Ottawa Valley Safety Matters Most BUSINESS

January 8, 2019Ottawa Valley BusinessPage 32018 In Review, ContinuedContinued from Page 1April- Bancroft councillor BillKilpatrick resigned his seat afteran investigation into harassmentand a municipal code of conductviolation was begun.- The Renfrew County JuniorFarmers were awarded the 2017Club of the Year by the JuniorFarmers of Ontario.- CNL issued a request forproposal to build a 370-millionadvanced nuclear materialsresearch centre. Construction isscheduled to begin in 2019.- Bonnechere Valleycouncillor, Jackie Agnew,entered the provincial election asthe Liberal candidate.- The Ontario governmentprovided municipalities with theability to levy a tourism tax onaccommodations providers.May- Community Living UpperOttawa Valley celebrated their60th anniversary by completing60 random acts of kindness intheir region.- A cellphone test took placeMay 7th to test an emergencypublic alerting system throughCanada's wireless providers.- Madawaska Valley MayorKim Love made two requests ofthe Madawaska Valley Currentmedia outlet to retract statementsthat were attributed to her butwhich she did not make.- The Town of Renfrew firedtheir Fire Chief because he was61 years of age.- Ethel LaValley entered theprovincial election race as thecandidate for the NDP party.June- The provincial election washeld on June 7. MPP JohnYakabuski was re-elected by asignificant margin and theConservatives took a majoritygovernment at Queen's Park.- Firefighters earned a reprievefrom the provincial governmentthat will allow rural areas tomaintain fire departments.- Quality Inn and Suites inPetawawa earned their seventhaward recognizing them as oneof the highest-rated properties inthe chain of 325 hotels.July- MPP John Yakabuski isMinister of Transportation.- The County of Renfrewallocated 38,000 to hire a newCAO as Jim Hutton retires. Thesuccessful candidate would endup being the County’s PaulMoreau, then Director of SocialServices and Acting CAO.- Deep River Mayor JoanLougheed announced she wouldnot be seeking re-election in theupcoming municipal election.- Brum's Dairy in Pembrokecelebrated 100 years of service.August- Dairy Distillery of Almonteindicated their intention to turnthe leftover product that is usedto make milk into vodka.September- Former Renfrew Fire Chief,Guy Longtin, files a lawsuitagainst the Town of Renfrew forbeing fired because of his age.October- Petawawa councillor, JamesCarmody, slammed a local developer in an election brochure,recommending the 21-millioncommercially serviced propertybe turned into green space.Carmody would be re-elected.- Matthew Bimm is looking toopen a medical marijuanafacility in Pembroke.- Renfrew County WardenJennifer Murphy was foundguilty of a code of conductviolation when she threatened tosue a ratepayer. The IntegrityCommissioner accepted herapology to the individual assufficient recourse. Murphy wasre-elected as warden.- On October 17, marijuanabecame legal with no legislationon what constitutes impairment.- The Township of GreaterMadawaska will receive disasterassistance for the storm thataffected their municipality.- Municipal elections tookplace. In Renfrew County, DeepRiver had the highest voterturnout (63%) and AdmastonBromley had the lowest (22%).In Lanark County, MississippiMills has the highest turnout(59%) while Drummond NorthElmsley was the lowest (20%).November- Questions are raised aboutwhat constitutes a resident voterin Ontario municipal elections.The definition of "boarder"allows virtually anyone to claimresidence in any property inOntario with no requirement toprove that they live there at all.- Bill 148 has sections repealedby the new Conservative government, including that minimumwage will not increase to 15.00per hour in 2019.- A presentation by Johnston &Mackie Insurance discusses howsmall businesses are often atarget for being hacked due tohaving less security.- The Town of Bancroftdismissed their CAO, HazelLambe, and Lambe filed a 600,000 claim for damages forinappropriate dismissal.- The Town of Petawawaallowed internet voting in 2018and doubled their voter turnoutfrom 15.80% to 29.38%. Sixtyfive per cent of the votes werecast online.December- Municipalities have untilJanuary 22, 2019, to decide ifthey wish to allow or opt out ofallowing retail marijuana storesin their jurisdiction.- The municipal electionoutcome remains unresolved inNorth Algona Wilberforce. Acompetition for the final councilseat has Kevin Clarke andMelvin Berndt sharing the samespot. Initially, Clarke earned thespot, but a recount saw Berndt ascouncillor. Clarke has appealedto Superior Court and retains hisseat until a court ruling.- Municipalities are required tostart 2019 with an IntegrityCommissioner and codes ofconducts to handle behaviouralissues of elected officials.- GlassHouse Botanics, ownedby Jeff Black and Dan Tauvette,is a medical marijuana businessthat will be opening in Whitewater Region's industrial park.- The Town of Almonte hasbeen selected by Reader's Digestas one of the Top 20 places tospend Christmas in Canada.Book ClubAmerica is the ultimate startup venture and these are theheroes who made it happen.The history of the UnitedStates is the story of its entrepreneurs, those daring moversand shakers who dreamed bigand risked everything to buildbetter lives for themselves andtheir fellow Americans.Drawing on his own family'sremarkable journey, DuckCommander CEO and star of theblockbuster Duck Dynasty seriesWillie Robertson tells thecaptivating true tale of thevisionaries and doers who haveembodied the American dream.American Entrepreneur tellshow Willie's family turned ahumble duck call manufacturerinto an international powerhousebrand. From a young age, Williehad the entrepreneurial bug,buying candy in bulk andhawking it on the school bus. Hedid special orders and earned asmall fortune for a 10-year-olduntil he was hauled into theprincipal's office and told toknock it off. So he transferredhis focus to the business thoughhe still wasn't out of gradeschool. Willie helped build DuckCommander into a worldwidebrand, culminating in the megasuccess of the Duck Dynastytelevision show.American Entrepreneur tells amost American tale, of thosewho made something thatchanged the world.

