Prime Minister Stephen Harper Says Canada Needs More Immigrants
Immigrant Landing Fee Cut –Foreign Adoptions To Be Made Easier

Harper made the comments following a speech in Mississauga, Ont., May 12, where he announced changes to streamline the immigration system.

But the prime minister appeared cool to the idea of setting specific target numbers, saying the previous Liberal government set targets that were never met.

"Just having a number out there I don't think matters," he said.

Harper said it's more important to make sure applications are processed quickly.

This week, Immigration Minister Monte Solberg seemed to hint that the previous government's target of 300,000 new immigrants to Canada each year was too high.

 Harper also announced the federal government will introduce a bill to ease restrictions on foreign adoptions, making it easier for children overseas to become Canadian citizens.

 The prime minister reiterated the government's plan to immediately cut the immigrant landing fee from $975 to $490.

"The so-called user fee is just a tax by another name,"

he said. He also said the government would create an agency that would help new immigrants through bureaucratic regulations and help recognize their foreign credentials.

Employment Continues To Rise In Ontario
Employment in Ontario continued to pick up in April with an increase of 24,000, mostly among adult women. A settlement of the labour dispute affecting Ontario colleges may have contributed to a decline in youth employment. As classes resumed, this may have left less time for college students to work at a paid job in April.

The recent employment growth in Ontario brings increases over the last 12 months to 108,000 (+1.7%). Over this period, increases in several service-based industries such as business, building and other support services (+34,000); educational services (+30,000); as well as retail and wholesale trade (+23,000) have more than offset losses in manufacturing (-56,000). There has also been strength in construction with 31,000 more workers in the industry compared to 12 months ago.
 

Budget 2006: Tax Cuts, Focused Spending, Debt Paydown
Minister of Finance Jim Flaherty presented a balanced federal budget that significantly cuts taxes, focuses federal spending on priority areas and pays down debt.
The budget delivers $20 billion in tax relief over two years—that is more tax relief than the previous four budgets combined.
Key tax measures include:
* A one-point reduction to the GST, effective July 1, 2006.
* Broad-based income tax relief.
* Targeted tax measures to help Canadians with the cost of:
* Tools.
* Textbooks.
* Transit passes.
* Kids’ sports.
The budget prioritizes and focuses federal spending including:
* $3.7 billion over two years for the new $1,200 Universal Child Care Benefit.
* $1.5 billion more this year for agriculture.
* $1.4 billion more this year for policing, border security and public safety.
* $1.1 billion more over two years to rebuild the Armed Forces.
Further information on Budget 2006 can be obtained by visiting the Department of Finance website or by phoning 1 800 O-Canada (1 800 622-6232)
 

Ontario Human Rights Commission Faces Overhaul
Monday, 08 May 2006 The Ontario government has introduced legislation that they claim would improve and strengthen the promotion, advancement and enforcement of human rights in Ontario. Attorney General Michael Bryant announced, "Our government is committed to promoting human rights, fighting discrimination and protecting the vulnerable. A modernized Ontario Human Rights Commission would become a stronger champion of human rights, focusing on the prevention of discrimination, while the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario would be given greater powers to resolve individual disputes fairly, quickly and effectively.

Read more...
 

Housing Starts Pull Back in April
http://www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/en/corp/nero/nere/2006/2006-05-08-0815.cfm

OTTAWA, May 8, 2006 — The seasonally adjusted annual rate1 of housing starts was 218,100 units in April, down from 251,700 units in March, according to Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC).
"Multiple starts gave back all the gains registered last month," said Bob Dugan, Chief Economist at CMHC's Market Analysis Centre. "In contrast to the volatility in multiple starts, the pace of single starts is slowing consistently as expected."
The seasonally adjusted annual rate of urban starts declined 14.9 per cent to 187,000 units. Urban multiple starts were down 21.5 per cent to 96,500 units comparing April to March, while singles were down 6.4 per cent to 90,500 units.
In April, urban housing starts declined in all regions. Strong declines in multiples pulled down urban starts by 24.7 per cent in Quebec and 20.0 per cent in the Prairies. In Ontario, total urban starts were down 12.2 per cent with single urban starts declining more than multiples. The declines in the Atlantic region and British Columbia were relatively modest at 6.5 per cent and 2.3 per cent respectively.

 

India Seeks Canadian Expertise In Power Sector
http://www.weeklyvoice.com/site/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=877&Itemid=66

Monday, 08 May 2006
The Canada-India Business Council (C-IBC) in conjunction with the Consulate General of India organized a Business Breakfast Seminar for the visiting Power Delegation from India, The delegation consisted of nine persons representing the Ministry of Power, public sector undertakings under the ministry and representatives of the private sector. The delegation was seeking Canadian expertise and investment in the power sector of India which lags behind as an important component of its infrastructure needs.  The seminar was addressed by Joint Secretary of the Government of India, Minister of Power, Arvind Jadhav, who outlined the power needs of India and how Canada, a leader in the power sector, can assist in meeting its growing requirements as an industrial giant. He stated that his country's power sector has set an ambitious target of "power to all" by adding 100,000 MW of capacity by 2012.

The current capacity was 125,000 MW capacity and had to be doubled in the next ten years. The country was seeking up to USD 100 billion during the 11th Five Year Plan to boost its power generation (USD 50 billion) and transmission, distribution and rural electrification sector (USD 50 billion). He added that the Electricity Act and the National Electricity Policy have put in place a liberal and transparent framework for power development in India under which 100 per cent foreign direct investment (FDI) in all segments of power sector had been allowed.

The seminar was attended by over 100 people from Corporate Canada representing a cross section of its power sector. This included, among others, Aecon, SNC Lavalin, GE Canada, Hatch Acres, Hitachi, Rolls Royce, Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd., and major industry associations, National Electric Roundtable, Energy Council of Canada and Organization of CANDU Industries.
Kam Rathee, President and Executive Director of the C-IBC, was confident that the seminar will go a long way in making a Canadian contribution to the power sector of India. Rathee announced the C-IBC will be leading an "Earth Sciences Mission" to India in November 2006 thus making it another Canadian initiative assisting India meet its energy needs.