Labour Market News

Want to find out more about local or provincial labour market history? The labour market news archive may be a good place to start.

In this section, you can browse archived news titles, whose links are no longer functional, for up to one year from the current date. The archived news can help you understand the labour market trends in geographic areas and industries that are of interest to you.

• Week of 2023-05-19 to 2023-05-25

  • WestJet and the Air Line Pilots Association (union) representing its pilots reached a last-minute deal on May 18, averting a strike planned for the following day. Key issues addressed in the tentative agreement include job security, working conditions and wages.

    cbc.ca

  • The N.L. Government has announced that 42 medical residents have accepted their Medical Resident Bursaries this month in exchange for working in the province for up to 36 months as part of a return-in-service agreement. The deal includes 5 family medicine residents who will practice in Happy Valley-Goose Bay.

    www.gov.nl.ca

  • The Association of Seafood Producers and the Fish, Food & Allied Workers union have a signed agreement as of May 19 ending the 6-week stalemate between snow crab producers and harvesters. The agreement guarantees a minimum of $2.20/pound for snow crab with incremental increases.

    cbc.ca

  • In March the number of Canadians receiving jobless benefits through Employment Insurance fell to a record low, as the labour market remained tight. This was the lowest number of regular EI beneficiaries going back to 1997.

    theglobeandmail.com
• Week of 2023-05-12 to 2023-05-18

  • The Gander International Airport Authority says 2022 was their most challenging year yet. The pandemic led to a reduction in the number of pilots, which made it challenging for smaller regional airports. WestJet recently offered a reduced seasonal schedule to Halifax from Gander.

    vocm.com

  • A subsidiary of South Korean company SK Group has signed a $67.3M deal with World Energy GH2 to buy a minority stake in their green hydrogen project plan. The controversial project with 164 wind turbines powering a hydrogen and ammonia plant in Stephenville is currently in the environmental assessment stage.

    cbc.ca

  • Restaurants Canada is concerned about the federal deadline of Dec 31, for restaurants to pay back their COVID-19 loans. According to the association bankruptcies are up 116% since 2022, as businesses face rising costs, labour shortages and supply constraints.

    charlottefm.ca

  • The N.L. Government has awarded nearly $25M in highway upgrades for various contracts that include J-1 Contracting limited ($13.9M), Farrell’s Excavating Limited ($8.9M) and Bulldog Contracting Limited ($1.8M). The work will take place through 2023 and into 2024.

    vocm.com

  • Memorial University has launched a new $22M expansion to its Marine Institute, part of an ocean research and technology development facility in Holyrood with $8.5M in combined federal-provincial funding. The new building has technical workspaces, dry laboratories, classrooms and open collaboration spaces.

    cbc.ca

  • The N.L. Government has announced a new grant to support the inclusion of children with disabilities in summer camps by providing financial assistance to pay for a support person. This includes caregivers, inclusion workers, attendants, ASL interpreters, and designated camp staff members.

    www.gov.nl.ca

  • The $7,500 bursary offered by the N.L. Government to undergraduate medical students at Memorial University has led to 22 students agreeing to work in the province over a 12-month period. This initiative is part of a return-in-service agreement designed to help address physician shortages.

    www.gov.nl.ca

  • N.L. businesses continue to struggle to fill vacancies three years after the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted economic and labour market activity. There remains roughly 43,000 people of retirement age across the province, many of which are looking to rejoin the workforce.

    cbc.ca

  • Memorial University says progress is being made in addressing the provincial labour shortage of about 750 nurses. Their collaboration with the N.L. Government saw their School of Nursing launch satellite locations in Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Grand Falls-Windsor and Gander. Altogether, 72 nursing graduates will be entering the labour market.

    vocm.com
• Week of 2023-05-05 to 2023-05-11

  • Trucking businesses transporting snow crab have been significantly impacted by the ongoing dispute that has kept fish harvesters on land during what is typically their busiest months of April and May. Robbins Trucking (Lumsden) has laid off staff, including mechanics and office workers, as 20 seasonal drivers wait to return to work.

    cbc.ca

  • St. John's-based technology company Mysa, who manufacture smart thermostats for homes, have acquired US-based Zen Ecosystems, who specialize in smart thermostats for commercial spaces that will enable Mysa to expand into this new market segment across North America. There is no extra staffing planned currently.

    cbc.ca

  • The N.L. government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Port of Rotterdam in the Netherlands to cooperate and explore green hydrogen and hydrogen technology opportunities. The partnership will encourage the establishment of hydrogen supply chains to support N.L.’s export of green hydrogen to the Netherlands.

    www.gov.nl.ca

  • A new report by the non-profit Childcare Resource and Research Unit shows N.L. as being well below the national average when it comes to provincially regulated child-care spaces. Indeed, only 14% of children under 12 years old are currently covered under the program. The N.L. government is planning to add 700 seats to the College of the North Atlantic's early childhood education program.

    cbc.ca

  • The tentative agreement between N.L. crab fishermen and processors recently fell apart with the stalemate now in its third week without the vital crab fishery being active. The catch price of $2.20 per pound, which was decided by the provincial price-setting panel, is still the major issue.

    cbc.ca
• Week of 2023-04-28 to 2023-05-04

  • A new Canadian retail chain called Rooms + Spaces is set to launch from the former Bed Bath & Beyond locations. It will start with 21 locations scattered across 5 provinces including Newfoundland and Labrador with the initial hiring of about 500 people across all locations later this summer.

    cbc.ca

  • Combined Federal, Provincial and Municipal funding of over $27.8M has been announced to enhance St. John’s public transit infrastructure. It will support the purchase of 8 accessible hybrid transit buses and the construction of shared-use paths throughout the city.

    canada.ca

  • The Real Dairy Company of Newfoundland plans to build a $25M production facility in Deer Lake to produce butter and skim milk powder in the province. The project, led by 13 local dairy farmers and an Irish dairy company, has passed the environmental assessment and construction is expected to start by summer.

    cbc.ca

  • Combined Federal and Provincial Government funding of over $306M was announced to expand the Trans-Canada Highway by adding two additional divided highway sections: a 15km section between Bishop’s Falls and Grand Falls-Windsor and a 40km section of highway heading west from Whitbourne.

    www.gov.nl.ca

  • A draft proposal is being considered by the N.L. Government to build a new 850 km trail network on the Northern Peninsula - The Great Coastal Trail - as a tourism and economic development catalyst. Phase 1 would see $18M spent on trail construction with another $2.5M to hire 3 permanent and 80 seasonal employees.

    cbc.ca

  • The union representing the 35,000 employees of CRA has agreed to a tentative deal with the federal government. The deal includes a 12.6% wage increase over four years and a lump-sum pensionable payment of $2500, as well as other arrangements.

    cbc.ca

  • Treasury Board has reached a tentative agreement with PSAC and its 120,000 federal government workers. The deal includes a 12.6% wage increase over four years, a lump sum payment of $2500, and additional language on remote work.

    cbc.ca

  • The Atlantic Physician Registry officially launched on May 1 in the four Atlantic provinces. Physicians licensed in any of the four provinces can now opt in to the registry and practise in another Atlantic province.

    novascotia.ca
• Week of 2023-04-21 to 2023-04-27

  • The N.L. Government’s historic investment of about $1.4B in provincial roads and highways over the next five years includes the following newly awarded Trans-Canada Highway contracts: Marine Contractors Inc. ($2.9M), Municipal Construction Ltd. ($5.5M/$4.2M), J-1 Contracting Ltd. ($5.3M), and JCL Investments Inc. ($7.6M).

    www.gov.nl.ca

  • Cenovus Energy has removed the Terra Nova floating production storage and offloading unit from its 2023 corporate guidance report, fueling uncertainty around the oil production project’s future. Meanwhile, the $3.2B West White Rose expansion project to the White Rose offshore oil field is progressing well.

    cbc.ca

  • The 2023 N.L. provincial budget includes an increase in the All-Spend Film and Television Tax Credit to 40%, along with a $10M investment in the Film and Television Equity Investment Program. Tax credits are seen as a driving force behind the interest from the industry.

    vocm.com
• Week of 2023-04-14 to 2023-04-20

  • Deloitte has been awarded the $2.1M contract for the development of a master plan and program for a new hospital to replace St. Clare’s and the construction of a new Cardiovascular and Stroke Centre at the Health Sciences.

    vocm.com

  • Federal staff that belong to the Public Service Alliance of Canada, were walking the picket line on Wednesday after failing to reach a deal with their employer. Striking members include 120,000 Treasury Board and 35,000 Canada Revenue Agency employees.

    charlottefm.ca

  • The impending closure of a major Quebec pork plant is expected to impact the pork industry in Atlantic Canada. With no federally regulated hog processor in Atlantic Canada, the closure will cause an oversupply in the Atlantic region.

    cbc.ca

  • C+E13:F19anada’s national unemployment rate was at 5% in March and a labour boom is being seen across the country. For the first time ever there were eight provinces that had unemployment rates below 6%. The labour participation rate was also a healthy 65.6%.

    theglobeandmail.com

  • The N.L. Government has expanded the Come Home Incentive to include registered midwives and also increase the incentive amounts available for Radiation Therapists. The incentive was initially announced in October 2022 and was designed to help attract health care professionals home to work in the province.

    www.gov.nl.ca

  • Work on phase 2 of the Mount Bernard reconstruction project in Corner Brook began today. The total cost of the project is in excess of $10M, which is cost shared among the three levels of government with the city contributing just over $2M.

    vocm.com
• Week of 2023-04-07 to 2023-04-13

  • The Public Service Alliance of Canada and its roughly 155,000 workers could go on strike by mid-April, if contract negotiations fail. The processing of immigration applications, employment services, and travellers at the airport and border could be impacted.

    thewave.ca

  • A new report from the Royal Bank of Canada states that around 40% of Canadian farm operators are expected to retire over the next decade. It also expects a shortage of 24,000 general farm, nursery and greenhouse workers over that time.

    thewave.ca

  • The provincial government has awarded Allnorth Consultants the $956,000 contract to complete renovations and extensions at Dorset Collegiate on Pilley’s Island. Construction is expected to begin later this year.

    vocm.com

  • Newfoundland and Labrador's inshore fishermen say that the price of $2.20 per pound for snow crab is unsustainable and will keep snow crab harvesters out of the water. Prices were as high as $8 per pound last season, although demand has dropped off this year.

