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 Canadian
provinces telework |
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Telework support from provincial politicians |
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Some
of Canada's provinces
are starting to show awareness
of telework and its benefits. For the most part,
support has been with words only, and not with action. As
employers, some have implemented telework programs for their own
employees. However, most have not even taken this basic step. That
includes Ontario, Canada's largest province. Here are
some examples of provincial government activity. Contact
us if you know of others.
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Alberta |
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Jon Lord (MLA Calgary Currie)
April 19/04:
Jon Lord again raises telework in
Legislative Assembly. Judging by reaction from Clint Dunford
(Minister of Human Resouces) and Victor Doerksen (Minister of
Innovation and Science) in Alberta's Legislative Assembly, the
government DOES NOT see the big benefits of telework.
March 25/04 statement to Alberta's
Legislative Assembly, Jon Lord educates his colleagues about the
benefits of telework for the province. He strongly urges all
employers to look at our website (
www.ivc.ca), adding that their "businesses might depend on
it". |
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Alberta
Government's Telecommuting Program
Check it out here |
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Ralph
Klein, Premier of Alberta: "I
am pleased to endorse Canada's first Telework Day, a day to
recognize teleworkers as innovators and contributors to our
knowledge-based industries and our new economy."
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Clint
Dunford, former Alberta Minister of Human Resources and Employment '99: "Technology
is challenging our traditional values of
the workplace. Telework allows workers to
navigate their commuting time as they work
from their homes or satellite offices. Set
hours are becoming an option rather than
the norm. Over one million workers are
taking advantage of the independence
gained through teleworking. Many Albertans
are able to contribute their knowledge to
the economy; teleworking brings the job to
the worker, and the worker to the job. The Alberta
government recognizes the benefits of
teleworking, and has developed and posted
formal teleworking agreements at the
following link
I am
pleased to support the third annual
Canadian Telework Day as a means of
promoting telework as a viable alternative
for many working Albertans." |
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Dr.
Lorne Taylor, former Minister, Alberta Innovation
& Science: "Technology
is changing how we live, learn,
communicate and how we work. Albertans are
known for seeking new and better ways of
doing things, and telecommuting is no
exception. Teleworking allows our
knowledgeable workforce to compete in the
global marketplace without geographical or
time barriers. In Alberta, the most wired
province in Canada, knowledge workers are
in a position to seize opportunities
around the world from the comfort of their
own home. On behalf of the Government of
Alberta, I am pleased to support Canadian Telework Day as an opportunity to
recognize the contribution teleworkers
make to the Alberta Advantage of the 21st
century and our success in the knowledge
economy." |
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British Columbia |
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UBC's
TREK Program Centre |
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British
Columbia Government policy includes telework Still very small
though |
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Manitoba |
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The Manitoba
Government and its Government Employee's Union have a
new Master Agreement which includes "Working at Home".
Check it out
here |
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Newfoundland and Labrador |
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Brian
Tobin, past Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador: "...we recognize teleworking and the valuable
contribution it makes to our provincial and
national economies. ....As a province where at
least every fourth household has a computer,
where all of our schools have Internet access,
and where our population is dispersed over a
large geographic area, Newfoundland and Labrador
has many reasons to capitalize on the benefits
of teleworking. For instance, individuals are
now able to be a part of a competitive
environment without having to commute or even
re-locate to a major centre..."
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Beaton
Tulk, former Newfoundland Development & Rural Renewal Minister: "...We
have always had a lot of resources in this province both
natural resources and human resources, but unfortunately
many of our best and brightest have had to move away.
Telework holds the possibility of allowing skilled people to
work where they want to live, rather than having to uproot
themselves in pursuit of work." |
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Ontario |
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Michael
Harris, former Premier of Ontario:
"... teleworking is evidence
of the positive changes that are happening
in Ontario's economy. Ontario's skilled
labour faces excellent employment
prospects. Telework Day is a great opportunity
to find out what telework is all about. I
commend the organizers of this event for
encouraging job growth in our province,
and offer my best wishes for an enjoyable
Canadian Telework Day." |
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David
Turnbull, former Ontario Transport Minister '99:
"Not only does teleworking have the potential to
make our economy more competitive and more
productive, it also has the potential to reduce
the volume of traffic on our roads and to
decrease vehicle emissions." |
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Norman
Sterling, former Ontario Minister of Environment: "Telework .... encourages a prosperous economy
while allowing workers the flexibility to make decisions
that can not only strengthen the economy, but produce
tangible environmental benefits as well." |
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Quebec |
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Quebec
Government's Telework Program |
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Saskatchewan |
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Saskatchewan
Government Telework Program |
