Labour Market Update - Halifax

Internetworking Atlantic Inc. (www.internetworking-atlantic.com ), a local technology company, opened a $1-million server farm in downtown Halifax this month. The company is hoping to attract local, national and international customers to the secure data storage facility. Internetworking currently employs twelve staff, but expects to add two or three more employees by the end of 2010.  Source: Chronicle Herald 2010-02-11

 

Irving's Halifax Shipyard Ltd. (www.irvingshipbuilding.com ) was awarded a $20-million five-year loan  from the province's Industrial Expansion Fund, which will go toward rebuilding wharfs, refurbishing and replacing cranes, and improving fabrication areas and offices. According to the president of Local 1 of the CAW Marine Workers Federation (www.cawlocal.ca/CAWMWF/ ), the investment will very soon lead to new jobs for skilled tradespersons.  Last fall the shipyard was awarded a $219-million contract to build nine mid-shore patrol vessels for the Canadian Coast Guard.

Source: Chronicle Herald 2010-02-26

 

Ottawa has given the Halifax area $1.6 million to be divided among five recreational projects. The Clayton Park soccer facility received $1 million for a new indoor soccer pitch, the Dartmouth Sportsplex received $320,000 for various upgrades, with the remaining funds going toward the pathways in Portland Hills, a new multi-purpose room at the Big Cove YMCA Camp and refurbishing the clubhouse at Banook Canoe Club. The funding is through the Recreational Infrastructure Canada Program.

Source: Chronicle Herald 2010-02-22

 

More than 70 full- and part-time psychiatrists at the QEII (www.cdha.nshealth.ca ) and IWK Health Centre (www.iwk.nshealth.ca ) have been without a new contract since 2006. A memorandum of understanding was reached with the psychiatrists, which is retroactive to April 2008 and raises the psychiatrists' hourly rate by 2.9 percent to $147.99. Although according to a Doctors Nova Scotia spokesperson, the hourly rate isn't necessarily what a psychiatrist earns. The agreement also increased the number of billable hours per year to 2,237 from 1,840 hours.  A final, detailed  contract is close to being signed.     Source: Chronicle Herald 2010-02-25

 

The Halifax Shopping Centre (www.halifaxshoppingcentre.com ) and Mic Mac Mall (micmacmall.shopping.ca ) saw sales go up in 2009, compared to 2008. The two malls each had improved sales of one percent and 5.5 percent respectively.  Both shopping malls have added several new stores, which helped boost sales and traffic. According to the general manager of Mic Mac Mall, they are expecting sales to increase in 2010 by six to eight percent.

Source: Chronicle Herald 2010-02-03

 

Online tour operator, Go Travel South, shut down this month. The Ottawa based company, formerly known as Go Travel Direct, had an office at Purdy's Wharf in Halifax. No reason was given for the closure. Source: Chronicle Herald  2010-02-26