    cbc.ca

  • Two N.L. businesses will receive $74,600 in funding through the Business Development and support Program. Goulding’s Wholesale in Gambo will receive almost $50K to help expand, whereas Java Jack’s Restaurant in Gros Morne will get $25K for marketing and upgrades.

    vocm.com

  • The $3.4B Labrador-Island Link project has completed its final 700-megawatt test, signalling the completion of the Muskrat Falls project. The Link is a 1,100-km-long high-voltage transmission line runs from the Muskrat Falls generating station to Soldiers Pond.

    cbc.ca

  • The proposed Marine and Spool Base development in Fermeuse Harbour could bring hundreds of new jobs to the region. The energy project would take two years to construct and world create up to 200 construction and 250 specialized service jobs.

    vocm.com
• Week of 2023-03-31 to 2023-04-06

  • The owners of the Splash ‘N’ Putt Resort, located on the TCH near Terra Nova National Park, are retiring and selling the popular seasonal attraction. Included with the attraction are 15 acres of land, which could be used as an RV park.

    vocm.com

  • The Iron Ore Company of Canada and steel workers in Labrador City and Sept-Îles have agreed to a new collective agreement. The new agreement provides higher wages, improved benefits, and enhanced pension language for its 2000 plus employees.

    cbc.ca

  • Newfoundland and Labrador has announced that pharmacists in the province will have their capabilities expanded to allow them to assess and prescribe medication for four new ailments and conditions. It is expected to ease the workload on doctors.

    cbc.ca

  • Newfoundland and Labrador is amending regulations, which will allow registered nurses (RN) to be able to prescribe medication, order lab testing, and refer patients to specialists. RNs will be required to complete training in order to prescribe medication.

    cbc.ca

  • The N.L. nurses' union says $3,000 retention bonuses for existing nurses and $8,000 for new recruits will not compensate for comparatively low pay and mandatory overtime, which is causing staff to quit. The union wants a better retention strategy.

    cbc.ca

  • The Canadian military has a new recruitment program, called the Naval Experience Program (NEP), where you can join on a one-year contract. The program aims to attract civilians to the Navy, streamline enrolment, reduce training time, and develop sailors.

    thewave.ca
• Week of 2023-03-24 to 2023-03-30

  • The province and the Association for New Canadians held various job fairs on the west coast of Newfoundland, resulting in job offers being made to a number of Ukrainian workers in attendance.

    vocm.com

  • The Canadian government released a report titled - Developing Greater Labour Protections for Gig Workers. Steps will be taken by the government to update the Canada Labour Code to help people such as self-employed truck drivers, couriers, freelancers, and artists.

    insurancebusinessmag.com

  • Newfoundland and Labrador will spend $9M to combine 60 separate road ambulance services into a single provincially run ambulance program, as well as to hire a consultant. The province will also increase the number of seats for primary-care paramedics.

    cbc.ca

  • The Newfoundland and Labrador government has received bids from 19 companies for wind-hydrogen development. The bids will go through various phases, with the successful bidders in the end being able to develop their wind-hydrogen projects on Crown land.

    vocm.com

  • A report from the Canadian Society of Association Executives (CSAE) shows that not-for-profit CEOs average pay went up by 8.4% in 2022, while senior managers increased 1.2%, and other staff rose 2.0%. Salaries increased the most for those that changed jobs.

    charlottefm.ca

  • The federal government is opening up a new immigration stream this summer, which will bring up to 2,000 refugees per year to Canada. The new program will be dedicated to refugees, but will focus on the skills they're bringing to Canada as well.

    Telegraph Journal

  • The Port of Corner Brook is expecting a record season with over 30 cruise ships and 42,000 passengers booked to visit Newfoundland's west coast. The economic impact from the cruise industry in 2022 was $8.6M.

    cbc.ca

  • The provincial government will issue a call for proposals in May to build 850 new affordable rental properties across Newfoundland and Labrador. This is part of the government’s $70M affordable housing plan.

    vocm.com

  • Newfoundland and Labrador’s minimum wage will increase to $14.50 per hour on April 1 and will goes up to $15 per hour as of October 1, 2023.

    vocm.com

  • The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador announced that it plans to create 942 new child care spaces by the end of this fiscal year. It also unveiled a new wage grid designed to attract up to 600 Early Childhood Educators back into the field of work.

    vocm.com
• Week of 2023-03-17 to 2023-03-23

  • Deer Lake Regional Airport has reported that while things are slowly improving, they anticipate it will take another few years before activity returns to pre-pandemic levels. Since WestJet cancelled all service to Deer Lake, Air Canada has added routes, while low-cost carriers Flair and Swoop have decided to return for the summer.

    vocm.com

  • The N.L. Government has signed two new doctors to Bonavista through a number of recently-announced incentives that came as the result of consultations with those in the field.

    vocm.com

  • The Registered Nurses Union has called for increased incentives for nurses to address the current shortage as the number of full-time nurses continues to drop. The nurse appreciation and retention incentives in N.L. are currently $3k compared to provinces like N.S. where they are offering up to $20k.

    vocm.com

  • The N.L. Government, in collaboration with the N.L. Medical Association, announced a new Salaried Family Physician Remoteness Bonus to address recruitment challenges for family physicians at remote sites exclusively. These physicians are primarily employed by regional health authorities. Annual bonus amounts range between $11-$17k.

    www.gov.nl.ca

  • The N.L. Government has announced $21.2M in funding to establish 10 new Family Care Teams to help meet the primary care needs of residents accross the province. Teams include family physicians, nurses and nurse practitioners, pharmacists, social workers, and other allied health professionals.

    www.gov.nl.ca

  • The N.L. Government has announced nearly $1.4B in investment funding to strenghten highway and road transportation infrastructure over the next five construction seasons – the largest five-year investment period in the province’s history.

    www.gov.nl.ca

  • A new report entitled the Atlantic Canada Momentum Index says that the region is now performing at a level comparable to the national average. Atlantic Canada's growing population has led to greater economic growth, despite contributing to increased housing costs.

    cbc.ca

  • The N.L. Government contributed $500k to the Labrador 2023 Winter Games and have confirmed that they will invest 50% more for the next games in 2026. The investment comes in addition to funding for regional games in the north and south of Labrador in the off years.

    cbc.ca

  • Four psychiatrists left the Western Health region in 2022, as wait times for outpatient psychiatry care grew further in 2022. Western Health is implementing a shared care model where psychiatry will work with primary and other healthcare providers, helping to fill vacancies for psychiatrist positions.

    cbc.ca

  • The minimum wage for federal workers will increase to $16.65/hr as of April 1. Federally regulated private sector employers include, among others, airlines, banks, grain elevators, telecom companies, and First Nations band councils.

    charlottefm.ca
• Week of 2023-03-10 to 2023-03-16

  • Lynx Air will begin offering a non-stop route starting in June from St. John’s International Airport to Montreal, with a through flight service to Calgary. The low-fair airline first launched in St. John’s in summer 2022 with direct flights to Toronto.

    vocm.com

  • The N.L. government has announced it will open an urgent-care clinic in St. John's by the end of April 2024 at a cost of $900k and an annual operating cost of $4M. Staff will include about 15 full-time positions including doctors, RN’s, LPN’s, nurse practitioners, x-ray and lab technicians and administration.

    cbc.ca

  • Eastern Health has added urgent care to the Dr. William H. Newhook Community Health Centre in Whitbourne in addition to its current status as a primary care centre. The centre’s hours of operation will be increased as demand requires and based on staff recruitment.

    www.gov.nl.ca

  • The N.L. Government is proposing to build a new 276-bed correctional facility in St. John's through a public-private partnership with Avalon Corrections Partners. The completion is at least 3-5 years in the future and there is currently a well-documented shortage of correctional officers throughout the province.

    cbc.ca

  • The Port of Argentia has secured its second major contract in support of US offshore wind development and is experiencing unprecedented demand for marshalling support as part of the US energy transition.

    vocm.com

  • More than 100 stakeholders have come together to address labour shortages within Canada's agriculture workforce. Canada's agriculture industry contributes over $130B to the national economy, but needs a stable and skilled workforce to remain competitive.

    infomedia.gc.ca
• Week of 2023-03-03 to 2023-03-09

  • The N.L. Government has announced a $225M budget for highway construction projects for 2023-24 that is expected to result in a good year for those working in the paving industry, such as contractors and workers. Most of the contracts will be for upgrades to the Trans-Canada Highway.

    cbc.ca

  • The anticipated opening of the recreational facility to replace the Mews Centre in St. John’s has been pushed back to spring 2024 with construction about 60% complete. Cost of construction has remained on budget at $33.5M.

    vocm.com

  • The N.L. Teachers Association says that the shortage of teachers is significant though it has not been quite enough to close schools down for any length of time. The association also indicated that using retired teachers to help fill the gaps is not a long term or sustainable plan.

    vocm.com

  • The N.L. Government has announced a $1.4M investment to improve two tennis facilities in St. John's in anticipation of the 2025 Canada Summer Games. The funding will be used for the installation of a new air dome at the Green Belt Tennis Club, improvements to seating arrangements and court upgrades.

    cbc.ca

  • ESDC has a new Skilled Trades apprenticeship program, which will help small to medium-sized employers to hire first-year apprentices in 39 Red Seal trades. Included are plumbers, gasfitters, refrigeration and A/C mechanics, and steamfitter/pipefitters.

    mechanicalbusiness.com

  • N.L. Hydro are hopeful the multibillion-dollar hydroelectricity project at Muskrat Falls will be able to run at high power by mid-April 2023 despite recent software related issues that have resulted in setbacks in testing, which has been delayed to early April from February.

    cbc.ca

  • Fewers Ambulance Service says that the company hasn't given notice that it's terminating its ambulance services in Ferryland and Cape Broyle despite provincial announcements. They acknowledge having ongoing staffing issues but remain committed to providing ambulance services in the area.

    cbc.ca

  • Eastern Health announced that Smith's Ambulance Services would no longer be providing ambulance services to the Whitbourne area due to concerns with the operator's ability to meet its contract obligations. Eastern Health stated that service to the region would continue with no change to service levels.

