The vast territory covered by Canada elicits a unified body of law practice that is separate from the control of the government. Doing so, this ensures that the public’s interest is duly protected and that they are being represented in a fair and just manner without the prejudice of a governing body with interests encompassing the implementation of the law. Founded in 1972, the Federation of Law Societies of Canada was established to uphold this vision.
Primarily for the institution of structure and compounded efforts to uphold common laws within the country, this organization consolidates the different governing bodies of the profession across the country. As stipulated in its creation, the Federation of Law Societies covers Canada’s fourteen provincial and territorial law societies in collective practice and implementation entirely independent from the Canadian government. Below is the list of duly accredited organizations acting as governing bodies for each state:
These law societies set the standards of admission and professional practice within their respective territory, keeping their members’ interest and at the same time ensuring that they conduct their profession in a respectable and disciplined manner.
However, in the case of interstate practice, establishment of the National Committee of Accreditation of the Federation of Law Societies of Canada is necessary to ensure that laws and ordinances in each respective territory are duly observed and studied prior to legal practice. This means that a legal practitioner cannot immediately practice his profession in a territory or state other than where he received his license by passing a Bar exam.
The accreditation process varies from territory to territory as they are prescribed by separate governing bodies under the mandate of the Federation of Law Societies of Canada with each state holding its own Bar exam prior to the issuance of a professional license. Non submittal to this accreditation process, however, does not invalidate a solicitor’s professional license. It does, however, limit the capacity of the lawyer and his freedom to take on cases due to this technicality.
In the case of foreign lawyers wishing to practice in Canada, they are prescribed an almost similar mandate for accreditation, also by the National Committee of Accreditation. The only difference in this case is that most areas of study required for accreditation of a legal degree is somehow difficult to find equivalency in the Canadian education system. This means that more often than not, any legal degree or license acquired outside the Canadian territory is almost useless and incredible for practice within Canada’s fourteen provincial and territorial states.
Unlike other interstate comprised countries with a uniform set of educational material as syllabus, the Federation of Law Societies of Canada only admits practitioners covered by their list of recognized law schools across the country. Having passed this primary requirement, the solicitor who wishes to practice needs to fill up any parts of his legal education not covered by his state that might be applicable to the new territory he wishes to be recognized. This entails additional semesters of study and a few more internships prior to taking the Bar exams prescribed by the said state.
In general, the Federation of Law Societies of Canada has developed its laws and regulations under four major divisions to cover the legal practice in the country.
CRIMINAL CODE
The Criminal code covers the basis of criminal law in Canada. This includes the bare definition of the law, its general implication, identification of possible individual or parties involved, offences against a person or property, offences against public order, treason against the Queen’s authority and person, unlawful assembly, sedition, unlawful drilling, performing of prohibited acts, forcing entry and detainer, piracy, offences against air or maritime safety, carrying of dangerous materials and devices, and prize fighting.
There is also a section dedicated for laws covering terrorism, its definition in legal terms, procedure of punishment, identification of its promotion, financial backing, entities identification, implications on property in the case of harboring or indirect association to terroristic actions, duly organized hearings and recognizance with conditions.
As for the elaboration of dangerous materials that are hazardous to public safety, a dedicated section for firearms and other weapons is also created. This covers the interpretation and offences covered by the use of firearms, mere possession, buying and selling both local and international, and assembling groups with the same interest. As a precautionary method, this division has already ordered the prohibition of acquiring weaponry thru limited access, and search and seizure operations to preempt unlawful practice. However, there are certain cases that cannot be covered by the laws ordained under this section and as such, provides possible reasons for exemptions from it.
This division also covers offences against human rights, property, fraudulent transactions and activities, proceeds of crime, drug use, and the overall implementation of lawful procedures such as trial, summons to witness, custody, endorsement of warrant and posting of bail.
Lastly, this division also deals with indictable offences or cases where trial without jury is plausible.it includes the interpretation of such scenario and the identification of individual or parties involved with a special section on mental disorders in relation to court procedures.
YOUTH CRIMINAL JUSTICE CODE
As the name implies, this division deals with the application of the criminal justice system for minors. This area includes the definition of scope and tolerances prior to declaration of criminal accusations on minors. It outlines the principles and objectives of the penalizing system including warnings, cautions, and referrals. This division takes into consideration the concept of “youth” not as excuse from law but to stretch the understanding of the justice system for higher success of reformation for juvenile delinquents.
CANADA EVIDENCE ACT
This division discusses the application of material substance or indirect correlations to corroborate any claims for judicial cases which include identification of witnesses, oaths and affirmations, documentary supplements, judicial notice, and interpretation.
FEDERAL COURTS ACT
This division covers the discussion of federal laws that are applicable to the greater part of the country. Being such, this Federal Courts Act does not have complete jurisdiction to the entire territory but is only applicable to maritime and airtime matters and matters concerning the overall state of the country.
At present, there is over 100,000 registered licensed solicitors practicing in the country including foreign lawyers.
References:
]]>Based on the report released by the 2011 National Household Survey, there are 28,600 accountants employed both in the public and private sectors with 53% of them females. Around 64% of them are working fulltime. The employment is much higher in the Mainland region followed by Vancouver Island. The number of employments in 2012 increased by 1,600 and is projected to get higher every 5 years.
Before you can work as a professional accountant in Canada, you need to complete the required education and training programs.
Education, Certification and Qualifications
In Canada, there are 3 distinct professional designations for accountants: Chartered Accountants (CAs), Certified Management Accountants (CMAs) and Certified General Accountants (CGAs). Accountants can be also non-designated if they have not earned any professional designation.
