In this edition:
- Ontario Chamber issues call for urgent action over substance use and overdose crisis
- Government of Canada introduces legislation for citizenship by descent
- Number of EI claimants holding steady following 2023 bump
- GNCC Lunch & Learn to tackle building inclusion in the workplace
- Cabinet shuffle in the government might come after byelections aftermath: Insiders
- Focus on Human Resources
Ontario Chamber issues call for urgent action over substance use and overdose crisis
Ontario faces an alarming projection: over 3,000 annual drug poisoning deaths for the fifth consecutive year, translating to more than eight fatalities daily. As they find themselves near the frontlines of a substance use and overdose crisis, businesses are issuing urgent calls for action, emphasizing the need for strategic interventions in Ontario communities.
Today, the Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC) released Beyond Emergency Declarations: Charting Ontario’s Course Through the Substance Use and Overdose Crisis. This policy brief aims to simplify the complex narrative surrounding substance use, bridge the knowledge gap between stakeholders, and underscore the need for evidence-based, community-informed solutions that prioritize public health principles, prevent mortality, and improve recovery outcomes.
Government of Canada introduces legislation for citizenship by descent
Today, the Honourable Marc Miller, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, introduced legislation that would extend citizenship by descent beyond the first generation in a way aims to be inclusive and protect the value of Canadian citizenship.
This legislation would automatically confer Canadian citizenship to persons born abroad to a Canadian parent who is also born abroad prior to the coming into force of this legislation. It would also extend access to a direct grant of citizenship to children born abroad and adopted by a Canadian parent beyond the first generation.
Number of EI claimants holding steady following 2023 bump
In March, 470,000 Canadians received regular Employment Insurance (EI) benefits, little changed (+0.1%; +400) from February. After trending higher from February to December 2023 (+78,000; +19.8%), the number of regular (EI) recipients has remained relatively steady in recent months.
On a year-over-year basis, the number of regular EI beneficiaries was up by 75,000 (+18.9%) in March 2024.
GNCC Lunch & Learn to tackle building inclusion in the workplace
Discover how diversity can become the cornerstone of innovation and success in the GNCC’s next Lunch & Learn, powered by YMCA of Niagara. We will delve into the transformative power of inclusivity, fostering an environment where every voice resonates and every perspective thrives. Build a stronger, more cohesive team and unlocking the full potential of diversity in your workplace.
Click here to register (free for GNCC members).
Cabinet shuffle in the government might come after byelections aftermath: Insiders
Now that provincial byelections are over, there is a big question going around the Legislature this week: will Premier Doug Ford change his front bench?
Sources in the know say Ford could change his front bench at any time, given there are four weeks left until the summer break. This means that if he shuffles his cabinet now, the new ministers would have plenty of time to get used to their jobs and learn their new portfolios before the fall session.
Did you know?
Focus on Human Resources
Should Canadian employers share the costs of return to office mandates?
Mandating employees to return to the workplace full time could be costly for employers, according to a report from Capterra.
Overall, 68 per cent of employees say they would look for a new job if they had to spend more of their own income to come to work than they feel reasonable.
Nearly two-thirds (64 per cent) also say they would ask their employer for a raise if they are required to return to the office full time.
Through the Daily Updates, the GNCC aims to deliver important business news in a timely manner. We disseminate all news and information we feel will be important to businesses. Inclusion in the Daily Update is not an endorsement by the GNCC.