    cbc.ca
• Week of 2023-02-24 to 2023-03-02

  • The Department of Fisheries and Oceans 2022 N.L. snow crab stock assessment shows stocks have rebounded, a few years after nearly collapsing. Despite this, N.L.’s most valuable fishery has a bleak outlook due to current market uncertainty. Quota decisions are expected in March with an April harvest.

    cbc.ca

  • A new unidentified buyer plans to reopen the insolvent St. Lawrence fluorspar mine and bankruptcy protection for Canada Fluorspar Inc. has been extended to May 31 to allow time to convert the binding letter of intent into a formal sales agreement. The mine previously employed nearly 300 people.

    cbc.ca

  • Atlantic musicians are concerned about proposed changes to increase the cost of temporary work visas from $460 to $1,615. That would triple the cost for Canadian musicians that want to perform in the U.S., on top of their other travelling expenses.

    cbc.ca

  • Eastern Health has announced funding for 4 new positions in Bonavista and will soon be posting two family physician positions, and two nurse practitioner jobs.

    cbc.ca

  • Members of the Memorial University of N.L. Faculty Association have ratified a new 4-year collective agreement that includes the establishment of a committee to review collegial governance at the university, an extra month of pay for contract workers, and a 12% raise over 4 years.

    cbc.ca

  • The N.L. Government has announced plans for the construction of a new Cardiovascular and Stroke Institute at the Health Sciences Centre site in St. John’s. This is in addition to the construction of the new adult mental health and addictions hospital and an expanded emergency department there.

    www.gov.nl.ca

  • The federal government has announced $27M in funding to help train N.L.’s workforce in the technology sector. The funding will be administered by Tech-NL with a focus on equity-deserving groups.

    vocm.com
• Week of 2023-02-17 to 2023-02-23

  • N.L. crab processors are anticipating a loss of at least $100M from the 2022 season due to declining demand and prices. In response, the Association of Seafood Producers and the Fish, Food & Allied Workers union are working together to look at industry issues such as pricing, scheduling and trip limits.

    cbc.ca

  • A massive multibillion-dollar wind project proposed by the Exploits Valley Renewable Energy Corp. would see 300 windmills scattered across central N.L.. The project would result in 500 permanent jobs with 2,000 workers needed during the construction phase. The project is still a proposal in the early stages.

    cbc.ca

  • The N.L. Government is funding a $910,649 expansion of the Office for Indigenous and Northern Skilled Trades to Corner Brook and St. John’s, while maintaining the existing office in Happy Valley-Goose Bay. Their mandate is to promote, recruit, support and advance the economic development of Indigenous peoples in the skilled trades.

    www.gov.nl.ca

  • Equinor is signaling its preference to build the production vessel for the massive Bay du Nord project outside of N.L., but states that the increased project size will lead to expanded local long term fabrication work at yards, along with marine operations and the drilling of wells.

    cbc.ca

  • Doctors living and working within the four Atlantic Provinces will be able to work within the region without additional licensing requirements with the new Atlantic Physicians Registry that is expected to launch on May 1. This will allow the four provinces to draw from a larger pool of specialists to fill gaps.

    cbc.ca

  • Despite ongoing recruitment efforts, N.L.'s family doctor shortage is intensifying, with 136,000 people signalling that they don't have a family physician. N.L. has had a net loss of 7 doctors from 2021 through 2022 and a lot of young doctors are choosing not to enter family medicine.

    cbc.ca

  • Joint Federal ($271,393), Provincial ($226,138) and Municipal ($180,951) funding has been announced to support an energy efficiency project for the Town of Stephenville through the Climate Change Challenge Fund.

    www.gov.nl.ca
• Week of 2023-02-10 to 2023-02-16

  • Canada’s premiers and territorial leaders have accepted the new federal health care transfer, which will result in the provinces getting an extra $49B over 10 years. The funding will help address priorities like the doctor shortage and surgical backlogs.

    vocm.com

  • Bed Bath & Beyond Canada is closing all 54 stores and 11 buybuy BABY stores including its stores in Fredericton, Moncton, Halifax, Dartmouth, Charlottetown, and St. John’s. The company has nearly 400 full-time and over 1,000 part-time workers.

    cbc.ca

  • Memorial University's faculty association and administration have reached a tentative deal after a nearly 2-week strike. The faculty association prioritized three items: improved job security for temporary staff, post-retirement health benefits, and collegial governance.

    cbc.ca
• Week of 2023-02-03 to 2023-02-09

  • New estimates released by the Canada-N.L. Offshore Petroleum Board reveal that the recoverable oil linked to Equinor's Bay du Nord project is now 1 billion barrels, doubling prior estimates. If approved, it is expected to create 16,000 person-years of employment during the field’s life span.

    cbc.ca

  • RCMP in N.L. have been struggling to fill 30 vacant positions and have introduced measures to entice new recruits, and attract experienced officers from other police services in the country. There is currently an 8% vacancy rate among the RCMP in N.L. with staffing of about 470 officers across its 42 detachments.

    cbc.ca

  • The N.L. government is planning a new 30-bed emergency shelter in downtown St. John's to help address homelessness and relieve some pressure from the emergency shelter system. The request for proposals asking companies or registered non-profits to submit bids closes Feb. 20.

    cbc.ca

  • A 10-year, $196B federal health-care plan recently proposed by the Federal Government promises an influx of about $46.2B in new funding for the provinces and territories to improve struggling medical systems. This would amount to an additional $100M a year in immediate federal health funding for N.L.

    cbc.ca
• Week of 2023-01-27 to 2023-02-02

  • WestJet has announced that they are pulling their service from the Deer Lake Airport. Air Canada, Flair and PAL will continue to serve Deer Lake.

    vocm.com

  • St. John’s based technology company, Quorum Information Systems, has received $100k in funding from the N.L. Government to help them recruit and retain workers. The company develops software for car dealerships. Quorum, which started in 2006 with 5 employees, now employs 120 people in N.L.

    vocm.com

  • Members of the Memorial University Faculty Association began striking at the St. John's campus on January 30 with classes cancelled after both sides hit an impasse. Two key issues are the use of lesser-paid contract employees and faculty involvement in decision-making on the future of the university.

    cbc.ca

  • Newfound Gold has opened up its new core processing facility in Gander. The company has an intensive drill campaign currently underway which has already produced some encouraging results.

    vocm.com

  • Allnorth Consultants Limited have been awarded the $269,350 provincial government contract for a pre-feasibility study on the construction of a road connecting the Trans-Labrador Highway to communities in northern Labrador. The first report from the study is due in late 2023.

    cbc.ca

  • The N.L. Government has expanded the eligibility criteria for health care professions to receive the Come Home Incentive, first announced in October 2022, to now include clinical psychologists, respiratory therapists, radiation therapists, cardiology technologists and medical physicists.

    www.gov.nl.ca
• Week of 2023-01-20 to 2023-01-26

  • Trades N.L., an umbrella organization representing 16 building and construction unions with over 18,000 members has launched the "Build Right Here" campaign to rally businesses and citizens behind the N.L. Government as it negotiates a benefits agreement with Equinor for its Bay du Nord project to employ local residents.

    cbc.ca

  • Complete Concrete Solutions has been awarded a $1.3M contract for repairs to two Lewin Parkway Bridges in Corner Brook with work expected to be finished this summer.

    vocm.com

  • Canada's airlines are becoming more regional with Air Canada focusing in the east and WestJet focusing on the west (significantly reducing their service in Atlantic Canada). The airlines have cut routes, are looking to improve profits, and creating barriers for competition.

    cbc.ca

  • The N.L. Government has passed a new law that will see over 100 paramedics and emergency medical responders return to work. Strike issues include working conditions, wages and lack of pension plan.

    cbc.ca

  • The Government of Canada has announced over $6.6M in joint funding to improve Placentia’s drinking water infrastructure.

    canada.ca

  • Justice Canada is providing over $1.6M in funding to the Nunatsiavut Government through its Indigenous Justice Program to support a Family Violence Prevention Program, community-based justice services, and the creation of a new Inuit Cultural Awareness Educator.

    vocm.com

  • New Found Gold has reported several new high-grade gold discoveries in central Newfoundland along the Appleton Fault Zone including Keats, Golden Joint and Lotto.

    vocm.com
• Week of 2023-01-13 to 2023-01-19

  • The Government of Canada has announced approximately $25M over 3 years for critical infrastructure roadway improvements in Gros Morne National Park and L’Anse aux Meadows National Historic Site.

    canada.ca

  • The latest forecast from Deloitte is that the Canadian economy will hit a deeper recession and expect inflation to slow down by the end of 2023. Only job losses are expected in construction and transportation, retail trade and information and culture.

    globalnews.ca

  • Kraken Robotics, a N.L.-based ocean industry technology company, has reported $40M in 2022 revenue, up 56% on a year-over-year basis. The company recently acquired a $50M contract for the Canadian Navy’s Remote Minehunting and Disposal System and a $9M contract with a NATO navy customer.

    vocm.com

  • Provincial government funding of $3M has been announced to enable Memorial University’s Faculty of Nursing to add 72 seats to its Bachelor of Science in Nursing program through the opening of three new school of nursing satellite sites in Gander, Grand Falls-Windsor and Labrador.

    vocm.com

  • Recent polling by the N.L. Medical Association shows that 26% of N.L. residents were not attached to a family physician, representing over 136,000 people. The association says family medicine is facing a crisis due to physician shortages, rural ER closures, growing demand and mounting overhead pressures.

    vocm.com

  • The Labrador YMCA's child-care centre has announced it will suspend operations on February 20 after being unable to recruit an administrator but hopes the closure will only be temporary. A new N.L. wage grid for early childhood educators will be implemented by April 1 and will be retroactive to Jan. 1, 2023. An ECE shortage exists nationally due to low enrolments, and attrition from pay and burnout issues.

    cbc.ca
• Week of 2023-01-06 to 2023-01-12

  • Ontario-based cannabis company, Canopy Growth, announced on January 3, 2023 that it has finalized the sale of all of its Canadian retail stores, including those in Newfoundland and Labrador.

    cbc.ca

  • Economists predict the expected economic slowdown in 2023 may not result in higher levels of gig work, unlike previous recessions where contract work and self-employment spiked. The differences include the tight labour market combined with a changing workforce and lingering inflation.

