business news march 2013

VOLUME 27, NUMBER 2, 0834-2013 MARCH, 2013

Nalcor Energy Oil and Gas’ exploration team is hard at work unlocking the secrets of Newfoundland and Labrador’s offshore

Business News is a monthly publication of the St. John’s Board of Trade.

Reproduction of any material contained in Business News is permitted provided written approval from the St. John’s Board of Trade.

Articles and criticisms are invited, but opinions expressed by contributors do not necessarily represent those of the St. John’s Board of Trade. We encourage you to support the business leaders whose names and products you see advertised in this issue as well as throughout our entire membership. The Board reserves the right to edit submissions.

Editor: Alisha MorriseyPrinted by: British Group of CompaniesLayout: Roxanne Abbott ST. JOHN’S BOARD OF TRADE EXECUTIVE

Denis Mahoney ChairSharon Horan Senior Vice-ChairKim Keating First Vice-ChairDes Whelen Second Vice-ChairSteve Power Immediate Past ChairPaul Janes Secretary-Treasurer

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Andrea StackAndrea BrocklehurstWayne BruceHeather Bruce-VeitchLynn SullivanKaren McCarthyWilliam GriffinPaddy Phillips

STAFF

Nancy Healey ChiefExecutiveOfficerJennifer Chaytor Manager of Finance and ComplianceLori Coleman Business Affairs ManagerMargie Davis Executive Sales DirectorAlisha Morrissey Policy Research AnalystShannon Lewis-Simpson Manager of Policy and CommunicationsWanda Palmer Director of Sales and MemberFulfillmentJackie Bryant-Cumby Member Relations Administrator

St. John’s Board of Trade34 Harvey RoadP.O. Box 5127St. John’s, NL A1C 5V5 CanadaTel: (709) 726-2961 Fax: (709) 726-2003E-mail: [email protected]: www.bot.nf.ca

Business News

COVER STORY 2

CHAIR’S MESSAGE 3

FEATURES 5

AMMBASSADOR COLUMN 8

POLICY MATTERS 12

AROUND THE BOARD 18

MEMBERSHIP 24

march 2013 1

coNteNts

cover story

Business Newsmarch 20132

Nalcor

In the oil and gas industry, front-end investment in exploration activities can have a significant, long-term impact on

the amount of activity – and ultimately the development of resources – a region experiences. Nalcor Energy Oil and Gas is modeling its strategic exploration program with that long-term focus in mind, and has started to make promising discoveries. Nalcor Energy President and CEO Ed Martin recently announced the discovery of three new basins in the Labrador Sea. In addition to the new basins, a fourth previously established basin was discovered to be much larger than originally understood. The redefined Hawke basin and the new Henley, Chidley and Holton basins – named after nearby place names in Labrador — more than double the basin area of offshore Labrador. The basin discovery was made after a strategic exploration program was developed and executed by Nalcor – a program based on the vision established by the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, under the leadership of then-Minister of Natural Resources, Kathy Dunderdale, to maximize the long-term value of the province’s energy resources. The execution of the strategic, integrated exploration program has helped Nalcor gather data essential to competing for global investment in a jurisdiction’s resources. This program led to the recent discovery of the new basins. A number of studies are being done under the program to provide a clearer understanding of the province’s offshore potential. These studies include a seabed core analysis that sees a partnership between Nalcor, GORE and the Geological Survey of Canada that — through the analysis of previously collected seabed core sample data — will help build our understanding of offshore hydrocarbon potential and a extensive, three-year 2D seismic data program, which began in 2011 in partnership with global seismic company

The map depicts the basin discovery in the Labrador Sea, including the redefined Hawke basin and the new Henley, Chidley and Holton basins – named after nearby place names in Labrador.

PGS/TGS, and continues in 2013 and will see the total collection and analysis of 42,000 line-kilometres of seismic data. The recent basin discovery was confirmed through this 2D seismic study, which began with a focus on the Labrador Sea and continues this year, focusing on the eastern offshore of Newfoundland, with a more detailed data collection planned over the Flemish Pass.

While it’s too early to tell if the basins contain hydrocarbons like oil, characteristics like the basin’s depth and temperature are more consistent with basins considered to be oil-prone rather than gas-prone. Until drilling begins, however —likely still a few years away — there is no way to confirm the resource

potential of these basins. Over the next few years, Nalcor will continue to support exploration through additional activity and studies to unlock the secrets of the Newfoundland and Labrador’s offshore. Nalcor has been able to structure its position in resource exploration after many successful jurisdictions around the world, such Norway, Australia and Brazil, where government invests in exploration

of its offshore oil and gas region to spur further investment from industry. Large development companies have many options to invest worldwide and each region competes for global exploration investment. Since the geoscience resources of any company are limited and valuable, exploration companies can choose only a limited number of regions on which to concentrate and in which to invest; high-quality, current data are critical to be competitive with other regions around the globe. Prospectivity based on geologic data and interpretation is what attracts companies to a region. Countries that maintain a high level of quality data that are easily accessed tend to have a sustaining level of interest by oil companies. As a Crown corporation, Nalcor plays an important role in attracting industry to the province’s resources and help lower barriers for them to make investments. Nalcor’s investments in exploration are important to increase the understanding of the region’s prospectivity and facilitate new industry exploration activity.

Nalcor’s exploration program builds on successes for future prospectivity

Business News march 2013 3

But, with all these challenges, come many opportunities for partnership and growth. There is a great deal of business to be done in Labrador. But, historically, businesses in St. John’s have not done much business up north. If you watch the trucks go down the Labrador highway, the licence plates are all from Quebec. Some of the people who work in Lab West live in Quebec. The opportunities are there for us, but, if we don’t take advantage of them, someone else from somewhere else will gladly do so. It’s good to see Newfoundland and Labrador-based companies starting to do more business in Labrador. Humber Valley Paving, originally based in Corner Brook, has received two large contracts to pave the Labrador highway. K&D Pratt moved into Labrador City. Businesses in the professional services sector are opening offices up north. There is much more opportunity for growth. It can be hard for small business members to see the positive impacts of these major projects on their bottom line. So the St. John’s Board of Trade intends to highlight these opportunities for you. We established a Labrador Committee with business leaders from St. John’s and Labrador to guide our Labrador initiative. This month, a new staff member, Erika Stockley, will start work for the Board. Her job will be to help small business members tap into the supply and procurement chains of larger projects like Muskrat Falls and the mining projects in Labrador. Erika’s role will be to help our members bid successfully on work to service and supply operations in Labrador, and help you successfully navigate the logistics involved with doing business in the north. Several of the major projects are in remote locations, currently inaccessible by road or sea, so infrastructure will be a top priority.

We will also help you learn how to partner with the Nunatsiavut Group of Companies and the Innu Nation. Our goal is to assist small business to become knowledgeable, adaptable and competitive on supply and service contracts with major developments in Labrador and other major projects in the region, like the ship procurement project. In the next few months, the Board will host information sessions about our Labrador initiative. We will arrange for speakers from various projects to present at seminars and workshops. The Board will prepare best practices for small businesses to assist you gain access to Labrador supply chains. We want to help you take full advantage of these business opportunities, to help our members succeed in business. Stay tuned for further information and events about doing business up north. Be the boom.

chair’s messageopportuNities North

Chair, Denis Mahoney

Labrador is a land of opportunity. There are over $16 billion dollars in development on the near horizon, with

mining projects by Quest-Rare Minerals, Kami Iron Ore, LabMag, Ironsands, Wabush Mines, Alderon Iron Ore Corp, and Tata Steel, and the Muskrat Falls development. All of these developments need regular, reliable supplies of goods and services, of everything from toilet paper to transport trucks. Companies working in Labrador see that that it makes good business sense to build supplier relationships with Newfoundland and Labrador businesses. You can provide expertise and resources close to their operations, and a quick response. These supply relationships will ensure that maximum benefits of these projects are felt throughout the whole province. Labrador is also a tremendous gateway to the Northwest Passage and the arctic. The north has the fastest growing population in Canada, with the fastest growing consumer and business market. Northern people demand a wide range of goods and services. Almost everything is shipped including food and health products, professional services, home furnishings, clothing, electronics and business supplies. There’s no doubt that there are challenges to doing business in the north. Some of these challenges are similar to those experienced throughout our province, such as labour supply and housing, but are magnified. There is not enough housing and not enough available land for residential development in the municipalities outside of the current town limits. Lack of housing restricts recruitment of workers to fill vacant positions. These limitations slow the pace of development, stifle competitiveness, and impede growth of healthy communities for families to live and work.

