Highlights from the recent throne speeches in Ontario, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador
Ontario a bit less pro-business
Ontario’s newly elected Liberal government outlined a number of initiatives important to HR practitioners in its first speech from the throne.
•Smoke-free workplaces: Workplaces and public areas in Ontario will become smoke-free within three years.
•Minimum wage increase: For the first time in eight years, there will be an increase in the minimum wage.
•Labour legislation: Legislation will be introduced to remove the 60-hour workweek provisions added to labour standards legislation by the previous Conservative government.
•Training and development: With the goal of building a globally competitive labour force, tuition fees will be frozen for two years while a long-term plan is developed to address the quality and accessibility of post-secondary education.
•Immigration: The province will work with the federal government to finalize immigration and labour market development agreements.
•Corporate taxes: The new government also announced it will roll back the previous Conservative government’s corporate tax cuts.
Newfoundland and Labrador to develop labour force
The newly elected government in Newfoundland and Labrador put labour market development on its agenda in its first throne speech.
•Youth opportunities: To address the province’s brain drain problem, a Youth Opportunities Newfoundland and Labrador program will give financial aid to debt-burdened post-secondary graduates who remain in the province. Employers will also be given incentives to hire new graduates. University tuition rates will decrease.
•Labour strategy: The province will consult with stakeholders to develop a labour market development strategy. And, an Expatriate Labour Registration Desk will match employers with former Newfoundlanders who want to return to the province.
P.E.I. targets learning
Prince Edward Island’s Conservative government was returned with a strong majority and set about pledging resources for both childhood and adult education in its throne speech. Class sizes will drop and new funding flowed to schools. Adult literacy programs, Holland College and the University of P.E.I. will get new funds.
Ontario’s newly elected Liberal government outlined a number of initiatives important to HR practitioners in its first speech from the throne.
•Smoke-free workplaces: Workplaces and public areas in Ontario will become smoke-free within three years.
•Minimum wage increase: For the first time in eight years, there will be an increase in the minimum wage.
•Labour legislation: Legislation will be introduced to remove the 60-hour workweek provisions added to labour standards legislation by the previous Conservative government.
•Training and development: With the goal of building a globally competitive labour force, tuition fees will be frozen for two years while a long-term plan is developed to address the quality and accessibility of post-secondary education.
•Immigration: The province will work with the federal government to finalize immigration and labour market development agreements.
•Corporate taxes: The new government also announced it will roll back the previous Conservative government’s corporate tax cuts.
Newfoundland and Labrador to develop labour force
The newly elected government in Newfoundland and Labrador put labour market development on its agenda in its first throne speech.
•Youth opportunities: To address the province’s brain drain problem, a Youth Opportunities Newfoundland and Labrador program will give financial aid to debt-burdened post-secondary graduates who remain in the province. Employers will also be given incentives to hire new graduates. University tuition rates will decrease.
•Labour strategy: The province will consult with stakeholders to develop a labour market development strategy. And, an Expatriate Labour Registration Desk will match employers with former Newfoundlanders who want to return to the province.
P.E.I. targets learning
Prince Edward Island’s Conservative government was returned with a strong majority and set about pledging resources for both childhood and adult education in its throne speech. Class sizes will drop and new funding flowed to schools. Adult literacy programs, Holland College and the University of P.E.I. will get new funds.