    citynews.ca

  • Veterinary clinics in Newfoundland and Labrador are encountering labour shortages with veterinarians and veterinary staff experiencing high levels of burnout due to a combination of demand and shortages in available staff.

    vocm.com

  • The Association of Allied Health Professionals represents about 26 occupations including respiratory therapists, speech pathologists, occupational therapists and social workers. Heavy workload, high demand and competitive recruitment has resulted in an exodus of specialized health care workers in N.L.

    vocm.com

  • Over 100 ambulance workers at 7 private ambulance companies in rural N.L., represented by the Teamsters union, have begun strike action with a work-to-rule campaign. It includes paramedics, emergency medical responders and dispatchers. Key issues are wages and the lack of a pension plan.

    cbc.ca

  • Serco Canada Incorporated, the company contracted to operate Canadian Forces Base 5 Wing Goose Bay, has recently laid off 40 people. Serco was awarded a 10-year, $694M contract in 2021.

    cbc.ca

  • A new employment outlook survey by ManpowerGroup shows that about 40% of Atlantic Canadian employers are expecting to start 2023 by hiring more staff. Of those surveyed only 16% expect cutbacks and about 40% will keep staffing numbers the same.

    charlottefm.ca
• Week of 2022-12-30 to 2023-01-05

  • The employment sites Indeed and Glassdoor have released a report on labour market trends. It forecasts that labour shortages and higher inflation will see workers continuing to demand more pay, remote work options, better benefits, and other initiatives.

    ctvnews.ca

  • The federal-provincial agreement for affordable $10/day public daycare fees came into effect across N.L. on Jan. 2 and will create 6,000 new child-care spaces. Some child care advocates suggest that there’s a shortage of early childhood educators to fill the projected increase in demand from the lower fees.

    cbc.ca

  • The four Regional Health Authorities in Newfoundland and Labrador are merging into one effective April 1, 2023. The implementation of regional health councils connected to specific regions is one aspect of the new legislation.

    vocm.com

  • Less than 12 employees will remain at the antimony mine (owned by China Minmetals) near Glenwood, as dozens of employees are laid off and operations are suspended indefinitely due to a production decline and increased operating costs. The mine employed over 100 employees in 2022.

    cbc.ca

  • To date, the Provincial Government’s new Medical Bursary Program has recruited 19 professionals while the Family Practice Program resulted in 23 physicians opening or joining family practice clinics for a 5-year commitment. The Come Home Year incentive resulted in another 30 people being hired.

    vocm.com
• Week of 2022-12-23 to 2022-12-29

  • N.L. Health authorities spent $8.8M on private travel nurses between January and September 2022. The use of private nurses skyrocketed across Canada in 2022 as the health-care system struggled to retain and recruit nurses and other medical professionals.

    cbc.ca

  • Atlantic Canada's fishing industry faced a challenging year in 2022. Fish harvesters were hit hard when the mackeral and herring fisheries were shut down. Lobster and crab fishermen saw prices drop, fuel prices rise, and Fiona damaged or swept away wharves, fishing gear, and other infrastructure.

    Telegram

  • Under new federal government regulations, 20% of all passenger cars, SUVs and trucks sold in Canada in 2026 will need to be electric. This increases to 60% by 2030 and 100% by 2035. Electric and plug-in hybrid vehicle sales were 5.2% of new car sales in 2021 and 7.2% during the first half of 2022.

    citynews.ca
• Week of 2022-12-16 to 2022-12-22

  • The Registered Nurses' (RN) Union of N.L. says the RN shortage in the Labrador-Grenfell Health region has reached a critical point. 60% of RN positions in the region are vacant and 50% are casual employees. The province currently has over 600 RN vacancies.

    cbc.ca

  • An Innovation Centre for remote operations lead by TechNL, will open in St. John’s in October 2023 with $9.6M in joint Federal/Provincial funding. Their goal is to create a world-class ecosystem for remote operations to benefit multiple sectors such as technology, mining, energy, healthcare and aquaculture.

    cbc.ca

  • Ottawa has announced that public servants will be required to work a hybrid work model, which requires being in the office at least two to three days a week. The new model will be applied to all departments and will come into full effect by March 31, 2023.

    cbc.ca

  • The N.L. government is funding a number of financial incentives for ambulance operators designed to address recruitment and retention issues. This includes a 1-year 2% bonus for full-time employees with an additional 2% during year 2 and a commitment bonus of $2,000 in exchange for a return-in-service agreement.

    vocm.com

  • The Government of Canada announced $5.2M in funding over the next three years for the Government of NL to deliver two new critical mineral initiatives focused on geoscience and exploration activities while the NL Government is contributing $4.6M through its existing Junior Exploration Assistance program.

    canada.ca

  • Despite a shortage of health-care workers, medical students are looking outside of Canada to finish their medical studies, with only 10% of students being accepted into a Canadian medical school. Many also go outside Canada for residency opportunities.

    ctvnews.ca
• Week of 2022-12-09 to 2022-12-15

  • A $10.3M contract has been awarded to Farrell’s Excavating Ltd. on a major highway construction project in the St. John’s area. Work is expected to be completed in 2024.

    vocm.com

  • DND states that over half of recent applicants looking to join the Canadian military, came from permanent residents, following a change on Dec. 5 allowing them to join. The military has been faced with a shortage of personnel, estimated as high as 10,000.

    cbc.ca

  • Statistics Canada data has shown that N.L. has been shedding farmland at a rate nearly seven times the national average for the past 20 years. The amount of land being farmed in the province has dropped 51% since 2001. N.L. had 344 farms in 2021.

    cbc.ca

  • The Newfoundland and Labrador Liquor Corporation is reporting net earnings of $58.3M (+1.9%) for the second quarter ending October 1, 2022. Alcohol sales for the quarter were $82.4M (+3.3%) while cannabis sales totaled $17.7M (+10.2%) over the same period the year before.

    vocm.com

  • Ocean-industry company, Kraken Robotics, has been awarded a contract of $50M with the Department of National Defence to provide remote mine hunting and disposal systems to the Royal Canadian Navy.

    vocm.com

  • The Government of Canada has announced $8M to Country Ribbon, NL’s largest chicken producer and only processor, to adopt advanced equipment to increase productivity and reduce environmental footprint. The Poultry sector is the second largest agricultural contributor in the province.

    canada.ca

  • Fish, Food and Allied Workers Union (FFAW) has reported that 2022 has been lucrative for the province’s fishing industry. Snow crab generated some $750M while lobster reached a landed value of $100M for the first time.

    vocm.com

  • Christmas tree farmers have seen inflation cut into their profit margin, due to rising fuel and fertilizer costs, but have seen strong demand. The Canadian Christmas Trees Association states that tree prices have increased by 10-15% in Atlantic Canada.

    cbc.ca
• Week of 2022-12-02 to 2022-12-08

  • The N.L. Government’s Come Home 2022 initiative drew a record number of visitors (117,000) at historic sites across the province between May and November. This represented a 236% increase in comparison to 2021, and a 13% increase compared to 2019, before the implementation of pandemic restrictions.

    vocm.com

  • The N.L. Government has announced their commitment to establish a provincial Indigenous Women’s Reconciliation Council that will act as a mechanism through which to establish a collaborative ongoing working relationship between Indigenous women and the Provincial Government.

    www.gov.nl.ca

  • Canada’s Ocean Supercluster has announced a new $5M Adaptive Learning Technology Project – The Future of Marine Fatigue Risk Mitigation, led by Training Works, a N.L. based EdTech company. The project will create and maintain 22 full time jobs with the potential for over 100 indirect jobs.

    www.gov.nl.ca

  • Suncor Energy has announced an early 2023 resumption of production in the Terra Nova oilfield off Newfoundland's coast (delayed from late 2022). The oil field had a total direct employment of about 850 people at the end of 2019. As of March 31, 2020, however, total direct employment stood at 574 people.

    cbc.ca

  • The Atlantic Canada Cruise Ship Association states that the region had a strong cruise ship season in 2022, despite the negative impact of Hurricane Fiona. Atlantic Canada saw over 470 ships and over 670,000 passengers visit the region.

    charlottefm.ca

  • The federal government is providing $90M in funding for projects that streamline medical credential recognition of internationally trained health workers or provide them with Canadian work experience, with the aim to address labour shortages in the health care sector.

    globalnews.ca
• Week of 2022-11-25 to 2022-12-01

  • Statistics Canada reports that Newfoundland and Labrador is going through the fastest population growth in 50 years, largely due to immigration growth, with 5,666 newcomers arriving since 2021. The province is requesting additional immigration spaces.

    www.gov.nl.ca

  • The Government of Canada announced $1.6M in funding for 4 N.L. organizations to bolster programming capacity to support Indigenous women and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people. These include N.L. Aboriginal Women's Network Inc., People of the Dawn Indigenous Friendship Centre, Empowering Indigenous Women for Stronger Communities, and NunatuKavut Community Council.

    canada.ca

  • The Canada Summer Jobs program has begun accepting applications for organizations looking for government funding in order to hire youth this summer. Qualified groups can apply up to January 12 and placements will begin in April 2023.

    hrreporter.com

  • Six respiratory therapists (over 10%) at Eastern Health (all in the metro region) have resigned since September, which currently fund 56 full-time permanent respiratory therapist positions. Staff indicate that challenges include workload, salary, and overtime.

    cbc.ca

  • The federal and N.L. governments will invest $13.2M to build a 40-unit affordable apartment building in Pleasantville. The building will focus on seniors and persons with disabilities and will exceed local accessibility standards.

    www.gov.nl.ca

  • The Canadian Association of Medical Radiation Technologists is concerned that a shortage of radiation therapists in Newfoundland and Labrador will impact cancer care. The province’s only cancer-care centre has 8 vacancies out of 29 positions.

    cbc.ca
• Week of 2022-11-18 to 2022-11-24

  • The Government of Canada’s 7-year public service hiring spree is receiving $2.3B in additional spending that will increase its workforce size to 409,000 jobs within 5 years. Positions being hired include border guards, case managers, military and IT jobs.

    irpp.org

  • An Information and Communications Technology Council report predicts employment in the Canadian digital economy will reach 2.26M by 2025, an increase of 250K jobs. This is despite companies like Meta, Twitter, Microsoft and others currently cutting staff.

