In this edition:
Trudeau revokes use of Emergencies Act
Niagara’s transition to single transit commission receives triple majority
Canadians working from home report highest levels of satisfaction
New CCOHS courses on opioids in the workplace
Update on Ukraine
Trudeau revokes use of Emergencies Act
In an announcement at 4pm, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced that the use of the Emergencies Act was to be revoked, now that the protests and blockades in Ottawa had been ended. In accordance with the Act, an inquiry will be held within 60 days. Despite the revocation, the Prime Minister reiterated that the Government of Canada was ready to help and reinforce provincial and local authorities in cases of further lawbreaking.
Niagara’s transition to single transit commission receives triple majority
Niagara Region has now completed all 12 local area municipal council presentations and secured the required triple-majority support to move forward to create a consolidated transit Commission.
The transition to a single, consolidated public transit system will now begin with the goal of beginning operations in January 2023.
To guide this process, Niagara Region has established the Transit Commission Steering Committee to lead the transition through a series of working groups made up of current municipal transit providers and Regional staff. The committee will bring a number of updates to Regional Council in the coming months.
Canadians working from home report highest levels of satisfaction with family life & work-life balance
From October to December 2021, 21% of working Canadians reported working from home all of the time, while an additional 18% worked from home some of the time. The remaining 62% of respondents worked outside of the home.
The largest proportion of those reporting high satisfaction with the amount of time spent as a family was among those who worked from home all of the time (70%), and was lowest for those who worked outside of the home (60%).
Satisfaction with work-life balance varied significantly by work location. Specifically, the proportion who reported being very satisfied or satisfied with the balance between their job and home life was higher among those who worked from home all of the time (75%).
The proportion of those satisfied with work-life balance was lower for those who worked from home some of the time (69%) and was still lower for those who worked outside of the home (61%).
Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety releases new courses on opioids in the workplace
Opioid use in the workplace can impact everyone’s right to a safe and healthy environment. To help workplaces take steps to address impairment, the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS) has released two online courses.
Opioids: What Employers Need to Know introduces employers to the impacts of opioid use in the workplace. Employers and supervisors will learn about their specific duties, the importance of addressing substance use through a policy, and the steps they should take when possible impairment is observed.
Opioids: What Workers Need to Know introduces employees to the impacts of opioid use in the workplace. The course will help workers learn about these impacts and steps to follow to understand opioid use, reduce stigma, and provide appropriate support in the workplace.
Both courses are available on the CCOHS website in English and French.
Reading Recommendations
Oil heads higher as Ukraine tensions escalate — price depends on what happens next
Canadian Press/CBC
Oil prices are rapidly heading toward $100 US a barrel, but analysts say the chances of crude smashing that threshold greatly depends on what happens next in Ukraine.
The potential for a war in eastern Europe has made energy prices volatile over investor fears that conflict between Russia and Ukraine could disrupt supplies. Russia produces 10 per cent of global oil supply.
On Wednesday, the benchmark West Texas Intermediate price came close to $94 US per barrel in the morning’s trading, and many experts have suggested it will go higher.
“I think based on the momentum we’re seeing, unless we see a major pullback in Russian aggression, we likely will top $100 a barrel,” said Rory Johnston, managing director and market economist at Toronto-based Price Street Inc.
“But as of yet, this does seem to be purely geopolitical risk pricing, rather than any immediate fear of an actual loss of barrels.”
Update on Ukraine
Canada announces support to address the situation in Ukraine
Alongside its international partners and allies, and in solidarity with the government and people of Ukraine, Canada unequivocally condemns Russia’s decision to recognize the independence of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions in Ukraine. Russia’s action constitutes a brazen violation of Ukraine’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence, and demonstrates a blatant disregard for international law.
The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, today announced that Canada will be imposing new sanctions under the Special Economic Measures (Russia) Regulations and the Special Economic Measures (Ukraine) Regulations. These new measures will:
- Impose restrictions on members of the Russian State Duma who voted for the decision to recognize the independence of the Donetsk and Luhansk;
- Impose a dealings ban on the non-government controlled areas of Donetsk and Luhansk, which will effectively prohibit Canadians from engaging in specific transactions and activities in these regions;
- Place new prohibitions on direct and indirect dealings in Russian sovereign debt; and
- Impose sanctions on two significant Russian financial institutions in order to hinder Russia’s ability to further fund its aggressive actions.
The Prime Minister also announced that Canada will be sending additional military contributions to support North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in the face of rising tensions in the region. These contributions, which fall under Operation REASSURANCE, will strengthen NATO’s deterrence and defence efforts by increasing Canada’s land, maritime, and air capabilities in Europe. Specifically, Canada will provide:
- Up to an additional 460 personnel to the approximately 800 currently deployed in Europe in support of NATO, including:
- A battery of M777 artillery guns with forward observers and an electronic warfare troop to bolster the Canadian led enhanced Forward Presence Battle Group in Latvia;
- A second frigate, with an embarked maritime helicopter, to participate in NATO’s Standing Naval Forces; and
- The re-tasking of a CP-140 Aurora long range patrol aircraft already in the region, which will now operate in the Euro-Atlantic Area under NATO command and control.
In addition, approximately 3,400 Canadian Armed Forces personnel across all branches of the service are authorized to deploy to the NATO Response Force should they be required by NATO.
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