Soft skills to rule future jobs

 Over the next decade, the job market is going to change dramatically. Old jobs will disappear because of the rise of automation and new ones will arise from new technologies. This change has already begun in Canada, with experts pointing to the “quiet crisis” currently affecting our young people that

Building Bikes a Second Life

 Photos by Eric Murphy. When you look at your old bike, the one that sat outside all winter and probably makes a few too many concerning sounds, you might see an inconvenience. However, if someone from Ottawa’s Causeway Work Centre saw that bike, they would see a treasure. For Cycle

Opening a Door for Canadian Newcomers

 On Monday, a group of educators and city officials came together to launch the YMCA-YWCA’s first ever Pre-Apprenticeship Home Renovation Program. They were surrounded by wooden work stations half covered in dry wall with colourful signs above them sporting the students’ names, or the names of the business they hope

The State of the World Economy

 We are facing a rerun of 2007-2008 with more dire consequences and a longer duration than we experienced then. The first blows will surface as a result of the collapse of the European Banking System. Last September, I wrote Where Now-Why Volatility. The Grand Surprise.    "The U.S? The end of

Canada’s Euthanasia Legislation: From the Perspective of Canadians with Disabilities

 By Peter McGrath. On Feb. 6, 2015, the Supreme Court of Canada struck down Canada’s assisted suicide law, opening the door to physician-assisted suicide. This is an incredibly complex topic, one fraught with moral and ethical issues. Peter McGrath, a Counsel in the Department of Justice, gives his opinion from

Kazakhstan’s Nursultan Nazarbayev Wins His Fifth Election

 Photo courtesy: Official site of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan It came as no surprise, Nursultan Nazarbayev has won yet another election in the Central Asian country of Kazakhstan. The incumbent president knows his country and his people well. President Nazarbayev is an experienced politician. In his campaign, he

Silencing a Voice: The Closing Of Sun News

 Image: huffpost.com By Michael Coren It’s been a few weeks now since the Friday the 13th that I will never forget. That was the day – 5 a.m. to be precise – that Sun News closed down. I hosted a nightly show called The Arena on the network for almost

Growing Income Gap Poses a Health Risk to All

 Certain Canadian commentators are bringing forth a strange critique of public health, suggesting that physicians and public health experts, charged with caring for the health of Canadians, should not concern themselves with the root causes of illness and stick to a narrow range of health interventions. Fortunately, Canadian health experts

Representing Canadian workers: the IBEW and Kathy Choquette

 "I knew I wanted to get into a trade,” says Kathy Choquette, an electrical foreman with Ziebarth Electrical Contractors Inc. (ZEC). Choquette is celebrating 10 years with the company and 21 years with the IBEW. It all started in 1989 when she took the Women in Trades and Technology course at

Youth on the Streets: Anything but Hopeless

 Kevin Belisle begs for money and attention. He sits on Bank Street, holding a carton that reads, “Extremely hungry. Please help.” In his backpack: high school equivalency, a criminal record and a dirty jacket. Homeless Kevin Belisle, 23, asks the government for a job, so he doesn’t have to beg

Goodwill Hunting

 Walking through Goodwill is much like perusing a well-organized local garage sale or flea market. With a keen eye, a great find could quite possibly be on your radar. However, it’s just as likely that you’ll depart empty-handed. That being said, Goodwill is still a spot to add to your

How a National Drug Plan Can Boost the Canadian Economy

 Canadians pay among the highest costs per capita among OECD countries for prescription drugs, with one Canadian out of 10 unable to fill their prescriptions because of financial reasons. According to the recently released study A Roadmap to a Rational Pharmacare Policy in Canada, commissioned by the Canadian Federation of Nurses

How Technology is Transforming Health Care – Cheryl-Anne’s Story

 Cheryl-Anne was diagnosed with a very rare form leukemia, a complex disease to understand. She believed part of getting well depended upon understanding her disease, her treatments and their effects. She needed to become a full, participating, engaged patient. She needed to get information. Before digital health tools were available

Why Canadian Medicare Should Neither ‘Go Dutch’ or ‘to the Dogs’

 Canada’s health care system faced some provocative comparisons recently. First was Sarah Boston’s new book, Lucky Dog, in which she details her personal experience with thyroid cancer and navigating the Canadian health system. Boston, a veterinary oncologist, claims Canadian dogs often have better access to health care than their human

Our Courts’ Regard for Employee Vulnerability

 More than 25 years ago, the Supreme Court of Canada recognized the central importance of work to society and to individuals stating, “Work is one of the most fundamental aspects in a person's life, providing the individual with a means of financial support and, as importantly, a contributory role in

J?urneyman Role Models

 Being a “journeyman” in the trades is a title to strive for and be proud of, regardless of gender. As such, it has served as a namesake for the Canadian organization, J?urneyman, a program that supports and encourages women involvement in the trade industry.  Evonne Edwards does the journeymen proud.

To Fix Temporary Foreign Worker Program, Look to Solutions in Canada’s Unionized Meat Industry

 As the National President of Canada’s largest food workers’ union, I am disappointed by the Harper government’s lack of leadership in fixing the Temporary Foreign Workers Program (TFWP). Quite simply, the TFWP is broken, and the latest announcement by Minister Kenney – regarding minor adjustments to the number of TFWs

Changing employment contracts without triggering constructive dismissal

 There is no denying the importance of a well-drafted employment contract that clearly establishes the parameters of an employment relationship. Once an employment contract is entered into, an employer’s unilateral changes to those parameters can present legal risks. The concept is called “constructive dismissal” and it applies where the employer

Explore Your Career Options at the YMCA-YWCA Job Fair Feb. 6

 The YMCA-YWCA of the National Capital Region is inviting all local job seekers and anyone considering a career change to attend its Employment Access Centre Job Fair, happening February 6 at the Taggart Family Y. This annual event matches job seekers with prospective employers from a broad range of sectors including service, trades, health

Professionals With Disabilities: Accomodating Persons With Disabilities Can Pay Big Dividends

 There has been a great deal of discussion, in recent years, about our aging baby boomer population and how this will impact our economy. As workers retire and leave large gaps in the labour market serious questions are being raised as to who will step up to fill the void.