In this edition:
- Ontario to ban requirements for Canadian work experience in job postings
- O’Regan introduces legislation to ban use of replacement workers
- Government of Canada to release Fall Economic Statement on November 21
- Ontario commits $200m to water infrastructure
- Dozens of Brock researchers included on global list of top scientists
- Loblaw claims Canada’s ‘code of conduct’ will cost consumers $1bn
- Council for Aboriginal Business signs $3.4m agreement for Indigenous procurement
- Welland mayor introduces budget with 2.68 per cent hike; won’t use veto powers
- Focus on Equity, Diversity & Inclusion
Ontario to ban requirements for Canadian work experience in job postings
The Ontario government will soon introduce legislation that, if passed, would make it the first province in Canada to help even more internationally-trained immigrants work in the fields they’ve studied in by banning the use of Canadian work experience as a requirement in job postings or application forms. This change would help more qualified candidates progress in the interview process and follows historic legislation to prohibit regulated professions from requiring discriminatory Canadian work experience requirements in licensing for more than 30 occupations, which comes into effect December 2023.
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O’Regan introduces legislation to ban use of replacement workers
Today, Minister of Labour Seamus O’Regan Jr. introduced legislation which proposes to ban the use of replacement workers in federally regulated workplaces during a strike or lockout. The legislation would also make important changes to improve the maintenance of activities process.
Bill C-58 would ban employers from using replacement workers to do the work of unionized employees who are on strike or locked out. An exception would apply in situations where there are threats to health and safety, or threats of serious property and environmental damage that could not be managed by the employer’s existing workforce.
The Canadian Chamber of Commerce expressed its opposition to the move in a statement. CEO Perrin Beatty said that “by eliminating the ability of federally regulated employers to use replacement workers to continue their operations in the case of a work stoppage, the government will put its thumb firmly on the scales in favour of one of the parties, removing an incentive to negotiate and encouraging more labour disruptions.”
Government of Canada to release Fall Economic Statement on November 21
The Honourable Chrystia Freeland, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, will present the 2023 Fall Economic Statement in the House of Commons on November 21, 2023, at approximately 4:00 p.m. ET.
The Fall Economic Statement will provide information on the state of the Canadian economy and update on the government’s stated economic plan to help create good jobs, to build more homes, and to make life more affordable.
Ontario commits $200m to water infrastructure
The Ontario government is investing $200 million over three years to help municipalities repair, rehabilitate and expand critical drinking water, wastewater and stormwater infrastructure. The new funding will support the province’s rapidly growing population, unlock more housing opportunities and spur economic growth.
As announced in Ontario’s 2023 Fall Economic Statement, the government is also introducing additional measures aimed at helping to build critical infrastructure faster and smarter. This includes launching the new Ontario Infrastructure Bank and the building of more rental homes by taking steps to remove the full eight per cent provincial portion of the Harmonized Sales Tax (HST).
Dozens of Brock researchers included on global list of top scientists
Stanford University’s list of the world’s top two per cent of scientists with the most citations has been updated to reflect the situation in 2023 – and Brock University is holding steady.
The update contains two tables: one listing a database of citations over the course of a career for 204,643 researchers worldwide; and another one listing 210,198 researchers for the most citations in 2022. Citations, which appear in academic papers, are references made to earlier research. The number of times a researcher’s work is referenced in other peer-reviewed work is one important indicator of their research impact and reputation.
There are 38 Brock University researchers listed in the first table and 27 in the second, single-year table.
Loblaw claims Canada’s ‘code of conduct’ will cost consumers $1bn
After a select group of Canadian grocers raised rates to suppliers in 2020, the government decided a “code of conduct” was going to be created to prevent such actions in the future. However, Canadian grocer Loblaw said it believes the guidance will only force the cost to implement to be passed on to consumers, reports BNN Bloomberg.
So how much are we talking about? Loblaw says it believes that cost could be upwards of $1 billion (CAD), or $720 million in U.S. dollars.
Loblaw wrote a letter to both members of the code of conduct steering committee, as well as the industry subcommittee, with the retailer saying it cannot approve the code.
Council for Aboriginal Business announces $3.4m funding agreement for Indigenous procurement
The Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business (CCAB) today announced that they had entered into a multi-year agreement with Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) to invest more than $3.4 million into CCAB’s continued and longstanding work to support Indigenous procurement.
In 2018, CCAB launched Supply Change™, a comprehensive suite of programs and tools aimed to increase procurement from Indigenous business in the supply chains of Corporate Canada and all levels of government.
Supply Change™ functions through a number of programs and services, including research, advocacy, education, certification and an Indigenous Procurement Marketplace. The Marketplace is a two-way Indigenous procurement platform that allows Certified Aboriginal Businesses (CABs), a designation provided through CCAB to ensure Indigenous businesses are verifiably majority owned and operated by Indigenous peoples, to connect with corporations and entities who have joined Supply Change™ with the goal of increasing Indigenous participation. Over the course of six years, Supply Change has grown to include close to 1,300 certified First Nation, Métis and Inuit businesses and more than 140 buyers.
Welland mayor introduces budget with 2.68 per cent hike; says he won’t use veto powers in process
Strong mayor powers won’t be used to stop Welland councillors from amending the 2024 budget, said Mayor Frank Campion, who presented his budget and its proposed 2.68 per cent tax increase at a special budget review meeting Monday. In his opening remarks, Campion stressed he would not use his veto to block councillors’ amendments.
Last year, residents saw a 3.05 per cent decrease in their municipal tax bill, a result of the uploading of transit costs to Niagara Region.
With some councillors absent, quorum was lost when Ward 3 Coun. John Chiocchio and Ward 5 Coun. Graham Speck walked out.
Did you know?
Microsoft Excel was first launched under the name “Multiplan” in 1982.
Focus on Equity, Diversity & Inclusion
Mental health needs to be a cornerstone of equity, diversity and inclusion initiatives
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.
