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August 26, 2008
Employer of Choice Deadline
Do your recruitment and retention efforts need a boost?
One of the most commonly used comments by Human Resource
Professionals and Managers alike is that “the employees
are the company’s most valuable resource.” If this is to
have value, then it is worth your time to ensure that
you are recruiting the best, retaining the best and
unleashing your employees’ potential so that they
perform at their best. PeopleWorx and Kings CED are
looking for 2 more small businesses in the West Hants
area to participate in this worthwhile Employer of
Choice Pilot Initiative (EOCPI) starting on September
19th. It is a program whereby Annapolis Valley
employers will receive support to examine their current
HR practices, develop a plan, take action, and become
labeled as “employers of choice”. The EOCPI Project is
open up to a total of 16 companies in Annapolis, Digby,
Kings and West Hants counties.
Download the:
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introductory
presentation [here]
1 MB pdf
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information package [here]
289 kb doc
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application form [here]
231 kb pdf
To sign up or for further
information, please call Mary Fox at (902) 679-2755 ext.
231 or by email
mfox@peopleworx.ca
West Hants
and Area News
Courses for Horses
There’s a saying in the British horse-racing world that
horses race on certain courses better, essentially
meaning what course works for one may not work for
another. Two of Hants County’s newest entrepreneurs
could attest to that, figuratively, of course. The Hants
Regional Development Authority (Hants RDA) is excited to
welcome two new immigrants to the area under one of the
five immigration streams provided by Nova Scotia’s
Provincial Nominee Program. Now they’ve been given the
federal stamp of approval, Kathy Monroe and Nancy
Barmore are in the process of moving their Norwegian
Fjord Horse-breeding business from Minnesota to Belmont.
Under the Community-identified Immigration Program,
RDA’s can identify and assist non-Canadian residents
with a specific connection to their regions to help
speed up obtaining permanent resident status via the
federal government. “They have to demonstrate this
connection to the community in question. In this case,
it was Kathy and Nancy’s purchase of a local farm and
obtaining letters from local residents to support their
application with us that helps us escalate their
application through the province, who then in turn
nominate them to the federal Department of Immigration,”
says Ryan MacNeil, Executive Director of the Hants RDA.
“We were very pleased to assist them through the entire
process.” MacNeil notes the ladies are also are forming
the Nova Scotian Fjord Consortium with existing breeders
in the province, some of whom also stepped forward to
vouch for them. “The turn-around time of their
application was amazing, a record eight to ten months.”
MacNeil cautions the
community-identified stream is not for everyone.
“Through its nominee program, the province has five
streams and then the federal government also has its
streams, such as the skills-based stream which is the
most known,” he says. “While each one has the same
outcome as an aim, each stream is very specific in its
criteria, so what works for in one case may not be
suitable for another applicant.” While the RDA is
thrilled for having assisted the ladies through the web
of forms and processes to a positive end, nothing can
replace the excitement Kathy and Nancy are experiencing
as they settle in their new, rural Hants County setting
they feel is ideal for their business. “The Fjiord is a
special horse and this is a special farm, we are so
thrilled to be here,” says Monroe, who has a background
in consumer banking and the electronic
payment-processing industry. “It was made just for what
we want to do, and it’s the centre of the horse world
here.” The entrepreneurs were first introduced to Nova
Scotia through visiting another Fjiord-breeding farm in
Antigonish county. “We come from a similar area in the
North-West [United States] and felt a real pull to come
back here, “ Monroe told E-News. While the Fjord horse
and its ancestors have traditionally been used as farm
animals in Norway, today it is more a favourite at
riding and therapeutic schools around the world as its
generally mild temperament and small size make it
suitable for children and disabled individuals. It has
also been used as a sport horse with a good reputation
as a good driving horse. Its ability to handle difficult
terrain has led to achievements in show jumping and
dressage where they have reached the highest levels. “We
like to drive carriages and do a bit of off-roading, and
our new location will give us this ability,” added
Kathy. Come October, they plan on bringing home 14
horses to start, and then follow up with their second
venture, a vineyard, next year. “We’ve heard this area
being referred to as a future Nappa Valley and similar
to what Martha’s Vineyard was before it was Martha’s
Vineyard,” Kathy said. “Our farm has tremendous
potential for supporting growing grapes, so we intend to
begin the planting of our vineyard next year.” If you
would like to know more about the immigration program
please contact the Hants RDA at 1-877-284-2687 or
www.hantscounty.com
[Source: Avondale Media]
Bucks for Ducks
A 30-year agree-ment was announced last week between
Ducks Unlimited Canada and the Fundy Gypsum company, now
called USG-owned CGC Inc. The agreement says Ducks
Unlimited will aim to provide technical assistance to
CGC Inc. to protect wetland and associated habitat in
four sites known locally as Meadow Pond, Belmont Beaver
Pond, Upper Beaver Ponds and Miller’s Creek Duck Pond.
