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Home My WebLink AboutThe Lucknow Sentinel, 2013-11-27, Page 66 Lucknow Sentinel • Wednesday, November 27, 2013 Labour Market plan would help community economics A Local Labour Market Plan (LLMP) serves to help communities make informed decisions in response to ever -evolving economic realities. The Four County Labour Market Planning Board (Four County LMPB) released its October 2013 LLMP Update to help meet the demands of these realities. "The LLMP provides information that sets the tone for the types of labour market improvements undertaken by the Planning Board and its part- ners," said Gemma Mendez -Smith, Four County LMPB executive director. "Municipalities can use the information as they strategically plan for eco- nomic development." The information in the report is one way to help build strong relationships between employers and their workforce, she said, adding that "collab- oration is the best way to create innovation." The LLMP Update has the latest information about population changes, local labour market conditions, employment services and employ- ment opportunities, as well as analyses of local employment, industrial structure of employers and population dynamics in the counties of Bruce, Grey, Huron and Perth. "The LLMP goes a long way to bring informa- tion forward to the public',' said Alison Lobb, man- ager of the Huron Small Business Enterprise Centre. "It's a good resource for people who are formulating ideas about creat- ing and growing a self-employment business." Bruce County Warden David Inglis said there is "always room for improve- ment" in our communities, and the report is a "great snapshot of what is taking place in our communities,." The Four County LMPB has identi- fied three key priorities for community initiatives delivered by business, edu- cation and services. These include strengthening the workforce skills locally, identifying key workforce skills, gaps and growth, and fostering employer engagement in local work- force development. The local integrated -workforce plan- ning process also continues to evolve with the recent addition of employ- ment service providers to discussions on workforce issues, "creating a holistic look at our local workforce issues," said Mendez -Smith. The report is available on the Four County LMPB's website at www.plan- ningboard.ca. Radon testing recommended for winter The Grey Bruce Health Unit recommends win- ter radon testing for all homes to determine if you or your family is at risk of radon exposure. Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas given off from the breakdown of uranium found in rocks and soil. Radon gas can enter buildings through cracks in foundation floors and walls, gaps in service pipes, open floor drains or any other area of exposed soil. The highest concentra- tions of radon are usually found in basements and lower levels of homes. Long-term exposure to high levels of radon increases your risk of developing lung cancer. The risk from radon exposure is long-term and depends on the level of radon, the length of expo- sure and a person's smoking habits. Smoking com- bined with radon exposure greatly increases the risk of lung cancer. "Radon is a health concern for Canadians, but few homeowners understand the risk or how they can protect themselves and their family against it," says Dr. Hazel Lynn, Medical Officer of Health. "Grey Bruce Health Unit is joining other public health units in a collaborative awareness cam- paign to help people better understand this issue." A national study by Health Canada found higher than recommended radon levels in homes tested throughout the country, which means the location or the age of your home cannot be used to evaluate your risk of exposure to indoor radon. The only way to know the radon level in your home is to test for it. Testing for radon is inexpensive and easy. Test kits are available for purchase at local retailers and online. Health Canada recommends testing during the winter months in the lowest lived-in area of your home. Testing should be carried out for a minimum of three months in order to obtain the most accurate results. Homes that test above Health Canada's guideline should be remediated. Information about inter- preting test results and household remediation can be obtained from Health Canada at http://www.hc-sc. gc.ca/hl-vs/iyh-vsv/environ/radon- eng.php. For more information about radon, contact the Grey Bruce Health Unit at 519-376-9420 and ask to be connected to the Public Health Inspection Help Desk or visit http://www.publichealth- greybruce.on.ca. United Way takes issue with minimum wage A "living wage" is needed for people to avoid poverty in today's economy. A recent survey carried out by the Bruce Grey