Industry News March construction jobs up 7,900 in Saskatchewan There were 547,700 people working in Saskatchewan in March, an increase of 25,700 (4.9%) over last March. That is the strongest rate of employment growth in Canada and the most people ever working in Saskatchewan in the month of March. “March was cold this year in Saskatchewan but our job market was hot,” Economy Minister Bill Boyd said. “Today’s numbers show our Growth Plan is working and our government will keep making decisions that encourage job creation in Saskatchewan.” Saskatchewan had the lowest unemployment rate in Canada in March at 3.9% (seasonally adjusted). That is well below the 7.2% national unemployment rate. Regina’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate of 3.5% was the lowest among all major cities and Saskatoon’s unemployment rate of 4.0% was the second lowest. Off-reserve aboriginal employment was up by 2,200 (5.6%) for the second month in a row of year-over-year increases, and aboriginal unemployment dropped 1,600 for the sixth month in a row of year-over-year declines. The aboriginal unemployment rate is now 12.2%, down from 15.8% a year ago. “There is still more work to be done in closing the employment gap between aboriginal and non-aboriginal people, but today’s numbers show we are moving in the right direction,” Boyd said. “Jobs are tracking higher so far in 2013 which is an encouraging sign that the Saskatchewan economy will have another good year.” Other highlights include: • Full-time employment increased by 19,800 to a record high of 445,400 for the month of March. • Construction jobs were up 7,900 and Agriculture jobs were up 7,600 yearover-year. • Regina’s employment increased by 7,100 (5.8%) and Saskatoon’s employment increased by 10,600 (7.2%). • Saskatchewan’s seasonally adjusted employment increased by 2,400 (0.4%) from the previous month with the second highest growth rate in the country.
For more information, contact: Deb Young, Economy, Regina; Phone: 306-787-4765; Email: deb.young@gov.sk.ca.
Government to address structural concerns at Invermay Health Centre Saskatchewan has committed $2.8 million to address structural problems at the Invermay Health Centre. Saskatchewan Health Minister Dustin Duncan toured the Invermay facility. In January, long-term care residents and staff at Invermay Health Centre were temporarily relocated to health facilities in neighbouring communities, following the discovery of some structural damage and presence of mould in the building. Temporary relocation of staff and residents to other facilities, including Canora Gateway Lodge, was required while damage to the Invermay facility was assessed and repair work began. “It is a top priority for our government to provide a comfortable and safe place for long-term care residents to stay, and a suitable work environment that allows health care staff to provide quality care,” Duncan said. “We are pleased to see the Sunrise Health Region has begun repairs at Invermay Health Centre to ensure that residents may return to their home as soon as possible.” “We expect the repairs will be completed within six months,” Sunrise Regional Health Authority Chairperson Lawrence Chomos said. “We appreciate the understanding and co-operation from residents, families, staff and the community. The safety, health and comfort of our long-term care residents are the region’s priority.” Duncan also toured the Canora Gateway Lodge, which recently sustained damage in the dining room due to a cracked ceiling beam. The Sunrise Health Region is further assessing the facility and associated costs to repair the damaged area. Since November 2007, the government has made an unprecedented $814 million investment in provincial health system major capital projects, building improvements and equipment upgrades. For more information, contact:
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Tyler McMurchy, Health, Regina; Phone: 306-787-4083.
Granite Developments pleaded guilty to safety violation Granite Developments Inc., has pleaded guilty to one count under the Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Act for failure to utilize a fall protection system. The company was fined $980 in Regina Provincial Court on March 11, 2013. The conviction is related to an incident which occurred on October 12, 2010. Three workers were observed on the roof of a building without a proper fall protection system. Two other charges against Granite Developments Inc. were stayed. OHS conducts approximately 4,000 worksite inspections annually to ensure standards are known, understood and enforced. OHS has a zero tolerance approach to violations of fall protection. For more information, contact: Shannon McMillan, Labour Relations and Workplace Safety, Regina; Phone: 306-787-0253.
Quebec Portal The new regulatory provisions apply to the owners and operators of the buildings, installations and equipment that are subject to the Regulation. Those provisions, which are contained in the Building section of the Safety Code, introduce new building maintenance and operating standards. They are further to repeated requests from fire safety services providers, and aimed at improving fire prevention, particularly in sleeping areas and private seniors’ residences. By introducing obligations relating to the maintenance and inspection of façades and parking lots, the new requirements also meet many recommendations made by coroners further to fatal accidents. Persons wishing to learn more about the new Regulation may: • consult the Regulation to improve building safety published in the Gazette officielle du Québec • visit the RBQ website at www.rbq.gouv.qc.ca/securite • call the Centre de relation clientèle at 1-800-361-0761