January 8, 2019Ottawa Valley BusinessPage 4Business News Around The ValleyHeideman Fire in PembrokeLavern Heideman and Sonslumber yard on Boundary Roadin Pembroke started 2019 offwith a major fire. The fire startedin the evening of January 2,2019. Employees were on sitebut were able to evacuate safely.The fire caused a hydro outagefor most of the night to someneighbourhoods in the area. Thecause of the fire is unknown atthis time. Twenty-six employeesare employed at the Pembrokelocation.New Fitness Businessin PembrokeLudus Fitness has opened inDowntown Pembroke. The gymtakes over from Phase 1, whichclosed in October. The newowners are Ariana Rossi andSamantha Madill. The gym isopen 24 hours and is located at100 Pembroke Street East.WWR Says “Yes” ToRetail Pot StoresThe Township of WhitewaterRegion's Development andProperty Committee, isrecommending that themunicipality "opt-in" to hostingretail pot shops in itsmunicipality. By choosing this,the municipality will be eligiblefor up to 5,000 as an incentive.The County of Renfrew will alsoearn up to 5,000. However,Whitewater Region is asking forthe County of Renfrew toredirect its financial bonus to themunicipality since all costsassociated with implementationare born by the municipality.LV Open HouseThe Township of LaurentianValley is inviting the public to aCommunity Improvement Plan(CIP) open house. The CIP willpromote revitalization,beautification and improvementof commercial, agricultural andrural areas in the municipality.Interested persons are invited toattend the open house at ShadyNook Recreation Centre onJanuary 17, 2019, from 6:00pmto 8:00pm. For informationcontact Kayla Janke at 613-7356291 or kjanke@lvtownship.caLocal Company Makes Top 10Industry Story of 2018Lavern Heideman & Sons madethe Canadian Forest IndustriesTop 10 stories of 2018 with theirinvestment of 17M to boostproduction. In explaining theirdecision, Vice-President KrisHeideman said it was a decisionon whether to run theirequipment into the ground andwalk away from the business, ordive in head first and reinvest.The upgraded sawmill includes anew large-log line, dry kilns andspace for a new planer mill.Book ClubProvincial and National Business NewsPremature Asphalt CrackingThe Ontario Good RoadsAssociation (OGRA) had areport prepared to address thepremature cracking of asphalt onOntario roads. The KPMG studyfound three reasons why this washappening: 1) dense aggregategradations that did not providesufficient room for the asphaltbinder in the mixture, leading tomixes more susceptible to earlycracking; 2) the lack of bondingbetween layers of hot mixasphalt related to the quality ofspecifications and oversight oftack coat application; 3) cracksthat reflected from lower pavement layers through asphaltoverlays. The Ontario RoadBuilders' Association andOntario Asphalt PavementCouncil met with the OntarioMinistry of Transportation inDecember 2018. A meeting withOGRA is planned for early 2019.Canada Summer JobsInviting ApplicationsThe Canada Summer Jobs (CSJ)program is now acceptingapplications for summer employment in 2019. Applications areopen until January 25, 2019. TheCSJ program offers funding toemploy people aged 15 to 30 andis open to for-profit and not-forprofit organizations. A changefor 2019 is that the program isopen to all people aged 15 to 30.For more information, jobs/CPP Premiums IncreaseStarting January 1, 2019, therewill be an increase in CanadaPension Plan (CPP) and QuebecONTARIO GOVERNMENTPension Plan (QPP) remittances.In 2018, employers paid 4.95%of employee's earnings (5.40%in Quebec). As of January 1,2019, employers must pay 5.1%of employee's earnings (5.55%in Quebec). The earnings limit(no premiums paid on incomeabove this amount) increasesfrom 55,900 (2018) to 57,400(2019). The annual payout toCPP recipients remains at 25%of what the recipient was makingpre-retirement.2019 Safe Food RegulationsOn January 15, 2019, the SafeFood for Canadians Act (SFCA)and the Safe Food for CanadiansRegulations (SFCR) will comeinto effect. The Safe Food forCanadians Regulations focuseson prevention and allowing forfaster removal of unsafe foodfrom the marketplace. They willreduce an unnecessaryadministrative burden onbusinesses by replacing 14 setsof regulations with one, and willhelp maintain and grow marketaccess for Canada's agri-foodand agricultural sector. Theregulations will require foodbusinesses that import or preparefood for export or to be sentacross provincial or territorialborders to