What's New

December 2007

A new international study by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) shows that Canadian 15-year-old students rank among the best in science, mathematics, and reading. The Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) study, conducted in 2006, tested over 400,000 students in 57 countries and economies.

November 2007

To better meet the needs of prospective immigrants and newcomers to Canada, CIC and HRSDC have updated the Going to Canada Immigration Portal to incorporate new content and interactive tools. This website was developed in partnership with Citizenship and Immigration Canada. HRSDC's section of the portal, called Working in Canada helps prospective and new immigrants learn more about Canada's labour market and the steps involved in finding a job in Canada.

The Working in Canada Tool helps prospective and new immigrants prepare for employment in Canada by providing labour market reports tailored to a specific occupation and geographic area (city, town or region).
The research paper The Role of Family and Government Financial Supports in Helping Canadian Workers Avoid Poverty assesses the extent to which family and government financial supports prevent workers from living in low income.
Now available: Participation in post-secondary education: graduates, continuers and drop outs: results from YITS cycle 4. This joint report with Statistics Canada uses the latest available data from the Youth in Transition Survey. The report examines participation and completion of post-secondary education among 24- to 26-year-olds in Canada.
The Thérèse Casgrain Volunteer Award Call for Nominations is open from November 21, 2007 to February 1, 2008.
Estimating and Forecasting Aggregate Retirement Flows in the Canadian Labour Market. This paper introduces a new model for estimating and forecasting retirement flows in the Canadian labour market.
The New Horizons for Seniors Program is now accepting applications for two new types of funding. Capital Assistance Funding helps non-profit organizations that need to upgrade facilities or equipment used for existing seniors' programs and activities. Elder Abuse Awareness Funding helps non-profit organizations raise awareness of the abuse of older persons on a national or regional level.

October 2007

HRSDC is launching a call for proposals for projects to help individuals with disabilities and their families. For more information, visit SDPP-Call for Proposals 2008 - 2009.
The Prime Minister's Awards for Excellence in Early Childhood Education
Report of the HRSDC Chief Actuary to the Employment Insurance Commission on the Employment Insurance premium rate and Maximum Insurable Earnings for 2008

In accordance with section 65.3 of the Employment Insurance Act, the chief actuary shall determine the premium rate for a year that, in the chief actuary's opinion, based on the information provided by the Minister of Finance under section 66.2, taking into account any regulations made under section 69 and any requests made by the Minister in accordance with subsection 65.3(2), should generate just enough premium revenue during that year to cover the payments that will be made under subsection 77(1) during that year. Also, in accordance with section 4 of the Employment Insurance Act, the Maximum Insurable Earnings must be determined annually in accordance with the prescribed formula.

September 2007

Are you an employer looking to hire temporary foreign workers for positions located in Alberta and British Columbia in certain occupations? If you are, you may qualify to participate in the Expedited Labour Market Opinion (E-LMO) Pilot Project and receive an expedited Labour Market Opinion within three to five days of Service Canada receiving your application.
Canada Student Loans Program Online Consultation – Canadians and stakeholders, including students and parents, are invited to submit their views and ideas about how to modernize and simplify the Program.

August 2007

Pan-Canadian Study of First Year College Students: Report 1 - Student Characteristics and the College Experience. This joint-study, between Human Resources and Social Development Canada (HRSDC) and the Association of Canadian Community Colleges (ACCC), provides the most comprehensive national description of first-year students in Canadian colleges, institutes, cégeps and university colleges to date.
A Study of Poverty and Working Poverty among Recent Immigrants to Canada. This research examines the characteristics of recent immigrants who were living in low income in 2004 and pays particular attention to their labour market participation.
The Government of Canada reports, The Well-Being of Canada’s Young Children: Government of Canada Report 2006, Early Childhood Development Activities and Expenditures: Government of Canada Report 2004-2005 and 2005-2006, and Early Learning and Child Care Activities and Expenditures: Government of Canada Report 2004-2005 and 2005-2006 are now available online. These reports are co-published by Human Resources and Social Development Canada, the Public Health Agency of Canada and Indian and Northern Affairs Canada.
HRSDC is launching a call for proposals for Education Savings Community Outreach. For more information, visit Education Savings Community Outreach (ESCO 2007) - Call For Proposals
Addressing the challenges and opportunities of aging in Canada, is now available online. This report, prepared for the UN Commission for Social Development, focuses on new federal action taken and the further development of existing programs around seniors and population ageing.

July 2007

HRSDC is launching a call for proposals for community sector organizations. For more information, visit Community Sector Organizations - Call for Proposals
The Geographical Distribution of Adult Literacy Skills in Canada (CD-ROM) is now available upon request. The CD-ROM includes interactive maps of adult literacy skills in Canada and presentations on literacy performance of the working age population.

June 2007

Old Age Security (OAS) program rates for July 1, 2007 to September 30, 2007 are now available. Consult the OAS payment rates or print the latest Information Card.

May 2007

The Canada Pension Plan Annual Report (2005-2006) was tabled in the House on Monday May 28, 2007.
The Looking Ahead (2006-2015) report highlights the results of the department's latest ten-year Canadian labour market projections.

April 2007

The 2006 Employment Insurance Monitoring and Assessment Report focuses on the period April 1, 2005 to March 31, 2006. The Honourable Monte Solberg, Minister of Human Resources and Social Development, tabled the report in Parliament on April 27, 2007. The report, prepared by the Canada Employment Insurance Commission, monitors and assesses the impacts of the Employment Insurance system on the economy, communities and individuals.
The Honourable Monte Solberg, Minister of Human Resources and Social Development announces the recipients of the Thérèse Casgrain Volunteer Award, April 19, 2007
The Honourable Monte Solberg, Minister of Human Resources and Social Development, presented one of the first $1,000 cheques for the new Apprenticeship Incentive Grant, at Waiward Steel Fabricators, in Edmonton, Alberta.

For more information on the Apprenticeship Incentive Grant, visit the following Web site: http://www.servicecanada.gc.ca, call 1-866-742-3644 (TTY 1-866-909-9757), or visit your local Service Canada Centre.
Report from the Ministerial Advisory Committee on the Government of Canada's Child Care Spaces Initiative

January 2007

Understanding the Early Years – An Update of Early Childhood Development Results in Four Canadian Communities - July 2005. The report highlights some of the key findings from data collected from four diverse UEY pilot communities: Prince Albert, Saskatchewan; Winnipeg, Manitoba; Prince Edward Island; and Southwest Newfoundland.

What's New - 2006