Toronto Tops All Major Canadian Cities in Economic Growth; Performances Mixed Elsewhere in Ontario
Says Conference Board of Canada
OTTAWA, September 28, 2004 -After a difficult 2003, Toronto is on track to be the fastest-growing metropolitan economy in Canada for 2004 and over the medium term, according to the Autumn 2004 edition of the Conference Board's Metropolitan Outlook.
"Toronto's economy is back with a vengeance in 2004, with growth expected to reach 5.3 per cent. Robust manufacturing activity, a strengthening service sector and another banner year in the construction industry are all contributing to Toronto's turnaround from the difficulties it experienced in 2003," said Mario Lefebvre, Director, Metropolitan Outlook Service.
The manufacturing sector in Toronto had an outstanding first half in 2004, benefiting from rising U.S. demand. Toronto's tourism sector is finally recovering, albeit slowly, following a couple of difficult years. From 2005 to 2008, Toronto's real gross domestic product (GDP) is expected to increase by an annual average of 3.6 per cent, leading all 18 Census Metropolitan Areas (CMAs) covered in the Autumn edition of the Metropolitan Outlook.
http://www.conferenceboard.ca/press/2004/on_mo_autumn04.asp

Ontario Government Moves To Reduce Barriers To Employment of Foreign Trained Professionals
Appoints Advisor To Review Appeals Process, Strengthen Economic Growth
TORONTO, Sept. 29 /CNW/ - The McGuinty government is appointing an advisor to work with Ontario's regulatory bodies on ways to further reduce barriers to help the internationally trained pursue their chosen professions, Mary Anne Chambers, Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities said today.
"The government is committed to working with professional regulatory bodies to reduce barriers to registration and licensure for internationally trained individuals to help them pursue their chosen occupations here in Ontario," Chambers said. "We recognize the important contribution the internationally trained make to build a strong, prosperous economy."
Former Ontario justice George Thomson has been appointed to review the regulatory community's current appeals process and develop a set of common principles upon which to base a standard independent appeals mechanism.
About 70 per cent of adult immigrants to Ontario are highly skilled with postsecondary education or training. "We're committed to building the highly skilled workforce needed to
attract jobs and investment," Chambers said. "By working with professional regulatory bodies, educators, employers and community groups, we can ensure all Ontarians can use their skills and expertise to their fullest potential thereby ensuring Ontario's prosperity."

Life expectancy: Men catching up
DEBRA BLACK STAFF REPORTER Toronto Star
Sep. 28, 2004.
The gap between Canadian men and women in life expectancy is slowly closing - with only 4.9 years between them. Men who were born in 2002 could expect to live to a record age of 77.2 years, up slightly from the previous year, according to a report released by Statistics Canada yesterday. That increase is part of an over-all upward trend that has been taking place for more than 20 years. Men's life expectancy increased 5.8 years between 1979 and 2002, the report said. Life expectancy for women in 2002 remained unchanged. Women could expect to live to a ripe old age of 82.1 years. Between 1979 and 2002, the life expectancy for women improved by 3.3 years.
Meanwhile, the infant mortality rate - or deaths in the first year of life - increased to 5.4 deaths for every 1,000 live births in 2002, up from 5.2 deaths in 2001. The increase in infant mortality was "especially pronounced" in Alberta. Rates there rose to 7.3 deaths per 1,000 live births from 5.6 deaths.

The Sandwich Generation
http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/040928/d040928b.htm
They are called the "sandwich generation", or people caught between the often conflicting demands of raising children and caring for aging parents or other relatives. And their life can be particularly stressful and hectic. Almost 3 in 10 of those aged 45 to 64 with unmarried children under 25 in the home, or some 712,000 individuals, were also caring for a senior, according to a new study based on the 2002 General Social Survey.
More than 8 in 10 of these sandwiched individuals worked, causing some to reduce or shift their hours or to lose income. Indeed, caring for an elderly person could lead to a change in work hours, refusal of a job offer, or a reduction in income. Some 15% of sandwiched workers had to reduce their hours, 20% had to change their schedules and 10% lost income.
Also, 4 in 10 sandwiched workers incurred extra expenses such as renting medical equipment or purchasing cell phones.
Women were more likely than men to be sandwiched. On average, women spent 29 hours a month providing care to seniors, more than twice as many as the 13 hours spent by their male counterparts. The extra hours for women may be due in part to the type of care performed. For example, outside home maintenance and transportation assistance were most often done by men. Women were more likely to provide personal care such as bathing, dressing or feeding, and in-home care such as food preparation and clean up.
The vast majority of individuals provided care for their parents or parents-in-law. About 25% was directed toward other relatives, friends, neighbours or co-workers.
The effects of providing care increased with time spent. For example, one-half of those spending more than eight hours per month, or the so-called "high-intensity caregivers", had to change their social activities. Over one-third had to change their work schedule.
Sandwiched workers were more likely to feel generally stressed. About 70% of them reported stress, compared with about 61% of workers with no child-care or elder-care responsibilities.
However, the overwhelming majority (95%) felt satisfied with life in general, about the same percentage as those with fewer caregiving responsibilities.
The ranks of the sandwich generation are likely to grow, because of the aging of the baby boomers, lower fertility rates and the delay in family formation. These factors will result in older family members requiring care when children are still part of the household.

Goan Soccer League - End Of Season 2004 AWARDS
Gaudencio Fernandes Memorial Trophy Won By Margao Simba S. C. (Champions)
G.K.T. Trophy Won By Bogmalo Sports Club (Finalists)
Aero Tours Trophy Won By Margao Simba S. C. (League Champions)
Maria Caleb Memorial Trophy Won By Parra S. C. (Division Winner)