News Briefs (May 20, 2002)

MANDATORY FLU SHOTS RULED VIOLATION

Toronto
— In what is being hailed as a landmark decision, an Ontario board of arbitration has ruled a Hamilton hospital cannot force employees to take a flu shot. St. Peter’s Health System had earlier suspended without pay a number of employees who refused the shot. The board agreed with the union that prior to balancing the interests of the hospital, it had to consider Charter rights issues. Noting that virtually all court decisions characterize enforced medical treatment as an assault where there is no consent, the board concluded that imposing non-disciplinary suspensions on employees who refuse the shots is a violation of the right to security of the person.

QUEBEC CUTS IMMIGRATION RED TAPE

Quebec City
— Quebec will spend $3 million over the next three years to make it easier for immigrants to find work in the province. Initiatives will focus on professional certification, for example, addressing the nursing shortage by producing a guide to help immigrants prepare for the nursing exam (currently, about two-thirds of immigrants who take the exam fail), and posting information on professional orders online. The province’s 45 professional orders have also committed to work with educational institutions to speed up the qualification process.

CHANGES TO ALBERTA WCB

Edmonton
— Alberta has introduced new legislation overhauling the workers’ compensation system but avoided the contentious issue of what to do about complaints by workers who say they did not receive a fair hearing through the appeals process. They are calling for new hearings. The government has indicated it is sympathetic to the idea but employer groups are opposed, fearing retroactive compensation awards could cost them hundreds of millions of dollars. Human Resources and Employment Minister Clint Dunford called for a new review body to examine the claims. The changes the government will go ahead with are intended to make the system more open and accountable and will cost employers less than one cent per $100 of insurable employee earnings.

WORK LESS, STRENGTHEN ECONOMY?

Ottawa
— The NDP is calling for a shorter workweek in Canada, to produce more jobs and improve the economy. In a private members motion, NDP Labour Critic Pat Martin called for the adoption of a shorter workweek in the public sector, federally regulated industries and in the private sector as a whole. The NDP cites a Canadian Labour Market and Productivity Centre task force report that suggests a reduction in the workweek in Quebec would create up to 15,000 jobs.

OPPORTUNITIES FOR DISABLED IN N.B.

Fredericton
— New Brunswick has launched a new program to help disabled people find work. Candidates for the program are underemployed New Brunswickers with a self-identified disability. They must have a high-school diploma or equivalency. The 12-week training program will cover banking essentials, employability skills, computer skills, call centre training and on-the-job training. Royal Bank Financial Group is a partner in the initiative and will offer jobs to those who complete the program.

SPY RETENTION PROBLEMS

Ottawa
— In the last six months the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) has lost 35 highly trained officers to other federal departments and agencies suddenly in need of intelligence experts after Sept. 11., according to a report in the Toronto Star. Many departments, like immigration, have a need for experts to gather and analyse security data. In an effort to hold onto employees, CSIS is calling for raises for all employees below the senior executive level. New recruits make just $38,000 and after five years they can expect to take home $65,000, well below wages at other foreign intelligence agencies.

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