H&S IMPROVEMENTS IN FEDERAL JURISDICTIONS
Ottawa —Workplace health and safety committees will take on responsibility for the investigation and resolution of complaints, under changes to the Canadian Labour Code. The amendments, which affect federally regulated sectors, include: a requirement to establish Policy Health and Safety Committees at the upper management level in organizations with more than 300 employees, protection for pregnant and nursing employees, and streamlined internal procedures regarding the right to refuse dangerous work. “We see this step as a beginning of a new day for health and safety and we look forward to the next steps which will include the development of regulations on prevention programs, violence prevention and ergonomics,” said Hassan Yussuff, of the Canadian Labour Congress.
NEW ONTARIO PENSION PLAN FORM
Toronto — The Financial Services Commission of Ontario has released a form that plan administrators must use to meet newly legislated responsibilities to provide trustees of a pension fund with a summary of contributions for each fiscal year. For copies and instructions visit www.fsco.gov.
ca and look under “Forms.”
HRDC TARGETS CHILD BENEFITS
Ottawa — Low-income families will receive an increase in government support to help parents make the transition to the workforce while improving their families’ quality of life, said Jane Stewart, Minister of Human Resources Development Canada. Ottawa is adding more than $425 million to the National Child Benefit fund, bringing federal investment in the program to $1.7 billion annually.
HIRING EN MASSE
Markham, Ont. — Remember the massive job fair IBM held last May, when more than 5,000 candidates crowded into the company’s lobby to hand in their resumes? The dust has settled in the recruitment office and so far about 500 people have been interviewed. More than 100 people have been given offers to join the firm. Meanwhile, Sears Canada announced it will use job fairs to find 4,000 people to staff seven revamped Eaton’s stores.
NEW BRUNSWICK LEADS IN JOB GROWTH
Fredericton — June labour statistics show New Brunswick led the country in growth of the labour force on a year-over-year basis. “This national leadership in the growth of the labour force is encouraging, but I am even more excited about the rise in the number of people employed in the province,” said Norman McFarlane, Minister of Training and Employment Development.
CORPORATE VOLUNTEERISM HONOURED
Toronto — Companies that have joined with community groups to meet local social needs are eligible for partnership awards through Imagine, an initiative of the Canadian Centre for Philanthropy. For information on nominating your organization, call (416) 597-2293, ext. 229 or visit www.ccp.ca/imagine/awards/index.html before Sept. 20.
EXIT STAGE LEFT
Toronto — Ballerina Kimberly Glasco is dancing away with piles of cash following a deal that ends her wrongful dismissal suit against the National Ballet of Canada. Rumoured to be in the $1-million range, (even as high as $1.5 million), the deal will end Glasco’s relationship with the Ballet company rather than waiting for an arbitrator’s ruling on Glasco’s wrongful dismissal suit.
Mandatory retirement review
Toronto — The Ontario Human Rights Commission has launched a review of mandatory retirement and age discrimination. The commission intends to draft policy recommendations, after extensive consultation with interested parties this fall.
Ottawa —Workplace health and safety committees will take on responsibility for the investigation and resolution of complaints, under changes to the Canadian Labour Code. The amendments, which affect federally regulated sectors, include: a requirement to establish Policy Health and Safety Committees at the upper management level in organizations with more than 300 employees, protection for pregnant and nursing employees, and streamlined internal procedures regarding the right to refuse dangerous work. “We see this step as a beginning of a new day for health and safety and we look forward to the next steps which will include the development of regulations on prevention programs, violence prevention and ergonomics,” said Hassan Yussuff, of the Canadian Labour Congress.
NEW ONTARIO PENSION PLAN FORM
Toronto — The Financial Services Commission of Ontario has released a form that plan administrators must use to meet newly legislated responsibilities to provide trustees of a pension fund with a summary of contributions for each fiscal year. For copies and instructions visit www.fsco.gov.
ca and look under “Forms.”
HRDC TARGETS CHILD BENEFITS
Ottawa — Low-income families will receive an increase in government support to help parents make the transition to the workforce while improving their families’ quality of life, said Jane Stewart, Minister of Human Resources Development Canada. Ottawa is adding more than $425 million to the National Child Benefit fund, bringing federal investment in the program to $1.7 billion annually.
HIRING EN MASSE
Markham, Ont. — Remember the massive job fair IBM held last May, when more than 5,000 candidates crowded into the company’s lobby to hand in their resumes? The dust has settled in the recruitment office and so far about 500 people have been interviewed. More than 100 people have been given offers to join the firm. Meanwhile, Sears Canada announced it will use job fairs to find 4,000 people to staff seven revamped Eaton’s stores.
NEW BRUNSWICK LEADS IN JOB GROWTH
Fredericton — June labour statistics show New Brunswick led the country in growth of the labour force on a year-over-year basis. “This national leadership in the growth of the labour force is encouraging, but I am even more excited about the rise in the number of people employed in the province,” said Norman McFarlane, Minister of Training and Employment Development.
CORPORATE VOLUNTEERISM HONOURED
Toronto — Companies that have joined with community groups to meet local social needs are eligible for partnership awards through Imagine, an initiative of the Canadian Centre for Philanthropy. For information on nominating your organization, call (416) 597-2293, ext. 229 or visit www.ccp.ca/imagine/awards/index.html before Sept. 20.
EXIT STAGE LEFT
Toronto — Ballerina Kimberly Glasco is dancing away with piles of cash following a deal that ends her wrongful dismissal suit against the National Ballet of Canada. Rumoured to be in the $1-million range, (even as high as $1.5 million), the deal will end Glasco’s relationship with the Ballet company rather than waiting for an arbitrator’s ruling on Glasco’s wrongful dismissal suit.
Mandatory retirement review
Toronto — The Ontario Human Rights Commission has launched a review of mandatory retirement and age discrimination. The commission intends to draft policy recommendations, after extensive consultation with interested parties this fall.
