Four Ontario gambling sites receive prestigious accreditation from RGC
January 14th, 2013 | Comments (0)
Three OLG gaming facilities and one casino resort have received a prestigious accreditation from the world leading Responsible Gambling Council. The council examines eight core standards including self-exclusion, advertising, and customer assistance, but OLG Executive Director of Social Responsibility Paul Pellizzari says a lot of the credit goes to the knowledge and awareness of floor level employees. Mohawk and Woodstock Raceways, the Brantford Casino, and Caesars Windsor are the first sites to meet the rigorous standards but all future gambling providers in Ontario will have to get the accreditation.
DEAC accepting submissions for environmental awards
January 12th, 2013 | Comments (0)
There is a lot to be said for the people and organizations that dedicate time to preserve the environment, and the Durham Environmental Advisory Committee wants to recognize them. They are now accepting nominations for the 2013 Environmental Achievement Awards. Program planner Jonah Kelly says this is their 11th annual awards ceremony and the deadline for submissions is March 4. For more information and submission forms, click here.
Flights at Porter Airlines not expected to be impacted by strike
January 10th, 2013 | Comments (0)
Anyone flying with Porter Airways is encouraged to check their flight status. The message comes as 22 workers represented by the Canadian Office and Professional Employees Union walked off the job at 12:01 a.m. Thursday. The workers fuel Porter planes at Toronto’s Billy Bishop Airport. Despite the strike, the airline does say on its website that all flights are scheduled to operate normally. Main issues are believed to be wages, health benefits and safety concerns. To view flight details, click here.
Oshawa has positive turnaround in building activity in 2012
January 9th, 2013 | Comments (0)
The City of Oshawa saw a big turnaround in building activity last year. Staff are reporting that more than 1,300 building permits were sold in 2012, up from just over 1,100 in 2011. Construction value for those permits also reached over $310.2-million, the highest level since 2009. A majority of that was in residential development. The month of December saw 95 permits sold, with construction value at its second highest level in six years.
Public consultation being held on Toronto casino
January 9th, 2013 | Comments (0)
The potential construction of a casino in Toronto will be the topic at a public consultation. Officials are inviting residents to the first of five meetings Wednesday, to give their input on the project. Feedback will be handed over to City Manager Joe Pennachetti to help out with his report to the Executive Committee. The event is being held at city hall, and will run from 6:00-9:00 p.m. You can find more information by clicking here.
Canadian economy adds 40,000 jobs, unemployment rate dips one-tenth to 7.1 per cent
January 4th, 2013 | Comments (0)
The unemployment rate across the country is down one-tenth of a point. According to Stats Canada, the rate dropped to 7.1 percent in December. The agency also reports 40,000 new jobs were added last month, far above expectations. Senior Economist with the Canadian Labour Congress Angella MacEwen says confidence from small business has really fuelled the positive figures, however the youth unemployment rate is still far too high, sitting at about 20 percent. Meanwhile, the picture wasn’t as bright in Oshawa, where the unemployment rate jumped five-tenths of a point to 9.5 percent. In Toronto, the unemployment rate dropped one-tenth to 8.3 percent. Ontario’s unemployment rate remained unchanged at 7.9 percent.
Ottawa announces extension of funding for auto industry
January 4th, 2013 | Comments (0)
Ottawa is extending 0an auto sector fund that provides a $250-million pool for car companies and their suppliers to draw from. Prime Minister Stephen Harper was at the Ford plant in Oakville Friday for the announcement. The Automotive Innovation Fund, established in 2008, requires companies to invest their own money to access government cash. The five year renewal comes amid controversy over government assistance to the auto industry, after GM announced last month, that it’s moving production of the Camaro from Oshawa to Lansing, Michigan. The CAW says the program does nothing to protect or create factory jobs and they’re continuing to push for a national auto police, similar to what’s in place in several other countries including Germany, Italy and Brazil.
Public input being sought in Toronto casino debate
January 4th, 2013 | Comments (0)
Residents of Toronto are being given the opportunity to weigh-in on the potential building of a casino in the city. The city has launched a website to gather public opinion on the topic, and will also be holding five discussion sessions this month for feedback. The results will be brought before council’s executive committee, which will review hosting a possible casino at a meeting in March. For more information, click here.
Big 3 automakers take a hit in December sales
January 4th, 2013 | Comments (0)
Canadian auto sales figures for December are in, and the Big 3 took a bit of a hit. While Chrysler sales rose 0.8 per cent from December 2011, Ford sales dropped 13 per cent and GM sales fell 20 per cent, that according to DesRosiers Automotive Consultants. On the import side, Hyundai sales were up more than 21 per cent, Honda sales rose almost 20 per cent and Toyota sales dropped more than 12 per cent. Import nameplates are continuing to gain market share in Canada as well, rising to 55.5 per cent last month.
Ontario Chamber of Commerce wants the federal government to do more to improve the provincial economy
December 31st, 2012 | Comments (0)
Leaders in Ontario’s business community are calling on the federal government to play a bigger role in helping improve the provincial economy. A new report released by the Ontario Chamber of Commerce, shows certain federal approaches are hurting businesses. CEO and General Manager of the greater Oshawa chamber of commerce, Bob Malcolmson, says one area of focus needs to be on repairing the manufacturing sector. Malcolmson says the report notes that Ontarians contribute over 12 billion dollars more into the federal government than what they get back. The full report can be found by clicking here.
Durham Police launch public opinion survey
December 26th, 2012 | Comments (0)
Durham Police are asking the public to help guide the direction their policing will take in the coming years. The Police Services Board is in the midst of putting together its 2014 to 2016 strategic business plan, and they’ve issued an online survey in addition to hosting public meetings. Manager of Strategic Planning Rob Wallington says the survey will be online until February, with the draft business plan being presented in June. Click here for more information.
GM moving production of Camaro, out of Oshawa
December 20th, 2012 | Comments (0)
Some shocking news from GM on Wednesday, as the company has announced that production of the Camaro is being transferred from Oshawa, to Lansing, Michigan. The Camaro is currently built on the flex line with the Buick Regal and the Cadillac XTS. The flex line currently employs close to 2,000 people. CAW officials say they were completely blind-sided by the announcement and are calling it a betrayal. The union says they’ve been told that the move will take place in 2016, and could result in the loss of close to 1,000 jobs at GM plus thousands more at feeder plants throughout Ontario. The CAW’s most recent contract with GM, which was ratified in September, guaranteed production of the Camaro, in Oshawa only, until the end of the current generation model. In a statement, General Motors says “lower capital investment and improved production efficiencies were key factors” in the move. GM also says it will continue to meet production targets agreed to with the Federal and Ontario governments in 2009.