Becoming a CA (Chartered Accountant) is your entry to a world of opportunities in finance and accounting. CAs are presently in demand because of their financial expertise, business insight, management skills, and strategic thinking.
Chartered Accountants in Canada need to complete a Canadian University Degree or its equivalent. Aside from this, they also need to complete the following:
CMAs need to be a degree holder in a university, completed the Entrance Examination and the CMA Strategic Leadership Program (SLP) professional training program. The SLP training program is a two year course and CMAs are required to complete 24 months of practical experience. Other requirements include:
CGAs must be a degree holder and must complete the 5 levels of the Certified General Accountant program of professional studies. Other requirements include:
Non-designated accountants in practice should have a bachelor degree in accounting science or accounting, a diploma of collegial studies (DEC) in accounting and management technology, or a university certificate in administration or accounting. Other requirements are as follows:
Accounting graduates normally start to work at junior positions. Those with experience and advance education maybe promoted to positions in accountant management and financial analysis.
CAs and CGAs may be employed in different areas of business. For instance, many act as tax specialists, forensic accountants or finance managers, chief financial officers, financial editors, and vice-presidents.
CMAs are employed at many levels within the government organization and industry. Most of the CMA graduates are employed at comptroller level as junior accountants, assistant comptrollers or financial analysts. More experienced CMAs may become directors of finance, chief executive officers, senior managers, or deputy ministers. They can become small business partners or owners in accounting firms. They also have the ability to get a career in different areas outside accounting like information technology and international business and marketing.
Accountant’s Duties and Roles
The duties and roles of CAs, CGAs, CMAs and non-designated accountants vary by specific occupation.
The CGAs are normally employed in the public, government and industry sectors, and can provide more generalized services
CAs are more into public auditing, tax and accounting. CMAs are more experienced in financial management and business analysis.
Non-designated accountants most of the time face restrictions in their practice like the inability to sign off on audits. A professional accounting designation can improve their chances of getting employed.
Salary and Wages
The annual salary for certified accountants in British Columbia is between $76,000 and $147,000. The salary for self-employed accountants may range from $65,000 to $155,000 per year. The hourly rate may range from $16 to $17.
The provincial salary for Accountants in Canada ranges from $66,000 to $95,000. The hourly rate starts at $16.83 to $47.63.
Job Outlook
The projected unemployment rate for accountants in Canada will decrease by 1 to 1.2% every five years. Thus, this only means the expected annual demand growth rate will range from 1 to 1.2%. The increase in demand for accountants is seen all over Canada, particularly in British Columbia. By 2022, there will be around 19,400 job openings.
Sources:
https://www.workbc.ca/Job-Seekers/Career-Profiles/1111#section-statistics
https://www.workbc.ca/Job-Seekers/Career-Profiles/1111#sthash.lIEcXSEy.dpuf
]]>The building sector is concerned with making physical structures found within Canada. Examples of these structures are houses, shops, offices, roads, bridges and sewerages. The industry is divided into three: Residential construction deals with housing. Non-residential construction builds the commercial structures, such as hotels and shops. The third division is for the Engineering construction. This is usually handled by the public sector to build roads, sewer systems and bridges.
New licenses
Anyone working in the construction sector in Canada needs to have the necessary permits and licenses. Any company or individual looking to renovate or alter any kind of structure needs these permits. These permits ensures the proper observation of Canada’s safety standards. You can apply for a building permit through email. You can also apply in person. To make the process easier and faster, you can apply for a FASTRACK or Comm Express permit.
Building Permits
Following a steady two month double digit gain in permit value, the total value of building permits fell to 6.7 billion dollars in May 2015, marking a 14.5 per cent decrease within this period. Ontario and four other areas in Canada have also posted a record of decline during this period.
The value of permits concerning the residential sector is also experiencing a decline at 13.5 per cent, falling to 3.9 billion dollars in May 2015. This was preceded by a steady three month increase in the value of residential permits. Seven Canadian provinces have posted a decline in this sector. These declines are led by Alberta and Ontario. British Columbia reported a gain in the value of their residential permits.
The total value of these non residential building permits are reported to be worth 2.8 billion dollars in May of 2015. This marks a 16 percent decrease from the results seen in April 2015. In March 2015, this sector experienced a 24.8 percent increase in value. This was also followed by another 31.7 per cent increase in April 2015. The large declines in provinces such as Ontario, British Columbia, Newfoundland and Labrador overpowered the gains made in the last two months.
Residential Sector
In May of 2015, the value of multi family dwelling permits dwindled to 1.6 billion, showing a 22.9 per cent decline. This decrease comes from low cost construction in almost every Canadian territory, excluding the provinces of British Columbia, Nunavut, and New Brunswick.
For single family homes, a decline of 5.5 percent from the previous month was posted in the records, marking a steady decline within three months. The current worth of these residential permits are at 2.3 billion dollars. Five provinces have reported a decline in this sector with Ontario, suffering the largest losses. An area that gained more value in this sector is Quebec.
Canada, as a whole has authorized 15 381 constructions of new dwellings in May 2015. This shows a 14.8 per cent dip from April of the same year. This decrease was mostly influenced by construction attempts for housing for multiple families. Canada posted a total decline of 20.6 percent. The number is down by 9 716 units. Single family houses experienced a 2.8% decline in new construction which is down by 5 662 units.
