West Hants and Area News
 

More reasons to get that WHCC membership renewal form in!

With our affiliation of the Atlantic Provinces Chambers of Commerce (APCC), we are pleased to announce Pacrim Hospitality Services Inc. (PHSI) has several special offers and discounts* to present to our chamber members and their member businesses, and to our patron members.

In the first offer, as a member of the WHCC, you can take advantage of a 10-15% discount off of Best Available Rates at all Pacrim-managed hotels across Canada and the U.S.

Going to Toronto? APCC/WHCC members can stay at the new four-star Yorkland Hotel for the preferred rate of $99 plus taxes. To book this special offer, call toll free 1-877-319-7666.

If you are heading south, the Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina and in Bonita Springs, Florida have special APCC/WHCC offers with rooms starting from $59.00 U.S. To book, call toll free 1-877-319-7666.

Attending the 2009 APCC AGM & Conference? The Super 8 St. John’s is offering a special conference rate of $99 plus tax per night.

PDFs containing specific information will be emailed to WHCC members rather than posted on the website.


West Hants and Area News


Utata Gallery springs into Hydra

“Hydra is our opportunity to share the amazing wealth of talent in our local artist community,” says Catherine Jamieson, Executive Director of Utata. Utata Gallery is excited to introduce their new show Hyrdra, a group theme show which features the new works of several favorite local artists. All works are centered around the theme of "water" with over 20 artists to be featured including Jeanne Aisthope Smith, Guenter Burr, Judy Arsenault, Jaki Durocher, Donna Mancini, Andrea Pottyondy, David Lacey, Cheryl Rutledge, Judith Leidl and many more. “Water is a natural subject matter for Nova Scotia artists, due to our close proximity to the ocean and with winter thaws and spring showers, Hyrda's timing is perfect,” says Jaki Durocher, Gallery Manager. The show is scheduled to open Thursday, March 26 from 7pm-10pm. Admission is free of charge. The artwork will remain in the gallery until mid April, 2009. Utata Gallery and Art Centre is located in downtown Windsor at 40 Water Street. Open from 10-10 daily, they offer an Art Gallery, classes and workshops, daily events and an outreach program. They are online at http://gallery.utata.org/ and can be reached by calling (902)792-2710.


NS Companies benefit with EI Work-Share

First it was Stanfield’s of Truro, now Michelin is also recruited 500 of its employees at its plant in Waterville to sign up for a work-share program through Service Canada. Michelin estimates the program, which pays employees through EI benefits in exchange for a reduced work week, week will save 95 jobs. Michelin’s program will begin April 8 and run for 18 weeks. Companies that successfully apply for the federal government program can see their workers receive employment insurance payments to cover a portion of their missing wages for their fifth day.
But the $200-million program, which can cover a maximum of 52 work weeks, comes with strings. Businesses must submit a detailed recovery plan that indicates what efforts the company is taking to drum up new business. The rationale is that the federal government doesn't want to subsidize the workforce of a company for a short period of time only to see the eventually business fail. The Work-Share also helps foster a sense of employee loyalty. Because employees feel that the company is doing something for them. Human Resource experts point out that a reduced work week all the time can also help employees achieve more of a work-life balance they are looking for as well as reduce their employer’s costs.

If you would like information on the Work Share, visit http://www.servicecanada.gc.ca/eng/work_sharing/index.shtml


Did You Know? Work Share’s NS Connection

• Reduced work weeks in North America date back to the American Civil War, when labour unions fought to reduce working days to 8 hours in order to save jobs and create additional ones.

• State programs in the US were formalized during the Great Depression in the 1930’s

• Canada is among the first countries to have established a national program beginning with a series of pilot programs in 1978-79, with a national program rolled out in 1982 under Prime Minister Trudeau, modelled on a program from Germany.

• The Nova Scotia connection? Trudeau’s finance minister at the time was none other than Inverness’ Allan MacEachen.

[Source: Reducing Work Weeks to Prevent Layoffs: The Economic and Social Impacts of Unemployment Insurance-supported Work Sharing by Fred Best, Temple University Press, 1988.]

Self-Employment Services

Funding for the CBDC Hants-Kings Self-employment Benefits Program for current and recent EI recipients wishing to start their own year-round business will be transferred to the province in July 2009. Though no foreseen problems are expected with the transfer, the move “raises the importance of referrals and successful applications prior to the transfer,” said CBDC’s economic coordinator Karl Jackson. The program is aimed at individuals who are currently in receipt of EI, have been in receipt of EI in the past three (3) years, or have been on maternity / paternity benefits in the past five (5) years. Staff work with the client to assess their business proposal, develop a business plan, and provide ongoing professional development and counselling support, as they develop and launch their business over the course of the program. Benefits to client include, but are not limited to, income support, counselling, and professional development support. Approximately 70% are still in business after 5 years. Total process time also remains about six (6) to eight (8) weeks, including Case Manager assessment, SEB Provider assessment, and Service Canada assessment. For more information, contact Karl Jackson CBDC Hants-Kings (East Hants) Ph: (902) 883-8879 Fx: (902) 883-3024 karl.jackson@cbdc.ca  or visit website at www.hantskingsbdc.ca
 