S peaking of the boom...at the Business Outlook last month and at the Northern Exposure 2013 Conference hosted by the Labrador North Chamber of Commerce, we heard about the many opportunities that exist in Labrador for our members.

Hard Work, Hard Workers.

For over 80 years now, H.J. O’Connell has moved heaven and earth to

delight its customers and employees providing heavy civil construction and contract surface mining services

for the Canadian natural resource sector.

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We are proud of the long-term relationships that we have established in the mining, energy and other heavy industries, some of which have been in place for over 80 years. At O’Connell, we recognize the real challenges that lay ahead for the resource sector and the construction industry in the 21st century. We are committed to partnering with clients to develop effective solutions that will meet those challenges head on. With hard working, industrious and innovative employees, we pride ourselves on our technically sophisticated workforce, and on our reputation for completing projects on time and on budget.

H.J. O’Connell Construction LimitedSt. John’s, NL Tel.: 709 726-9095

Wabush, NL Tel.: 709 282-5633

Les Entreprises de Construction de Québec LtéePointe-Claire, QC Tel.: 514 426-1333

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Get things done. Big time.

Business News March 2013 5

By Tina Beauchamp, CPM

An increasing number of organizations are embracing the technological innovation available in today’s

payroll software solutions and many are choosing to diverge from traditional paper-pay statements in favour of elec-tronically delivered statements. Electronic pay statements provide a completely green payroll initiative when paired with direct deposit of net pay. They benefit the employer through cost savings while providing employees better access to their payroll information and reducing the impact of a paper footprint on the environ-ment. A paperless solution also enhances costs savings initiatives by eliminating the printing and delivery expenses associated with traditional paper statements. Employees will benefit as much from receiving their pay statement electroni-cally. The statement is accessible online 24/7. Statements are archived and stored so when an employee requires a copy of a statement, for example for a loan applica-tion, they can retrieve and print copies as required. Pay statement electronic delivery will also eliminate the risk of losing documents, which can occur with paper statements that are often handled by several parties including the internal and external mail delivery providers. Electronic delivery of pay statements is allowed by employment and labour standards in all jurisdictions across Canada, provided all of the following conditions are met: Employees have secure and confidential access to both view and print their pay statements. Employees have agreed to receive their statements electronically, either as a condition of employment or by choosing to opt into the electronic delivery option.Employers retain a record of electronic statements as per the record retention requirements of each jurisdiction they operate in It is a recommended best practice to obtain employee consent to receive electronic pay statements even when it

is a condition of employment. Employers are also encouraged to provide reminder notifications to their employees when pay statements become available. If your organization is looking to shift to the electronic delivery of pay statements, in addition to the legislative requirements covered in this article, you will need to establish a protocol as to when access to the system will cut off for employees who terminate or go on prolonged leaves of absence. Privacy is one of the key concerns employees voice when asked about receiving pay statements electronically. If you are providing remote access to a system to deliver and retrieve pay statements, you must ensure security measures are put in place to protect the personal informa-tion of employees that will be stored in an electronic database. When choosing a paperless delivery option, an employer must ascertain whether the appropriate electronic credentials will be put in place. These credentials are a validation tool that includes a combination of a user ID and password which control access to online information.

The Canadian Payroll Association (CPA) has produced a series of payroll guide-lines to support our members in remaining compliant with various regulatory require-ments. The CPA’s Pay Statement Guidelines provide payroll practitioners with guidance related to producing and delivering pay statements, including electronic pay state-ments. This particular guideline has been

made available to non-members and we welcome you to explore our website www.payroll.ca and obtain a copy of this informa-tive guideline. Tina Beauchamp, CPM, is a Payroll Consultant with the Canadian Payroll Association (CPA) and a Subject Matter Expert in payroll legislation, research and training. With over 20 years of payroll experience, she has managed Canadian and U.S. payrolls for organi-zations in the retail and manufacturing sectors and holds the Certified Payroll Manager (CPM) certification. When she’s not answering inquiries on the CPA’s Payroll InfoLine and consulting with other profes-sionals, Tina is writing and updating material for the Associa-

tion’s professional development seminars,

reviewing employer guides for the federal and provincial governments, and facilitating seminars and web seminars.

electroNic paY stateMeNts

The How & When of Electronic Pay Statements

www.nlangelnetwork.com

In business, marrying money with

opportunity is the name of the gameConsider us the matchmaker.

The essential link between capitaland emerging opportunities


JuNior achieveMeNt

It seems the biggest challenge for three select small businesses in St. John’s has been production issues.

Producing a viable product, that works, and in mass quantities has become more difficult than doing the finances, creating a demand via marketing or even finding engaged, passionate staff for these small companies. Mostly passion is what the 30 or so high school students who make up the company directors and manufacturers of Case Closed, Chalkaholics and Kids with a Cause, do have in abundance. Katie Bellam, vice-president of health and safety for Kids with A Cause, announces that the teddy bear she’s sewing together, is the first sewing project she’s ever done. Unfortunately, she can’t use the sewing machine anymore because she sewed the arm of her bright pink hoodie to the unstuffed bear. So for now

she’ll sew on button eyes and fuzzy bellies before they get to the machine stage.Jessica Gibbons explains that there have been

“production issues” at every step of the project, from a lack of sewing ability, to the ability of the group to create enough stuffed toys in time for the annual Junior Achievement Trade Fair. They are now in the third iteration of their business, attempting before to make lanterns and now moving to pre-made bears that they will add personalized details to.

Growing an entrepreneurial spirit

But for these kids, even failure is considered a simple learning experience.The 30 or so students here tonight are from different schools and different grade levels.

But they’re all a part of the Junior Achievement Company Program, an intensive 21-week evening entrepreneurial program for high school students.Stephanie Tracey, president of Case Closed, another JA group in another room of the College of the North Atlantic’s annex on Prince Phillip Drive, says the level one, two and three students, have had to take on

a second product after failing to succeed with its texting gloves idea. Case Closed is now designing and hand-sewing business card holders.

Though they are not in the same group, Stephanie explains that she and several other girls from her school in the Goulds car pool to the centre of the city

every Wednesday night to create business plans, manufacture products and to do the finances for their companies. She says she was never really interested in business, but her friends convinced her to join. She loved JA so much she decided to come back for a second year. “It’s worth it. I love coming here,” she says. “They’re a great group.”It’s nearly 8:30 p.m. on a Wednesday evening, a time when many kids would be watching TV or playing video games. But these kids willingly participate once a week in a learning opportunity that also introduces them to friends they never would have met if not for JA, to work on projects that will fail or succeed based on their hard work and, in some cases, to catch up on a little homework. In another classroom at the annex, three or four girls are dipping sponge paintbrushes into cans of chalkboard paint before

brushing it on the bases of wine glasses. Another group uses comic books and cardboard to package four glasses in a flourish of tulle. The idea is that guests can use regular chalk to write their names on glasses to avoid misplacing them.Sandra Patterson, president and CEO of Junior Achievement Newfoundland and Labrador. who is wearing an infinity scarf from another JA business, asks how much for a package of the glasses. For $15, she scoops up her purchase, admitting that she has piles of JA company products in her home and often gives them as gifts. Which is what she plans to do with the stuffed bear she’ll be buying from Kids with A CauseThe students are guided by volunteer advisors and supported by local businesses. “They’re encouraged to risk and innovate. They learn to work in teams, step outside their comfort zones and make tough decisions. Many leadership skills are developed,” says Patterson Last year the local program produced two of three national JA student awards.Despite the “production issues” faced by the three businesses, Katie says the program has been great and she’s likely to come back for a second year. “I’ve realized there’s a lot more to running a business than I thought.”

