GITKSAN ARCHITECTURAL PAINTING AND RESTORATION

Gitksan Architectural Painting and Restoration is immediately hiring current or returning First Nations students for full time employment in the Vancouver area.  Gitksan Architectural specializes in high end residential painting and restoration, delivering a superior product to our clients.  First Nations owned and operated, we are committed to building the capacities and experience of First Nations youth in a healthy and supportive work environment.   No experience is necessary, but is an asset.  All training, equipment and paint clothing will be provided by employer. 

Competitive wages +

Please submit resume by email or call to speak with the Project Manager.

Deadline:  May 16th, 2008

SURREY, British Columbia, March 17, 2008 — Starting and running a business in the City of Surrey just became easier thanks to BizPaL, a new online business permit and licence service that saves time spent on paperwork and helps entrepreneurs start up faster.

Today, Russ Hiebert, Member of Parliament for South Surrey-White Rock-Cloverdale, on behalf of the Honourable Jim Prentice, Minister of Industry, together with the Honourable Kevin Falcon, Minister of Transportation for British Columbia and Member of the Legislative Assembly for Surrey-Cloverdale, and Surrey Councillor Linda Hepner, on behalf of Mayor Dianne Watts, welcomed the launch of BizPaL in Surrey.

BizPaL is an innovative project that provides entrepreneurs with simplified access to the information on permits and licences that they need to establish and run their businesses. This unique partnership among federal, provincial, territorial, regional and local governments is designed to cut through the paperwork burden and red tape that small business owners encounter. The BizPaL service in Surrey was developed with the support of Industry Canada, in collaboration with the City of Surrey and the Province of British Columbia.

“Starting up and growing a business is not easy,” said Mr. Hiebert. “In addition to supporting BizPaL, with Budget 2008 we are providing a more competitive and productive economy for small businesses in British Columbia. We are easing the tax compliance burden by addressing the record-keeping requirements for automobile expense deductions and taxable benefits, as well as the Scientific Research and Experimental Development tax incentive program.”

“BizPaL is consistent with our government’s goal of reducing the regulatory burden on small business,” said Minister Falcon. “This will give British Columbia’s entrepreneurs more time to focus their efforts on growing their small businesses.”

“BizPaL provides the City of Surrey with an exciting new opportunity to serve our business community,” said Councillor Hepner. “I am confident this program will allow Surrey to continue to build upon its reputation as being a business-friendly city.”

Area business owners and entrepreneurs can access the service by visiting http://www.surrey.ca/Doing+Business/BizPal/default.htm or http://www.bcbizpal.ca. The Province is looking forward to expanding BizPaL to other areas of British Columbia over the next year.

Visit http://www.bizpal.ca for additional project history, information and access to the websites of participating partners.

For further information (media only), please contact:

Catherine Godbout
Office of the Honourable Diane Ablonczy
Secretary of State (Small Business and Tourism)
613-947-5856

Media Relations
Industry Canada
613-943-2502

Dave Crebo
Communications Director
Ministry of Small Business and Revenue
Government of British Columbia
250-387-4193

Joel Giebelhaus
Communications and Policy Advisor
Office of the Mayor
Surrey, British Columbia
604-591-4192
Backgrounder

BizPaL Simplifies Permits and Licences for Canadian Businesses

BizPaL is an online service that benefits Canadian businesses by helping them identify which permits and licences they require and how to obtain them. Entrepreneurs simply answer a series of questions on the type of business they want to start or operate and the activities they plan to undertake. BizPaL then automatically generates a list of all required permits and licences from all levels of government, along with basic information on each, and links to government sites where the entrepreneur can learn more and, in some cases, apply online.

BizPaL also benefits governments by making it easier for them to provide accurate information on permits and licences to business. Although the service is offered online, it can also be used through other service channels (i.e., telephone and in-person centres) to improve services to clients.

To date, eight provinces and territories are participating in BizPaL, with more than 80 municipalities offering the service (visit http://www.bizpal.ca for a complete list of participating jurisdictions). Within the province of British Columbia, Surrey joins a growing list of participating municipalities, including Kamloops, Kelowna, Langley, Quesnel, Nanaimo and Saanich.

BizPaL was a commitment of the Government of Canada in Budget 2006. It grew out of a working group of representatives from federal departments and from provincial, territorial and municipal governments across Canada. The development of the BizPaL project involved consultations with stakeholders in business and government.

In November 2006, the Government of Canada released Advantage Canada, in which it committed to reducing the paper burden on businesses by 20 percent. In Budget 2007, the Government of Canada took further action by requiring key federal regulatory departments and agencies to establish an inventory of administrative requirements and information obligations with which business must comply, and to achieve a 20 percent reduction in these requirements and obligations by November 2008. Budget 2008 reaffirmed this commitment and highlighted the importance of complementary measures that simplify paperwork for businesses but do not reduce the inventory of requirements. BizPaL is key among these complementary measures.
Backgrounder

Supporting Small and Medium-Sized Businesses

The Government of Canada recognizes the importance of small businesses to Canada’s economy and understands the challenges associated with starting up and growing a business.

