NLEC releases Conference Board of Canada Report Benchmarking NL against Competitors
The NL Employers’ Council (NLEC) released key findings of a Conference Board of Canada study that examines Newfoundland and Labrador’s strengths and weaknesses relative to its closest competitors today at the Sheraton Hotel. The study, Achieving Sustainable Prosperity: Benchmarking the Competitiveness of Newfoundland and Labrador, was commissioned by the NLEC to generate recommendations to improve the  [...]
NLEC asks government for meaningful spending reform and a plan to save for our future
NL Employers’ Council Executive Director Richard Alexander presented to Finance Minister Ross Wiseman Friday, asking him to address the looming deficit by introducing meaningful permanent spending reforms to government program and service delivery. Alexander told Wiseman that the drop in the price of oil “could be the best thing to happen to Newfoundland Labrador.” Now  [...]
NLEC calls on government to think long term about province’s finances
The NL Employers’ Council (NLEC) is imploring the provincial government to change the way they manage our province’s finances. Instead of budgeting at the maximum price of oil as this government has been doing, government must budget spending based on a more modest estimate.  Any resulting surplus should be used to pay down debt and  [...]
NLEC disagrees with province suspending support for trade agreements
The NL Employers’ Council (NLEC) has been speaking out on the benefits of removing trade barriers following the provincial government’s decision not to participate in trade agreements currently under negotiation by Canada. The NLEC fundamentally disagrees with this decision, made due to the province’s disagreement with the federal government on the terms of a cost-shared  [...]
2014 NLEC Conference PLAYING TO WIN a resounding success
The NL Employers’ Council 2014 Conference Playing to Win: The Simple Truth about Productivity, Growth & Being Globally Competitive took place on November 20th in St. John’s. Over 120 business leaders, managers, public policy and opinion makers attended the event which included sessions by the Honourable John Crosbie and Bill Barry on Competitive Public Policy; Maclean’s  [...]
NLEC optimistic about future WHSCC employer premium reductions
While the average worker’s compensation employer insurance premium will remain unchanged for 2015, the NL Employers’ Council is optimistic about further reductions in the future. In their announcement of the 2015 rates today, the Workplace Health, Safety and Compensation Commission (WHSCC) stated that the funded ratio as of December 31, 2013 was 106.6 percent –  [...]
Government finally implements public sector pension reform after long lobby by NLEC
After a long lobby by the NLEC, Premier Tom Marshall announced Tuesday, September 2nd, that a deal has been reached between government and unions to reform the majority of public sector pensions in this province. This deal finally establishes a plan to eliminate the massively unfunded public sector pension and post retirement liabilities, projected to  [...]
Mandatory secret ballot vote on union certification reinstated
Bill 22, an Act To Amend The Labour Relations Act passed in the House of Assembly yesterday. The Bill proposes to eliminate the card based system of union certification imposed in 2012 and reinstate mandatory secret ballot voting to determine if workers want to be represented by a union in their workplace. All Progressive Conservative  [...]
NLEC receives Pinnacle Awards for campaign to reduce workers’ compensation premiums
The International Association of Business Communicators, Newfoundland & Labrador Chapter (IAB-NCL) presented the NLEC with two awards on May 22nd at a Pinnacle Awards Gala at the Rooms. The Pinnacle Awards showcase excellence in business communication. The NLEC was recognized in both the Government Relations and Advocacy Communications categories for the three year campaign to  [...]
Private Members Resolution on Temporary Foreign Workers passed in the House of Assembly
A Private Members Resolution to implement worker recruitment and protection legislation, which would require an employer registration process as well as a licensing requirement for companies/individuals recruiting foreign workers, was passed in the House of Assembly last week. Introduced by Liberal MHA Cathy Bennett, it was supported by all members except the NDP. The NLEC  [...]