If you’d like to learn more about JA programs or becoming involved, contact 759-9533 or e-mail [email protected]. There are a range of volunteer opportunities and ways to support the organization. Throughout Newfoundland and Labrador this year, JA volunteers will deliver over 250 programs to elementary, junior high and high school students, focusing on elements of financial literacy, work readiness and entrepreneurship.

- Alisha Morrissey

ambassador column


Minerai de fer àenfournement direct:

Projet DSO

Projet Taconite

Nouvelles ciblesd’exploration

Direct Shipping Ore:DSO Project

Taconite Project

New Exploration

Breaking New Ground in the Labrador Trough

Innovant dans la Fosse du Labrador

TSX : NMLwww.NMLiron.com

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1302 Labrador Life Half Page.pdf 1 2/12/2013 1:59:13 PM

Being connected is one of the best ways to ensure professional and personal

growth. Whether it’s with the people in your workplace, your industry, or your community, it’s your connections that will help you see opportunity, learn about important issues, and voice your own opinions. In my career to date, I’ve been fortunate to be in a position that keeps me connected – both as an Ambassador with the St. John’s Board of Trade, and as a consultant with Knightsbridge Robertson Surrette (KBRS). My role as an Ambassador began in June of 2012, and it’s hard to believe that eight months have gone by already. My colleague suggested I apply as a way to build my networks in the business community and that’s just one of the benefits I’ve experienced since my term began. I’ve learned a lot about the issues that are facing our economy and have had the opportunity to see a lot of passionate people voice their opinion and share their story. It’s exciting to be a part of the

Julie Gorman

discussion and to talk with members about their struggles and successes. Meeting great people along the way is just a bonus. Making these connections and getting involved in our business community has only helped in my current role as a Consultant with KBRS. My days are spent working with employers to find quality candidates for their organizations. In a market of growth, combined with a shortage of labour, I’m in a unique position to help organizations solve their recruitment issues. Being an Ambassador combines my professional goals to match people and jobs with my personal desire to be connected in this province and do my part in getting the message out. I’m excited to see what the rest of the year will bring as I continue my term as an Ambassador - to meet more people and continue the conversation with Board of Trade members in order to strengthen our voice and bring forward positive change in our province.


ambassador column

(709) 726-7596 www.pfcollins.com

PF Collins provides a wide range of servicesto help you meet Canadian Immigrationrequirements. Our licensed professionalsare devoted to providing accurate immigrationadvice and excellent service.

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I began my new role as Ambassador with the Board of Trade in September 2012

on the membership committee. I have found over the past couple of months that working with the Board of Trade as an Ambassador has been a very rewarding experience and has helped me gain the confidence to create new opportunities through networking at a variety of events. I have found this role has created many opportunities on a personal and professional level. I have attended most of the networking mixers, luncheons and most recently attended the lunch-and-learns which have really assisted me on a professional level with creating better marketing tools for my job. The Board of Trade does a fantastic job at bringing people together and creating a community for all of us to develop relationships and help each other. I am looking forward to continuing working with the membership committee and then eventually taking a term on the events committee as well. The events which I look forward to the most

Jordan Dicks

are the speed networking sessions, the Amazing Membership Race as well as the St. Paddy’s Day Mixer which is taking play at my work, Murray Premises Hotel. A little bit about myself, I completed a Bachelor of Business Administration Degree in 2010 from Mount Saint Vincent University in Halifax and am currently working towards a Human Resource Management diploma. I have a great love of all music; I enjoy singing, writing and playing piano. I am the sales associate for Murray Premises Hotel and find my job a very exciting and rewarding position. I have the opportunity to bring people to St. John’s for meetings, group events and even leisure, and assist them in having the most amazing experience here in our beautiful province. As a young professional I truly believe becoming an Ambassador with the Board of Trade was the right move for me. I see so many opportunities and look forward to working and meeting new people this year.

If you would like to get in contact with me personally I would be happy to hear from you. I hope to see you at the next event.

Business News10

A Question of LanguageSpeaking two or even three languages is commonplace in many Francophone countries. French speakers who also speak English offer an automatic advantage to employers in the Canadian marketplace and internationally. Furthermore, the Government Canada promotes and facilitates the hiring of French-speaking newcomers as a part of its Official Languages mandate. For you, that means less red tape when recruiting internationally.

The Right Savoir-FaireIn France, Belgium and other parts of French-speaking Europe, the labour market dynamic is vastly different from what we see in this province today. Workers of all skill levels and educational backgrounds are finding themselves without work and are

Business headlines this year in Newfoundland and Labrador have been dominated by stories of workforce shortages and labour market concerns related to skilled workers and population issues. Could hiring workers from French-speaking countries be part of the solution to our employment challenges?

turning to countries like Canada to build a career and a future. Within France alone, the youth unemployment rate is over 25 per cent.French job-seekers are nearly climbing over one another to come to Canada. Government visa programs for youth are filling their 7,000-person quotas in a matter hours, and young French men and women are filling Canadian job fairs by the thousands. In last year’s Destination Canada event held in Paris and Brussels, a record 4,000 attendees were present. These lucky candidates were pre-selected from a whopping 15,000 applicants.

Vive la DifférenceLike Canada, French-speaking and countries around the world are considered to be part of La Francophonie. Far from being isolated to France alone, La Francophonie includes countries and regions in Europe, Africa, Asia and Oceania, as well as here in North America. This population of more than 220 million people represents a huge and diverse range of potential employees for Newfoundland and Labrador businesses. Government agencies such as Pole Emploi International in France, and Actiris International and Forem International in Belgium exist to help place European job-seekers

in overseas positions. Some non-European French-

speaking countries also have offices dedicated

to this task, such as in ANETI, in Tunisia. The Canadian embassies in these countries

parlez-vous recruitMeNt?

are on hand to help facilitate visa approval for employees. The Embassy’s Visa Office in Paris handles not only France’s visas, but those for more than a dozen other countries in Europe and North Africa.

Bonjour, NeighbourAnd of course, let’s not forget St. Pierre and Miquelon, only 20 kilometers off our own coast. St. Pierre is a microcosm of the labour market in mainland France, with many trained workers currently unemployed. St. Pierre has a high level of bilingualism, and a population that is already accustomed to this province’s climate. The vast majority of St. Pierreais have already visited Newfoundland and Labrador for health services, shopping and leisure or to visit family, so they know exactly what to expect upon arrival. Many may even be eligible for citizenship through family ties with Newfoundland and Labrador.

Allons-yWhatever the answer or multiple answers to your business’s staffing needs may be, the time to act is already upon us. The French-speaking labour force offers a strong option for personnel recruitment in a variety of sectors and professions. Reaching out and hiring Francophone talent internationally could be the step that will ensure your company’s future stability and success. Danielle Coombs, Immigration Coordinator, La Fédération des francophones de Terre-Neuve et du Labrador.


policy matters

Provincial Government Commits to Population Growth Ross Reid has been appointed Deputy Minister responsible for the provincial Population Growth Strategy. This is a good appointment and the Board looks forward to working with Mr. Reid on some solutions to our unfavourable demographic situation. Since 1992, nearly 250,000 people have left this province resulting in a population decline of 11.5 per cent. We need to

replace this lost generation if we hope to take advantage of current and future opportunities and make Newfoundland and Labrador a great place to live and work.

For more information on statistics, background, and services available for employers looking to hire locally and internationally, visit “The Human Resource” page on the Board of Trade’s website at http://www.bot.nf.ca/business-tools.asp.

Board Presents at Pre-Budget Consultations As part of our commitment to monitor how your money is being spent, we presented at a series of provincial and federal pre-budget round tables. Federally, we need to cut expenses but not at the expense of economic growth. Economic opportunities are lost due to a lack of skilled and qualified employees. Growing the population will help grow the economy. Provincially, high per capita debt and a running deficit are not good for business. The Auditor General’s Report highlighted our financial situation:

Oil royalties contributed 34 per cent of •total revenues. A surplus of $883 million was •recorded for 2011-12, but a deficit of $726 million is forecasted for 2012-13.On 31 March 2012, net debt stood at •$7.8 billion, this March 31 this amount is estimated to climb to $8.9 billion.Expenses have grown by 66 per cent •in 10 years (2002-03 and 2011-12), increasing over 8 per cent per year.Net debt per capita stands at $15,257, •with no plan to reduce it.