    citynews.ca

  • The N.L. Government is following up on recommendations made by the provincial inquiry into ground search and rescue operations with a $1.8M budget allocation. Discussions have been held with the federal government about the need to establish air and marine resources for the region or to contract air assets to address the gap.

    cbc.ca

  • The emergency department at the Newhook Centre in Whitbourne has been closed since June 27 for almost 5 months as two vacant physician positions at the facility have caused a chain reaction that has added extra pressure on paramedics. In October, the N.L. government announced $50k in recruitment bonuses for returning paramedics.

    cbc.ca

  • The Government of Canada has announced $9.9M in funding for The First Light Friendship Centre in St. John’s to support extensive renovations and expansion of programs. Friendship Centres play a major role in ensuring First Nations, Inuit and Métis people have access to services and programs.

    canada.ca

  • $34M in joint federal, provincial and municipal funding has been announced for a new outdoor track and field facility and an indoor multi-purpose facility to host the 2025 Canada Summer Games.

    www.gov.nl.ca
• Week of 2022-11-11 to 2022-11-17

  • N.L.'s regional health authorities have been directed by the province to recruit more nurse practitioners for primary health care, especially in rural areas. NL wants to create nurse practitioner-led health clinics at the 35 collaborative health clinics they want to establish over the next 5 years.

    cbc.ca

  • Marine Atlantic has awarded a contract for the construction of a new administration building in Port aux Basques to Olympic Construction. Work is expected to begin on the multi-year project this week with completion scheduled for the summer of 2024.

    vocm.com

  • The N.L. Department of Transportation and Infrastructure has awarded a $7.8M contract to Complete Concrete Solutions Ltd. for the replacement of Romaine’s River Bridge on the Port au Port Highway, Route 460 on the west coast. Work is expected to be completed in 2024.

    vocm.com

  • The N.L. Government has announced new recruitment and retention measures for healthcare workers that include retention bonuses, licensing fee reimbursement for retired health care professionals to return to work, and double rate overtime to reduce scheduling issues and overtime use.

    cbc.ca

  • A Fraser Institute study compared average earnings from 2019 between New England and Atlantic Canada, and found a $15K pay difference. New England’s average was $44, 236, while Atlantic Canada’s average was $29, 230 and P.E.I. was the lowest at $26,567.

    charlottefm.ca

  • The N.L. government has awarded a $40.5M contract to Marco Group to improve and expand the St. John's Health Sciences Centre emergency department. Construction will be completed by 2026 and will include a psychiatric assessment unit, a new ambulance parking garage, a medical imaging suite and a new registration area.

    cbc.ca

  • Site preparation work is well underway on Marathon Gold‘s Valentine Lake gold mine with about 110 people clearing the site and doing bridge repair. Contractors will begin work on the process plant by February/March with the first ore expected in about 2 years.

    vocm.com
• Week of 2022-11-04 to 2022-11-10

  • The latest licensing round for N.L.’s offshore oil sector resulted in 5 successful bids totalling $238M in exploration commitments from companies including ExxonMobil, who in partnership with QPI Energy Canada have committed to spending $181.6M over the next 6 years on a parcel in the Orphan Basin.

    cbc.ca

  • The N.L. Government is looking to recruit internationally trained, registered nurses from India with a recruitment office in the city of Bengaluru, as local nurses are struggling with burnout, with over 600 vacant positions, mandated overtime and over capacity emergency rooms.

    cbc.ca

  • Memorial University’s new full-time undergraduate fall enrolment numbers have dropped by 19% as major tuition increases have been announced. However, overall enrolment is stable at just over 19,000 students as the number of international students continues to grow, helping to offset the reduction.

    cbc.ca

  • N.L. Association of Public and Private Employees Union says NL has a critical shortage of radiation therapists, which are down by about 30% with 7 resignations in the past year. High skills requirements, the lack of competitive wages along with the strong demand across Canada are lowering retention rates in the province.

    vocm.com
• Week of 2022-10-28 to 2022-11-03

  • The N.L. Government has announced $3M for businesses in the tourism sector through the new Tourism Experience Enhancement Fund which will support projects such as enhancing the product, expanding into shoulder seasons, and increasing accessibility and efficiency.

    vocm.com

  • The N.L. Government has announced plans to replace the St. Clare’s Mercy Hospital in St. John’s. The site has not been finalized and planning is in the very early phases. The new facility will include early learning and child care resources to help accommodate health professionals with child care needs.

    cbc.ca

  • A new Statistics Canada report shows that N.L. had under 4,000 (or 0.3%) of Canada's 1.3M new immigrants between 2016 and 2021 - the lowest growth through immigration in Atlantic Canada. However, 2021 was a record year with 2,050 (+87% from 2020) permanent residency nominations.

    cbc.ca

  • The Atlantic Provinces Trucking Association wants the federal government to offer more incentives to get more drivers behind the wheel. It is estimated that there are 28,000 vacancies across the country and it costs up to $12,000 to take driver training.

    globalnews.ca

  • Atlantic Canada's ocean technology start-up sector has been ranked in the top 10 in a new report on the global blue economy. The Ocean Supercluster, a federal innovation fund, headquartered in St. John's, has approved 70 projects with a total value of over $360M.

    cbc.ca

  • Braya Renewable Fuels has issued a Request for Proposal for the provision of green hydrogen for its operations. They are converting the Come By Chance refinery into a renewable fuel producer and also looking at exporting green ammonia for local, regional and international markets.

    vocm.com
• Week of 2022-10-21 to 2022-10-27

  • Walmart Canada is spending over $14M to refresh four Newfoundland and Labrador locations this year - in Carbonear, Clarenville, Grand Falls-Windsor and Labrador City. Wal-Mart has about 2,400 employees working at 11 stores in N.L.

    vocm.com

  • N.L. is projecting a 2022 budget surplus of $479M as a result of higher than expected revenue from oil royalties and corporate, personal and sales taxes.

    cbc.ca

  • The Council of Atlantic Ministers of Education and Training have expanded resources and tools to help high school and post-secondary students in Atlantic Canada with career planning. More information can be found at https://careersatlanticcanada.ca.

    novascotia.ca

  • The Town of Gander and Unifor, the union representing about 50 municipal workers and community services staff, have reached a 4-year agreement that includes a 7.5% wage increase, a 0.5% pension increase as well as a $1,000 signing bonus.

    vocm.com

  • The Mike Adam Recreation Complex, closed since January 2022, will soon reopen after a deal between the towns of Labrador City and Wabush was reached. The agreement is in place until June 1, with commitment from both sides to continue work on a permanent financing deal.

    cbc.ca
• Week of 2022-10-14 to 2022-10-20

  • The N.L. Government has proposed new legislation to address pay equity and pay transparency and builds on the ongoing efforts to support women and gender diverse people in the province. The pay equity provisions will apply to all public sector employers with 10 or more employees.

    www.gov.nl.ca

  • The Provincial Government has announced retention bonuses for health-care workers represented by the NL Association of Public and Private Employees who work in areas struggling with recruitment and retention. NAPE represents about 10,000 health-care workers.

    cbc.ca

  • World Energy GH2, the company behind the proposed 164 turbine wind farm project in Port au Port Peninsula, will provide $10M for communities in the area as a community vibrancy fund if the project receives the go ahead after the provincial environmental assessment process.

    cbc.ca

  • Labrador Uranium has signed a definitive purchase agreement with Beaconsfield Ventures to acquire two major mining sites - the entire Anna Lake Project and the Moran Lake B-Zone site near Postville, Labrador.

    vocm.com

  • The N.L. government's independent teacher allocation review committee has released its final report recommending sweeping changes to the education system that include changes to the allocation of teachers, guidance counsellors, administrators and instructional resource teachers, class size and hiring practices.

    cbc.ca

  • The Association of Atlantic Universities says international students have grown by about 3,000 over the last year and account for a lot of the enrolment increases seen at the 16 universities in the Atlantic region.

    globalnews.ca

  • The N.L. Government is working on a 3-year plan to integrate physician assistants into practice within the provincial health-care system to help doctors and will initially focus on emergency departments, hospice programs and surgical programs.

    cbc.ca

  • Joint Federal-Provincial funding of $230k has been announced for the Community Recreation Rebroadcasting Service Association to expand high-speed internet service to 664 households in Labrador West. The project is expected to be completed by May 2023.

    vocm.com
• Week of 2022-10-07 to 2022-10-13

  • The Iron Ore Company of Canada and College of the North Atlantic have launched a new 11-week maintenance electrician training program. The Future Workforce Electrical program will upskill electricians to be in line with the latest mining technology advancements.

    vocm.com

  • Trades NL has a new website at www.tradesnl.com which contains several new features to help improve recruitment and retention of tradespeople in the building trades and construction industry throughout the province.

    vocm.com

  • A recent C.D. Howe Institute study reports that mothers of young children face more return-to-workforce barriers than a father does. The study also found that the younger the children, the probability of a mother returning to work is even lower.

    Other Sources

  • The federal government will temporarily remove the 20-hour cap on November 14, which currently restricts the number of weekly hours that international students can work. The main reason behind the change is to help address labour shortages.

    cbc.ca

  • The Canadian Trucking Alliance (CTA) says that the shortage of professional drivers represents one of the biggest threats to Canada’s economic recovery. CTA states that Canada needs nearly 30,000 commercial truck drivers.

    trucknews.com

  • A delay in the sale of the Canada Fluorspar mine in St. Lawrence has triggered the loss of 21 jobs this week, and again has left the operation in limbo. These come in addition to the over 200 layoffs when Canada Fluorspar went into receivership earlier this year.

    vocm.com
• Week of 2022-09-30 to 2022-10-06

  • Paramedics in central Labrador are quitting as a result of heavy and unsustainable workloads, leading to high turnover rates. There are currently 8 vacancies for paramedics at the Labrador Health Centre in Happy Valley-Goose Bay.

    cbc.ca

  • The parent company of North Atlantic has submitted a proposal for a wind turbine project that would supply energy for a green hydrogen hub in Come By Chance.

    vocm.com

  • The number of job vacancies in Canada has reached a new high of over 1M, while the unemployment rate recently hit a record low below 5%. Scarcity of labour is the most common complaint from employers and is happening in virtually every sector of the economy, not just the retail and hospitality sectors.