“We recognize the impor-tance of wildlife habitat and
see this as an excellent opportunity to partner with a
group that spe-cializes in habitat development and
conservation," said Mike Bishop, Fundy Gypsum plant
manager. “We see this as a long-term partnership with
common goals," said Deanne Meadus, At-lantic manager of
conservation programs for Ducks Unlimited. “Therefore,
we look forward to assisting CGC with their plan to
conserve and improve wetland habitat on their
properties." Three of the four sites are located on the
Avon Peninsula, on or near the site the company is
hoping the Province will give them the green light for
their expansion within the next 6 months. They are
expected to submit five focus reports required by the
Minister of Environment this fall. Fundy Gypsum claims
they recognize the quality of waterfowl habitat and
wanted some advice on how to manage the wetlands,
company officials said. Ducks Unlimited confirmed that
the wetlands were good wildlife habitat, be-ing used by
a variety of ducks, great blue herons, bald eagles and
other birds. “Realistically, Fundy Gypsum had managed
their habitat well by not impacting the existing
wetlands and by conserving the restored wetlands," Ms.
Meadus said. “The best option for improv-ing wildlife
habitat was to en-sure their long-term conserva-tion."
Raymond Parker, President of the Avon Peninsula
Watershed Preservation Society, a citizens group
consisting of over 200 local residents and with a
network province-wide opposing the company’s expansion
plans, couldn’t agree more “However, the problem is
there is no evidence to suggest that reconstructed
wetland areas actually recover the same values the
original areas lose when impacted by open-pit mining and
other industrial uses,” he said. “Especially given our
unique underlying geology on the Avon Peninsula. It’s a
very intricate and inter-connected system that has an
effect on our area’s entire water resource, and how far
the impact reaches as a result cannot be predicted.”
Last week Parker spoke at a Maritime watershed health
symposium hosted by the Canadian Water Resources
Association in Dartmouth to standing room-only audience.
{Source: The Chronicle Herald, E-News]
Introductory Workshop
“So, you want to start a business?” is an essential
first step for anyone who is considering starting a
business. Together with an Acadia Centre for social and
Business Entrepreneurship (ACSBE) Business Counsellor,
you will explore the essentials you need to get started:
The workshop will take place
on Tuesday, September 9th from 9 am to 4 pm at the
Enfield Fire Hall, 273 Highway 2, Enfield. Registration
is $10 and lunch is included with registration. For
further information contact Chantelle Marshall at Hants
Regional Development Authority 1-877-284-2687, Email
admin@hantscounty.com
Who is hiring?
Windsor and area
Kentville and area
Regional
and National Headlines
Listeria death toll reaches 12
“Our actions are guided by putting your interests
first.” The message from Maple Leaf president Michael
McCain being repeated on tv stations across the country
rings a somber and serious end to Canada’s summer picnic
and barbeque season as the death toll of the listeria
bacterium outbreak leading to a massive recall of the
company’s processed meat products has reached 12 and
expected to climb. The bacteria has an incubation of up
to 70 days, which is leading Canada’s Chief Public
Health Officer Dr. David Butler-Jones to warn the
listeriosis crisis will get worse before it gets better.
An elderly Hamilton lady who died in June was the first
fatality to be positively linked to the outbreak. The
rise in deaths is due to a broader definition of the
underlying causes and links to illnesses as a result of
the outbreak from the Maple Leaf’s North York plant.
Recalled products include everything processed at the
plant and sold to grocery stores, hospitals, schools,
nursing homes and fast-food outlets across Canada –
including Tim Hortons, Sobeys and Atlantic Superstore.