We need a plan to reduce the debt. A review is needed to identify the core mandate of government, and refocus on what is important. Following this review, government must create a coordinated plan, detailing how it will increase revenues, increase our population, and find efficiencies in spending. Then there need to be cost controls, detailing what actions government will take to execute the plan, to be accountable with public money.

Canadian Anti-Spam Legislation Too Heavy-Handed The Board wrote to our MPs and Industry Canada to lobby for changes to new “anti-spam” legislation which the federal government announced on January 5. This new legislation is bad for business. It bans all commercial electronic messages (CEMs), including emails, SMS texts, and social media sent in a commercial context without prior consent. The sender needs to gain consent in person, by phone, or by conventional mail. As they are written, the regulations will impact the activities of every business and organization that conducts activities electronically in Canada.

Canadian Chamber of Commerce: Top 10 Barriers to Competitiveness

Skills shortages: need to address four key areas: up-skilling, immigration policies, education-employment alignment and Aboriginal education and workforce development.

Barriers to world markets for Canadian energy products: need to create infrastructure and relationships to realize Canada’s energy potential.

Inadequate workforce productivity: Canada must leverage advanced technologies and efficient infrastructure, support efforts to raise literacy and numeracy levels among workers, and ensure the EI program is not a disincentive to work.

Inadequate public infrastructure planning: government needs to mobilize private investment to finance public infrastructure: public-private partnerships.

Tax complexity and structure: need a simple, fair and growth-oriented tax system.

Poor innovation performance: need a definitive and clear innovation strategy that brings together all the government policies and programs affecting private research, academic research and commercialization.

Deficient strategies for trade success in new markets: Canada must reduce its dependency upon its usual trading partners and expand its access to new markets in Asia, Africa and South America.

Internal barriers to trade: Canadian business needs a new agreement that will deliver a single, unimpeded marketplace for internal trade, labour mobility and investment.

Uncompetitive travel and tourism strategies: need public policies that are forward looking and supportive of travel and tourism.

Lack of access to capital: A critical element of business competitiveness in any industry is access to capital—be it through venture capital or through foreign direct investment. Canada must support a sustainable private-sector led venture capital market and increase its appeal to foreign investors.


We agree that Canada needs a simple and effective mechanism to manage SPAM messages and software. The problem with this legislation is that it is too heavy handed to solve the SPAM problem and most “spammers” are located internationally and outside its jurisdictional reach.

WHSCC Statutory Review Public sessions are scheduled from February 27 to April 3 and the Board will present. WHSCC premiums in the province are 42 per cent higher than the Canadian average. Employers in this province have paid the highest premiums for the last 20 years. These rates are not competitive, and create a barrier to economic success. Improvements to health and safety have reduced the number of incidents, but the system still needs improvement in order to reduce the high premium costs which affect business competitiveness. Fiscally responsible administration should be a goal of the Commission. More attention should be paid to efficient claim management. Changes to how seasonal claims are administered are also needed to reduce premium rates for employers and reduce costs to doing business.

What We’ve Been Reading this Month….. Report of the Auditor General On the Audit of the Financial Statements of the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador For the Year Ended March 31, 2012

”Demographic change is one of the most significant indicators, or predictors, of the futuredemands on public services. Demographic issues have impacted the revenues and expenses of the Province in previous years and will continue to do so in the future. These demographic issues include shifts in the population between various regions within the Province, migration to other jurisdictions and an aging population. Such issues will impact delivery of public services and the types of services required as well as their associated costs. The impact of demographic change will also have a significant impact on labour markets.”

“Learning for the very young. Little steps.Early-years education can mean better school results later”, The Economist February 9.

“Early-years learning is not a magic solution to the elusive modern quest for social mobility. But it can help focus tiny minds on aspiration and bigger ones on how to support it.”

John Gushue, CBC Online, “Web feature: Teenage wasteland: the downside of demographics”:

“In other words, the province could witness a drop of 40,423 people in that single demographic group in less than 30 years. Imagine the populations of Conception Bay South, Labrador City, Clarenville, Marystown and Glovertown all packing up their bags, and leaving for good.

Emily Kingsland, Centre on International Educational Benchmarking,“International Reads: Crossing the Bridge from Education to Employment”

“In the most innovative and effective school-to-work systems around the globe, it is common for employers to help design post-secondary training curricula or to offer their employees as faculty to training programs. At the same time, education providers should actively encourage students to spend half their time on a job site and help them secure interview opportunities.”

From @stjohnsbot:

@scottoldford: @Sheldon_Payne @stjohnsbot people are more technologically savvy then we think and NL is up for some amazing times in the next 10-20 years.

@whalennathan: Exact how I feel: “@stjohnsbot: “I’m not interested in working, anyone can have a job, I want what I do to be a passion” says Stanford”

@AXISCareers: Excellent insights for small business owners from @stjohnsbot panel of @Yellowbellybrew @CareGiversNL & @IceCapsAHL owners

@JonnyHodds: #RexMurphy says we shouldn’t be apologists for being a hub of oil & gas... Can’t we also be global leaders in responsible use? @stjohnsbot

@stjohnsbot: @CBCCrosstalk In Atlantic Canada a third of the population will be older than 65 in the next 20 years, this is a big concern @stjohnsbot.

@WhiteMatt2: @stjohnsbot it’s not just about work either. Gov’t needs to stop taxing us so much and streamline operations to improve services offered.

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Mahatma Gandhi.

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opportuNities oN the horizoN

Featuring 34 employers and attracting close to 400 students and alumni, the exhibition offered MI students and

alumni an opportunity to learn more about the hands-on application of their field of study. “I was able to see each of the six employers I had identified beforehand. They were all very friendly and each gave me a good hand shake and told me about their company,” said Jonathan Ainamo, first year nautical science student. “My goal after graduating from MI is to either get into the Canadian Coast Guard or work in the offshore supply industry, hopefully with Seamanning Services or Atlantic Towing. During the exhibition Seamanning

Services even offered to give me a tour of one of their boats.” Among the employers at the exhibition were several MI alumni. Cassandra Paul, a mechanical technologist with Fleetway Inc., graduated from MI’s marine engineering systems design program in 2011. Marking her second MI Career Fair as an employer, she enjoys the opportunity to offer perspective for current MI students.“When I speak with students I focus on not only telling them about the positions within Fleetway but, more specifically, about the opportunities available to grow within the company since not many students think about this when looking for a job,” said Paul. Mark Wareham, MI’s chair of marine engineering systems design program, Photos courtesy of Marine Insitute

Marine Institute Career Fair highlights opportunities in ocean industriesThe Fisheries and Marine Institute (MI) of Memorial University of Newfoundland’s held its 11th annual Career Fair in February, giving students a chance to showcase themselves to national and international employers.

has been involved in the MI Career Fair for a number of years and has seen the progression of the event as well as the benefit to students and employers.

“At one time the onus was on the students to sell themselves to the employers but now it seems we’re seeing the employers selling themselves to the students. Rather than consider themselves lucky to get a

job, many students now have choices as to what job and where.”