Non Residential Sector
The non residential sector has seen a considerable decline in the value of permits for institutional buildings in the month of May 2015. The value of non residential permits is shown to be at 867 million, which is down 34 percent compared to the 83.7 per cent gain in March, and the 88.1 % gain in April. This has been caused mainly by the construction of medical facilities, which have also seen an increase in April 2015. Four provinces have also shown a decline in this sector. British Columbia and Ontario has posted the largest declines in permit value. Six other are areas however, have reported their gains in this sector, resulting from construction activities for education facilities in Alberta.
The value of Industrial building permits has fallen to 408 million for May 2015, showing a 15.6 per cent decline after three consecutive months of gain. This decline came from construction for transportation and utilities. Ontario, Labrador and Newfoundland, as well as three other provinces have reported a dip in the total non residential permit value. The provinces of Quebec and Alberta posted an increase for their industrial components.
The total value for commercial building permits are currently at 1.5 billion dollars in May 2015 showing a .4 per cent decrease from April 2015. The construction intent for hotels, restaurants and other retail and commercial buildings have pulled down the increases coming from recreational and office buildings. In this sector, British Columbia posted the greatest decline. Quebec has posted the biggest increase.
Both Public and Private sectors for housing invested a total of 404.5 billion dollars in construction in 2014, which shows an increase of 1.4 percent in investment compared to 2013.
Government Spending
The Canadian government will commit to giving a budget of 5.35 billion to the New Building Canada plan annually. This is to support infrastructure in the provinces, territories and municipalities of the country. This will help improve, renovate or expand the existing structures found within the Canadian community.
A reported 2.8 billion will be given to the restoration and or conservation of heritage and tourism sites and major highways. Another 500 million will be allotted for on reserve school construction or renovation. 440 million dollars is going to enforce the infrastructure found on Canadian borders. 204 million will be going to airports maintained through federal means. Research facilities will be given priority. Buildings that are assets to the country will be funded. Boats, ships, and harbours will also be included in this budget. This will value in hundreds of million dollars. The funds will not be exclusive to only the ones listed, as many other repairs, renovations and construction to improve the Canadian assets will be given due financial support.
Starting 2015, the Canadian government will begin to provide a budget of 135 million dollars in the next five years to Major Projects Management Office Initiative.
The Canadian government will also be showing support for the Canada Foundation for Innovation beginning in 2017 or 2018, with an allotted budget of 1.33 billion dollars. This budget will be stretched over a span of six years. This will help take care of the infrastructure needed for schools, universities, and other research facilities.
http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/64-001-x/2015005/part-partie1-eng.htm
http://www.cca-acc.com/en/information/industry-statistics
]]>Electricians' Responsibilities
An electrician in the country handles installation, maintenance, testing, and repair of electrical systems. Depending on the obtained license, an electrician can also be contractor who can contract electrical-related service within his locale.
Skill Requirements
Unlike in other countries, licensing electricians is not governed by a federal authority. However, interstate licensing authorities help aspiring electricians obtain their licenses. People who want to be licensed experts in this field can visit these offices to get information about the field, especially information in local regulations.
Aspiring electricians need to undergo apprenticeship and training before obtaining the license. The license requires completing 80 percent hands-on training or related work experience and the remaining percent is designated for class studies or theoretical aspect of being an electrician. This results to the lack of online electrician classes. Classes may be offered, but is limited to theoretical studies. The student taking these classes may still need to look for a contractor who will hire them as apprentices to complete the practical side of electrical work.
Electricians coming from overseas who wish to work in Canada are also welcome to the industry given that they have their licenses to work. Since they obtained their licenses through different standards, they would need to undergo skill assessment first before receiving their licenses. This information is available in Canadian or state immigration websites.
License Registration Types
License types offered can vary per state. They may also have different definitions per state. In general, licenses provided to electricians and contractors are the following:
Contractor License
An electrical contractor's license allows an individual to contract work related to electrical systems. Contractors with this license will handle restricted jobs in other field that requires some electrical work.
Master Electrician License
A master electrician does the job as an electrical contractor. However, this license allows him to supervise electrical work carried out by a contractor or an apprentice. He will also make sure that every work carried out is done in accordance to the Electrical Safety Code and other regulations mandated by local authorities.
Special Electrician's License
A special electrician license is provided to an individual who wants to conduct electrical work within his employer's premises. It means that he can be an in-house electrician handling electrical system maintenance or operations. Just like other carried out work, his work must also comply with codes or standards set by authorities.
Apprentice License
An apprentice license is a license handed to individuals undergoing training. In Canada, being an electrician follows apprenticeship programs wherein the aspiring technician should be hired by a contractor and work as a trainee. Despite being a trainee, he also needs a license to carry out electrical work under the supervision of a master electrician or contractor.
People who want to be expert electricians must double check available licenses or work registration titles in the jurisdiction where they wish to be licensed.
Licensing Authorities in Canada
Several authorities handle licensing procedures throughout the country. The following are the licensing authorities or contacts in each state.
