Minister of Finance delivers the Economic and Fiscal update
On December 14, the Minister of Finance delivered the Economic and Fiscal Update in the House of Commons. It was more of a traditional fiscal snapshot, instead of the “mini-budget” we have seen over the past few years. It included only a few new funding initiatives, mainly related to the pandemic (increasing access t0 rapid tests and therapeutics, support for improved ventilation projects) and COVID-19 supports for those hard hit by the pandemic. Key for the food and beverage manufacturing sector, the update promises an additional $85M in 2022-23 so the federal government can increase processing capacity and reduce processing times for permanent resident and temporary resident applications. In the Update the government also acknowledges that, despite significant job recovery, there are key sectors of Canada’s economy that continue to face significant labour issues and has committed to come forward with a further strategy to address labour shortages. These labour announcements come after months of FBC-ABC, its provincial association members, and other key national associations lobbying for measures to address industry’s labour crisis. For more information on FBC-ABC’s labour activities please contact Kathleen Sullivan or review FBC-ABC’s new weekly Labour Report.
Canada Summer Jobs 2022: Application period for employers begins
The application period for the 2022 Canada Summer Jobs (CSJ) program has now opened. The CSJ is targeting the creation of up to 100,000 full-time summer job opportunities for young people. Not-for-profit organizations, public sector employers, and private sector employers with 50 or fewer full-time employees can apply for funding now until January 25, 2022.
Ontario helping more immigrants start and grow businesses
On December 14, the province announced it is recruiting 100 international entrepreneurs to start or grow businesses in regions outside of the Greater Toronto Area that have been hit hard by pandemic job losses through the Entrepreneur Stream of the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program.
Minister of Transport announces a National Supply Chain Summit
In the wake of the BC flooding disaster, the federal Minister of Transport has announced that he will host a National Supply Chain Summit in early 2022. This summit will bring together industry, shippers and organizations that run critical infrastructure to discuss how better to streamline Canada’s supply chain.
Critical Infrastructure update: Log4j critical vulnerability
Public Safety Canada is encouraging all Critical Infrastructure stakeholders to be aware of a “severe computer vulnerability”, the “Log4j flaw”, a Java library for logging error messages, and installing malware or stealing usernames and other vital information. It has been rated as 10/10 vulnerability and the Government of Canada is trying to quickly increase stakeholder awareness so that measures can be immediately taken to mitigate the risk.
Bill S-211, Fighting against forced labour and child labour in supply chains act, moves to Committee
Senate Bill S-211, which would require federal government institutions and companies of a certain size to publish an annual report on their efforts to reduce the risk that forced or child labour has been used in their supply chains, as well as prohibit the importation of goods that are the product of forced child labour, has been referred to the Standing Senate Committee on Human Rights. We will be monitoring the outcome of these proceedings.
House of Commons and Senate recess for the holidays
On December 17, the House of Commons and Senate recessed for the holiday break. Both are set to resume sitting on Monday, January 31, 2022. Committee work will cease over the break unless emergency meetings are called by members. Access to Parliamentarians for meetings will also decrease during this time.