Creation of CFC Dolmen
Dolmen Human Capital and CFC Consulting Group have merged to create the largest private management and human resources consulting firm in Quebec. CFC Dolmen, the new entity’s name, serves mainly large companies likes Hydro-Québec, Bombardier, Rio Tinto Alcan and the Société des alcools du Québec. The new service offering covers the following fields of expertise: strategy and consulting, competency development, assessment and measurement, recruitment and coaching.
CFC Dolmen is now held by 18 shareholders and has some 100 employees. The group plans to expand outside Quebec in around five years, when annual sales will have reached $25 million.
Stephen Harper confirms promise of tax credits for small business
As part of the election campaign, Harper is maintaining the promise of the latest federal budget, i.e. hiring credits for small businesses. This tax break concerns 525,000 Canadian employers. To defray the cost of hiring, small businesses would receive a one-time credit of up to $1,000 against increases in 2011 EI premiums over those paid in 2010. While the main goal of the measure is to maintain jobs and encourage job creation, companies will not be required to hire new employees, but simply provide proof of increased EI premiums.
Microsoft and Google ranked best places to work in Canada
Competing against 230 companies, Microsoft Canada and Google Canada scored top spots on the Best Workplaces in Canada list by the Great Place to Work Institute. Microsoft ranked first in the employers with more than 1,000 employees, and Google ranked first in the employers with between 50 and 999 employees.
The competition process is based on the following: two-thirds of the total score comes from an open survey completed by more than 50,000 employees across the country, with the rest coming from an in-depth review of the organization's culture, including an evaluation of human resources policies and procedures. Together, both criteria provide crucial data relative to the five trust-building dimensions of a great place to work: credibility, respect, fairness, pride and camaraderie.
Saskatchewan filling shortage of labour through immigration
The Saskatchewan government has decided to facilitate the hiring of skilled foreign workers to meet the labour needs of its businesses. To do so, it has overhauled the immigrant section of its website, which now includes the steps to take and forms to be filled out on the very same page. The site also features a complete information guide on recruiting and maintaining skilled foreign workers in the province’s companies. In 2011, Saskatchewan extended the number of immigration quotas from 3,500 to 4,100 via the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SNIP).
Monster Canada Virtual Career Fair
The Monster Virtual Career Fair ran from April 11 to 17. Accessible online 24/7, the event featured some 15 companies operating in Canada in a variety of sectors including commerce, real estate, new technologies, finance, auditing and consulting. Candidates could apply directly to job ads, chat with the recruiters that interested them or contact them via a Skype video call. In addition, the companies all had virtual stands for candidates to visit. The latest event of this type, for technology jobs in the U.K. and Ireland, was held in November 2010.The Monster Virtual Career Fair ran from April 11 to 17.