Alberta
Electrical Contractors Association of Alberta
British Columbia
British Columbia Safety Authority
http://www.safetyauthority.ca/
Manitoba
Manitoba Labour and Immigration (Mechanical and Engineering Branch)
http://www.gov.mb.ca/labour/safety/me/electric.html
New Brunswick
New Brunswick Inspection Services (Department of Public Safety)
http://www.gnb.ca/0276/safety/english/elect_e.asp
Newfoundland and Labrador
Service NL
http://www.servicenl.gov.nl.ca/licenses/electrical/
Nova Scotia
Department of Labour and Workforce Development, Nova Scotia
http://www.gov.ns.ca/lwd/publicsafety/electricalsafety.asp
Northwest Territories
Electrical/Mechanical Safety, Government of the Northwest Territories
Nunavut
Safety Services Community & Government Services of Nunavut
http://cgs.gov.nu.ca/en/protection-services/safety-services/electrical
Ontario
Electrical Safety Authority, Licensing Department, Customer Service Centre
Prince Edward Island
Planning and Inspection Services, Government of Prince Edward Island
Quebec
La Corporation des maîtres électriciens du Québec
Saskatchewan
Ministry of Government Relations – Gas and Electrical Licensing
http://www.saskatchewan.ca/work/working-jobs-and-pensions/getting-licenced/electrical-licensing
Yukon
Department of Building Services, Yukon Government
http://www.community.gov.yk.ca/buildingsafety/index.html
Each state has its specific requirements before licensing individuals. However, an electrician from one state can work in other states as mandated in the Agreement of Internal Trade (AIT). This is an inter-governmental agreement between all Canadian territories. Through this agreement, all people living in Canada can move freely throughout the state as well as goods and trades. This allows everyone to take advantage of employment and other procurement opportunities to other municipalities.
But when it comes to working in other states, it's best to know what each state requires first aside from the actual electrician license. For instance, an electrician who wishes to work in British Columbia must be an interprovincial red seal holder aside from his license. The Read Seal Program is a system that set national standards for specific trades. This means that individuals holding this license complied with the standards set in the industry, making him eligible to work in other parts of the country.
Employment Statistics
According to a report, the electrician trade in Canada significantly declined in the 1990s, but picked up throughout the years. Since there's this increase in the trade, statisticians expect a continuous growth in the demand in electricians throughout the country.
While the job vacancies are filled up, there's always that opportunity to find new job openings as retiring electricians will vacate their posts. Moreover, the growing number of industries will also influence the demand in electrical works. Industries that are not related to electricity like construction and others would need people who can be specialized electricians who would need to conduct electrical appliances maintenance and operations. The study believes that the demand for electricians would move towards the construction field.
There are over 8,000 electricians today in Canada, but this number is expected to not meet the demands of industries that require electrical experts. It's still a good candidate for finding a stable job in the country. The advantage of being an electrician is it gives a lot of opportunities for an individual to improve his skill and eventually become an employer or contractor.
References:
http://www.ceca.org/licensing/index.asp
http://careerbear.com/electrician/article/how-to-become-an-electrician
http://www.ait-aci.ca/index_en.htm
http://www.red-seal.ca/trades/tr.1d.2s_c.1n.1d.1@-eng.jsp
http://www.gov.pe.ca/photos/original/ELJ_E_Type_Lice.pdf
http://www.servicecanada.gc.ca/eng/qc/job_futures/statistics/7241.shtml
]]>Only second to Russia, Canada is renowned as one of the largest countries in the world. Having only a population of 33,476,688 with a land area of 9,984,670 square kilometers, it is evident that only a miniscule part of the country is being occupied. Predictably, the totality of students and educational institutions in Canada is also of low quantity.
Statistics on Schools
According to Statistics Canada, there were roughly 15,500 primary and secondary schools in Canada. About 0.65% or 10,100 of this is made up of elementary institutions whilst only 0.22% or 3,400 schools comprise secondary education. In addition, 0.13% of the total was composed of combined primary and secondary institutions. Overall, an average of 350 students is estimated for each school.
Different universities, and colleges, including specialty schools such as theological and vocational institutions, can be found in Canada. According to the Council of Ministe
s of Education in Canada, there were 163 government and private tertiary schools, including theological institutions. Moreover, a higher number of government and private colleges and institutes were tallied with a total of 183. Among these recognized schools, only 68 of these were established as university-level institutions whereas only 51 were recognized as college-level schools. In addition, only a particular number of courses and programs are open to students, those of which are permitted in accordance with customary quality assurance databases.
Statistics on Students
As stated by Statistics Canada in 2006/2007, the overall number of primary and secondary students, including both government affiliated and private, was 5,537,715. Looking at the last count, which was made in 2011/2012, the total number has declined to 5,032,183 students. Evidently, a great reduction occurred in the number of registrants for primary and secondary education. Comparing the statistics made in 2010 to 2012, an estimated decrease of 0.4% has been observed from the 5,315,686 count in 2010/2011 to a mere 5,032,183 in 2011/2012. This decline can be seen as the greatest as far as 2006/2007 statistics, wherein the differences only ranged from 30,000 to 130,000 students in the years within 2006/2007 to 2010/2011. Merging of schools and institutions may be one of the major reasons of why a great decline in the number of primary and secondary students has occurred in 2011/2012.
Looking at the overall number of university students, including both understudies and graduates, a 1.9% decrease was observed from year 2010/2011 to 2011/2012 with a total of 1,996,200. According to Statistics Canada, over the last ten years, the fields of humanities, business management, and social and behavioral sciences comprise the top three studied courses in 2011. About 22% of graduates consists of business students, 15% consists of those with social and behavioral sciences education, whilst 15% were in fitness and recreation trainings. The last count for the number of postsecondary students, which was done in 2012/2013, resulted with a total of 2,023,191, wherein 1,489,536 of those were full-time students while the remaining 533,652 were part-time. Fairly, it can be seen that a great number of these students require the need to study part-time which may be due to either financial burdens or personal complications.
In addition to this, Statistics Canada also stated that the overall number of enrollments in apprenticeship training programs in 2012 was 442,672. A 4.3% growth has been observed from the total number of apprenticeship students from year 2011 to 2012. The additional enrollments in 2012, with a total of 104,280, were recorded as the greatest increase since 2008.
