveys on-line in order to save members time and money in obtaining this valuable feedback.

New Products

Responding to members' input regarding the need for new products and services, the ECAO is currently investigating the following:

• Canadian Automobile Association (CAA) Corporate Discount Program for emergency road service, travel assistance and a wide range of savings and discounts on merchandise.
• Industrial, commercial and investment mortgages through Mortgage Intelligence, a GMAC company and Canada's premier mortgage brokerage firm with over 900 Mortgage Intelligence Consultants and associates across Canada.

Associate Membership

The purpose of the associate members program is to organize and promote the activities of those persons, firms, and corporations who are directly or indirectly involved with the electrical contracting industry; to promote better relations between electrical contractors and those who provide support services to the contractors; and, to promote high professional standards for the conducting of business to the betterment of the industry and the consumer.

The ECAO Associate Member class has increased steadily since it began a few years ago.  Associate Member's receive the highest priority for networking opportunities with the membership and are listed prominently on the ECAO website.

The Associate Members’ Executive Council which advises ECAO on Associate Member relations is comprised of five categories and is represented by the following individuals:

• Vacant (Inspection or Certification Agency)
• Steve Moreau, Moeller Electric (Manufacturer)
• Bob Lawday, Hesco Electric Supply (Distributor/Supplier)
• Debbie DeCaire, Skipwith & Associates Insurance Agency Inc. (Consultant/Soft Services Supplier), and
• Rob Milner, Flir Systems Ltd. (Other).

The Associate Members and others will be participating in a Product Exposition this June at the Ottawa Congress Centre held in conjunction with the CECA 2007 National Industry Conference which is being hosted this year by ECAO.  The tradeshow will provide delegates with valuable resource information and an opportunity for education and networking with our industry partners.

The Associate Members’ Executive Council is currently planning the 2008 ECAO Calendar, which will be arriving on your desks by December of this year and will be an informative and relevant planning tool for electrical contractors.