Sustainable Transportation in Windsor Workshop

How green is transportation in Windsor? What does the future look like? You are invited to attend a special workshop on "Green Mobility" in Windsor - one of only three offered in Nova Scotia by the Ecology Action Centre. This session will take place on Saturday, April 4, 2009, beginning at 10am at Hants County Branch 009, Royal Canadian Legion (upstairs). We will examine many aspects of our current transportation patterns; consider others, then shape a plan for the future. There is no fee for this workshop, lunch is provided and there are three door prizes to be won. If you are interested in attending, please register your name at 798.1355 or by e-mail to sthornton@town.windsor.ns.ca Registration deadline was Thursday, March 26 but hopefully you can still secure a spot. In the subject line of your e-mail registration, please put "Green Mobility in Windsor." Also, if you want to attend this session but cannot afford childcare or lack transportation, the Ecology Action Centre has some funds to cover taxi, dial-a-ride and daycare costs as part of their project with the Town of Windsor. Please contact Laena Garrison, TRAX Coordinator, Ecology Action Centre for more information, 902.429.0924 or by e-mail to trax@ecologyaction.ca


Who is hiring?

Windsor and area

Kentville and area


Regional and National Headlines

NS Last to table budget

The earliest possible date for a Nova Scotia budget is May 7th, reports online business news service AllNovaScotia.com. Finance Minister Jamie Muir stated that the province would not be far from last year’s budget date of April 29th. Given the Legislature has not been recalled yet and it requires 30 days notice pegs the May 7th date. With the federal government and other provinces adopting a sooner rather than later approach, and Alberta and PEI releasing their estimates in early April, this will make Nova Scotia the last province in Canada to table its budget. Muir blamed the recession for the delay. “It’s been a tough year, folks.” With the end of the fiscal year ending on Tuesday, Minister Muir said the Province’s budget would be balanced, but would not elaborate how. Speculation that Cabinet could pass a decree that would allow it to forgo a $105.6 million dollar payment to compensate for capital investment went unconfirmed by the Minister. Every province but Manitoba and Alberta will be carrying deficits. NB, who released its budget last week, said it was confident it could return to balanced budgets by 2012 despite adding close to a billion dollars to that province’s debt. NDP Leader Darrell Dexter said the current economic storm isn’t the time for business as usual and reiterated recalling the Legislature. "It is a government in hiding rather than a government that is responding to the current challenges faced by the province," Mr. Dexter said. Liberal Leader Stephen McNeil said he started calling in January for the legislature to sit again so the Tories could put a budget and plan before the province. "By this delay, we’re leaving school boards in the lurch, hospital boards," Mr. McNeil said. "The uncertainty . . . is going to permeate through the private sector, all because this government is more interested in its political future than it is about the future of Nova Scotians and about the jobs of Nova Scotians." [Source: ALLNovaScotia.com, gov.nb.ca, The Chronicle Herald)


Liberals pledge small business tax cut

Liberal leader Stephen McNeil told the Halifax Chamber of Commerce last week that if elected Nova Scotia’s next premier, his government would cut the province’s small business tax from five per cent down to one. “Reducing the tax burden on small businesses is essential to supporting our economy,” explains McNeil. “This tax cut will create a competitive environment where small businesses can grow and create more jobs for Nova Scotians.” McNeil says that a broad-based tax cut will do more to stimulate the economy than a tax credit for manufacturers alone.

“This tax cut is the right solution for Nova Scotia’s businesses,” McNeil states. “This tax cut will impact our province’s economy immediately and will give business owners the ability to invest in their own operations.” The Liberal leader also said that small business is the backbone of Nova Scotia’s economy, employing half of the people in the province. Strengthening that backbone, he believes, is vital in positioning Nova Scotia against our current economic challenges.

“Cutting the small business tax makes our province a more attractive option for those companies looking to do business in Nova Scotia,” said McNeil. “Our province has been dead last in economic growth since 2003 compared to the rest of Canada - building our economy has to be a priority.” McNeil expects the tax cut to save Nova Scotia’s businesses between $30 -$35 million dollars a year. “This is a constructive solution which will benefit every small company, every community and every family in Nova Scotia.”

In our last issue of E-News, we reported NDP Leader Darrell Dexter indicated to the Halifax Chamber of Commerce he would look at the Cabinet-controlled and controversial Industrial Expansion Fund to support business tax reductions rather than handing out money to specific businesses.


