Manitoba Labour Market Bulletin

June 2011

Manitoba Labour Market Bulletin – June 2011 (PDF version, 112 kb)

The Labour Market Bulletin is produced monthly by economists and labour market analysts employed by Service Canada in the Western Canada and Territories Region.

Content is intended for personal and public non-commercial use.

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Editor, Labour Market Bulletin
Service Canada–Western Canada and Territories Region
Labour Market Information Services
Western Canada and Territories Region
Service Canada
266 Graham Avenue
Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3C 0K3

Province-wide

Apprenticeship training now online: Manitobans seeking apprentice training will soon have the option of studying online. The 2011-2012 online training programs will include 12 designated trades as well as core common subjects. The ability to train online will give more people in rural and northern Manitoba access to apprenticeship training programs, while living and working closer to family. Having fewer people leave rural communities will increase the number of skilled workers and have a positive impact on local economies.

Key Source: Province of Manitoba News Release, April 28, 2011

Winnipeg

Airport’s cargo volume rises: The James Richardson International Airport increased its cargo volume by 8.5% to 173,000 tonnes of cargo in 2010. The Airport’s growth is attributed to its core cargo business in express and postal traffic. The heavy freight category also experienced an increase. The Airport’s policy of operating 24 hours a day has attracted overnight courier and cargo traffic. Cargo traffic volumes are often seen as a leading indicator of the state of the local economy and increases can create jobs. If Centreport Canada, located west of the Airport, is successful in creating a hub for the distribution of goods, cargo will become an even larger portion of the airport’s operations.

Key Source: Winnipeg Free Press, May 3, 2011

Misericordia Health Centre new eye care centre: Construction of a new $43 million two-storey facility at the Misericordia Health Centre has begun. A new Eye Care Centre of Excellence, a Diagnostic Centre and PRIME (Program of Integrated Managed-care of the Elderly) program will be located at the facility. It is also expected to be the future home of the University of Manitoba’s ophthalmology residency program. The provincial government will contribute $38 million in funding for renovations and construction. An additional $5 million will come from the Misericordia Health Care Foundation. The project is scheduled to be completed by the fall of 2013 and will create employment for skilled tradespersons during the construction phase.

Key Source: Winnipeg Free Press, May 5, 2011

Two new hotel projects for the south end of the city: A $15 million expansion and redevelopment project is underway at the Dakota Hotel located in the St. Vital area. Construction is expected to be complete by the summer of 2012. As well, construction of a hotel and condominium complex will begin on property in St. Norbert in the summer of 2012. Construction of the $15 million complex will take between 12 and 19 months to complete. There has been a recent surge in hotel construction, which will increase the demand for construction trade workers in an already tight labour market for skilled workers.

Key Source: Winnipeg Free Press, May 6, 2011

University of Winnipeg adding more faculty positions: The University of Winnipeg will hire 31 tenure-track faculty members this fall. This includes seven new positions and 14 existing positions that had been left vacant through retirement or other turnovers. In addition, ten professor positions will be created.

Key Source: Winnipeg Free Press, May 10, 2011

Flexible packaging company closing its Winnipeg plant: Sonoco, a large diversified global packaging firm, announced plans to close its flexible packaging plant by the end of August 2011. More than 100 employees will be out of work. Approximately 80 employees worked as machine operators or in the plant’s warehouse, while the remainder worked in administration and management positions. Work that was done in Winnipeg will be transferred to six of Sonoco’s other flexible packaging plants in North America. A reduction in business and the need to consolidate operations were cited as reasons for the plant closure.

Key Source: Winnipeg Free Press, May 13, 2011

Printing plant closing in Winnipeg: Transcontinental Inc. is closing its Sport Graphics digital printing facility in Winnipeg and transferring production to Toronto by the end of this year. Forty employees are affected by the closure, 20 were given immediate notice, while another 20 positions will be phased out between now and the end of the year. Sport Graphics is the third Winnipeg printing shop to close its doors in 2011. The company states the closure is a result of technological advances and increased competition, which has led to an industry-wide consolidation of printing operations in Canada.

Key Source: Winnipeg Free Press, May 26, 2011

National Bank acquires Wellington West: National Bank of Canada has acquired Winnipeg-based wealth-management brokerage company Wellington West Holdings Inc. for $333 million. Wellington West has more than 50 offices across the country and employs about 125 people at its head office in Winnipeg. The company did not indicate how many jobs will be affected by the acquisition, but some positions will be eliminated, while others may be transferred to National Bank’s head office in Montreal.

Key Source: Winnipeg Free Press, May 27, 2011

Northern Manitoba

Thompson – Construction begins on University College of the North campus: Construction has started on the $82 million expansion project at the University College of the North in Thompson. The 88,000 square foot expansion will provide more opportunities for northern residents to access post-secondary education and will increase enrolment capacity from 342 to 510 students. Local workers will be used whenever possible. Up to 120 workers are expected to be on the site at any given time. Construction on the state-of-the-art facility is scheduled to be complete in late 2013.