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Cahill, an electrician, who built a name for himself, and the legacy of one of the province’s most

successful businesses, died Feb. 9, surrounded by his family after a battle with pneumonia. Condolences left by friends, family members and business acquaintances in the online guestbook at Carnell’s Funeral Home, described Cahill as a gentleman, a conversationalist with a great sense of humour, and in general a “great man.” Cahill was born in St. John’s in 1922 to Minnie and Fredrick Cahill. The Cahill’s and their five children lived on Parade Street and Gerard attended St. Bonaventure’s College before going on to get a master electrician certificate in 1947. While Cahill decided to work at the American base in Greenland as an electrician, he was clearly destined for bigger things. After five years abroad, Cahill returned home to St. John’s where he started his own electrical contracting firm in 1953 out of his home. In the early 1960s, the company, which had mostly serviced residential properties, began focusing on institutional work and was soon regarded as an accomplished firm. One of Gerard Cahill’s first major projects was installing the electrical system in the Littledale complex in the west end of St. John’s. Owned and operated by the Sisters of Mercy, the Littledale project was considered one of the most impressive buildings in the City of St. John’s. Forty-five years later, after a $3.3 million sale of the complex to G.J. Cahill, the company renovated and moved its offices into the now re-named Tower Corporate Campus at Waterford Valley. In an online card of condolence, one of the Sisters of Mercy talked about the grace and generosity of Cahill and the important role he played in the congregation. Condolences and sympathy for Cahill poured in from business acquaintances including the team at J+B Engineering, who also talked about the Cahill legacy in the community. The NewValve and ISMI group wrote, “Most of us of NewValve and ISMI

A Business Legend Remembered

have had the great pleasure of meeting Gerard (aka Mr. Cahill). Over the years he would drop by our shop for a visit and it was always an adventure of some kind. Thinking of you and your family at this time.” In an interview with The Telegram following his father’s death, Fred Cahill was quoted as saying, “He was a hard worker, and he knew what it took to get it done, and people respected him for that because he had done it himself. “He was a very giving person, and he told me, ‘Fred, it’ll come back to pay itself back in spades.’” In 1985, Fred Cahill joined his father’s company, which then employed four people in its offices, plus 20 to 30 electricians. Following the announcement of development on Hibernia, the company evolved from an electrical sub-contractor at Hibernia to bigger responsibilities on Terra Nova to putting together a partnership to handle the build of the White Rose modules at Bull Arm. Fred now owns and operates the firm, which has grown from a small electrical contracting firm into one of the largest contracting companies in Atlantic Canada. G.J. Cahill now services the oil and gas industries, water treatment facilities,

as well as the mining and power generation sectors and has expanded into the oil sands projects in Alberta. Despite the growth of the company, which employs more than 200 and at peak times has more than 1,200 tradespeople on the payroll, G.J. Cahill has been named one of Canada’s 50 Best Managed Companies for six consecutive years. While Cahill will be best remembered by the community for his work, his family will remember him as a sport fisherman, who would take them out on the family’s boat the Moya C. in Conception Bay, Trinity, Bonavista and Notre Dame Bay. His hunt for the bluefin tuna consumed many summer hours in Conception Bay. Cahill has been described by many as a family man. Married to Nora Fox from 1955 until her death last August, the couple raised three children Fred, Moya and Nora in St. John’s. According to his

obituary, Gerard will be remembered by his family for his leadership, perseverance, and his generosity, but mostly for his pride in his children. Cahill was also a proud grandpa of seven. Cahill’s daughter Moya, the president of PanGeo Subsea, was quoted in The Telegram after her father’s death saying her father was a compassionate and generous person, especially when it came to children, often checking on them playing in the neighbourhood. “He’d always go out and want to make sure the kids were doing OK and if they needed anything,” she said. “When our neighbours would leave the street, he always wanted to stay connected.” In the same interview, Moya said she once asked her father if he had any regrets. “He looked at me and said, ‘I don’t have a regret in my bones. I’ve done more than I’ve ever, ever, ever thought I could possibly do, and we’ve achieved so much with the company,’” she told The Telegram.

- Alisha Morrissey

The name Cahill, when translated from Gaelic means “powerful in battle.” It’s an appropriate moniker, for the man who built the family business GJ Cahill, so-titled after its patriarch and founder Gerard Joseph Cahill.

17

When compared to oil, mining is often the unsung contributor to the economy in Newfoundland. But in Labrador, ore is king.

That fact was never more apparent than in the research prepared by Wade Locke, one of the

province’s leading economists. Locke has released an economic analysis of the Iron Ore mining Industry in Labrador that provides an extremely bright outlook to 2031. The report, prepared for the Department of Natural Resources, shows that while mining activities in Labrador already have a huge impact on the province’s economy, under the best-case scenarios, this province could see significant increases in GDP, taxation and employment and incomes as a result of the iron ore mining industry in Labrador. Locke’s so-called base case, which assumes the current iron ore mining projects will continue as planned – with no growth or expansion in the industry – will still generate 157,000 person years of employment, more than $20 billion in incomes, $53 billion in GDP, and nearly $9 billion in taxes to the province in the next 21 years. “The base case, consisting of current mining projects in Labrador is already having significant impacts on employment, incomes and taxation,” Locke says in the report. “The economic impacts resulting from expansion activities are substantial.”Assuming the best case, the province could benefit from 515,000 person years of employment, incomes could rise to $58 billion under ideal circumstances, and based on the range of ore prices, taxes paid could total as much as $25.9 billion. “As impressive as these estimates are, it is also worthy to highlight that iron ore industry is already one of the largest sources of employment and revenues for business in Newfoundland and Labrador,” Locke

points out. “In particular, its operations represent one of the few significant sources of employment and earnings outside of the Avalon Peninsula.”In his report, Locke used four scenarios to determine the overall impact of the projects: a base model, which includes the current IOC, Wabush, TATA and Labrador Iron Mines projects; and three other scenarios which would see a combination of expansions to IOC, Alderon, LabMag and Julienne Lake with variations in production and the existence of pelletizing.The report looked at a series of factors including ore prices and other key economic indicators that could impact the potential for growth in the iron ore mining industry, as well as the impact of those factors on employment, incomes and taxation. “Each of the projects analyzed contain assumptions on the ability of Newfoundland and Labrador to supply labour and goods and services required during construction and operations,” explained Locke, adding that conservative estimates suggest that the province could provide 60 to 70 per cent of the labour needed during construction and 25 to 45 per cent for materials, goods and services.However, there is already a great need for infrastructure projects in Labrador, according to the province’s economic review for 2012. Several iron ore companies are participating in the development of a new multi-user dock located in the Bay of Sept-Îles at Pointe Noire, Quebec. The dock is designed to have a total capacity of 50 million tonnes annually and is expected to cost $220 million. Canadian National Railway recently secured the support of a number of mining companies for a feasibility study into a proposed rail line in the Quebec/Labrador region.

Another challenge facing the industry is declining prices. In late 2011, particularly iron ore and nickel prices began to drop as a result of slowing economic growth in China and India. However, most estimates and mineral analysts expect prices to remain above average for the foreseeable future. The economic impact of iron ore projects might be surprising to some, but certainly not to the Mining Association of Canada or its Newfoundland and Labrador chapter. According to the industry associations, the average weekly pay for a Canadian mining worker in 2010 was $1,632, which exceeded the wages of workers in forestry, manufacturing, finance and construction. In this province mineral extraction for 2012 was pegged at more than $5.7 billion – about 10 per cent of the Canadian industry. Exploration investment in the province was forecast to reach a record high of $234 million in 2012. Iron ore exploration in particular is forecast at an all-time high of $90 million. Last year when speaking to the St. John’s Board of Trade, Mining Association of Canada president and CEO Pierre Gratton talked about the demand of commodities and their rising prices. “The overall strength of the mining industry is evident in virtually all regions of Canada and will result in numerous economic benefits,” said Gratton at the time. “This includes the mineral-rich province of Newfoundland and Labrador, which is currently the fifth-largest mining jurisdiction in the country.”

- Alisha Morrissey

lspu hall mixer


arouNd the Board

The arts is a business too! The LSPU Hall is now offering meeting space and other services as it diversifies its offerings to the community.


lunch and learn

Networking at the Grant Thornton Mixer. Making connections that count.

We used the mixer at Grant Thornton’s new offices to say goodbye to our outgoing Chair Steve Power, who is partner with the financial services firm.

Newfoundland Chocolate Company provided delicious snacks at the mixer.

Lisa Quinton gave a lunch and learn in an attempt to help your business reach its potential.


Luxury suite in the middle of the trade show, Premiere Executive Suites showed off the stuff they have to offer at their hotels.

Looking to hire? There were several recruitment agencies at the trade show including Levert, Newfoundland Personnel. KBRS was also helping you fill that executive position While Work Global is willing to search the world for your next employee.

Our new Chair Denis Mahoney cut the ribbon for the opening of the annual trade show. The exhibitors’ feedback this year showed us we’re doing something right as nearly everyone raved about the quality business leads they got from meeting with attendees.

