Merit Award Winners
Last night Merit hosted it's 27th AGM, and the highlight of the night was the award ceremony recognizing top apprentices, employees and employers in the construction field. We are very proud of all the nominees, and below is a list of last night's winners. Thank you for your dedication to training, safety and the development of one of Alberta's most important industries.
And the winners are...
Union Financial Disclosure Bill Constitutional: Former Supreme Court of Canada Justice
OTTAWA, June 5, 2013 /CNW/ - Merit Canada today released an opinion authored by The Honourable Michel Bastarache, retired Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada, concluding that Bill C-377 would likely be upheld by the courts. M. Bastarache considered the legislation, which would require unions to disclose certain financial information, in light of the division of powers under the Constitution Act, 1867, as well as the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
To read more, click
here.
Terrance Oakey speaks to the Economic Club of Canada
Terrance Oakey, president of Merit Canada, addressed the Economic Club of Canada. Oakey discussed the changes needed to increase opportunities for the construction industry and how federal legislation will help our country develop.
To read Oakey's speech in its entirety, click here.
Alberta Business Coalition Reacts to Foreign Worker Program Fraud Allegations
The Alberta Coalition for Action on Labour Shortages (ACALS), which includes representatives from every major sector of Alberta's economy, is calling Alberta Federation of Labour allegations of widespread fraud in the accelerated stream of the federal Temporary Foreign Worker program (TFW) unduly provocative and exaggerated.
"There are perennial critics who believe the TFW program in all its forms should be eliminated completely. In an effort to turn public opinion against foreign workers and the important role they play in helping to address acute labour shortages, some critics continue to make over-stated claims in the media" stated Richard Truscott, Alberta Director of the Canadian Federation of Independent Businesses (CFIB). Read more.
Construction Industry Responds to Alberta's Skilled Labour Shortage Challenge
President of Merit Contractors, Stephen Kushner, addresses the skilled labour shortage in this video, and talks about ways Merit and other organizations are helping to train skilled tradespeople, and addressing productivity gaps in the industry.
Watch video
“Apprentices are highly valued by our member companies and are compensated while they complete their on-the-job training. By eliminating some of the financial burdens during the technical training period, more apprentices are able to achieve their goals” says Kushner.
“Programs such as this in support of training and developing Alberta talent will go a long way to addressing skills shortages in the construction industry.”
Read More
Albertans Clear on Union Views
Right before the Labour Day long weekend, Merit Contractors Association is releasing a survey that reflects the opinions and attitudes held by working Albertans towards unions. The survey was conducted by Leger Marketing starting in July. The results have been compiled and if you would like to see the report, click here.
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