A review of some hirings and dismissals in Canada in June 2024
OC Transpo held its second job fair at Greenboro park-and-ride in Ottawa to address ongoing workforce shortages, particularly in drivers, leading to service disruptions. The agency aims to recruit hundreds, including 450 bus operators, 36 Para Transpo operators, and 48 rail network trainees. Additionally, 36 new maintenance trainees are planned to ensure transit vehicle readiness. Transit commission chair Glen Gower highlighted the need for a reliable team of drivers and sufficient maintenance staff to improve bus reliability. Despite meeting recruitment targets last year, OC Transpo faces challenges in retaining workers, similar to many industries. Efforts are underway to understand and address operator concerns to improve retention rates.
Ontario will hire 200 additional correctional staff to address the surge in inmates, according to Solicitor General Michael Kerzner. Over the past 18 months, the jail population has spiked, with provincial facilities operating at 113% capacity. intermittent detention centres in Toronto and London will be reopened to add 430 beds by 2026.
To further alleviate overcrowding, the province will also add beds at Quinte Detention Centre and Brockville Correctional Complex. Ontario’s efforts also include constructing a new 345-bed jail in Thunder Bay and planning a 235-bed facility in eastern Ontario, though the latter faces local opposition.
Starting July 1, 2024, in Ontario, amendments to the Employment Standards Act, 2000 (ESA) will require temporary help agencies (THAs) and recruiters to hold licenses to operate. Organizations that frequently use THAs to address short-staffing (amongst them, Healthcare facilities working with agency nurses for example) should carefully comply with new obligations to avoid penalties.
Global News has laid off nearly three dozen employees across Alberta, British Columbia, and Ontario this week, citing “the current economic and regulatory reality” for media organizations. Twenty-five positions were cut in Western Canada: 13 in Calgary, 8 in Edmonton, 1 in Vancouver, and 3 in Lethbridge. In addition, three journalists were laid off in Global’s Ottawa bureau, and seven in Toronto, according to Unifor.
Randy Kitt, Unifor’s director of media, expressed dismay, noting the long tenure and professionalism of the affected journalists and highlighting the need for support for journalism.
Global News spokesperson Anna Arnone stated the layoffs are part of a broader efficiency review across Corus. This comes after Corus lost Warner Bros. Discovery rights to Rogers. Corus continues to cut costs, having reduced expenses by 13% last quarter.
The long-promised Vaudreuil-Soulanges hospital is set to open in 2026, but it urgently needs staff and volunteers. A major recruitment campaign is underway to fill over 4,800 positions, including employees, managers, doctors, and volunteers, according to the regional health authority.
Despite the hospital still being under construction, patients are expected to arrive in two years, raising concerns about staffing. Université de Montréal professor Regis Blais highlights the challenge, noting the ongoing healthcare system issues and staffing shortages. “It will be difficult to recruit new staff unless we look to other jurisdictions or countries,” Blais said.
The CISSS de la Montérégie-Ouest acknowledges the difficulty and has already begun extraordinary measures, including international recruitment. The region already faces a shortage of approximately 1,600 employees, making this recruitment effort particularly challenging.