Our second annual Exhibitor’s reception, hosted by McInnes Cooper, gave the trade show participants a chance to network before Outlook 2013.

arouNd the Board


outlook

A feature at this year’s outlook trade show was the Board of Trade video booth. We used the booth to chat with some of our members about why they’re members of the Board of Trade, about their Outlook experience and how the business community is doing generally. The videos will be available on our website and youtube channel in the coming months. Stay tuned for more.

The tradeshow was well attended by business owners looking for connections, job seekers, Outlook attendees and more.

The 3D Datacom guys showed off their SMART Board by doodling and playing on the internet all day.

The Pivot boot was handmade by the construction trades workers from Ireland, brought here by international recruiting company Pivot Industries.

Rex Murphy was an inspiring speaker, talking about how this province has changed for the better and worse.

Our leadership panel with (L-R) Brenda O’Reilly, Glenn Stanford and Anne Whelan

A display of the new tech toys available from Boom IT, some of which are practically indestructible.


Keith Hutchings, minister of Innovation, Business and Rural Development, talked about the opportunities for business that exist in Newfoundland and Labrador and what the province is doing to make success happen.

Behind the scenes – our Outlook program-ming will be available on Rogers TV in the coming weeks. Check your local listings online at http://www.rogerstv.com/page.aspx?lid=14&rid=24

Audience participation helped MQO show real time results to the Outlook audience, as they were asked to text in answers to business questions.

Hickmans showed off one of its popular models.

We launched our exciting new campaign highlighting the essential value of the private sector at Outlook. For more information about the Boom, visit betheboom.ca

Mmmmmmax! Yummy smoothies and fit bodies were the items on display at the Max table.

The new My Points Card from Downhome is a tool for local retailers to offer discounts to their customers.

Staples Advantage lesser known superhero “SafetyMan” reminds businesses that Staples isn’t just about paper and pens.

Known for tasty treats at the Trade Show, Telelink was warming cookies and brownies for attendees, and president and CEO Charlie Reid was personally handing out the snacks

Leanne Kelly is our head Angel at NLAN.Do you need investment Capital? Do you know about the Angels?

arouNd the Board


outlook

Sharon Horan, our new senior vice-chair of the Board of Trade, was the Outlook conference moderator and introduced the amazing speakers throughout the day.

Anna Delaney from Rogers introduced the Leadership Series of videos, which showed off our Business Excellence Award winners. Watch the videos online at our YouTube channel at: http://www.youtube.com/user/StJohnsBoardofTrade

Avery Shenfeild, chief economist with CIBC, brought humour to the world’s economic outlook when he spoke with our membership. Those poor Leafs’ fans.

Gilbert Bennett, Nalcor’s Vice President, Lower Churchill, gave our membership more information on the Muskrat Falls project and how to get involved.

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MeMBershipPlato Consulting Inc. joins KPMG LLP KPMG and Plato Consulting have joined to improve services to its clients Plato brings more than 50 highly skilled information technology professionals to the table, who provide specialized IT consulting services and solutions to public and private sector organizations, healthcare agencies, and Crown corporations.KPMG is an audit, tax and advisory firm and employs 152,000 professionals in 156 countries.For more information on products and services offered visit kpmg.ca

National honours for community group’s Train for Trades program Congratulations go out to Choices for Youth, which was recently awarded $25,000 towards its Train for Trades program by the Sprott Foundation and Virgin Unite & Virgin Mobile’s RE Generation. The award – one of four “Eva’s Initiatives Awards for Ending Youth Homelessness” recognized the program for social innovation and success in working with homeless and at-risk youth. Train for Trades helps youth transition out of poverty and homelessness through

to sustainable long-term employment by reducing barriers and increasing employable skills. The program is in its fourth iteration and has successfully completed basement energy retrofits for more than 100 homes.

Another banner year recorded at St. John’s International Airport The number of passengers travelling through St. John’s International Airport totalled close to 1.5 million in 2012, a 6 per cent increase over the previous year. Further, St. John’s International Airport is now the 10th busiest airport in Canada. The growing popularity of the region as a tourist and convention destination, in addition to the large-scale capital investments taking place in the province is drawing people to the region. Meanwhile, business travel outside the province continues to grow and sun charters to Caribbean destinations continue to be a popular choice for Newfoundlanders 2013 is shaping up to be another strong year for air travel. Increased capacity will be created by earlier start times for Air Canada’s direct flight to London Heathrow, United Airlines’ daily service to Newark, NJ will grow to a 124 passenger Boeing 737 jet, six weeks earlier than last year, starting on April 28th, while Westjet Airlines’ weekly direct service to Orlando will be extended from a 12- to 28-week season. There are 80 flights each day to and from St. John’s International Airport to 12 destinations operated by seven airlines.

Contract to benefit NL and NS Oceanex and Nova Scotia-based Halterm Container Terminal have signed a seven-year contract that will benefit both provinces and their shipping needs. The two entities had a successful previous relationship and formalized it in a contract that will result in greater import and export opportunities for both companies. This province sends cargoes including seafood, paper products and other raw materials to Nova Scotia, while new cars, project materials and consumer products are shipped here from the Halifax port.

Gardening inspiration comes from member partnerships About the Garden is a new television series premiering on Rogers TV Channel


members in the news

9, featuring Memorial University of Newfoundland’s Botanical Garden. The informative show will provide an abundance of gardening information to help the amateur and professional alike. Filmed entirely on location at Memorial University’s Botanical Garden, the show features staff and Friends of the Garden volunteers sharing a passion for gardening and showcasing the beautiful garden. Each episode will air 14 times a week for 10 weeks on Rogers TV Channel 9 and will soon be featured on Eastlink TV. For a detailed broadcast schedule, including episode titles, please visit the Memorial University of Newfoundland Botanical Garden website at www.mun.ca/botgarden or the Rogers TV Channel 9 website at www.rogerstv.com.

Partnership makes sense for recruiting firms Puglisevich Group and David Alpin Group have announced a new partnership they believe will have significant benefit to clients in Newfoundland and Labrador. The Davis Alpin Group has more than 140 employees in 10 national and international offices, while Puglisevich focuses on the oil and gas industry training and recruitment in Newfoundland and Labrador. The partnership will allow the local company to offer crane operator assessments and custom-made rigging and lifting training programs.

Local IT firm gets into the makeover business Atlantic DataSystems launched a small to medium business contest across Atlantic Canada, which offered a grand prize of $30,000 in Sage ERP business software and IT professional services. In February, the company announced that Sandler Training in Halifax, NS was the big winner. “Partnering with other businesses in Atlantic Canada, while taking advantage of innovation and technology, will help in building a stronger Atlantic economy and spurring growth in communities throughout the Atlantic region,” Atlantic DataSystems announced.

Nominations Open for URock Awards Do URock? Know someone who does? Nominate youth and youth-led organizations today to be recognized for

their contributions to the community. Nominations for the URock Volunteer Awards can be made in two categories – 30 years or under who have made outstanding voluntary contributions without reward or gain, and youth-led non-profit organizations that have made a significant contribution for the betterment of others. Up to eight awards will be presented at the awards ceremony. All nominees, recipients, and their families will be invited to attend the 2013 URock Volunteer Awards Show, a celebration in honour of the outstanding

contributions being made by young volunteers throughout the province. The event will also include live performances by local rock bands and each award recipient will receive a customized electric guitar.For more information on the awards or to obtain a nomination form visitwww.urockvolunteerawards.ca or call 1-877-895-8891. The deadline to submit nominations is March 4, 2013.