That is why, since 2006, the Government of Canada has introduced a number of key measures to help small and medium-sized businesses across the country. The government has:

committed to establishing the lowest tax rate on new business investment in the G7
reduced the small business tax rate to 11 percent and raised the small business income tax instalment threshold to $400 000
cut the GST to 5 percent and implemented broad based personal income tax cuts
raised the lifetime capital gains exemption to $750 000 for small business owners, farmers and fishers
raised the personal income tax instalment threshold to $3000
introduced the Canada Employment Credit — a $1000 tax credit on employment income to offset work-related expenses
invested $3 million a year in the BizPaL service across the country — an online time-saving tool that helps entrepreneurs access permit and licence information from multiple levels of government
instituted a $500 tax deduction for a tradesperson’s tools
increased meal allowance tax exemptions for long-haul truck drivers
introduced the accelerated capital cost allowance to reduce investment costs
supported apprenticeships by introducing the Apprenticeship Job Creation Tax Credit and the Apprenticeship Incentive Grant programs
introduced the Cabinet Directive on Streamlining Regulation
committed to establishing the Major Projects Management Office
committed to establishing the Paperwork Burden Reduction Initiative for Canadian business, with a plan to reduce the federal paperwork burden by 20 percent
improved small vendor access to government procurement contracts as committed under the Federal Accountability Act, including:
– creating six regional OSME (Office of Small and Medium Enterprises) offices across the country
– committing to ongoing consultations with the supplier community
– creating a Procurement Auditor to perform an ongoing and independent audit of government procurement
– developing a Code of Conduct for Procurement
– conducting an independent review of a new procurement policy
– ensuring that procurement officers are accredited and trained

On March 31, 2008 from 4:30 to 9pm, the GVUAS will host a community event at Sunrise Pavilion in Surrey. The event will serve to inform any interested community member of the UAS, provide information on what it’s like to be a GVUAS Steering Committee Member, and what the selection process entails. The event will include a buffet dinner and entertainment. The event will be facilitated by Chris Corrigan.
Please mark this event in your calendar!

An official advertisement will be posted soon.

New Horizons
Bridging Employment Program
Classes start in Burnaby, BC
March 17, 2008 Limited Seats
 Late Registration available until  March 28, 2008    

Support Payment: 
Funding assistance may be available for transportation, childcare, clothes, food and more!

Program Duration and Format: 
 Duration:  24 weeks (Monday to Friday, 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.)
 Instructional Format: Lecture and group activity               
 Practicum:  4 weeks 
   

Introduction: The New Horizons Program is a women’s all-female Special Bridging Employment Program, specifically designed for Aboriginal / Metis women, who are receiving income assistance (some seats are also available for non-income assistance women), and are survivors of violence or abuse.  They face multiple barriers to employment.  The program will benefit other female survivors of violence or abuse, who also face multiple barriers to employment. 

Aim:  The aim of the program is two-fold.  First, it aims to provide employment skills to participants.  Second, it aims to assist participants, with multiple barriers to employment, to move towards employment or towards an alternative “next step” progression. 

Program features include:
• Transportation funds
• Healing/wellness sessions
• Employment related skills assessment and academic upgrading
• Career planning and parenting
• Effective job search skills and resume writing
• Life skills  • Computer literacy
• Work experience placement
• First aid training
• Development of a personal management plan
• Specialized counselling sessions
• Elder participation, smudging, drumming, etc

Who can attend?
• Women of Aboriginal Ancestry, who are currently receiving Income Assistance, and are experiencing barriers to employment may attend for free
• Other female survivors of violence or abuse, not receiving Income Assistance, may attend if seats are available and these candidates will be reviewed on a first-come, first serve basis.  Subject to availability.
• Residents of Surrey, Delta, New Westminster, Burnaby, Port Coquitlam, Coquitlam, Port Moody, Maple Ridge and Vancouver

Program Location:
• The Ministry has extended this program for the Greater Vancouver Area.  Metropolitan Community College has been delivering this program in Mission since 2003 and New Westminster since February 2005.  The location for this session is now located at our Burnaby Campus. 
For registration info, please call:  Terrie  604-320-3332 (Burnaby Campus)

 METROPOLITAN COMMUNITY COLLEGE
201 – 3701 E Hastings St, Burnaby, BC
Tel: 604-320-3332
Fax: 604-320-3334
www.metropolitancollege.ca
E-mail: info@metropolitancollege.ca
7311 James St, Mission, BC
Tel: 604-826-3107
Fax: 604-826-3157

Helping to build your future

MANAGER, OPERATIONS,
COASTAL CORRIDOR CONSORTIUM (C3)

THE OPPORTUNITY

Ten Aboriginal and postsecondary institutions have recently partnered to effect a “Transformative Collaboration”:
  - To create better cultural connections between and among the partner Aboriginal and postsecondary institutions and to ensure a strong Aboriginal voice in decision-making concerning Aboriginal programming
  - To remove barriers for Aboriginal learners to allow them better access to higher education opportunities
  - To offer programs that meet the needs of Aboriginal learners and their communities

This represents an exciting and challenging opportunity for a Manager, Operations, Coastal Corridor Consortium. 

You will provide leadership in advancing the goals of the consortium, strengthening relationships, advancing alliances and facilitating the development of courses and programs to meet the unique needs of Aboriginal learners.

THE CANDIDATE

You will possess:  a solid base of related experience particularly in working effectively with Aboriginal organizations; an understanding of the barriers facing Aboriginal learners; an awareness of the postsecondary environment and the opportunities and funding available; and a record of successfully managing projects of this scope.

You will bring, to this position, a passion for addressing issues facing Aboriginal people along with an ability to develop a broad and long-range vision as well as the competence to meet the Consortium goals.  You will have, as a minimum, a university degree or college diploma.

Further information is available at careers.vcc.ca

Vancouver Community College is accepting applications for this position, on behalf of the Consortium, until March 26, 2008.