Statistics on school staff
Academic and non-academic faculties play a very significant character in the learning process of students. Therefore, it is very important that an adequate amount of school staff is able to support and instruct a great number of students. In 2014, a total of 1,217,015 academic and non-academic employees were counted by Statistics Canada. A growth rate of about 0.04% has occurred between the 2010 and 2014 statistics for educational and related personnel. According to the National Occupational Classification for Statistics in June, 2015, 751,900 of these are primary and secondary teachers and professors. A decline has apparently occurred since a total of 756,900 academic employees were tallied in June 2014. Although only very small decrease has transpired, the overall number of teaching personnel still expressed a very minimal quantity relative to the overall number of Canadian students. As stated by Statistics Canada, the student to educator ratio in primary and secondary schools, including government affiliated and private institutions, was found to be 13.8 in 2010/2011. Although this proportion has been reduced from the 14.7 ratio in 2006/2007, still, the apparent difference between the totalities of students and educators in primary and secondary schools, excluding non-academic assistants, show a significant rate.
Furthermore, the higher education comprises 44,943 full-time academic personnel as stated in the 2010/2011 statistics. Comparatively, a total of only 40,567 professors was tallied in 2006/2007. Evidently, this shows a sluggish development rate in the overall number of teaching staff at Canadian universities and colleges.
Statistics on revenue and budget
Between the year 2013 and 2014, Statistics Canada stated that the average amount spent by undergraduate students was $5,772 whilst that of graduate students was $6,053. Generally, the tuition fee for undergraduate full-time pupils has risen by 3.3% wherein an average of $5,586 was spent in the preceding academic year. Similarly, graduate students paid a higher amount for the academic year 2013/2014 with an increase of 2.0%. Although the growth rate of tuition fees for graduate students expressed a lower degree, a significant amount of payments was still being made, thus, the importance of school funding.
According to Statistics Canada, the total expenditure in government and private schools, both primary and secondary institutions, was a total of $59,124.4 million in 2010/2011. A 3.3% increase occurred since 2009/2010 which had a total of $57,214 million budget. However, comparing the funds for 2006/2007 to that of 2010/2011, the budget only increased by a mere $10 billion. Apparently, a slow growth rate can be observed in the monetary assignments for elementary and secondary institutions.
As for the higher education programs, an overall revenue of $37,441.6 billion was estimated in 2009. Relative to this, a 20% increase was observed from the university and colleges expenditures since 2005. Comparing year 2008 and 2009 budgets, a 3.5% growth has occurred. Although a lesser amount of funds are being added to the previous budgets, still, a consistent rise for the revenue and expenditures in postsecondary institutions is manifesting.
Reference links:
http://www.statcan.gc.ca/tables-tableaux/sum-som/l01/cst01/demo62a-eng.htm
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ca.html
http://www.statcan.gc.ca/daily-quotidien/140611/dq140611b-eng.htm
http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/81-595-m/2013099/tbl-eng.htm
http://www.cmec.ca/299/Education-in-Canada-An-overview/
http://www.statcan.gc.ca/tables-tableaux/sum-som/l01/cst01/govt31a-eng.htm
]]>The Canadian Institute for Health Information’s (CIHI) “Physicians in Canada, 2013: A Summary Report”, indicated that the year 2013 saw the highest number of physicians ever recorded in Canada, and the increases are likely to continue, they say. As of the publication of CIHI’s summary report, there were 77,674 doctors in Canada, representing an increase of 3.4 percent from the year 2012 to 2013. And more doctors could add to this roster based solely on the number of MD (Doctor of Medicine) degrees awarded by Canadian universities. In fact, CIHI reported that Canadian universities awarded 2,662 MD degrees in 2013, a 0.8 percent increase from the previous year.
Over the past five years (2009 to 2013), the number of physicians increase at an incredibly fast rate than the population did, according to the CIHI summary report. As of 2013, the physician ratio is 220 doctors per 100,000 population. This is a 14.1 percent increase compared to the 4.2 percent increase of the Canadian population.
DEMOGRAPHY: THE CANADIAN MEDICAL WORKFORCE
Gender
Over the past several years, the female participation in the field of medicine has continued to rise, particularly among family physicians. By 2013, female doctors formed one third of Canada’s physician workforce (38.2 percent). This is reflective of the rapid increase of female involvement from 2009 to 2013, wherein the medical workforce has seen an increase of 22.5 percent in female participation. Meanwhile, over the same period, the number of male doctors rose by just 9.2 percent. By specialty, female doctors are highly represented as family medicine physicians (43.1 percent) while they only accounted for 33.2 percent as specialists.
Specialty breakdown
The physician work force in this country is split almost evenly between general practitioners and specialists. Based on the 2015 CIHI data, there are a total of 40,571 family medicine physicians or general practitioners, and 38,074 specialists in Canada.
Of the medical specialties, anesthesiology (3230 anesthesiologists), pediatrics (2,533 pediatricians), psychiatry (4,196 psychiatrists), and surgery (9,754 surgical specialists) have the most number of medical practitioners.
Meanwhile neuroradiology, pediatric cardiology, developmental pediatrics, and adolescent medicine are the least represented. For instance, neuroradiology has only a total of 8 doctors (across all ages) compared to the 38,074 total number of specialists.
Age
The average age of physicians has remained relatively stable over the past five years (49.7 in 2009 and 50.3 in 2013), according to CIHI. This is attributed to the increasing number of younger physicians entering the workforce. On average, family medicine specialists were 50.0 years old in 2013 while specialists were 50.5 years old. While the proportion of younger physicians (those who graduated with their MD degree less than six years ago) in the workforce grew slightly, from 4.8% in 2009 to 5.3% in 2013, there is a fear that the field of medicine may be facing an aging workforce. This is because over the same period of time, the proportion of the workforce that received an MD degree more than 30 years ago increased from 29.8% in 2009 to 32.9% in 2013.