MeMBers iN the NeWsMeMBership

Young business people encouraged to apply for BDC Grand Prize of $100,000 The BDC is accepting applications for the 2013 edition of the BDC Young Entrepreneur Award. To win a $100,000 Grand Prize, entrepreneurs aged 18 to 35 are invited to present a turning point their company has reached and the solution they propose to take their business to the next level. A second prize, consisting of $25,000 in consulting services, will be awarded to the BDC Young Entrepreneur

Award runner-up. The deadline for submitting applications is noon April 2. Entrants are asked to create a short video describing a turning point their business has reached and the solution that will help them achieve future growth. They must be Canadian citizens or permanent residents responsible for the daily management of a Canada-based business for at least two years as of December 31, 2012, and must hold at least 20 per cent of the company’s capital stock. Applications must be filled out and submitted online at http://www.bdcyoungentrepreneuraward.ca

Manage your finances from the palm of your hand A new mobile app will help students and to learn how to manage their money. The application developed by Enactus Memorial, in partnership with the Newfoundland and Labrador Credit Union is designed to help junior and senior high school students develop financial literacy skills. The FYI Expense Tracker application, developed by student volunteers at Memorial University, will be available to schools as part of the Career Development curriculum. Linked to specific curriculum outcomes for the intermediate and senior high Career Education curriculum, the FYI Expense Tracker can also be viewed on computers, iPads, or interactive whiteboards in the classroom. Career Development 2201, a course required for high school graduation, provides information and skills to enable students to make informed decisions about their future careers. This year, a Career Development module was introduced at the intermediate level to help Grade 9 students begin planning their personal and career goals.

Marking a milestone Newfoundland and Labrador Association of Technology Industries (NATI) is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. NATI provides leadership to the technology sector through policy development and advocacy activities. Additionally, NATI works to connect key players in the industry through networking events and regular industry communications. Happy Birthday NATI.

MQO poll highlights on politics, consumer trends, and labour market PeopleMatter, an in-depth look at what Newfoundlanders and Labradorians have to say about politics, consumer trends and the labour market, was presented at the St. John’s Board of Trade Outlook conference. Group m5 chief strategist Rod Budgell and MQO Research president Carolyn O’Keefe provided in-depth analysis and insight to the business audience in attendance.

Consumer highlights of the presentation included:

Confidence in the provinces economy •remains highest in the Atlantic region but has slipped since January of 2012;Researching products online is •becoming the status quo for many Newfoundlanders and Labradorians and the feedback they find online often outweighs the opinions of in-store staff;Businesses may need to look more •closely at their online presence - three-quarters of consumers have bought online in the last year, with one-third of shoppers doing at least half of their 2012 Christmas shopping online.

Highlights of the labour market section of the survey included:

Employee loyalty remains high in the •province with 65 per cent of those surveyed likely to remain with their current employer for five years;Employees are still keeping an eye on •other opportunities – six in 10 monitor current job postings on a regular basis;Some employees are looking beyond •the provinces borders for potential jobs among the almost 60 per cent of employees who monitor job postings, almost half of them monitor job opportunities outside the province.

Business News March 2013 27

iNdustrY NeWs

Business is booming in St. John’s The City of St. John’s approved 140 new businesses in 2012 and recorded more than $432 million in building permits. The city reports that commercial permits in particular were up 117 per cent in 2012 to $215 million. Major projects approved included two office towers, two hotels, and an $8 million parking garage on Duckworth Street along with several other multi-million dollar projects. Meanwhile, St. John’s had the lowest number of business bankruptcies per 1,000 businesses and ranked first on the Full Time as a Share of Total Employment on the CIBCWM Metropolitan Economic Activity Index. The report measures the performance of 25 of Canada’s major cities using annual changes of nine economic variables including population, employment growth, etc. For more on the report visit research.cibcwm.com/res

Commercial real estate makes a big impact on Canada’s economy The commercial real estate industry in Canada is estimated to be worth $63.3 billion in economic activity, according to the most recent numbers reported by the Real Property Association of Canada and the NAIOP Research Foundation. That’s twice as large as the economy in Newfoundland and Labrador. The report shows that more than 340,000 jobs are

supported by the industry, which ultimately accounts for $32.4 billion in total net contribution to the country’s GDP.

New Women Presidents’ Organization experiences rapid growth The Women Presidents’ Organization (WPO), which launched in 2012 is quickly building both momentum and members. The local chapter started with 10 members and in less than a year it has gained four more. Together these businesswomen employ more than 1,200 people throughout the province. The new members are Judy Dobbin, Clovelly; Moya Cahill, Pangeo Subsea; Christine Hand, Handyman Home Hardware and Dale Abbott, The Hair Factory. Membership in the WPO-NL Chapter has now grown to 14 – the maximum for a chapter is 20. If you are interested in joining, contact [email protected].

Contest encourages youth to Discover Entrepreneurship The province has launched the iDiscover contest to create more awareness among youth about opportunities associated with entrepreneurship. The iDiscover contest encourages youth to profile, in their own way, in any medium, an entrepreneur in their community or region. Three winning entries will be selected and the prizes are: an iMac for first place, an iPad2 for second place, and an iPod Touch for third place. Developed in cooperation with the Department of Education, a new classroom kit and textbook are a collection of case studies highlighting the stories of successful local entrepreneurs, designed to engage students in a discussion of entrepreneurship, while meeting curriculum guidelines for both courses.For more information about the iDiscover contest and the GMO program visit www.gmo.nl.ca. Contest closes March 22, 2013.

Husky Energy chair in oil and gas research appointed at Memorial University Memorial University’s Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science has a new research chair. Dr. Brian Veitch, a professor of ocean and naval architectural engineering, has been appointed the new Husky Energy Chair in Oil and Gas Research.

The $2.5-million endowment for the Husky Energy Chair in Oil and Gas Research was initiated in 2003 by Husky Energy. The current focus of the chair is to undertake an innovative research program in offshore oil and gas research, with particular emphasis on offshore engineering for harsh ocean and Arctic environments. Veitch grew up in St. John’s and holds a bachelor of engineering degree and a master of engineering degree from Memorial University, and has studied naval architecture and ocean engineering at Helsinki University of Technology. He’s worked with the National Research Council, as the Terra Nova Project Junior Research Chair at Memorial and his work has garnered a number of awards, including the President’s Award for Outstanding Research at Memorial University and Transport Canada’s Marine Safety Award. He also helped launch several technology companies with his graduate students.

Convention centre expansion going to tender The new St. John’s Convention Centre is closer to becoming a reality as the construction project goes to tender. The expansion will allow the centre to accommodate conventions of 600 to 800 and approximately 1,300 people for a sit-down dinner in the new 19,500 sq. ft. main ballroom and an additional 400 people in the junior ballroom. The current centre has two meeting rooms in addition to the ballroom. The new centre will have 10 meeting rooms on the third level and both ballrooms can be subdivided into four meeting spaces. The tender for construction on the project will close mid-March with the construction phase to begin immediately. The current St. John’s Convention Centre will remain open as work begins on the expansion until the fall of 2014 at which time it is expected to close for renovation work to begin on that portion. The newly expanded centre will open for business in January 2016.


exhibitor prize winners

Exhibitor Booth Prize Winner's Name Company of Winner

Telelink Four tickets to an Ice Caps game Erika Pardy Work Global Canada

Pattison Outdoor Advertising Four weeks on a digital billboard Craig Langille Winmar Restoration

CMA Portfolio, pen set, t-shirt, and tumbler mug Nick Coates MHPM Project Managers

Murray Premises One night accomodations Tom Berrigan Dell Canada

Advanced Education Skills AES tote bag full of goodies Ron Ward Atlantic Grocery Distributors Ltd

Newfoundland Power TakeCHARGE Home Energy Efficiency Kit plus a hat & touque Emma Nolan

Knightsbridge Robertson Surrette Rob Bennett Steers Insuracne

Avalon Laser Health $60 gift certificate for a laser assessment Helen Kelly Memorial University

Scotiabank Sony Cybershot Digital Camera Colin Ryan Donovan Homes

Resource Centre for the Arts Michael Hollohan Downhome Life

Puglisevich Darrell Hynes Belfor property Restoration

Exit Realty on the Rock Kindle Brenda Kitchen Fit For Work

Boom I.T. Services for new customer Wayne Davis Exit Realty on the Rock

Island Office Ice Cap Tickets Kevin Heffernan Re/Max Realty

Household Movers "Frosty Eve" print Kevin Hefferenan Re/Max Realty

St. John's Board of Trade Basket of wine and goodies Kevin Hefferenan Re/ Max Realty

ADS $100 Gift Card to Future Shop Meghan Ludlow DMC

Hillview Terrace Suites Complimentary night in 2 bedroom delux suite Alex Gibson Knightsbridge Robertson Surrette


MeMBership

Deloitte, one of Canada’s leading professional services firms, provides audit, tax, consulting, and financial

advisory services through more than 8,000 people in 56 offices. Deloitte

is the one firm that can deliver comprehensive solutions to complex challenges. As far back as 1845, our

founders began pioneering the devel-opment of professional standards. Today, we continue to reflect their

progressive mindset by serving our clients with results, quality and

integrity. Our passion to perform extends from serving clients of all sizes

to being involved in our community with a variety of local organizations

Brian GrovesPartner, Marketplace Leader- NL

(709) [email protected]

Elton Management Consulting Inc. has 30 years’ experience working at senior

levels across multiple sectors in the areas of strategic/business planning,

organizational and operational/resource alignment, business development and performance management. Kathy-Jane Elton, President, is recognised for the proven leadership, focus and unfail-ing energy she brings to all projects.