Poverty Task Force for the Ontario Poverty Reduc- tion Strategy Review submission heard from low- income wage earners of Bruce and Grey Counties. The majority of people surveyed (total 82) were aged 45-65, with lived experience or living in pov- erty; they prioritized the provision of a "living wage" as the most important thing to reduce pov- erty for families and individuals. "We've heard over and over again how "precari- ous" employment is undermining a person's abil- ity to maintain their household budgets," said United Way Executive Director Francesca Dobbyn. "A single person working full-time at the current minimum wage of $10.25 would earn below the poverty line, add dependants, part-time work and the family is in constant financial crisis." za PLEASE WINE THIS' NEWSPAPER aha GO[ U IC11524-781 Nov 29 - Dec 05 um pills ale I Brae rtair2:;: ""}` • . miff Cbri15021 re Fri ,Frl & Sat G:45E. 9:1S Sum -7hlT 1-3iJ $M . Si'loNtt1 2 aD k77. Nr1t111Li,fz4 4.1ra'.ihla• .11 Orr th dhlr's' lir •511 .il@71111J l 111 Iloatia i L lellf•yl .rwi,j a 1,Y 'Pair .JEri Nlr-Eli LA roptErctL Joni HurrtrienIC'N .LMM1 YgN+ W flflF .. Fri & Sat £M & 9:15 Sun Thur 1:210 www.movielinks.ca lona, d I. l -B1310-265-3438 4 The United Way calculated that a liv- ing wage for the City of Owen Sound would be $13.21 and for Bruce Grey in general $15.11. (May 2012) "The most significant difference between living in the rural counties verses in Owen Sound is access to tran- sit, our calculations for the city only assessed for transit use, not a car," Dob- byn detailed. The United Way of Bruce Grey sup- ports the following recommendations: (see attachment for clarifying statements) • A minimum wage should bring workers and their families out of poverty. • The minimum wage should be cal- culated based on a 35 -hour work week. • The minimum wage should be adjusted every year with the cost of living. • Wages for farm or migrant workers, who are currently exempted from Ontario's minimum wage laws, be regulated. Further engagement on the positive impact of an increase of minimum wage rate on Bruce Grey Counties' busi- ness community be undertaken as part of the preparation for any increases. An increase in the minimum wage will raise the standards for all Ontario employees. This increase will have a positive impact on those working at minimum wage and other low wage workers. The combined impact would mitigate income inequality and go a long way to reduce poverty in our community. For more information contact Franc- esca Dobbyn at 519-376-1560. get it inline lucknowsentinel.com Get all of your news, sports and more. Serving Lucknow and surrounding area q - • S --- The Lucknow Sentinel Birthday Club Kaleb Donaldson December 3, 2007 - 6 years old Kolby Donaldson December 3, 2007 - 6 years old Your child can be a member of the Sentinel's birthday club call 519-528-2822 to register Nolan Eating 619 Campbell Street 519-528-2822 GO[ U IC11524-781 Nov 29 - Dec 05 um pills ale I Brae rtair2:;: ""}` • . miff Cbri15021 re Fri ,Frl & Sat G:45E. 9:1S Sum -7hlT 1-3iJ $M . Si'loNtt1 2 aD k77. Nr1t111Li,fz4 4.1ra'.ihla• .11 Orr th dhlr's' lir •511 .il@71111J l 111 Iloatia i L lellf•yl .rwi,j a 1,Y 'Pair .JEri Nlr-Eli LA roptErctL Joni HurrtrienIC'N .LMM1 YgN+ W flflF .. Fri & Sat £M & 9:15 Sun Thur 1:210 www.movielinks.ca lona, d I. l -B1310-265-3438 4 The United Way calculated that a liv- ing wage for the City of Owen Sound would be $13.21 and for Bruce Grey in general $15.11. (May 2012) "The most significant difference between living in the rural counties verses in Owen Sound is access to tran- sit, our calculations for the city only assessed for transit use, not a car," Dob- byn detailed. The United Way of Bruce Grey sup- ports the following recommendations: (see attachment for clarifying statements) • A minimum wage should bring workers and their families out of poverty. • The minimum wage should be cal- culated based on a 35 -hour work week. • The minimum wage should be adjusted every year with the cost of living. • Wages for farm or migrant workers, who are currently exempted from Ontario's minimum wage laws, be regulated. Further engagement on the positive impact of an increase of minimum wage rate on Bruce Grey Counties' busi- ness community be undertaken as part of the preparation for any increases. An increase in the minimum wage will raise the standards for all Ontario employees. This increase will have a positive impact on those working at minimum wage and other low wage workers. The combined impact would mitigate income inequality and go a long way to reduce poverty in our community. For more information contact Franc- esca Dobbyn at 519-376-1560. get it inline lucknowsentinel.com Get all of your news, sports and more. Serving Lucknow and surrounding area