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Persons with disabilities

$2 Million fund to assist B.C. Employers and Communities to measure up.  Source.

Life insurance

Life insurance makes sense when you have a young family to worry about. But it may also be a good idea when that family is grown up and has a family of its own.  Heather Clarke, vice-president of insurance services at Investors Group, said when people are younger they think about what could happen if they died, leaving behind kids and a mortgage. But as people get older their thoughts turn to preserving their estate, and insurance can help do that too, she said.  If a person has $500,000 in assets they would like to leave to their children and if some of that is taxable, then one way to preserve the inheritance is to buy an insurance policy that pays out the amount of tax that will be owing, Clarke said. Source.

Workers allowed to semi-retire and still contribute to pension

The Harper government laid out plans yesterday to help more seniors achieve semi-retirement, moves that should also help Canadian businesses hang on to much-needed experienced workers.  The two key steps are part of the Conservatives' broader effort to quell the anger among many seniors hurt by the government's decision in October to tax income trusts, a popular investment vehicle.  In one of the new measures, the government said it will begin allowing employers to pay a partial pension to an employee while that same worker is also contributing to the pension plan. This will make it easier for retired individuals to return to the work force part time.  It should help Canada's efforts to combat its skills shortage, which is expected to become an increasing problem as the work force ages. The change, expected to carry a small price tag for the government, is scheduled to take effect Jan. 1.  Source.

BC's hot sectors

Current and emerging industry sectors facing labour shortages. Please click here for summaries of some of BC’s Hot Sectors: Agriculture, Aquaculture, Call Centers, Arts & Culture,  Construction, Education, Health, Finance Insurance and Real Estate, Forestry, Mining, Oil and Gas, Policing, Professional Services, Technology, Tourism, Trades, Transportation, and Trucking. 

Source: BC Career Management Association

New license could ease border crossing

Washington legislators on Wednesday approved a new $40 US enhanced driver's licence aimed at easing border crossings into British Columbia, possibly in lieu of a passport.  Full story here.

Get advice before signing employment contracts

Here is some advice for employers seeking to enter into binding employment contracts. 

Statistics Canada

Statistics available by subject:

1. Aboriginal peoples
2. Agriculture
3. Business performance and ownership
4. Business, consumer and property services
5. Children and youth
6. Construction
7. Crime and justice
8. Culture and leisure
9. Economic accounts
10. Education, training and learning
11. Energy
12. Environment
13. Ethnic diversity and immigration
14. Families, households and housing
15. Government
16. Health Income, pensions, spending and wealth
17. Information and communications technology
18. International trade
19. Labour
20. Languages
21. Manufacturing
22. Population and demography
23. Prices and price indexes
24. Reference
25. Retail and wholesale
26. Science and technology
27. Seniors
28. Society and community
29. Statistical methods
30. Transportation
31. Travel and tourism

Computer glitch shuts down online tax filing

A computer malfunction has forced Canada's tax agency to shut down all online tax filing as Canadians race to file their personal income tax returns by the April 30 deadline.  And if the problem isn't resolved within a few days, the agency may have to look at options, including a possible extension of the tax deadline.  Full story here.

More companies ban cellphone use in cars

Employees who use cellphones while driving during work hours could be a thing of the past, if a growing number of Canadian companies have their way.  The potential for liability in the case of an accident and for ensuring the safety of employees are the main reasons cited for adopting new policies forbidding the practice.  "Those lawsuits are occurring already in the U.S.," says John Kageorge, a spokesman for global engineering company AMEC, which has about 20,000 employees worldwide.  Full article here.

Employment Standards

The Employment Standards Branch administers the Employment Standards Act and Regulation, which set minimum standards of wages and working conditions in most workplaces. For more information, click here.