Wage
From 2012 to 2013, the average gross clinical payment per physician was more than $328,000 and this has remained unchanged (0.3%) from the previous year. The average gross clinical earnings per physician ranged from $261,000 in Nova Scotia to $371,000 in Ontario.
MEDICAL STUDENTS: CSAS IN FOCUS
Canada’s doctor to patient ratio is among the lowest among industrialized nations. This is despite the 69 percent increase in medical school enrolment. However, over the decades, there has been an increasing subset of Canadians who have chosen to pursue medical education abroad. According to the Canadian Resident Matching Service (CaRMS), the definition of a Canadian studying abroad (CSA) is Canadian who has left the country to pursue medical education abroad. He or she is a Canadian born citizen or a permanent resident and may have or may have not undergone some earlier education in Canada.
This migration of Canadian medical students abroad is influenced by two reasons. Based on CaRMs’s study, the most common reason is that most CSAs felt that they would be unable to secure a place in a Canadian school. Second, more schools are opening enrolment to international students hence, attracting CSAs. In fact, approximately 80 schools in almost 30 countries reported having Canadian students studying medicine.
Demographically, the majority of CSAs continue to be male (52.5 percent) compared to females who accounted for the remaining 47.5 percent. Most of these male CSAs are older, single and with more post-secondary education than their medical student counterparts in Canada. In addition, most CSAs have not applied to Canadian medical schools as many times as thesuccessful student studying in Canada. This suggests that due to their age and higher education, CSAs opt to study abroadbecause they have decided they would not be successful inCanada, or would rather not wait several years to be successfulin their Canadian medical school applications. Finally, most CSAs (90 percent), expressed interest in returning to Canada but reported frustration with the perceivedbarriers to pursuing postgraduate education in Canada such as choice of discipline, return of service, and high competition for positions.
GOVERNMENT INITIATIVES: Attempts to increase workforce
To address the perceived shortage of medical workforce and to encourage the return of Canadians studying abroad, the government has placed strategies such as:
1. Canada Student Loan Forgiveness – The Canada Student Loan Forgiveness offers eligible doctors, residents in family medicine, and nurses who work in rural communities to receive up to $ 40,000 per student over a maximum of five years ($8,000 annually).
2. Northern and Rural Recruitment and Retention Initiative (NRRR Initiative) – This government-initiative offers financial incentives to eligible doctors who have full-time practice in an eligible community of the province. The grants range between $80,000 and $117,600, paid over a 4-year period.
3.Re-entry Program– This program funds physicians currently practicing in Canadato re-enter postgraduate medical training.
4. Repatriation Program: Additional Postgraduate Medical Training Positions in Ontario– This program funds additional postgraduate medical training positions to recruit physicians who have completed or partially completed postgraduate residency training outside Canada.
Canada may only have a perceived shortage, but this may turn into reality if Canadian students studying abroad, as well doctors who are practicing in the country are not given incentives and programs that could attract them.
References:
https://secure.cihi.ca/free_products/Physicians_In_Canada_Summary_Report_2013_en.pdf
rcpsc.medical.org/publicpolicy/documents/2007/10_ret&retCAN.pdf
http://www.canlearn.ca/eng/loans_grants/repayment/help/forgiveness.shtml
http://www.health.gov.on.ca/en/pro/programs/northernhealth/nrrr.aspx
https://secure.cihi.ca/free_products/Geographic_Distribution_of_Physicians_FINAL_e.pdf
https://www.cma.ca/En/Pages/canadian-physician-statistics.aspx
https://secure.cihi.ca/estore/productFamily.htm?locale=en&pf=PFC2676
http://www.nationmaster.com/country-info/profiles/New-Zealand/Health
]]>Obtaining financing to start a business may be easy or hard depending on the resources available to an entrepreneur. It will be easy if he has friends and relatives who have a sufficiently large amount of money ready to be placed in the business. However, it will be difficult if he will depend solely on his marketing and advertising skills, enough to convince investors to put their money in such business. Both include big and small business financing options, so before a person chooses one, he must be knowledgeable of the small business financing options and their interest rates in Canada.
In obtaining financing, a person may consider the following small business financing options and their interest rates in Canada:
1.Equity investing
Equity investing, or shareholder investing, is a type of small financing option that utilizes the money of another in exchange of a share in the profits of the business. This is similar to a person wanting to have control in a company by purchasing shares of stock issued by it.
Using it is one of the small business financing options and their interest rates in Canada are at zero percent. This is because the return to be received by the investor will not be in the form of interest but in the form of a share in the profits of the business. However, some investors would choose to impose interest rates because that is still borrowed money. If this is the case, the interest rate usually imposed by their agreement ranges from 4% to 8% per annum.
This is the easiest option that small and start-up business owners can utilize in their businesses because they can always tap the resources of their friends or relatives. If ever they do not choose to do so, it will still be easy especially if the business will offer a substantially large amount of profits when already established.
2. Credit cards
Credit cards are one of the mostly used small business financing options and their interest rates in Canada are relatively high compared to other countries. One can get a credit card by filling up an application form and sending it to the financial institution concerned. Once it is approved, he can already use it to finance his business. However, using a credit card must be accompanied with extreme care, because spending without any control may bring bigger problems in the future.
Using it is one of the small business financing options and their interest rates in Canada is at 19.99% per annum. Other companies charge interest rates ranging from 9.99%, 11.99% 14.99% and 16.99% per annum, but these rates are usually accompanied with securities provided by equity plans. Because of the relatively high interest rate, small and start-up owners in Canada are advised to put a limit on their credit spending.