    Cape Breton Post

  • The Government of Canada has announced $300M in recovery assistance to Atlantic Canada from Hurricane Fiona after significant damage across the region. The fund is to be managed by ACOA in concert with other federal departments and agencies.

    cbc.ca

  • The minimum wage went up in three of the four Atlantic provinces on October 1, 2022 . New Brunswick instituted a $1 increase up to $13.75/hour, Newfoundland and Labrador had a 50-cent rise to $13.70/hour and Nova Scotia saw a 25 cent increase to $13.60/hour.

    citynews.ca

  • The N.L. government has signed a Declaration of Intent with the City of Hamburg, Germany, signaling cooperation in the field of green hydrogen and hydrogen technologies and intends to encourage hydrogen supply chain development for the export of green hydrogen from NL to Germany.

    vocm.com

  • The N.L. Association of Public and Private Employees, representing about 20,000 public sector employees, has ratified new collective agreements with the N.L. government that include 2% annual wage increases over the next 4 years but no retirement benefit changes.

    cbc.ca

  • N.L.’s technology industry is worth $1.6B and employs about 4,000 people. As the sector grows, it is estimated that 5,000 jobs will need to be filled over the next few years. Recruitment approaches include appealing to students, women, and people who have left the province.

    cbc.ca

  • N.L. Hydro is proposing a significant $522M expansion at the Bay d'Espoir hydroelectric plant as demand increases and concerns about Muskrat Falls persist. The Holyrood thermal plant will remain as a backup until permanent cleaner alternatives are developed.

    cbc.ca

  • The N.L. Government’s “Come Home 2022” campaign efforts have introduced new financial incentives designed to help bring health care professionals back to the province. The effort is aimed specifically at physicians, nurses and paramedics.

    www.gov.nl.ca

  • New research from KPMG LLP Canada found that small businesses are more optimistic and less convinced that the economy is heading into a recession, compared to most Canadian CEOs. About 40% of CEOS have implemented a hiring freeze or looking to downsize.

    Daily Gleaner
• Week of 2022-09-23 to 2022-09-29

  • A survey from Eckler Ltd. forecasts average salary increases of 4.2% in 2023 across Canada, as we continue to experience a tight labour market and high inflation. This would be the biggest increase in 20 years and would also match actual wage gains in 2022.

    Chronicle Herald

  • The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador has allocated $30M to support the Hurricane Fiona Financial Assistance Program which will be offered to impacted residents and communities of the southwest coast of the island.

    www.gov.nl.ca
• Week of 2022-09-16 to 2022-09-22

  • Australian oil company, Woodside Energy, is abandoning its two offshore exploration bids from 2018 totalling $822M – the biggest in NL history. They have moved key employees out of the province and it removes the future potential for thousands of jobs.

    cbc.ca

  • The Newfoundland Herald magazine has released its final print edition after a 76-year run as it moves completely online. The decision was made as a result of the ever-changing technology landscape and the shift from print to digital.

    cbc.ca

  • Statistics Canada says wages in Atlantic Canada grew by more than the national rate of 2%, from April to June 2022, but still trails inflation at 7-8%. N.B.’s wages grew by 4.1%, N.L. jumped by 4%, N.S. increased by 3.9%, and P.E.I. rose by 3.3%.

    cbc.ca

  • Unionized workers with the City of Mount Pearl have ratified their tentative agreement, which includes a 9% wage increase, reduced sick leave days, additional personal leave days, and an increase to the meal allowance. The deal is in effect until June 2026.

    cbc.ca

  • Conversion work at the Come By Chance refinery could resume operations in a week’s time, after a flash fire shut it down on Sept 2. Over 600 Braya employees and contractors are converting the refinery into an advanced biofuels operation.

    cbc.ca

  • St. John's hospitals are experiencing chronic overcapacity issues and have been at double overcapacity for nearly 3 months. The health authority stated it had an immediate need for registered nurses, licensed practical nurses and personal-care attendants.

    cbc.ca

  • According to the latest Employment Outlook Survey released by ManpowerGroup, almost half (49%) of Atlantic Canadian employers plan to hire in the fourth quarter of 2022.

    charlottefm.ca
• Week of 2022-09-09 to 2022-09-15

  • The 2022 snow crab fishery in N.L. brought in just over $759M in revenue according to the Department of Fisheries and Oceans. This was below initial estimates of $1B as prices plummeted. N.L. is the biggest exporter of snow crab in Atlantic Canada.

    Telegram

  • The N.L. Teachers’ Association is urging government to move the hiring process up earlier to address the current teacher shortage. The recruitment of teachers is a challenge across Canada, but is being felt most deeply in rural parts of N.L., particularly Labrador.

    vocm.com

  • Eastern Health recently advised patients to avoid emergency rooms except in a medical emergency at the Health Sciences Centre or St. Clare's Mercy Hospital in St. John's. There are 19 registered nurse vacancies at Health Sciences and several at St. Clare’s.

    vocm.com

  • The N.L. government has expanded the Request For Proposals process to sell Marble Mountain to include professional guidance on recommended upgrades and additions to allow year-round operations and better position the resort for prospective new owners.

    vocm.com
• Week of 2022-09-02 to 2022-09-08

  • There are currently over 100 federal bilingual job vacancies posted in N.L. as a result of the recent wave of retirements in the public service. These include Canada Revenue Agency with 21 and Employment and Social Development Canada with 83.

    cbc.ca

  • A new report by Statistics Canada found that N.S. has the highest undergraduate tuition in the country, amounting to $9,328 for the 2022/23 academic year. N.B.’s tuition was the third highest at $8,284, while N.L. had the second lowest tuition at $3,400.

    globalnews.ca

  • Surging oil prices and Europe's mounting energy demand are encouraging investments in N.L.’s offshore oil sector. OilCo, a N.L. Government corporation, has identified 20 prospective projects in addition to Bay du Nord.

    cbc.ca
• Week of 2022-08-26 to 2022-09-01

  • With the fall school year fast approaching, several K-12 schools across N.L. still have vacant teaching positions. These include The N.L. English School District with 19 permanent positions (15 in Labrador) and Jens Haven Memorial School in Nain with four.

    cbc.ca

  • Mining Industry NL says the province is in a good position to provide critical minerals to automakers for electric vehicle batteries, with demand for minerals such as lithium projected to increase dramatically.

    cbc.ca

  • A prospective new owner was selected as the successful bidder for the troubled fluorspar mine (St. Lawrence), but details currently remain locked behind a non-disclosure agreement until a formal agreement is reached. 250 people previously worked at the site.

    cbc.ca

  • The N.L. Government has expanded the Family Practice Program’s funding and eligibility criteria, making it the highest financial incentive offered to family physicians in Atlantic Canada. It provides $150k to new family practice physicians for a 5-year commitment.

    www.gov.nl.ca

  • Destination St. John's reported July 31 year-to-date hotel performance was on target to match 2019 guest rooms sold. From 2015-2019 St. John's hosted about 95-100 conferences, attracting 22k delegates a year and estimates 65-70% of that for 2022.

    cbc.ca

  • The federal government will invest over $28M in the Apprenticeship START Plus Project, with the goal to hire 5,200 first-year apprentices in eligible Red Seal trades over two years. Funding will go to small and medium-sized enterprises across Atlantic Canada.

    canada.ca

  • Quebec-based Couche-Tard will sell some properties as part of its deal to acquire Wilsons network of gas stations, in order to resolve the concerns of the Competition Bureau. Couche-Tard will sell 46 Wilsons sites across Atlantic Canada.

    charlottefm.ca
• Week of 2022-08-19 to 2022-08-25

  • The Government of Canada has announced over $3.7M to Digital Nova Scotia for their Skills for Hire Atlantic project that will provide tech industry skills training for 1500 participants across the four Atlantic provinces.

    canada.ca

  • Fortescue Future Industries (Australia) has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Miawpukek First Nation for a feasibility study that would produce green fuels on N.L.’s southwest coast, from a process involving sea water and wind turbines.

    cbc.ca

  • World Energy GH2’s Port au Port wind project would see 164 wind turbines and a hydrogen plant built in nearby Stephenville by mid-2024 that would create 1,800 direct construction jobs, 300 direct operations jobs and 3,500 indirect jobs.

    cbc.ca

  • St. John's saw 13 cruise ships during this tourism season with 16 more scheduled to arrive in 2022, bringing about 37,000 passengers to the area. A trend towards longer trips on Europe-based lines, rather than shorter sails on US-based lines was noted.

    cbc.ca

  • According to Statistics Canada data, workers have shifted from jobs in the service and food industries to potentially more lucrative fields such as tech, finance and real estate. The tightening labour market has resulted in staff shortages as workers leave certain fields.

    cbc.ca

  • Statistics Canada reports that retail sales across the country increased by 1.1% in June. Gas stations led the way at 6.2%, while clothing stores and auto dealers' sales rose 1.8%. N.S.’s retail sales fell 0.3%, while retail sales in N.L. dropped 1.7%.

    charlottefm.ca
• Week of 2022-08-12 to 2022-08-18

  • Corner Brook has awarded a $10M contract to Marine Contractors for the total reconstruction of Mount Bernard Ave. that will include the replacement of storm sewer piping, water mains, manholes and catch basins, and new curb, gutter, sidewalk and asphalt.

    vocm.com

  • The Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) reports that 54% of business owners have revenue below pre-pandemic levels and more than one in six are considering going out of business. Issues include pandemic-related debt and supply chain issues.

    www.msn.com

  • A new report by Turner Drake states that demand for office space is down across most major Atlantic Canadian cities, except for Halifax. Many businesses are utilizing a hybrid office model that involves working from home and the office.

    thewave.ca

  • The Direct Sellers Association of Canada (DSA Canada) released research that shows that inflation has pushed almost two out of three Canadians to seek extra income. Those surveyed ranged in age from 18 to 44 and involved 1,500 participants.

    thewave.ca

  • With continuing shortages of physicians and nursing staff across the province, three emergency rooms (Bonavista, St. Lawrence and Whitbourne) in the Eastern Health district have experienced challenges staying open with 79 days of closures since July 1.

    cbc.ca

  • A shortage of teachers and certified substitutes to fill in for them, has emerged as a major disruption to Canadian classrooms during the pandemic and is expected to continue this fall. Certification delays for some Canadian teaching grads are one issue.

