Ear to the Ground - Spring 2013 - (Page 11)

INTERNATIONAL NEWS B Y M I K E S U L L I VA N , C H A I R , C C G A Where We Are Today The following represents a veritable snapshot of the CCGA’s efforts in 2012 and is intended to assist the CCGA’s Board of Directors with an update to their respective regional partner members and associations. APPLICATION FOR JOINT USE OF THE 811 DIALLING CODE March 2012 - the CCGA learned of the CRTC’s decision to deny our request for joint use of the 811 dialling code in Canada. Despite the outcome from the CRTC, the CCGA was ready with plan B to simplify access to One-Call services. The plan needed to ensure that whatever the CCGA decided to do, it would not be dependent on a third party’s decision. You can read more about the plan in “Goal 1” under “Damage Prevention Issues of National Interest.” CCGA BOARD OF DIRECTORS, GOVERNANCE AND NEW ROLES The Canadian Energy Pipeline Association (CEPA) and the Canadian Gas Association (Cdn Gas Assoc) joined the CCGA Board of Directors in 2012. This is a significant advancement for the CCGA—linking our goals and objectives with national associations representing the collective damage prevention interests of transmission pipelines and distribution gas pipelines across Canada. The CCGA Governance Model was revised in 2012 to reflect CEPA and the Cdn Gas Assoc joining the CCGA Board. Also in 2012, the CCGA created an executive director role. Mike Sullivan was offered and accepted the role. S P R I N G 13 With the role of chair vacant, nominations were requested and an election was held. Jim Tweedie, with the Canadian Gas Association, was elected chair for one year. Dave Baspaly, executive director of the BCCGA, will move into the role of chair in the fall of 2013. 2013 CCGA BUSINESS PLAN OCTOBER CCGA BOARD MEETING The CCGA’s first business plan was developed, presented and approved at the October 2012 Board of Director’s Meeting. The plan focuses primarily on the CCGA’s Damage Prevention Issues of National Interest and outlines the method in which the CCGA will meet those goals. DAMAGE PREVENTION ISSUES OF NATIONAL INTEREST The 2013 Business Plan outlined the four goals/Damage Prevention issues of National interest and articulated task forces assigned to those goals. Those task forces are empowered to design and follow a plan to facilitate completion of those goals and report back to the CCGA executive director. Goal 1 – Simplifying Access to One-Call Systems The Goal 1 Task Force provided its recommendation to the CCGA Board of Directors as to how this goal should be met—development and promotion of a national 800 number and national Web portal that would proliferate the advancement of Web-based locate requests. A branding consultant, secured through a competition process, is being tasked to merge the existing “Call Before You Dig” brand equity with a national 800 number and a transitional message to direct the digging community to request locates online. Goal 2 – Best Practice Harmonization Damage prevention best practices have developed across the country as the regional partnerships emerged and evolved. As a result, these practices vary from one regional partner to the next. While these variances aren’t a detriment, the CCGA considers it beneficial to provide a roadmap to those differences as well as to develop a consistent approach to addressing them. The task force expects to complete the effort and publish the first best practice compendium for Canada later this year. Goal 3 – One Call Systems Serving all of Canada The Damage Prevention Process begins with a call to determine the location of buried utilities. Unfortunately, this process becomes extremely cumbersome if there is no one-call system serving the area. The CCGA is working with the regional partners of the Common Ground Alliance in Canada to address this issue and help realize a one-call system in Manitoba and Atlantic Canada, effectively blanketing the country with one-call services. To that end, Info-Excavation and Alberta One-call collaborated to provide the province of Manitoba (via the MCGA) with a proposal to unveil “Manitoba 11 http://www.orcga.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Ear to the Ground - Spring 2013

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
GET THE WHOLE PICTURE
811 LOGO TO BE FEATURED AT NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES RACES THIS YEAR
WHERE WE ARE TODAY
10TH ANNIVERSARY SYMPOSIUM
BILL 8 IS LAW: NOW WHAT?
ECLRT AND SUE – NATURAL TRANSIT PARTNERS
HALL OF FAME/MEMBER OF THE YEAR
PAST MEMBER OF THE YEAR AWARDS AND HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES
EXCAVATOR OF THE YEAR AWARDS
IMPORTANT INFORMATION: REVISED FEE SCHEDULES – EFFECTIVE: MAY 1, 2013
INDEX OF ADVERTISERS

Ear to the Ground - Spring 2013