She carries the Certified Management Consultant (CMC) designation and

served as the first NL President of the Canadian Association of Management

Consultants, Atlantic Chapter 2010-12; in 2011 she received the Atlantic award

for Outstanding Contribution to the Profession of Management Consulting.

KPMG is a global network of profes-sional firms providing Audit, Tax and Advisory services. We have 140,000

professionals working together to deliver value in 146 countries

worldwide. The KPMG brand is inter-nationally recognized for its values,

approach to service delivery and commitment to quality.

In Atlantic Canada we recognize that personalized service at the local level is

essential. Our offices in St. John’s, Halifax,

Moncton, Saint John and Fredericton work as a team to service clients

across the region. With over 130 staff, including 19 partners, we believe KPMG to be the leading professional services

firm in the Atlantic region.KPMG IT Advisory – 709-576-6770

KPMG Tax and Audit – 709-733-5000kpmg.ca

The Certified Management Consultant (CMC) designation is the professional designation governing the occupation

of Management Consulting and is recognized by NAFTA and in more than 50 countries. It represents a

commitment to the highest standards for the practice of management consulting and adherence to the strong ethical requirements. The

CMC designation requires the highest standards of practice and proven

minimum competencies across 6 core areas: strategy development, marketing, human resource management, finance, business operations and information

technology. This certification distinguishes those management

consultants who are truly professional and can bring a learned and truly

objective viewpoint to all engagements.

The Canadian Payroll Association (CPA) has been the authoritative source of Canadian payroll knowledge since

1978. The CPA influences the legislative compliance processes and practices of over 500,000 small, medium and large employers, payroll service and software providers and governments. The association currently counts more than 18,000 members who rely on its

valuable resources including unlimited access and accurate answers to any payroll question. The CPA also offers professional development seminars,

various networking events and Canada’s only payroll certification programs.

For more information on the CPA, visit payroll.ca, email membership@payroll.

ca or call 1-800-387-4693 x 118.

Payroll Leadership through Advocacy and Education

ProspectusThe Colonial Group

The Colonial Group is a privately owned consulting firm offering services that support local, national and international companies. Established in 2009, in St John’s Newfoundland and Labrador, The Colonial Group leadership brings over 60 years of experience in the areas of:

Strategic planning•Business development•Government relations•Executive networking •Human resources management and •strategic planningLabour relations •International Marketing•

With a wide breadth of experience in Technology, Aerospace and Defence. The Colonial Group continues to work in support of the Mining and Oil and Gas as well. After working within the executive hub of a Wall St. Fortune 100 company, The Colonial Group understands that “simple is more”. As such, The Colonial Group value proposition is:

Understand the client need;•Develop the client deliverable in its •simplest and easy to use state, andWork with the client to fine tune•

36 Baffin Drive • Mt Pearl • NL • A1N 4Y4

member profiles


new members

Smart Learning and Development SolutionsSharon Dominey, Owner / Learning & Development Specialist357 Little Harbour RoadLittle Harbour- Twillingate, NL [email protected]

Special Olympics Newfoundland & LabradorTrish Williams, Executive Director50 Pippy Place, Suite 16BSt. John’s, NL A1B [email protected]

Federation des francophones de Terre-Neuve et du LabradorGael Cosbineau, Executive Director65 Ridge RoadSt. John’s, NL A1B [email protected]

Association of Newfoundland Land SurveyorsPaula Baggs, Executive Director62-64 Pippy Place, Suite 203St. John’s, NL A1B [email protected]

The Colonial GroupJim House, President / CEO36 Baffin DriveMount Pearl, NL A1N [email protected]

Basho Restaurant & LoungeTak Ishiwata, Owner / Operator283 Duckworth StreetSt. John’s, NL A1C [email protected]

Dale Carnegie TrainingRhonda O’Keefe, Business Coach34 Ivany DriveParadise, NL A1L 0T9709-237-6715

Conference Board of CanadaPaul Preston, Associate Director, Innovation & Policy255 Smyth RoadOttawa ON K1H [email protected]

Newfound Marketing Sheldon Payne, Digital Marketing Consultant P.O. Box 21070St. John’s, NL A1A [email protected]

Vibe Global Event ManagementPamela Oake, Director of Operations205 Logy Bay Road, Suite 5St. John’s, NL A1A [email protected]

Rising Tide TheatreDonna Butt, Artistic and Executive DirectorP.O. Box 78Trinity NL A0C 2S0709-764-3232709-747-1501 (Admin Office St. John’s)709-747-8515 [email protected]

Bell Mobility Inc – Real Estate Service Zone PrimePaul Greene, Real Estate Services Zone Prime10 Factory Lane Lower levelSt. John’s, NL [email protected]


upcoMiNg eveNts

St. Patrick’s Day Business MixerCome out and network, do business with one another and perhaps dance a little jig with the Murray Premises Hotel and other Board of Trade members. Make sure you come in spirit and dress in green!

Date: Thurs., Mar. 14Time: 4:30 pm – 6:30 pmCost: Included as a benefit of your membershipLocation: Murray Premises Hotel, 5 Becks CoveTo register for these events please contact Wanda Palmer at [email protected] or 726-2961 ext. 9

Lunch and Learn“Hire Abroad – Meet the Decision

Makers”Wondering how to make hiring foreign workers simple? Meet Louise van Winkle from the Canadian Embassy in Paris. Learn about Destination Canada, a Federal Francophone Job Fair event. Hear about opportunities to recruit personnel from Europe and elsewhere. Find out about temporary worker and permanent resident program options from federal officials. Meet with public agencies that specialize in international employment and mobility and learn how they can help recruit the personnel you need, free of charge.

Date: Mon., Mar. 4Time: 12 pm – 2 pmCost: $20+HST member discount $40+HST non memberLocation: Holiday Inn, 180 Portugal Cove Rd.

Sponsored By:

4 Lunch and Learn – Creating the Smartest Workforce in Canada – One

Business at a TimeTo make this happen, SmartForceNL uses the power of CoursePark – the world’s fastest growing learning network for small businesses. In the past 2 years, the SmartForceNL program has improved the skills development of over 650 businesses in Newfoundland & Labrador, while providing eLearning training to 10,000 people … all at No Cost. Join Chris Sharpe, Director of User

Experience to learn how to: 1. Assign training to your staff 2. Manage your employees’ performance 3. Build your own ‘Learning Network’ and courses in minutes

Date: Tues., Mar. 5Time: 12:30 pm – 2 pmCost: $35+HST member discount $45+HST non memberLocation: St. John’s Board of Trade, Board Room 34 Harvey Rd., 3 Fl.

Luncheon Join Loyola Hearn, Canadian Ambassador to Ireland as he speaks to Board of Trade members. He will discuss enhancing trade between Newfoundland and Labrador and Ireland, the potential for a direct European flight from this province and how Ireland’s growing labour pool could be a solution to our shortage.

Date: Tues., Mar. 12Time: 12:30 pm – networking 1 pm - luncheonCost: $42.50+HST member discount $85+HST non memberLocation: Sheraton Hotel Newfoundland, 115 Cavendish Sq.

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business news march 2013

Documents

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basin discovery

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gas exploration team

exploration activities