Legislation introduced in British Columbia aims to facilitate the recognition of credentials for professionals trained outside of Canada. The Whistler Chamber of Commerce sees this as a positive step but emphasizes that housing remains a significant challenge in the resort town. The legislation is designed to make British Columbia more attractive to workers considering moving to Canada and to allow those already in the province to work in their trained professions. It requires regulatory bodies to remove barriers to certification of foreign training in 29 professions. The Whistler Chamber of Commerce conducted a survey that revealed around 70% of its members were not fully staffed, with housing being a major factor. The legislation would open up the hiring pool for businesses like Coast Mountain Veterinary Services, but the managing veterinarian notes that the recognition of credentials should also be extended to veterinary technicians and nurses. The chamber emphasizes that housing and labor shortages are interconnected, and more affordable housing is needed to address the challenges faced by employees in Whistler.
Job seekers at the Banff Winter Hiring Fair in Canada express concerns about the high cost of living and housing challenges in the area. Many participants, who are on temporary visas, are hoping to find jobs in the hospitality sector that provide accommodation. The high turnover rate in the Bow Valley, where the fair is held, means that companies often have to hire and train new employees frequently, resulting in additional costs. Steven Woollard, from the Canmore Young Adult Network, highlights the difficulty for new residents to access affordable housing in the area, as the work available is often low-paying. Despite these challenges, some employers are willing to provide accommodation for their employees. The job fair aims to connect job seekers with prospective employers, including big names in the industry such as Sunshine Village, Nakiska Ski Resort, and Parks Canada.
In Windsor, Ontario, the Ontario Superior Court of Justice has dismissed an application by Windsor Housing Providers Inc. to overturn the Residential Licensing By-law pilot project in the City of Windsor. The by-law, launched in February 2023 in wards 1 and 2, aims to improve safety in the city's rental stock through a proactive inspection system. Councillor Fabio Costante expressed satisfaction with the court's decision, stating that the by-law has withstood scrutiny and that the pilot project can now resume. However, Borys Sozanski of Windsor Housing Providers Inc. expressed disappointment, arguing that the by-law adds unnecessary bureaucracy and will increase rents and reduce the housing stock. The City of Windsor has not been enforcing the by-law while the matter was before the court, but the pilot project has been ongoing. 750 applications have already been submitted, with 450 licenses issued and inspections underway. The pilot study is scheduled to continue until 2026.
The Ontario government will conduct two enforcement campaigns from April 1, 2024, to March 31, 2025, focusing on falls from heights and struck-bys on construction sites. The falls from heights campaign will target single-family residential construction and multi-family residential in urban areas, with a focus on roofing and framing activities. The Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development will partner with the Infrastructure Health and Safety Association to produce podcasts and publish compliance assistance resources. The struck-by campaign will focus on activities where workers may be struck by material, equipment, and vehicles. Inspectors will check the operation and maintenance of equipment, storage and handling of material, inspection of rigging equipment, worker training, and the presence of a signal person when required. The campaigns aim to address the high number of critical injuries and fatalities in the residential construction subsector and equipment struck-bys incidents. The Ontario government is collaborating with the Infrastructure Health and Safety Association to create health and safety resources for the campaigns.
White Rock council members and staff are struggling with provincial small scale multi-unit housing edicts and mandated new zoning that could radically change the face of the city. The provincial government's edict, Bill 44, requires municipalities to provide small scale multi-unit housing as part of its Homes for People Action Plan. White Rock has until June 30 to implement zoning changes that permit between three and six units per property in certain zones. The city is not allowed to specify parking requirements for such development. Approximately 88% of the city's landbase is impacted by the new zoning requirements. Some council members express concerns about public perception and the lack of public hearings for these developments. Others see the potential for community-building and embrace the changes. The revised city zoning bylaw is expected to be finalized on June 24.
Surrey resident Avery Quinn, a sex worker, is advocating for the protection of vulnerable women in the sex work industry. Quinn claims that sex workers are being pushed out of Whalley, where they work, and are being forcefully removed from their temporary homes by police and bylaw officers. She argues that this displacement makes sex workers less safe because they are unable to share information about dangerous individuals and safe working locations. Quinn accuses the City of Surrey of trying to 'clean up' Whalley and push vulnerable people out of sight. The city denies these claims. Quinn calls for constant pressure on local government to provide support and safe spaces for sex workers. She highlights the need for a shelter space for sex workers in Surrey, similar to those in Vancouver. Quinn also urges the public to challenge negative biases towards sex workers and to recognize their right to safety and inclusion in society.
Surrey council will vote on a city staff recommendation to bring forward a bylaw amendment to permit small-scale multi-unit housing on single-family and duplex lots. The legislation requires cities to amend their zoning bylaws to allow three to six units on all single-family and duplex-zoned lots. The amended bylaws will be up for third reading on June 24 and final adoption on June 26 to meet the June 30 deadline set by the provincial government. The small-scale multi-housing (SSMUH) legislation aims to enhance the supply and affordability of housing in communities throughout British Columbia. It will affect more than 72,000 properties in Surrey and refers to a range of buildings and dwelling units, including secondary suites, coach houses, garden suites, and house-plexes.
WorkSafeBC has publicly released a suite of recommended changes aimed at improving crane safety in British Columbia. The recommendations come five months after a construction crane arm buckled at a job site in Whalley. The incident in Surrey resulted in no injuries, but there have been other crane-related fatalities in the province, including a tower crane collapse in Kelowna in 2021 and a worker death at an Oakridge Park worksite. The seven recommendations include reviewing the crane operator certification program, improving training and skills for supervisors and workers, increasing staffing and capacity for crane inspections, developing new regulations for tower crane inspections, and updating occupational health and safety regulations. WorkSafeBC will discuss the recommendations with the Ministry of Labour, SkilledTradesBC, unions, employers, and the BC Association for Crane Safety. [49ebad28]