Halifax Stanfield International Airport world's best for sixth straight year -

Halifax Stanfield International Airport (HSIA) has been ranked the world's best airport for overall passenger satisfaction in its class for the sixth straight year in the Airports Council International's 2008 Airport Service Quality (ASQ) ratings, based on passenger surveys. In all, the HSIA earned three first-place finishes and one second-place finish in the 2008 rankings. The airport was first in overall passenger satisfaction for airports worldwide with fewer than five million passengers; first in the Best Airport – North America category; first in the Americas in the category of Airport People Awards; and second in the Best Domestic Airport category.[Source: hiaa.ca]


High skilled immigrants opting to live in small communities

According to a study released by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, new Canadians, many of whom are skilled and highly educated, are bypassing the population magnets of Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal to settle in suburban and smaller communities. The organization says the settlement pattern is putting new strains on communities across the country struggling to keep pace with demands for everything from affordable housing to employment and public health services. The study also makes clear immigrants remain in a struggle to close the economic and employment gap with non-immigrants. Despite being twice as likely as their non-immigrant counterparts to have a university degree, it says, recent immigrants between the ages of 25 and 54 were four times as likely to be unemployed. The study is available here.


First-time homebuyers on the rise


First-time homebuyers are being lured into the real-estate market by falling prices, lower interest rates, more selection and new government incentives, a new report shows. It signals a bright step toward economic recovery though somewhat tempered by the fear of homeowner's losing their jobs.

The ReMax real estate company said preliminary figures show sales were up in February, after a terrible January, driven by more first-time buyers entering the market. The Canadian Real Estate Association said house sales in Nova Scotia jumed 12.7 percent in February.The ReMax report comes alongside new Statistics Canada figures showing the first year-over-year decrease in new-home prices in more than a decade. ReMax said lower prices and record low lending rates are prompting many first time buyers to "get off the fence, out of the rental, and into the market."

"While a sense of caution still prevails, more and more first-timers are finding it hard to pass up the chance to become homeowners in today's buyer-centric real-estate climate," ReMax said in its report released Wednesday.

"Buyers are clearly in control in most Canadian markets," adding that lower interest rates have been an incentive in addition to some attractive tax cuts in the last federal budget.
These cuts include the popular new homebuyers renovation tax credit of up to $1,350 to renovate their house a cottage, but also an increased the amount first-time homebuyers can withdraw from their RRSPs from $20,000 to $25,000. The federal government also implemented a tax credit for first-timers of up to $750 to help cover closing costs. ReMax said 22 of the 32 markets in the survey, or 69 per cent, "remain firmly in buyer's market territory."
Some of these spots include Vancouver and Victoria, Edmonton and Calgary, Saskatoon and Regina, Ottawa and Toronto, and Halifax. The most affordable markets for detached homes, based on starting prices were Moncton, N.B. in Eastern Canada at $115,000, Windsor at $75,000 in Ontario and Winnipeg at $185,000 in Western Canada.

Last week, the Bank of Canada did its part by dropping the overnight rate down to an unheard of half per cent. Canada's chartered banks then lowered their prime rate to 2.5 per cent and having been lowering other lending rates including mortgages. [Source: cbc.ca, The Chronicle Herald]


Business/Networking Events List:

Saturday March 28: Earth Hour
from 8:30-9:30 pm Nova Scotia Power reported a drop in demand equivalent to 150,000 light bulbs for the one hour alone. More info at http://www.earthhour.org

Saturday, April 4 2009: Sustainable Transportation in Windsor Workshop
Ecology Action Centre. See article above.

April 24-26: The Great Little Art Show
Avon River Heritage Society, Newport Landing. More info: www.avonriver.ca

May 4-5: Crisis Response Planning
Moncton. The increase of critical incidents (violence, suicide, tragedy, etc.) requires the need for schools, communities and organizations to be prepared to respond to these unfortunate events. When a crisis occurs, there will always be people who need nurturing and support. This seminar will help caregivers develop and enhance their ability to meet the emotional needs of those affected by critical incidents. Participants will leave the workshop with a clear understanding of how to implement their own crisis response team and plan for their specific environment.
Cost for a 2 day workshop: $260.00 (early, is 3 weeks prior to workshop); $310 (regular)
For a registration form to attend theses workshops, please visit www.ctrinstitute.com, email info@ctrinstitute.com, 204-452-9199 Toll Free: 877-353-3205

May 22-23: APCC AGM, Energy- Fuelling our Growth
St John’s, Newfoundland Marlene Huntley, APCC Director of Communications
Tel: (902) 678-4218 Cell: (902) 670-9190 Fax: (902) 678-7420 Email: mhuntley@apcc.ca

Thursday, May 28: The Hon. William Jefferson (Bill) Clinton
Speaks on the Global Economy with special guest, Frank McKenna, in Halifax, 4- 5:30 pm http://www.powerwithin.com/pdf/HalifaxBC_jk.pdf Ask for early bird APCC rate of $99 1-866-883-6568


Chuckles:

Quote of the day (from a trader) on the recession: "This is worse than a divorce. I’ve lost half my net worth and I still have a wife."

Like most countries, Japan is now hurtling towards bankruptcy. In the last seven days, Origami bank has folded, Sumo Bank went belly up and Bonsai Bank announced plans to cut some of its branches. Yesterday, it was also announced that Karaoke Bank is to go up for sale and will likely go for a song, while shares in Kamikaze Bank were suspended today after they nose-dived. While Samurai Bank is soldiering on after sharp cutbacks, 500 staff at Karate Bank got the chop and analysts report that there is something fishy going on at Sushi Bank, where it is feared that staff may get a raw deal.