Small business owners may opt to use credit cards as long as they already have established a strong financial foundation making them capable enough to pay their liabilities. Startup business owners, however, are not advised to immediately resort to credit cards until and unless they have a sufficient amount of property to secure credit financing. Nevertheless, both are not prohibited from availing this option.
3. Mortgage loans
Mortgage loans are those which are obtained by using properties as collateral or as security to such loans. This financing option is one of the surest ways to get money, but it is also the surest way to lose the money and the property used as security if he fails to pay his obligation in time. As such, it must be considered as a last resort.
Using it is one of the small business financing options and their interest rates in Canada depend on the term for which the mortgage is taken. For a term of five years with a fixed rate, the interest rate is usually at 2.54% per annum, and for the same term but with a variable rate, the interest rate is at 2.05% per annum. The difference between the rates is to accommodate unexpected fluctuations in the interest rates.
Small business owners can use this financing option only if he has property to use as security. Start-up business owners, however, is not advised to take this option if the only property that he has is his family home. This is because even laws prevent the family home from being used as security for loans.
4. Venture capitalists
Venture capitalists are those which have a lot of money to be placed in businesses, especially those which exhibit a unique business model. However, unlike angel investors, venture capitalists usually demand a share of the profits of the business. The relationship existing between the business owners and the capitalists is usually governed by law, and as such, in the event that the former fails to comply with his agreement with the latter, he can be made legally liable.
Using it is also one of the small business financing options and their interest rates in Canada ranges from 4% to 8% per annum, depending on what will be agreed upon by the parties. The interest rates are low, but the risks associated with it are very high. Because the consideration for the investment is a share of the business, venture capitalists may eventually take control of the whole business if its owners do not exercise diligence in his efforts.
Knowing the small business financing options and their interest rates in Canada gives an opportunity for owners to run their business without thinking too much of its costs.
]]>Most business owners focus all their attention to growing and expanding their business that they usually set aside the importance of saving for retirement. There is a tendency to put all your hard-earned funds into additional investments that will help your business grow. Oftentimes, retirement funds or pension plans are just left alone to grow on their own, based only on the interest rate that is being offered by the financial institution where the funds are currently held. However, there is currently a lot of potential in growing your retirement funds and seeking to build the future you want not just by having a stable business, but also realizing the benefits of your retirement funds to its full potential.
Tax Benefits of Investing in an RRSP
We all know that each dollar deposited into a pension plan is deductible from one’s taxable income for a particular calendar year. Aside from this tax incentive, any earnings from investments made in an RRSP are tax deferred. You will only have to pay taxes on the funds that you will withdraw when you reach your retirement age.
This may not sound like a significant benefit, but it can spell a lot of difference on how much you can potentially earn if you decide to invest your retirement funds instead. To illustrate, assuming you would like to purchase a thousand dollars’ worth of stock of a certain company. When you decide to sell these stocks when the price reaches $2,000, you will immediately be liable to pay a capital gains tax for the $1,000 you earned because of the sale. However, if you use the funds in your RRSP to buy and sell the same stock at the same prices mentioned, you do not have to pay any taxes at all, unless you are going to withdraw the $1,000 you earned.
Maximizing the Allowable Contribution Amount
Another way to maximize your earnings through your RRSP is by contributing the maximum amount allowed. Although the general limit set by the government for 2015 is $24,930, but your specific limit will be the lower of that amount or 18% of your earned income for the previous year. The government only allows an excess contribution of $2,000 for the entire duration of your plan. By contributing the maximum allowable amount, you are able to maximize the amount that you can invest for tax-free earnings.
You should also know that you have the option to carry forward to the following year any excess amount that you are not able to contribute for the current year. For instance, if for 2014 you were eligible to contribute up to $24,270 and you were only able to put $20,000 due to some circumstances, you have the option to file some paperwork so you will be able to contribute the remaining $4,270 for 2015. This is also an acceptable practice if you wish to defer tax deductions.
Fees and Costs to Watch Out For
The fees involved in investing through your RRSP will entirely depend on how you plan to manage your account. The fees and charges depend on how much your current financial institution is charging for account opening and maintenance, and if there are certain transaction fees and charges when buying and selling securities. Normally, these fees are automatically deducted from your RRSP. Therefore, you should be able to determine whether the fees and charges are lesser than the amount you are actually earning.
If you would like to maximize your earnings, you could also seek the assistance of financial advisors or wealth management planners. There are some institutions that charge a fixed fee for financial advice and for all the trades that will be made in your account. This is recommended if you do not have the time, or the knowledge and skills to invest on your own, as you do not have to worry about recurring transaction fees that could just eat up your earnings on the trades that will be done in your account.
You also have the option to open a self-directed account. This can help you save a lot because you do not have to pay for someone to give you investment advice. You will only have to pay for the transactions that you are going to place, and you do not have to pay for investment advice. This is recommended if you already have some background in investing and you would just like to put your skills and expertise into growing your retirement funds.
Getting ready for retirement is something that you should not set aside. You will not be able to earn back the losses you have incurred for each year that you are not able to maximize your allowable contributions, or for each year that you were not able to invest your retirement savings in financial instruments that could help you gain more interest. Your retirement years will be more satisfying if you have enough funds to treat yourself and your family to a relaxing vacation, or if you still have enough money to buy the things you want, or enough funds for your medical care. It would be more fulfilling if you do not have to rely on other people for your basic needs. By taking action now and making good use of your retirement funds through tax-deferred investments, you are working your way towards a better and brighter future ahead of you.
