12 new degree programs in B.C.; PCS, supervisor facing OHS charges; Sask. leads Canada in ’09 job growth; HRMAM signs on to metrics service; SaskJobs website sees record traffic
12 new degree programs in B.C.
Victoria — The British Columbia government has approved 12 new degrees at post-secondary institutions across the province, including a bachelor of technology in geographic information systems (B.C. Institute of Technology); bachelor of arts, major in digital media (Vancouver Island University); master of engineering in clean energy engineering (University of British Columbia); and bachelor of legal studies (Capilano University).
PCS, supervisor facing OHS charges
Lanigan, Sask. — The Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan (PCS) and supervisor Garth Gudnason have been charged with occupational health and safety legislation violations related to the death of Robert Tkach, a 60-year-old worker killed on the job in September 2008 when the Jeep he was driving went over the edge of a ramp and flipped. They could face fines up to $300,000 or two years in jail.
Sask. leads Canada in ’09 job growth
Regina — While much of Canada suffered reduced employment last year, Saskatchewan led the country in job growth (1.5 per cent), with 518,600 people working in the province in December, an increase of 2,600 from the year before. “Our population has grown, our economy has created jobs and our workers are earning more than ever,” said Rob Norris, the province’s labour minister. More than 1,900 workers are enrolled in the federal work-sharing program, which has helped avert at least 1,200 layoffs, he said.
HRMAM signs on to metrics service
Victoria, Winnipeg — Manitoba’s HR association has signed on to the HR metrics service launched by the British Columbia Human Resources Management Association (BC HRMA). The Human Resource Management Association of Manitoba (HRMAM) and the B.C. association finalized an agreement in December, said Ian Cook, director of research and learning for BC HRMA. For more information about the metrics service, see article #7188.
SaskJobs website sees record traffic
Regina — Traffic on Saskatchewan’s job-matching website, SaskJobs.ca, grew more than 60 per cent in 2009, jumping from 4.3 to 6.9 million visitors. About 1.2 million visits were from outside the province (with 456,000 from Ontario) and 276,000 were from outside Canada. More than 102,000 jobs were posted to the website in 2009, which has more than 4,000 active postings.