    cbc.ca

  • The N.L. Government has issued a tender for the construction of a new emergency department at the Health Sciences Centre in St. John’s that will include a psychiatric unit and a trauma unit. Construction is expected to begin later in 2022.

    vocm.com

  • Fortescue Future Industries (Australia) is looking at the Stephenville, St. George’s and Channel-Port aux Basques areas as the potential site for a green hydrogen production and export development project that could create up to 2,000 local jobs per year.

    saltwire.com

  • The N.L. government has announced 5 new seats for the Family Medicine Residency Program for International Medical Graduates at Memorial University in an effort to attract Canadian graduates of international medical schools to N.L. to finish their training.

    cbc.ca

  • Buckle’s Busing has been awarded a $2.6M contract to provide public transit in Corner Brook for the next five years and takes effect September 1.

    vocm.com

  • The Government of Canada announced $8.5M funding to Perennia Food and Agriculture Inc. (Kentville) to help N.S. and N.L. farmers adopt sustainable farming practices to build climate change resilience. A second intake is anticipated to open in October 2022.

    canada.ca
• Week of 2022-08-05 to 2022-08-11

  • The Provincial Government and the N.L. Medical Association announced a 1-year pilot program to help entice retired family physicians to return to the workforce by covering licensing, liability protection, and membership fees and a rural retention bonus.

    www.gov.nl.ca

  • A 5-year collective agreement representing postgraduate medical trainees has been signed between the Provincial Government and the Professional Association of Residents of N.L. that provides wage parity with maritime resident doctors retroactive to 2019.

    vocm.com

  • The provincial health department is examining the role physician assistants could play to relieve the worker shortage pressure in N.L.’s healthcare system. There are 900 in Canada, mostly in Ontario and Manitoba, but they are not currently regulated in N.L.

    cbc.ca

  • The Port of Argentia has signed a $65M deal to support the development of clean energy wind projects in the Northeastern U.S. that will involve contracts for construction, security and operations companies that will initially create about 20 regional jobs.

    cbc.ca
• Week of 2022-07-29 to 2022-08-04

  • The Atlantic Provinces Trucking Association states that the industry is still faced with a lot of challenges. A lack of truckers, high fuel costs, supply issues with trucking equipment, and COVID-19 restrictions are all creating stress in the industry.

    charlottefm.ca

  • The Canadian Federation of Independent Business reports that small business confidence has fallen for the fourth month in a row. Businesses are faced with rising costs and wages, with 20% planning to hire in the next three months and 17% look to layoff staff.

    charlottefm.ca

  • The City of St. John’s and its municipal workers have reached a tentative agreement. The local chapter of the union represents around 400 workers.

    vocm.com

  • The provincial and federal governments have announced $136M funding for Bell Canada to bring high-speed internet service to five communities in Labrador including Charlottetown, Lodge Bay, Mary’s Harbour, Port Hope-Simpson, and Red Bay.

    vocm.com

  • The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador has reached a tentative agreement with the NL Association of Public and Private Employees (NAPE) for 16 collective agreements impacting 21,000 members across the province.

    www.gov.nl.ca

  • Changes to the provincial Skills Development Program for September 2022 are expected to result in an additional $16M in increased benefits to assist adult learners. Supported training includes post-secondary and Adult Basic Education/literacy programming.

    www.gov.nl.ca

  • Amid hundreds of vacant nursing positions, N.L. is rolling out a suite of short-term incentives to retain nurses that include retention bonuses, enhanced overtime, mental health supports, consideration of child-care options and more.

    cbc.ca
• Week of 2022-07-22 to 2022-07-28

  • The Department of Transportation and Infrastructure has awarded a contract for $550k to Bursey Excavating and Development for the remediation of the new adult correctional facility that will replace Her Majesty’s Penitentiary in St. John’s.

    vocm.com

  • International Union of Elevator Constructors Local 125-A workers who build and repair elevators and escalators in NL are currently on strike. The latest 5-year agreement expired in April and includes just over 20 workers.

    cbc.ca

  • N.L. is opening up all Crown lands for potential wind energy development projects with a call for land development closing Oct. 1 and multiple companies showing interest. Jobs primarily occur in the planning, development and construction phase.

    cbc.ca

  • There are 600 nursing vacancies currently estimated across NL with another 900 nurses eligible to retire in 2022 with insufficient supply of nursing school graduates. The shortage has lead to increased use of travel nurses that work for private companies.

    cbc.ca
• Week of 2022-07-15 to 2022-07-21

  • World Energy GH2 submitted a plan to the Dept. of Environment and Climate Change to build 164 wind turbines in the Port au Port Peninsula in phase 1 and looking at 2 additional sites in western NL to improve feasibility that would create hundreds of jobs.

    cbc.ca

  • Newfoundland Power and NL Hydro have announced 19 new charging sites for electric vehicles that will be placed all across the province including the west coast, northern peninsula, central, burin peninsula, and rural Avalon, as well as Labrador.

    vocm.com

  • The NL Government’s benefits agreement with Marathon Gold (Valentine Gold Project) establishes provincial project offices and gives NL residents and suppliers first consideration for employment and procurement and expects to annually employ 725 persons.

    www.gov.nl.ca

  • The Atlantic Provinces Economic Council have released new research that shows Indigenous youth employment outcomes have improved in recent years, but still lag non-Indigenous youth and closing this gap is key to easing the region's labour shortage.

    citynews.ca

  • The federal government has announced $340k to improve services for Atlantic Canada LGBTQ tourists via a market-readiness program that includes staff inclusion training, destination auditing to ensure inclusivity and a business certification program.

    cbc.ca
• Week of 2022-07-08 to 2022-07-14

  • Memorial University is launching 3 new 1-year graduate programs in September 2022 in software engineering, AI, and data science to help the growing NL tech sector, which includes over 200 companies/6,500 workers, as it experiences a labour shortage.

    cbc.ca

  • The College of the North Atlantic now provides direct entry to graduates of Eastern Academy’s Information Systems Specialists program to enter the 3rd year of their new Bachelor of Applied Information Technology - Systems and Network Cybersecurity degree.

    vocm.com

  • The continuing NL labour shortage has been most noticeable in the service industry, but is also affecting other sectors from government to manufacturing. Factors include an aging population and a slowdown in immigration including processing backlogs.

    vocm.com

  • The Government of Canada announced over $27M in community infrastructure funding from all three levels of government for 3 Avalon Peninsula projects in St. John’s, Petty Harbour-Maddox Cove, and other surrounding communities.

    canada.ca

  • A pandemic-driven lifeguard shortage has emerged globally that is being felt in NL where facilities have closed or reduced hours due to the lack of availability of lifeguards caused by people moving on to other work and reduced training volumes.

    vocm.com
• Week of 2022-07-01 to 2022-07-07

  • Municipal workers in the city of Mount Pearl are on strike. CUPE Local 2099 indicate that this impacts over 200 employees that work in road maintenance, water and sewage, engineering, recreation services, administration and other areas.

    cbc.ca

  • The NL government has announced $141k in support of a number of economic development projects in Labrador that include the Atsanik and Amaguk Hotels ($46k), Nunacor ($42k), Big Land Fishing Lodge ($27k) and the Labrador West Chamber of Commerce ($21k)

    vocm.com

  • The federal Dept. of Fisheries and Oceans has announced a 1-year ban on commercial cod fishing in the northern Gulf of St. Lawrence due to low stocks. The recreational fishery along with the food, social and ceremonial fisheries will continue.

    cbc.ca

  • The Jag Hotel (St. John’s) extension is expected to be completed by 2023 and work is well underway after the project delays during the pandemic. The extension will include a 1500-person concert space, lap pool, gymnasium and 90 additional hotel rooms.

    vocm.com

  • Construction has begun on the renovation and extension of the Labrador Correctional Centre in Happy Valley-Goose Bay. The $8.2M contract was awarded to Moss Development Corporation last November and renovations are expected to be completed by 2024.

    vocm.com
• Week of 2022-06-24 to 2022-06-30

  • NL’s continued population growth trend is primarily fueled by immigration, with migration from other parts of Canada also contributing. Statistics Canada reported the 5th consecutive quarterly rise, with a 422 person increase from January 1 to April 1, 2022.

    www.gov.nl.ca

  • Air Canada is reducing its summer schedule by 154 flights daily as they deal with increased demand for travel that is causing turmoil at airports nationally. The aviation industry has cited a shortage of federal security and customs officers.

    cbc.ca

  • Stephenville International Airport has officially been acquired by the Dymond Group of Companies. In addition to working to restore scheduled passenger service, they plan to manufacture cargo drones in a deal that is expected to create 5,000 jobs.

    cbc.ca
• Week of 2022-06-17 to 2022-06-23

  • Current vacancies for clinical psychology positions include Eastern Health (25), Western Health (7), Central Health (5) and Labrador-Grenfell Health (2) as specialists continue to leave their jobs with the health authorities for private practice.

    cbc.ca

  • A $4.5M provincial contract has been awarded to Nortech Construction to complete improvements along Route 430 on the Great Northern Peninsula that will see replacement of culverts, ditch clearing and paving.

    vocm.com

  • An Angus Reid survey found that 54% of older Canadians have delayed retirement due to high inflation and rising cost of living expenses. The survey also found that 63% were worried that they could never retire and 71% are concerned that they could run out of money after retiring.