]]>Starting a business requires careful analysis and precise design of what the enterprise should be. This will help the proprietor achieve his main goal – to earn profit. Basic knowledge of the business entities and benefits in Canada will aid him in planning for the success of his venture.
1. Sole Trading
The sole trading business is the simplest among the four structures. It is owned and managed by a person who shoulders all the legal responsibilities related herewith.
Benefits
The costs in setting up a sole proprietorship are normally low. Registration and license fees are usually the only things required in starting this business.
The trader has the option on the amount of capital he wants to invest. He has the chance of putting up an enterprise with how much he can only provide.
One of the major aspect of business structure and benefits in Canada of having this type of business is the privilege of getting all the profit it generated. The proprietor has the individual claim over all the assets that belong to the enterprise since he and his business have no legal distinction.
Income provided by the entity is treated as the personal income of the owner, thus, it is subject to individual tax rates. Therefore, if the business produces low income, the trader may subtract his revenue deficit from his personal income, putting him to lower tax brackets.
Downfalls
The sole proprietor invests according to the availability of his resources. Trouble in raising enough capital may limit the operations of the business, resulting in lower profit.
Due to the unlimited liability principle, the owner needs to use his personal wealth to write-off the debts of the business if the entity’s assets are not enough.
Having the entire claim over the profit generated by the business, the trader shoulders all the tax liability included in his enterprise. Additionally, if the business is prospering, there is a probability that the owner may be placed in a higher tax bracket.
2. Partnership
Partnership is a type of business structure and benefits in Canada that is formed when two or more persons agree to merge funds, property, or talent in order to establish an enterprise.
Benefits
Like the sole proprietorship, setup costs are fairly low since partners share and contribute the necessary things needed to operate this business. The entity may grow faster with more resources available which results to higher profit.
Management, planning and market assessments are made by the partners. Each of them may take part in the decision-making, which is crucial in every enterprise. More ideas may be pooled in and better strategies may be merged for the furtherance of the business.
The profit or loss in a partnership is shared by both owners. This business is not a separate entity, thus partners are regarded as individual employees who are deemed to pay taxes according to how much they share in their business. In case of losses or low income, tax liabilities are considerably low.
Downfalls
A successful partnership business requires managers who work in synergy with each other. In times when partners have quarrels and disagreements, the venture may experience adverse effects on business structure and downfall in Canada.
Unlimited liability is one of the major disadvantages of partnership. Parallel to sole traders, partners subject their personal assets to the creditors’ claim should the business fail to pay off the debts.
High profits are taxed based on high rates, meaning higher tax liabilities are imposed to the business.
3. Corporation
One of the four business entities and benefits in Canada is the corporation. A corporation is managed and operated by the Board of Directors and is classified as a separate legal entity that may function like a ‘natural’ person.
Benefits
Obtaining a large sum of capital in a corporation is not a problem since a number of investors finance the operations of this venture.
Shareholders invest in a company, making them one of the owners of the said entity. Their ownership and profit is limited to how much they have contributed or how many shares they have acquired. They are also entitled to transfer their rights to another party should they desire to do so.
A corporation may continue to operate even when conflicts among the directors arise. Unlike in partnership, this type of business is not easily liquidated.
Tax liabilities of a corporation are separated from its owners and rates are normally lower.
Downfall
Corporations are obliged to settle many legal fees and startup requirements. If the acquired capital is low, it may lead to challenges in business structure and downfall in Canada.
Since a corporation ideally produces more profit, it is subject to a stricter legal liability. Accurate documentations, precise transactions and records and correct representation of data are presented to the concerned sector of the government for reviewing.
Like in partnership, arguments and disagreements may arise among the directors of a corporation which may yield negative results in the business.
4. Cooperative
The last business structure and benefits in Canada is the cooperative. This venture is owned and controlled by the members in an association who combined their available resources for the formation of the organization.
Benefits
A cooperative is usually democratic in nature, which means that the fellows have the right to vote whenever they are or not in favor of a certain business undertaking. In terms of shouldering the debts of the association, the members are only liable for a fixed amount.
Benefitsand the profit before tax are divided among the members. This means that since the income was already reduced, tax rates are now lower.
Downfalls
For a cooperative business to succeed, full participation of the members is maintained but there are instances when this is not possible. Other obligations may also arise if this type of business has already undertaken different ventures such as selling, marketing, importing, and others.
In the end, ample knowledge of the basic operations of the different business entities and benefits in Canada will help the aspiring entrepreneur decide on what industry he thinks is profitable.
]]>Finding the best restaurants in USA can never be a daunting task. Thanks to Restaurants in USA! This tool is loaded with database of restaurants contact details from all of the states across the US.
If you have this tool, you don’t have to visit one restaurant to another just to look for the best restaurants you want to visit or deal with. You can simply scan this tool and find any restaurant you want.
Our tool is perfect to create your database of contacts. It is perfect for anyone who has the following roles:
If you are eager to have this tool, you can have it at hand. You just need to download it from our website. Since it is supplied as a Microsoft Excel file, it is easy for you to use and find the restaurants you want.
Our product is perfect for various companies that are affiliated with restaurants. Some of these industries include the following:
If you are using this tool, you don’t have to spend more time and effort just to get an access to your prospective restaurants. Thus, you can contact them anytime you want.
Our tool has a cheap rate to meet the needs of every user. Compared to its original price $125.00, you can now purchase it at $70.00.
What are you waiting for? Simply get this tool and witness how it makes your restaurant searching more effective and easier!
]]>