Key Source: Province of Manitoba News Release, April 29, 2011

Snow Lake – Cutting-edge bioleaching plant for Snow Lake: BacTech Environmental Corp. plans to open a cutting-edge processing plant in Snow Lake in late 2012. It will be the first commercial bioleach facility in North America. The company will use a bioleach process to remediate and extract gold from decades-old mine tailings. The process employs naturally occurring bacteria, harmless both to humans and to the environment, to oxidize the sulphide materials left behind after years of mining. It also recovers precious and base metals from tailings, which at the Snow Lake mine may contain as much as US $122 million worth of gold. Construction of the plant is anticipated to begin in the summer of 2012. Once operational, the plant will employ 15 employees for its 24-hour schedule. The anticipated life of the project is approximately six to seven years.

Key Source: Flin Flon Reminder, May 2, 2011

Wabowden – Work at Bucko Lake Mine restarts: Operations restarted at Crowflight's Bucko Lake nickel mine near Wabowden on April 22, 2011, after being temporarily shutdown since last October. The company had been beset by production problems since it opened in 2008. There are 100 workers on the site and more are expected to be hired soon. Last October, there were approximately 150 workers on site, with half coming from the local area.

Key Source: Winnipeg Free Press, April 26, 2011, and March 18, 2011

Northern Communities – New day care spaces for the north: As part of the provincial government’s plans to provide 170 day care spaces across northern Manitoba, The Pas will be allocated 22 new day care spaces, while Gillam and Thompson will be provided 31and 85 respectively. The additional day care spaces will provide new employment opportunities for early childhood educators and will help reduce lengthy child care waiting lists.

Key Source: Opasquia Times, April 29, 2011

Swan River – Housing project will create jobs: Construction of a new 24-unit affordable housing project in Swan River is to begin in the fall of 2011. The complex is being developed and managed by the Swan River Friendship Centre Housing Corporation and will replace Crestview Courts, a 16-unit housing complex that recently burned down. Construction should be completed in the fall of 2012. The construction will generate new jobs and support local businesses in the Swan River area.

Key Source: Swan Valley Star and Times, May 17, 2011

Lac du Bonnet – Tantalum mining to resume: Cabot Corporation announced its intention to resume the mining of tantalum at its TANCO Mine near Whiteshell Provincial Park. The mine start up will bring 37 jobs back to the region. Production had been suspended in 2009; however, the global market for tantalum has since recovered. Tantalum powder, a high-performance metal powder is most commonly used in electronics capacitors. The mine was first operational in 1929 and has opened and closed a number of times since then.

Key Source: Lac du Bonnet Leader, May 15, 2011

Flin Flon – Gold exploration: St. Eugene Mining Corporation will begin a 4,000-metre diamond drilling campaign in early June at its Tartan Lake property, located 12 kilometres north of Flin Flon. St. Eugene previously stated its desire to reopen the former gold mine by late 2011. The mine was last active in the late 1980’s.

Key source: Flin Flon Reminder, May 30, 2011

Southern Manitoba

Corral/Paddock shopping center reopens: The City of Brandon recently announced a three-phase re-entry process to reopen evacuated areas along the Assiniboine River starting with the Corral shopping centre on Tuesday, May 24, 2011. There are approximately 20 businesses, including Wal-Mart, Michaels and Montana's Bar & Grill, that had been closed since May 12 as a precaution due to high water levels. These three businesses alone had a combined total of 425 employees. There are still 55 closed businesses and 1,387 evacuated residents from the south side of the river. The estimated cost of the flood to the City of Brandon for policing, administration, dike construction and maintenance is $20 million.

Key Source: City of Brandon Press Release, May 18, 2011, and May 24, 2011

Neepawa – Hog processing plant has major economic impact: Hylife Foods International tripled its Neepawa plant's processing capacity with the purchase of Springhill Farms in 2008. Hylife’s current $15-million expansion project will further increase the plant’s capacity by an additional 1.4 million hogs in 2012. The increase will add an estimated 250 employees to Hylife’s current work force of 550. Hylife’s attraction of workers from the Philippines, Korea, and Ukraine has helped to increase the population of Neepawa by 25% (4,000 residents) since 2008.

Key Source: Winnipeg Free Press, April 23, 2011

Brandon receives funding to improve flood defenses: The provincial government will provide approximately $20 million in funding for future flood protection in Brandon. The money will be paid out over four years and will ensure that Brandon is adequately protected against future floods. Last month, 1,400 people had to be evacuated from their homes, and more than 1,000 people were laid off when 75 businesses in the city were forced to close their doors due to flooding. All businesses have since re-opened, and all evacuees have returned to their homes.

Key Source: Brandon Sun, May 25, 2011, and May 27, 2011

Selkirk Area

Interlake – First Nations on Lake Manitoba experience chronic flooding: The federal government announced that it will work closely with the province on long-term solutions for the four interlake First Nations that have been impacted by chronic flooding. Lake St. Marten, Little Saskatchewan, Pinaymootaang and Dauphin River will receive help with flood mitigation, compensation, repair and replacement of homes. Furthermore, both levels of government will share costs for a study to determine whether Lake St. Marten is viable at its present location.

Key Source: Winnipeg Free Press, May 26, 2011