Remove “Canadian experience” barrier

Remove "Canadian experience" barrier : Ontario Human Rights Commission

The Ontario Human Rights Commission's (OHRC) new Policy on removing the "Canadian experience" barrier was launched recently by Chief Commissioner Barbara Hall in partnership with KPMG.

"Ontario attracts highly-skilled immigrants from all over the world," commented Hall, "but if they have to meet a requirement for Canadian experience, they are in a very difficult position - they can't get a job without Canadian experience and they can't get experience without a job. In most cases, that is discrimination under Ontario's Human Rights Code."

Read more here.

News You Can Use - "Welcome to Ontario" goes mobile

The Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration of the Government of Ontario launched the mobile version of the popular “Welcome to Ontario” newcomer guide for smartphones. You can check it out at ontario.ca/welcomeguide

The mobile version includes a link to “Settlement.Org. The original “Welcome to Ontario” booklet is available in PDF in 17 languages on our main website.

Additional Information:

http://ontario.ca/welcomeguide

"Toronto's Many Faces" 5th edition - a sourcebook for newcomers

Toronto is truly a city of communities. Designed for tourists and for residents, "Toronto's Many Faces" is the one and only guide to the multicultural character of the city, featuring profiles of more than 60 ethnic communities, including local histories, festivals, food, and art. The book identifies each community - where its people come from, why, when, and where they settled in Toronto. The contribution of each community is also traced, with biographical notes on prominent people whose achievements have been extraordinary. Monuments, memorials, theatres, museums, cultural centres, and restaurants are identified, while detailed maps and photographs of festival events help bring the city's varied communities to life.

"Toronto's Many Faces is a guide for tourists, a sourcebook for newcomers, a directory for businesses and "organizations, and a passport for Torontonians to the many cultures that exist at their doorsteps.

For more details about the author Tony Ruprecht, MPP-Davenport click here.

News You Can Use - What You Need to Know About Harassment in Ontario

What You Need to Know About Harassment in Ontario
By: Renée Cormier

June 15, 2010 marked the official start date for employers to have complied with Bill 168 amendments to the Ontario Occupational Health and Safety Act.

The changes to the legislation require employers to have policies in place to protect employees from workplace violence and harassment.

While most companies have little trouble with workplace violence among staff, harassment between employees remains mostly unnoticed.

Canada Safety Council refers to workplace harassment as psychological violence and has received reports of workplace bullying leading victims to commit suicide.

Ontario’s new legislation defines workplace harassment as, “engaging in a course of vexatious comment or conduct against a worker in a workplace that is known or ought reasonably to be known to be unwelcome.” It also defines forms of harassment such as “bullying, intimidating or offensive jokes or innuendos, displaying or circulating offensive pictures or materials, or offensive or intimidat-ing phone calls”.

According to British website www.bullyonline.org, 68% of managers are bullies. Can-ada Safety Council reports that 72% of bullies are bosses and are equally male or female. American studies report that 1 in 5 employees are bullied at work. In light of these statistics, we can assume that bullying or psychological violence is preva-lent and even tolerated in Canadian workplaces. Ontario employers should know that while Bill 168 does not directly address manager/employee relations with respect to workplace harassment, it does leave the door open for judges to award compensation to em-ployees who have been bullied by managers and co workers.

Canadian judges have been taking a dim view of employers that turn a blind eye to bullying in the workplace and organizations of all sizes have had to pay compensation to employees who com-plained of being bullied at work. Organizations such as the Toronto Transit Commission, Honda Canada, RCMP, Subway and Sobeys have all had to pay compensation to former employees due to complaints of bullying at work. These are just a few employers who have been penalized and the message judges are sending should not be ignored. Bullies are a liability to your business and any company that does not take steps to prevent workplace harassment of all kinds is asking for trouble.

Renée Cormier is a specialist in the area of Employee and Customer Engagement. She has been a training and development professional since 1997 and has driven results for many companies throughout her career. Most recently she has published a book called, Engaged for Growth which is currently being distributed throughout Canada, the United States, and UK. Through her company, Powerhouse Conferences, Renée offers an array of corporate education services including Leadership development, Customer Service, AntiHarassment training, Communication skills and ESL classes.

Her passion for business and bringing out the best in people allows her to achieve favorable results for her clients. Renée’s learning sessions are lively, engaging and guaranteed to produce results!



PowerHouse Conferences
Phone: 905-593-2778
E-mail: renee@powerconferences.ca
http://reneecormier.wordpress.com/