These products range from deli meats to hotdogs. Public
health officials have warned that food contaminated with
Listeria may not look or smell like it has spoiled.
Listeriosis can cause flu-like symptoms, such as a stiff
neck, headache, nausea and fever. Reported cases in
Quebec, Ontario and in the western provinces appear to
be identified thanks in part to an early-detection
system put in place by Ontario in response to the SARS
outbreak in 2003. So far no illnesses have been reported
in Atlantic Canada, but sandwiches have been pulled from
all the Irving convenience stores, including Sub
Delicious and Needs brands. The Maritimes reported 18
deaths during an listeriosis outbreak in the early
1980’s. At least one class-action lawsuit has been filed
with several more expected. To view a current list of
recalled products, go online to www. Mapleleaf.ca.
Anyone wishing for more information from the company can
call their consumer affairs hotline at 1-800-568-5801 or
visit Health Canada’s
website on
which also features tips on how you can minimize your
risks. [Sources: CTV, The Chronicle Herald]
Federal election looms
The Olympic games are over, but you can still count on
the political games, North and South of the border. As
the US Democratic Convention weekend wrapped up in
Denver with its boost for Obama, the leader to whom he
refers to as “President” Stephen Harper is trying to
crawl out from under his fixed-election date law he
created upon taking office. The Canadian Press is
reporting the Prime Minister has all but announced he’ll
pull the plug on his minority government next week,
laying out the rationale for pre-empting his
fixed-election-date law, scheduled byelections and the
resumption of Parliament. Many speculate he’s wishing to
avoid the three by-elections scheduled in September the
federal Conservatives are thought to be trailing in, as
well as getting in under the US-election and that
political fortunes don’t get too tied up in financial
losses as western economies steadily decline. Harper
last week asked to meet with each of the three
opposition leaders to determine if there’s any chance
that a fall session of Parliament can be productive.
He’s to meet NDP Leader Jack Layton this weekend. But
Bloc Quebecois Leader Gilles Duceppe has indicated he
won’t be available until Sept. 5 and Dion has indicated
he’ll be too busy to meet until Sept. 9. Harper
indicated this shows that the opposition parties are
unwilling to work co-operatively until October 2009 as a
minority government and that he won’t wait for the
meetings before deciding whether to seek the approval of
the Governor General for an election.
Air Canada sliding in Atlantic Canada
Just after news that Air Canada was cutting its
Halifax-base of operations for flight staff, followed by
considering removing life-vests from its Halifax-based
airline, Jazz, to save on fuel, what’s next on board for
Canada’s national airline in Atlantic Canada? AllNS.com
is reporting that Air Canada is cutting back on its
cherished transatlantic Halifax-London flights to four
days a week from the previous daily service starting in
October. “Air Canada’s decision to reduce its Halifax-UK
flights is raising fears for the viability of Nova
Scotia as an export corridor,” states the daily online
business news site. NDP Leader Darrell Dexter called on
the Premier to protect Nova Scotia’s air links by
meeting with airline officials instead of simply writing
them a letter. Peter Spurway, VP of corporate
communications at the Airport authority and a previous
communications director for Premier John Hamm, even said
that Air Canada is cutting a busy, popular flight.
“Naturally any time access is reduced from our airport,
it’s unfortunate.” Aside from a popular destination for
pleasure, the UK is Canada’s second largest trading
partner.[Source: AllNS.com]
Climbing Aboard Rail Platform
An efficient rail system is key to the growth of
Canadian ports was the conclusion at a conference of
port authorities at the Saint John Trade and Convention
Centre last week. To remain competitive, ports need to
look closely at inland connections, said Andrew Dixon,
vice-president of marketing and business development at
the Saint John Port Authority. "The infrastructure has
to be there," he said. The rail mode of transport should
be a significant option not just from a cost and service
point of view, but from an environmental point of view,"
said Cliff Mackay, president and chief executive officer
of the Railway Association of Canada, speaking during a
panel at the conference. He said that CP and CN will
invest more than $300 million into its Eastern Canada
rail networks alone. More than three-quarters of all
rail shipping traffic crosses over international
borders, he said. "What it's all about is serving the
global shipping community. I can't emphasize this
enough," he said. In the meantime, according to the
Telegraph Journal, nearly 10 months after the federal
government signed a memorandum with the four Atlantic
provinces to develop a regional trade gateway strategy,
private and public stakeholders appear no closer to
coming up with a comprehensive plan to present to
Ottawa. According to Karen Oldfield, the Halifax Port
Authority's CEO, the delay comes from the fact that each
of the region’s ports has its own objectives, while a
united regional strategy would help attract ships from
India and Asia sailing through the Suez Canal. Experts
predict an increase of shipments to North America over
the next 15 years, from 50 million containers annually
to 100 million. [Source: NB Business Journal, Telegraph
Journal]
Seeking hidden tax costs
Research recently conducted by the Canadian Federation
of Independent Business (CFIB), reveals that hidden
taxes cost Canadian businesses $12.6 billion annually.
