Both the Senate and the House of Commons will resume sitting on Monday, Sept. 17.
Monday, Sept. 10:
- Treasury Board President Tony Clement announced Canada’s participation in a pilot virtual career fair with the Institute on Governance, hosted on Monster.ca. The project is designed to connect private sector organizations with laid off federal employees in a confidential way.
- Labour Minister Lisa Raitt co-hosted an annual meeting of federal, provincial and territorial labour ministers in Toronto, where they discussed emerging labour issues and shared best practices. Ms. Raitt restated the government’s commitment to job creation and economic growth.
Tuesday, Sept. 11:
- International Trade Minister Ed Fast released Canada’s State of Trade: Trade and Investment Update 2012, an annual overview of Canada’s international trade and investment. This year’s edition placed particular emphasis on the importance of international trade for Canadian jobs. It found one in five Canadian jobs is linked to exports, and that the total value of Canadian trade, both exports and imports, was equivalent to about 63 percent of Canadian GDP in 2011.
- The Canada Revenue Agency announced prescribed annual interest rates that will apply to any amounts owed to the CRA and to any amounts the CRA owes to individuals and corporations. Calculated quarterly, these rates are in effect from Oct. 1 to Dec. 31, 2012 and remain unchanged from the previous quarter.
- Statistics Canada released July 2012 figures for Canadian international merchandise trade. Exports decreased 3.4 per cent and imports were also down 2.2 per cent during the month. Canada’s trade deficit increased to $2.3 billion in July from $1.9 billion in June.
Wednesday, Sept. 12:
- Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird concluded his first official visit to India, highlighting Canada’s commitment to the Canada-India comprehensive economic partnership agreement
- Labour Minister Lisa Raitt congratulated Candu Energy Inc. and the Society of Professional Engineers and Associates on ratifying a new collective agreement. The new agreement is effective until Dec. 31, 2016, and covers 675 scientific and engineering employees, as well as 230 technicians and technologists.
- Minister of State (Small Business and Tourism) Maxime Bernier announced federal funding to help Granit National Inc. of Saint-Éphrem-de-Beauce, QC, purchase cutting-edge equipment. The $87,500 in repayable funding comes through the Canada Economic Development’s Temporary Initiative for the Strengthening of Quebec’s Forest Economies.
Thursday, Sept. 13:
- Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced the creation of the priorities and planning sub-committee on government administration as part of Budget 2012 commitments to improve services to Canadians and improve public service productivity. The sub-committee’s mandate is to consider proposals on government-wide efficiency improvements.
- Transport Minister Denis Lebel announced federal funding to help the Laval Technopole International Business Centre assist Laval’s SMEs in boosting their export capabilities. The $516,000 non-repayable contribution comes courtesy of Canada Economic Development’s Business and Regional Growth program.
- Statistics Canada reported that Canadian industries operated at 81 per cent of their production capacity during second quarter 2012, an increase of 0.5 percentage points from first quarter 2012.
- Statistics Canada also released the New Housing Price Index for July 2012, which rose 0.1 per cent after a 0.2 per cent increase in June.
Friday, Sept. 14:
- The Canada Employment Insurance Commission announced that the maximum insurable earnings for 2013 will increase from $45,900 to $47,400. Also, for self-employed individuals who have opted into the EI program, the annual earnings required to qualify for special benefits will increase from $6,222 to $6,342 on Jan. 1, 2013.
- Minister of Public Works and Government Services Rona Ambrose met with local business leaders, corporate executives and community decision-makers in Toronto to discuss ways to promote women's leadership and participation on boards of directors.
- Statistics Canada released the results of it July 2012 monthly survey of manufacturing. Manufacturing sales fell 1.5 per cent, down to $48.3 billion in July for the third decrease in five months.
Eye on the Hill is prepared by Ottawa-based government relations and communications firm Flagship Solutions.
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