PIPEDA trumps fake-injury video evidence • Manitoba wants foreign students • New child-care sector council • Council on Learning goes to B.C. • CFIB members reveal yourself • Internet access a travel priority
PIPEDA trumps fake-injury video evidence
Barrie, Ont. — A driver claiming to have a back injury managed to overturn his dismissal by using PIPEDA, the federal privacy legislation, to argue the employer, Rosedale Transport, violated his privacy by videotaping him off-hours. The videotape showed Michael Ross loading furniture onto a pickup truck on the day he was moving to a new house. The adjudicator agreed with the privacy argument. If Rosedale suspected Ross of malingering, it should have requested an independent medical examination instead of hiring a private investigator, the adjudicator said.
Manitoba wants foreign students
Winnipeg — Manitoba is launching a two-year pilot program to make its educational institutions “destinations of choice” for international students. Under the old rules, students could only work on campus. The program, in collaboration with the federal government, lets full-time international students apply for a work permit after completing one year of study. The permit will allow them to work off campus for up to 20 hours a week during the school year and full time during vacation months.
New child-care sector council
Ottawa — The federal government is creating the Child Care Human Resources Sector Council (CCHRSC), committing about $859,000 for its launch. It is the 27th sector council. The councils bring together businesses, labour, educational institutions and government bodies to implement long-range HR planning and skills development strategies for sectors. The new council will cover more than 300,000 workers and 1.4 million children. Its priority is to develop strategies to solve the critical problem of recruiting and retaining skilled workers.
Council on Learning goes to B.C.
Ottawa — British Columbia will be home to the Canadian Council on Learning, a new $100 million research institute that will conduct studies on education and training to guide provincial and federal government policy. The institute is part of Ottawa’s innovation strategy to raise education and skill levels across the country. While some provincial governments balk at federal intervention in education in training, B.C. campaigned to host the think tank.
CFIB members reveal yourself
Ottawa — The 337,000-member National Union of Public and General Employees is demanding the Canadian Federation of Independent Business identify the 100,000 companies it represents. Union president James Clancy is upset about CFIB complaints that public-sector workers are being overpaid. “It is in (public-sector workers) interest to know the identity of local business people who hold the same negative and hostile views that the CFIB is propagating against public employees,” said Clancy.
Internet access a travel priority
Toronto — Business travellers are demanding high-speed Internet hookups at the hotels they stay at, a survey by Accenture shows. Forty-five per cent of 209 Canadian executives who travel rated it as a must. Teleconferencing technology was rated as the main reason firms reduce travel.