have licences, as wellas preventive controls thatoutline steps to address potentialrisks to food safety. Theregulations are available at:http://www.inspection.gc.ca andchoose the "Food" drop-downmenu and Safe Food forCanadians Regulations link.Continued on Page 5The Ontario government has asked for your suggestions andideas on the 2019 budget. They are looking for ideas that cancut red tape for businesses and individuals when accessinggovernment services, improve the delivery of governmentprograms and save taxpayers’ money.TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY!SEND YOUR SUGGESTIONSSubmit 500 words or less by email to submissions@ontario.ca in a PDFor MS Word document. Use 2019 Budget Consultations in the subjectline. To find out about in-person sessions, call 1-866-989-9002. You canalso mail your submission to: The Honourable Victor Fedeli, Minister ofFinance, c/o Budget Secretariat, Frost Building North, 3rd Floor, 95Grosvenor Street, Toronto, Ontario M7A 1Z1

January 8, 2019Ottawa Valley BusinessPage 5Provincial and National Business NewsContinued from Page 4Ontario Seeks Budget InputThe government of Ontario isseeking input from Ontarians forthe 2019 provincial budget.Specifically, the government isseeking input about how they cancut red tape, improve programsand services and save taxpayers'money. They also want ideas onthe best ways to fulfill thegovernment's five corecommitments: 1) put moremoney in people's pockets, 2)lowering hydro bills, 3) creatingand protecting jobs, 4) restoreaccountability and trust to endthe culture of waste andmismanagement in governmentand 5) cut hospital wait timesand end hallway healthcare.Individuals and organizations areencouraged to submit their ideasno later than February 8, 2019.Those interested in submittingcomments can participate inthree ways: sharing their ideasonline through a survey,attending an in-person session,and sending written submissions.Ideas can be submitted online at:www.ontario.ca/page/budgetconsultations or by email to:submissions@ontario.caCanadian ChamberClarifies PositionThe Canadian Chamber ofCommerce is clarifying theirposition from a recent report ACompetitive Transition: Howsmarter climate policy can helpCanada lead the way to a lowcarbon economy (December2018). While the Chambersupports carbon pricing, thatsupport is contingent uponsignificant caveats. The reportcalls for government to reducethe overall regulatory burden onbusinesses in Canada, and toreturn the revenues from thecarbon tax to business to helpthem lower their carbonemissions and their energy costs.CCC Supports PipelineWhile the federal governmenthas committed 1.6 billion tosupport Canada's struggling oiland gas sector, the CanadianMaking a careerchange is whatmany peoplechoose as aNew Year’sresolution.Make surethey knowyou’re hiring.JobsEasternOntarioLet people know you’re looking for employees.Post your job for just 132.75 for 60 days.work@easternontariojobs.comChamber of Commerce saysmore needs to be done. Presidentand CEO Perrin Beatty says thatit is a nation-wide problem ingetting energy products to globalmarkets, where they can get afair price. Beatty says thepipeline must move forward andurges the federal government tomake a “clear plan to get apipeline built.”Free Fishing ForCF MembersAs of January 1, 2019, allveterans and active CanadianArmed Forces members residingin Ontario can enjoy recreationalfishing across the provincewithout having to purchase afishing licence.Ontario Not IncreasingDriving FeesSeveral driver and vehicle feesthat were set to increase inOntario will remain the same.The government of Ontariocancelled fee increases fordriver's licences and roadknowledge tests in September,and now has stopped additionalincreases on driving fees such ascommercial and passengervehicle validations, personalizedlicence plates, oversize permits,heavy commercial, farm andbus/school bus validations,dealer permits, commercialvehicle operator registrations andreplacements (driver's licence).Tourism SignageNot IncreasingIn April 2018, the Ontariogovernment signed a contractwith Canadian TODS Limitedregarding the province'sTourism-Oriented DirectionalSigning program, after 10 yearsof no price increases. This wouldhave seen the cost of tourismsignage significantly increase.The newly elected governmentof Ontario has frozen theCanadian TODS price increasesfor 2019, allowing businessowners time to plan for costincreases. TODS is designed toprovide motorists with signageon provincial highways to directvisitors to tourist attractions,operations and services.We connect people who havea disability with employment.Bee Successful is directed to assist individuals who havea disability, to obtain employment. The disability can beintellectual or physical and the service is free for peopleto access. It works much like other employment servicesin Renfrew County. We build relationships betweenpotential candidates and Renfrew County employers andhelp employers benefit from the benefits of hiringemployees who have a disability.contact@beesuccessful.caPhone: 613-602-6572www.beesuccessful.ca

