Jobs and Growth Blog

Under Canada’s Economic Action Plan, the Youth Employment Strategy helps young Canadians get the information, skills and experience they need to enter the labour market.

Knowing more about labour needs and professions in your area and other parts of Canada can help you plan your career and find a job.

You can find the answers to some key questions when considering applying for jobs or training for a career. What skills are needed in your region? How much does a typical worker make in each profession? What do people actually do in a profession? What training and education are needed for the job you want?

Watch the video below to find out more.

Check out Service Canada’s Labour Market Information page for more resources and tools to help you find a job.

Want to explore more employment resources and Economic Action Plan initiatives? Visit www.actionplan.gc.ca/betterjobs.

In today's fast-paced and ever-changing economy, Canadians need to acquire new skills, continue their education or enhance their skills and abilities in order to take advantage of the numerous possibilities that are now available across the country to get better jobs.

Canada's Economic Action Plan helps Canadians in achieving this goal by supporting job creation, growth and long-term prosperity through numerous programs and initiatives.

Find out how the EAP initiatives can help you acquire new skills or update existing ones to help you find a better job.

If you're interested in higher education, visit www.actionplan.gc.ca/betterjobs/higher-education.

Are you thinking of relocating for new job opportunities? Do you want to discover where in Canada specific trades and skills are in high demand? Visit the Available Jobs page for more information.

Planning a trip south of the border this holiday season or abroad to visit friends and relatives? Did you know that when you return you are now entitled to higher personal tax exemptions for goods purchased during your trip?

Economic Action Plan 2012 introduced the most significant increase in the duty- and tax-free travellers’ exemptions in decades, increasing the value of goods that may be imported duty- and tax-free by Canadian residents returning from abroad after a 24-hour and 48-hour absence to $200 and $800, respectively, harmonizing them with U.S. levels.

Every year, Canadians take approximately 30 million overnight trips outside of Canada. This measure will benefit them by facilitating cross-border processing, easing congestion at the border, and reducing costs. It will also have a positive impact on all Canadians and the economy in general by facilitating trade and increasing border security.

To find out more about this EAP initiative, visit www.actionplan.gc.ca/en/initiative/increasing-travellers-exemptions.

Visit the Canada Border Services Agency website for more information on the rights and responsibilities of travellers returning to Canada from abroad.

Throughout the year, many Canadians rely on the services provided by more than 85,000 registered charitable organizations in Canada. Registered charitable organizations make a difference in the lives of many people.

The holiday season is a time of rejoicing, family gatherings, peace, goodwill, a time when many Canadians make donations to registered organizations.

The Government recognizes this charitable action and offers donors tax benefits for their contributions to registered organizations. This includes a Charitable Donations Tax Credit (for individuals) or the Charitable Donations Tax Deduction (for corporations) up to five years after the donation was made. Furthermore, Canadians who want to donate generously to support charities can be assured that their contributions will be used appropriately.

Through Canada’s Economic Action Plan, the Government is helping registered charities who make a valuable contribution to our communities provide assistance to less fortunate Canadians. Under the tax system, registered charities are exempt from tax on their income and may issue official receipts for gifts received.

Read more about how the Economic Action plan is Ensuring a Strong and Effective Charitable Sector.

Watch the video below to learn more about making donations to registered charitable organizations and visit www.cra.gc.ca/donors for more details.

Transcriptfor Giving to charity: Information for donors

Both scientific research and industrial experience have determined that bitumen-derived crude oil is no more corrosive in federally-regulated transmission pipelines than other crudes.

A Standard Guide to measure the corrosivity of crude oil under transmission pipeline conditions has recently been published through the work of the CANMET laboratories of Natural Resources Canada (ASTM G205).

A key finding is that the corrosivity of oil sands-derived crudes is no different than that of other crudes in transmission pipelines that are regulated by the National Energy Board and other pipelines that cross provincial or federal boundaries.

For more information on bitumen-derived crude and pipelines please visit Natural Resources Canada’s pipeline facts webpage.

Visit our Learn More page to read about the government’s plan for Responsible Resource Development and to learn how Canada is enhancing pipeline and marine safety.  

The holiday season is just around the corner and people are getting into the festive spirit, many opting to decorate their homes with seasonal lights to spread holiday cheer.  But seasonal lights can also significantly add to your electricity bill.

Did you know? The amount of electricity consumed by a single 7-watt incandescent bulb could power 140 LED bulbs—enough to fill about 15 metres of strings (two 24-foot strings).

However, here’s a bright idea! Why not choose ENERGY STAR qualified DLS to decorate indoors and out?

ENERGY STAR qualified DLS are more than energy-efficient—using 95 per cent less energy than traditional DLS and saving you money.  They are durable, lasting up to ten times longer than regular bulbs and produce less heat, reducing the risk of fire. They have a three-year warranty and the outdoor strings have passed weather testing. But more importantly, by dramatically reducing energy consumption, qualified DLS are environmentally friendly and can reduce greenhouse gases.

To find out how you can save energy and money, while making a difference this holiday season, visit our Energy Efficiency page.

For more information on Responsible Resource Development, click here.

Young entrepreneurs are a driving force in Canada’s economic growth. Canada’s Economic Action Plan has invested over $57 million to support the Canadian Youth Business Foundation (CYBF), which is dedicated to growing Canada’s economy one young entrepreneur at a time. 

Since 1996, the CYBF has helped approximately 4,500 young entrepreneurs to establish successful businesses that have created some 17,850 new jobs.

If you are 18 to 39 years old, you may be eligible for one of the many programs designed to help you bring your business idea to life.

Find out today if you qualify!

CYBF also provides mentorship, financing and post-launch services to young entrepreneurs.

Visit www.cybf.ca for more information, or take the quiz to find out which CYBF program is right for you.