Labour Market Monitor - Cape Breton
November 2011
The Labour Market Monitor is a monthly report providing a summary of labour market news and events for the Cape Breton Economic Region of Nova Scotia. The Cape Breton Region includes Cape Breton, Inverness, Richmond and Victoria counties.
General Events
The Province of Nova Scotia released its Nova Scotia Workforce Strategy on November 22, as part of its JobsHere plan to grow the economy. The Workforce Strategy includes increases in the amount of on-the-job training and skill development. It will expand adult learning and online learning, while offering programs to the unemployed or underemployed to improve their skills. Increases in co-op, internship and apprenticeship programs are also part of the strategy. In addition, the plan targets under-represented groups in the workforce. Chronicle Herald, November 23
Labour Market News by Industry
Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction
Georgia Pacific Corp. announced layoffs at its gypsum mine sites at Melford and Sugarcamp in Inverness County. A layoff of 12 people occurred on November 9, following a previous layoff of 15 employees on October 14. The layoffs were attributed to a downturn in market conditions for the building products industry. The company also stated that there are often seasonal layoffs when the weather turns colder. There are approximately 45 workers still employed at the mining sites. Cape Breton Post, November 16
The Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency announced that it will undertake a comprehensive environmental study of the Donkin Mine project. The study is expected to take approximately one year to complete. Cape Breton Post, November 15
Construction
Roclan Construction will begin construction on 28 cottages to be built at the site of the Cabot Links Golf Course in Inverness. The work will begin in November 2011. The Cabot Links Golf Course opened with 10 holes in 2010 and expects to have all 18 holes open on July 1, 2011. Inverness Oran, November 2
A memorandum of understanding between the Province of Nova Scotia and the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador announced on November 28 will see Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador companies have the same opportunity to bid on contracts for the construction of the planned $6.2 billion Lower Churchill hydroelectric development. The three projects that are part of the Lower Churchill development are the Muskrat Falls generating facility, the Labrador Island Transmission Link and the Maritime Link. Preference will be given to Newfoundland and Labrador on the first two projects, while Nova Scotia will have equal access for jobs on the Maritime Link. The construction of the planned $1.2 billion Maritime Link, which will carry the power from the development, is expected to come ashore in the Cape Breton area and will create an estimated 2700 person years of employment. Construction on the underwater cable is expected to start in 2014 and end in 2017. The planned Lower Churchill project will provide Nova Scotia Power with 170 megawatts of renewable energy for approximately 35 years, when production begins in 2017. Cape Breton Post, November 29
Manufacturing
Halifax Biomedical Inc of Mabou has received $2 million in equity investment from Nova Scotia Business Inc. and $1 million from Enterprise Cape Breton Corporation. Among the company's products and services is the Halifax Stereo Radiography (SR) Suite which is the world's first stereo photogrammic imaging system. The system is used by surgeons to monitor changes in artificial joint replacements and detect implant failures. Inverness Oran, November 2
Retail Trade
Sid's Used Furniture Store in Sydney will close December 3, 2011 as a result of the owner's retirement. The store has operated in the Sydney area since 1943. Cape Breton Post, November 29
Transportation and Warehousing
The Cheticamp Transportation Cooperative will launch a new bus service for Cheticamp, St. Joseph du Moine and the Margaree areas on November 28, 2011. The bus service is intended to serve seniors, the handicapped and those without transportation. The service will also provide day trips to Port Hawkesbury, Antigonish and Sydney. The service received funding from the Nova Scotia Transit Incentive Program and will report on the pilot project to the Nova Scotia government in March of 2012. Inverness Oran, November 17
Professional, Scientific and Technical Services
Stantec Consulting Ltd. was awarded a $1.48 million contract from the Sydney Tar Ponds Agency to provide engineering design plans for future projects for the site once the $400 million cleanup project is finished. The coke ovens site would be home to a business park that would accommodate commercial and light industrial development. Plans for the tar ponds site include a commons area, an outdoor concert venue, recreation facilities and a trail network connecting with downtown Sydney, Whitney Pier and Ashby. Future construction would be subject to budget capacity and schedule. The cost sharing agreement with the federal and provincial governments now in place is scheduled to expire March 31, 2014. Cape Breton Post, November 24
The Verschuren Centre for Sustainability in Energy and the Environment held its official opening November 4, 2011. The centre is located at Cape Breton University and is intended to develop commercially viable methods to address environmental and energy challenges. The centre will house chairs in mine water management, environmental remediation, clean carbon energy and renewable energy. The centre is a 35,000 square foot building which contains lab facilities, collaborative work areas and a 144 seat lecture theatre. Cape Breton Post, November 5
Educational Services
Nova Scotia Community College is now offering a program to train students in international business while also helping local businesses access advice and counselling related to export development of their products and services. Enterprise Cape Breton Corporation is providing $216,975 in assistance over two years to the program. Cape Breton Post, November 16
The Maritime School of Paramedicine graduated its first class from its new Sydney location. The school graduated 20 primary care paramedics and eight from the advanced care program. Cape Breton Post, November 10
Note: In preparing this document, the authors have taken care to provide clients with labour market information from reliable sources that is timely and accurate at the time of publication. Since labour market conditions are dynamic, some of the information presented here may have changed since this document was published. Users are encouraged to also refer to other sources for additional information on the local economy and labour market. Information contained in this document does not necessarily reflect official policies of the department.For more information contact: ns-info-ne@servicecanada.gc.ca or visit our website at Working in Canada