Skills development, streamlining services and removing barriers for business are just some of the areas smaller enterprises have identified as important to on-going competitiveness. The government recognizes what is good for business is good for Manitoba and has been responding with new initiatives to assist small businesses.
Manitoba’s highly educated, motivated workforce has been a competitive advantage for the province for many years. Manitoba companies must be able to hire the skills they need to grow and prosper, just as graduating students need to match up with companies looking for the skills they have learned.
Co-operative Education Tax Credit:
The Co-operative Education Tax Credit (CETC), provides a 10% credit of up to $1,000 against Corporation Income Tax for each student hired for a work placement as part of a recognized post-secondary co-operative education program. For co-op education work placements starting on or after March 7, 2006, a parallel incentive is now available to all employers, including corporations and other organizations that are exempt from income tax, such as Manitoba Crown entities and employers in the not-for-profit and voluntary sectors.
Co-op Graduates hiring incentive:
An incentive to hire and retain in Manitoba graduates of post-secondary co-operative education programs. Employers, including unincorporated and tax-exempt entities, will be eligible for an incentive to hire and retain, in full-time employment in Manitoba, students who graduate after March 6, 2006 from a recognized post-secondary co-operative education program in a field of study related to the employment. The benefit will total 5% of wages and salaries paid to the graduate in each of the first two full years of employment, to a maximum of $2,500 for each year, where the employment commences within 18 months of graduation.
Sectoral training partnerships:
Partnership initiatives for new and existing workers include cost-shared training, recruitment strategies, demographic analysis and attraction strategies through joint ventures between government, industry associations, training providers and labour in strategic industry sectors.
Wage subsidies:
Assistance for the cost of on-the-job training for eligible new employees.
Job bank:
Free job vacancy advertising on the internet. In Winnipeg employers can call 204-945-8400 or post job openings at www.jobbank.gc.ca/Intro_en.asp
Provincial Nominee Program for Business:
The Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program for Business is a component of an existing immigration program that was created through an agreement between the Government of Canada and the Province of Manitoba. The purpose of this program is to attract exceptional business persons who are able and willing to make a capital contribution and be active in a new or existing business in the Province of Manitoba.
Business immigrants are required to have a net worth of at least $250,000 (CDN) and be willing and able to make a capital contribution of at least $150,000 into a business venture in which they will be actively involved.