Businesses build up burdens by ensuring they are filing
their taxes correctly, with the smallest companies being
hit the hardest. Firms with fewer than five persons pay
an average of $3,928 per employee to meet the tax system
requirements, while businesses with 50 to 499 employees
pay $481 per person, says CFIB’s executive vice
president. While the full report can be found
here, here are
the highlights of the CFIB recommendations:
The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) and provincial tax
administrations benchmark and measure tax compliance
costs annually;
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More resources be put
into better customer service;
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The CRA and provinces
communicate changes in tax policy more effectively;
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An ongoing process be
initiated to ease this tax burden on smaller
businesses; and
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Tax compliance costs be
a factor in developing federal-provincial tax
policies.
Business Calendar of
Events
It’s that time of year again…the weekend we ask
ourselves, “Where did the summer go?
Pack up the kids for school, schedule your business
events, and email them to
info@whcc.ca
(Why make promoting them more work than you have to?)
September 5th: What's Driving Investment in Atlantic
Canada?
7:45-9:30 am Building on the strength of the inventory,
which is the top source of intelligence about the
region's 425 biggest projects, APEC will discuss the
current opportunities and trends for the region and
examine the most promising directions for future
investment, including details of the $84-billion worth
of construction projects underway or planned in the
region and will also examine how project planners are
adjusting to the rapidly rising costs of labour, fuel
and building materials. Halifax-Marriott Harbourfront
(Breakfast) Members $45, Non-$75 Registration
website
September 9th: So you want to start a business?
Introductory workshop courtesy of the RDA in Enfield.
Details
above.
Tuesday, September 9th Nova Scotia Chambers of
Commerce Quarterly Meeting
K.C Irving Environmental Science Centre at 32 University
Avenue in Wolfville, 11 am Representatives from all
Chambers and Boards of Trade are invited to attend.
Lunch will be served. An Agenda will be sent to all
members before the meeting. Please confirm your
attendance by e-mailing
sarah@nschamber.ca
September 12 to 21: Hants County Exhibition
Canada's oldest agricultural fair. Livestock
competitions, arts, crafts, horticultural displays,
carnival entertainment and stage entertainment featuring
The Spinney Brothers, 50’s and 60’s band The Corvettes
and a Johnny Cash tribute. Runs over two weekends each
week on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays. Admission $4.00 -
$7.00 at te Hants County Exhibition Arena, Wentworth
Road, Windsor. Each week on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays
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website
Saturday, September 27, 2008 - HMCC Gala
An all inclusive night of food, casino game fun, and
dancing! 19+ Route 66, Cash Bar, Prizes.
Say where you saw this ad and get your tickets at the
group rate of $55 per ticket. What a deal! Call Margot
at 684-3255 for tickets or go to Hantsport Pharmasave
where you can use VISA or MasterCard
Chuckles:
"Barack Obama sent out a cell phone text message at 3
a.m. on Saturday morning to tell everybody he picked Joe
Biden as his vice president. How do you think this makes
Hillary Clinton feel? Finally gets a phone call at 3
a.m., and it's to tell her they picked Joe Biden." --Jay
Leno
E-News info:
Our next issue of WHCC E-News will be published on
September 9. You are invited to submit your business
news, event or announcement by September 5.
Every two weeks, E-News is distributed to - and read by
- over 200 local business contacts throughout the
Windsor-West Hants area. If your business has news or
events you would like to share with our readers, please
call our Newsletter Editor, Heather Desveaux on 790-4009
or email
info@whcc.ca
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