    Daily Gleaner

  • Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) will allow tuna fishermen in Atlantic Canada to catch up to 20 mackerel a day to use as live bait, despite the recent moratorium imposed. It will apply to charters and commercial tuna fishing that use rod and reel.

    cbc.ca

  • The Government of Canada has announced an investment of $3.3M through the Jobs and Growth Fund for Tacora Resources Incorporated. The money will be used to improve productivity and create jobs at its iron ore processing plant in Wabush.

    canada.ca

  • The NL Liquor Corp. reported licensed cannabis retail sales of $15.2M in the 4th quarter of fiscal 2022, an 8.5% increase over the same period in 2021. Total retail cannabis sales for the 2022 fiscal year increased by 17.2% over the previous year to $61M.

    vocm.com

  • Eastern Health has abandoned its pre-doctoral clinical psychology residency program for the 2022-23 year due to a lack of psychology supervisory staff needed as instructors. There were 6 resignations of supervisory staff in the 2020-21 year.

    cbc.ca
• Week of 2022-06-10 to 2022-06-16

  • The NL Oil and Gas Corporation (OilCo) says 3 or 4 more producing oilfields could be developed in offshore NL over the next 10 years following the controversial federal government approval of Bay du Nord in April.

    cbc.ca

  • British energy giant BP is acquiring Calgary-based Cenovus's 35% stake in the undeveloped Bay du Nord project in a transaction expected to close before year end and has opened a St. John's office. BP currently holds 6 offshore exploration licenses in NL.

    cbc.ca

  • Academy Canada Corner Brook is launching a new federally funded welding program with a paid work term to encourage newcomers, older workers, unemployed youths, women, indigenous peoples and those with disabilities to get into the welding trade.

    vocm.com

  • A new social enterprise, the Great Northern Peninsula Community Place (Port au Choix) opened in April with a visiting physiotherapist and foot care clinician, and a permanent massage therapist with plans for a community kitchen and fitness centre.

    cbc.ca

  • NL’s first midwifery clinic opened in Gander in early 2020 as a pilot to help kick-start the profession. Since then services haven't expanded while the number of practising midwives has dropped from 4 to 2. The Department of Health is actively recruiting.

    cbc.ca

  • The St. John’s International Airport has welcomed its latest carrier, the ultra-low-cost Swoop airlines with a regular direct flight between St. John’s and Hamilton. They are hopeful the carrier will consider extending the 3-month season for the route.

    vocm.com
• Week of 2022-06-03 to 2022-06-09

  • The latest poll by the NL Medical Association indicates that over 125k people (24% of the population) in NL are without a family doctor, which is up 5 percentage points from last summer. The problem is particularly severe in central Newfoundland.

    cbc.ca

  • The NLC reported a 17.2% increase in cannabis sales for the fiscal year ending in April 2022 over 2021 with total sales of $61M. The NLC lists over 800 products from 27 suppliers and the number of licenced cannabis retailers increased by two to 39.

    vocm.com

  • St. John’s City Council recently passed a proposal for the installation of 26 Level 2 electrical vehicle charging stations in the city, 4 of which will be installed at the new Mews Recreational Centre in Mundy Pond, now under construction.

    vocm.com

  • In September 2023, the Provincial Government will add 5 seats for NL residents to Memorial University’s Undergraduate Medical Education Program. 80 students annually (including 3 Indigenous student seats) are accepted annually into the 4-year program.

    www.gov.nl.ca

  • A report issued by the Parliamentary Budget Officer says that while inflation has more than doubled the increase in average hourly wages in the past year, income grew faster than inflation prior to the pandemic. In May inflation was at 6.8%, while the average wage increase was 3.3%.

    Moncton Times & Transcript

  • Experts state that 40% of work in Canada can be done remotely, while the other 60% are required to work on-site. Remote workers tend to be knowledge-based such as accountants, lawyers and tech workers. Recruiting remote workers allows for a bigger talent pool.

    cp24.com

  • Pattern Energy (US-based) has signed a lease option for land at the Port of Argentia and plans to carry out a feasibility study on developing a wind energy farm, a hydrogen electrolysis plant and storage facility, and related green fuels infrastructure.

    cbc.ca

  • Community and municipal organizations in Labrador West are struggling to compete with the region's mines to hire students for their annual summer jobs. This is due to a combination of lower wages and a small labour pool coupled with a housing shortage.

    cbc.ca
• Week of 2022-05-27 to 2022-06-02

  • The NL Government has announced the restructuring of its agreement with West White Rose partners to restart the natural gas project in Argentia. It will create about 250 permanent platform jobs and create or maintain up to 1,500 more direct/indirect jobs.

    www.gov.nl.ca

  • St. John’s 2022 Economic Outlook shows expected growth as the pandemic recovery continues, with a forecasted 6.7% increase in housing starts and a 4.2% increase in retail growth. GDP, excluding oil and gas, is also expected to rise by about 1.5%.

    vocm.com

  • The Government of Canada has announced a $325k investment from ACOA’s Business Development Program for Hospitality NL to deliver strategic initiatives to help tourism operators attract and safely serve visitors as the sector recovers from the pandemic.

    canada.ca

  • DRL Coach Lines (passenger bus company) is struggling with high fuel prices and pandemic losses with ridership levels down to about 10-12% of normal ridership. Over the last 15 years, ridership has been down between 50-60%.

    cbc.ca

  • The NL government announced that 600 additional regulated child-care spaces will open up in the province this fall, alongside a new pre-kindergarten early learning pilot program that will launch in 35 schools in 28 communities.

    cbc.ca

  • The NL Government is raising the minimum wage in 3 increments to $15/hour by 2023 alongside a transitional support program for small employers. The current minimum wage of $13.20 will rise to $13.70 on Oct. 1, $14.50 on April 1 and $15 on Oct. 1, 2023.

    cbc.ca

  • As of June 1, NL will end the requirement that certain public and private sector employees be vaccinated against COVID-19. The decision was based on the low number of COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations in the province.

    citynews.ca

  • Volcano Bakery celebrated the grand opening of its new retail bakery and café on the Conception Bay Highway in Conception Bay South.

    vocm.com

  • Farrell’s Excavating ($4.3M) and Municipal Construction Ltd. ($4.1M) have been awarded contracts for highway repaving work on the southern Avalon Peninsula.

    vocm.com

  • The federal government has announced almost $247M to help create over 25,000 new apprenticeship positions in the skilled trades across Canada through 13 programs to help small and medium-sized employers offer apprenticeship training.

    citynews.ca
• Week of 2022-05-20 to 2022-05-26

  • Coady Construction & Excavating was awarded an $8M contract to replace Rushy Pond Bridge on the Trans Canada Highway while JCL Investments received a $2.4M contract to replace the Aspen Brook Bridge. Both projects are near Grand Falls-Windsor.

    vocm.com

  • Canada’s Ocean Supercluster has developed the Indigenous Career Pivot Program, a new program designed to provide Indigenous people with 12-month employment placements with the goal of helping them pivot careers to the ocean economy.

    vocm.com

  • St. Mary's Bay Fisheries and Dandy Dan's Fish Market (Argentia) were awarded 2022 snow crab processing licences, while plants in Ramea, Bay Roberts, Codroy and O'Donnells were denied licences. Bay Roberts Seafoods may close as a result (70 employees).

    cbc.ca

  • Former head of Clearwater Seafoods, John Risley, has entered into an agreement with First Nations partners to buy the Port of Stephenville and is eyeing the potential of converting wind on NL's western coast into hydrogen to ship around the world.

    cbc.ca

  • The town of Labrador City has cancelled its full-day summer program for 2022 due to a student labour shortage where they were unable to fulfill the needed staff complement. This was despite extending the application deadline and extending the age group.

    vocm.com

  • According to Unifor, a contract flip for workers at Vale's nickel processing plant (Long Harbour) has put over 150 jobs in jeopardy. The workers were previously employed by Pennecon Maintenance Services but now fall under DF Barnes Industrial.

    cbc.ca
• Week of 2022-05-13 to 2022-05-19

  • A tug-of-war is going on in N.L. in the province's snow crab processing industry. The community of St. Mary's want to process snow crab at their plant, while current crab processing facilities in Bonavista and St. Lawrence say another plant could impact jobs in their community.

    Telegram

  • The restaurant industry continues to face widespread staffing shortages and rising costs across the country along as they reduce hours and condense menus to cope. The shortage is most acute in kitchens for red seal chefs, sous-chefs and line cooks.

    cbc.ca

  • Two N.L. driving instructor companies say that they have recently been grouped in with negligent drivers in terms of insurance, costing roughly $2,000 more per car. Coupled with rising gas prices, they will have to raise their customer rates.

    cbc.ca

  • High feed and diesel prices raising the cost of business are making it harder for many N.L. farmers to stay in the agriculture industry. Feed has gone up 35% in the last week while feed additives and fertilizer are up 50% and 85% respectively.

    cbc.ca

  • The federal and provincial governments will invest $787K towards the construction of a four-unit, affordable residential building on Mesher Street, Happy Valley-Goose Bay. The building will be built by Churchill Construction Ltd.

    thebusinesspost.ca
• Week of 2022-05-06 to 2022-05-12

  • The Atlantic Provinces Trucking Association says rising diesel prices is creating financial stress in the trucking industry. Diesel has increased by almost 75 cents per litre and truckers will fill up to 3-4 times a week and often wait 30 days to get paid.

    thewave.ca

  • Lynx Air is adding more flights in and out of St. John’s International Airport and by July 14 will be operating 14 flights per week. The Airport Authority says new carriers like Lynx and Flare are great news for the local tourism industry.

    vocm.com

  • The Government of Canada announced $357.5k in funding for two projects in Western N.L.: Gale's Septic Cleaning Ltd. ($200k) to upgrade its wastewater treatment facility and 3 T's Ltd. ($157.5k) to enhance its live lobster storage.

    canada.ca

  • The Government of Canada announced $805k funding to NLHydro to help support the installation of up to 113 EV chargers across the province with refunds of up to 50% for installation costs.

    canada.ca

  • Vale Canada has signed a supply deal with Tesla to provide Voisey's Bay nickel for electric car batteries. They plan to increase the production share to 30-40% as they expand and continue to pivot to the EV sector as global demand increases.

    cbc.ca

  • Staff shortages are causing hospital diversions in rural N.L. Ambulances are now directed to Grand Falls-Windsor instead of Harbour Breton, making trips 6 times as long. This lessens patients’ chance of survival and is causing burnout in paramedics.

    cbc.ca

  • Robert Half, a talent and business consulting firm, released a report which found that 38% of Canadian workers surveyed are more burned out than a year ago. Those most likely to report burnout were millennials, women, and newer employees (2-4 years).

    charlottefm.ca

  • Atlantic Canada leads the rest of Canada in job gains, as employment levels have fallen off across the rest of Canada. NS saw an increase of 5,900 jobs and N.L. had an extra 2,500 jobs in April while the unemployment rate in NS fell to 6.0% and NL dropped to 10.8%.

    charlottefm.ca

  • A hybrid work study from Cisco reports that most Canadians who are working a hybrid home/office arrangement are happier, healthier, richer, and more productive. Almost 75% see a better work-life balance and have saved on average $11K due to less commuting.

    Daily Gleaner