Times have changed. Borders, too. Frequent business travelers know that and leave earlier to allow for longer security controls. But they are sometimes astonished when a border officer declares them inadmissible to Canada for criminality.

A new environment
Nowadays, border officers work in an enforcement environment. A much greater emphasis is now put on security controls and safety, without any consideration for the individual’s position or the purpose and duration of his visit to Canada. Where border officers in the past may have used their good judgment in assessing risks, they are now applying strict guidelines and a zero tolerance discipline toward visitors with any sort of criminal history.

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By Sara Parchello

The face of unionization in Canada is changing. Although it’s declining in the private sector, it’s increasing in the public sector. A few recent decisions by Canadian courts show this trend.

The most recent is a decision involving the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (commonly known as the “Mounties”). On April 6, 2009, the Ontario Superior Court gave the Mounties the right to unionize.

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By Katie Clayton and Cherity Smith

Since the economic downturn took hold, each day brings another announcement of employee layoffs and corporate downsizing. Recent blog entries have looked at options such as layoffs, furloughs, and reducing hours of work. There is another option in Canada – work-sharing.

What is work-sharing?
Work-sharing is an adjustment program created by the Canadian government. It provides income support to employees eligible for employment insurance benefits who are willing to work a reduced workweek. The reduced workweek would be for a defined time period in order to help the employer avoid layoffs.

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By Mark Colavecchia and Derek Knoechel

In June 2003 George Radwanski, Canada’s federal privacy commissioner, resigned three years into his seven-year term amid parliamentary inquiries into travel and hospitality expenses. Several months later, the auditor general released a report leading to a lengthy police investigation of Radwanski’s expense claims.

In March 2006, the former privacy commissioner was charged with fraud over $5,000 and breach of trust. The fraud charges stemmed from a $15,000 travel advance, while the breach of trust charges arose from contraventions of policies governing federal public office holders.

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