CREDA File

Welcome to the CREDA File, a monthly column on economic development issues and activities in Cumberland County from the files of the Cumberland Regional Economic Development Association - published monthly in the Citizen newspaper.

January 2009

 

The arrival of a new year means it’s time once again for local employers and non-profit organizations to begin working on those provincial and federal student employment program applications. Here in Nova Scotia the department of Economic Development has introduced an efficient, secure and user-friendly process for employers wishing to participate in the Student Career Skills Development Program and the Cooperative Employment Program. Applications can now be completed online at http://www.onlinesep.ca

The Student Career Skills Development Program partners with non-profit organizations that have career-related jobs for post-secondary students. The Cooperative Employment Program provides superior (required) work experience for eligible post-secondary co-operative students in not for profit, municipal and government-funded organizations.

The upcoming program deadline for the Student Career Skills Development Program is January 30, 2009. Employers are required to pay students at least $10 per hour plus 4% vacation pay. NS Economic Development is increasing their hourly reimbursement to $8.00 per hour from $6.50 per hour.

For the Cooperative Employment Program, employers are to pay students at least $12.00 per hour plus 4% vacation pay. NSED is increasing the hourly reimbursement for not-for-profit organizations to $8.00 per hour. Government funded hourly reimbursement remains at 50% of the wage to a maximum of $7.00 per hour.

Meanwhile, the application period for Canada Summer Jobs 2009 will run from February 2 to February 27. Locally defined priorities as well as Summer Job Applicant Guides for employers will be made available by Service Canada on February 2.

Three Internet Service Providers have been working around the clock to deliver high speed Internet to rural Nova Scotia under the Broadband for Rural Nova Scotia (BRNS) initiative. The local service provider, Seaside High Speed has 40 new sites near operational status in Cumberland and Victoria counties. The company has identified another 120 sites where it will be erecting poles early in 2009, to provide high-speed service in northeastern Nova Scotia and Cape Breton.

All three service providers are using fixed wireless technology to deliver high speed. Work on the network is continuing, even as winter settles in. The radio frequency engineering for a province-wide fixed wireless network was undertaken. This engineering plan is the blueprint for project construction. The Internet Service Providers are working closely with the Nova Scotia Geomatics Centre, based in Amherst, to ensure they have the most accurate record possible of the province’s constantly changing list of civic addresses.

In the last 12 months, sites for fixed wireless structures and equipment have been identified and leased all over the province as part of the initiative. All three Internet Service Providers are using existing towers, and building new structures to carry the fixed wireless network signal across the province. Tower upgrading and construction has been underway for a number of months now, across many counties and regions.

BRNS staff members and partners are working to help communities plan for a high speed future by holding workshops in many affected communities. Planning for a High Speed Future is a community-based facilitated workshop that offers groups an opportunity to identify goals and priorities to help to make the most of broadband access in the community. The workshops were developed using a collaborative design and review process. Contact broadband@gov.ns.ca if you have any queries about this project or would like to see a workshop held in your community.

 

If you have any questions or want further information regarding CREDA call 667-3638. CREDA is Quality System registered to ISO 9001:2000.