January 8, 2019Ottawa Valley BusinessPage 6Paying Employees For HolidaysHow to calculate what is owedNews 10How well do you know thenews? Answers on page 10.1) The Canadian Press has madethis politician its BusinessNewsmaker of the Year for 2018due to her work on NAFTA.2) Canada became the first majorworld economy to legalizemarijuana. What date did thishappen?3) CTV News listed one of theirtop political stories of 2018 asPM Trudeau's trip to India. Whatthree issues dogged the event?4) The TransMountain pipelinewas purchased by the federalgovernment in May 2018. Howmuch did the government payKinder Morgan for the pipeline?5) This politician left theConservative Party of Canada inAugust 2018 to start his ownparty. Who is the politician andwhat’s the new party name?6) This politician ran for mayorof Toronto in the spring of 2018and ended up with the positionof Premier of Ontario. Who is it?7) Several provinces disagreewith the federal government'scarbon tax plan. Led by Ontario,what other provinces havespoken out against the "made-inOttawa" plan?8) Coalition Avenir Quebecended 50 years of two-party rulein Quebec by winning a majority74 seats in the provincialelection. They also elected thehighest percentage of women inCanada - at what percentage?9) What was Canada's medalcount at the 2018 Olympics inPyeongchang, South Korea?10) This woman became the firstblack person and the first nonroyal woman to be featured on aCanadian bank note - the 10bill. Who is she?By: Canadian Federation ofIndependent Businesswww.c b-fcei.caOntario has nine publicholidays that most employeesare entitled to: New Year's Day(January 1), Family Day (thethird Monday in February),Good Friday, Victoria Day (theMonday before May 25), CanadaDay, Labour Day (the firstMonday in September),Thanksgiving Day (the secondMonday in October), ChristmasDay and Boxing Day. To collectpublic holiday pay, employeesmust have worked the lastregularly scheduled day or shiftbefore the holiday and the firstregularly scheduled day or shiftafter the holiday.Pay FormulaTo calculate public holidaypay, take the regular wages overthe last four weeks before theholiday and divide by 20.When EmployeesWork The HolidayYour employee can agreeelectronically or in writing towork on the holiday and be paidtheir regular wages for all hoursworked on the public holidayand receive another substituteholiday for which they must bepaid public holiday pay. Regularwages does not include overtimepay, termination pay, severanceand premium pay, termination ofassignment pay (for temporaryhelp agency employees),personal emergency leave pay,domestic or sexual violenceleave pay or pay for otherholidays. Or, the employee canreceive public holiday pay pluspremium pay for all hoursworked on the public holidayand not receive another day off(a substitute holiday).A public holiday may fall on aday your employee is notscheduled to work; theseholidays must be given on asubstitute weekday. Youremployee is entitled to asubstitute holiday off with publicholiday pay or public holidaypay for the public holiday, if theemployee agrees to thiselectronically or in writing (inthis case, the employee will notbe given a substitute day off).Your employee is entitled to asubstitute holiday within threemonths after the public holidayunless the employee agrees2019FESTIVAL OFOutdoorRinkselectronically or in writing thatthe substitute day off isscheduled up to 12 months afterthe public holiday.If an employee receives asubstitute holiday, you must:inform the employee before theholiday by a written statementthat contains the public holidaythat is being substituted, the dateof the substitute holiday, and thedate that the statement was givento the employee.Vacation PayIf vacation pay was receivedby the employee in the fourwork weeks prior to the publicholiday, it is used to calculatepublic holiday pay. This mayinclude paid vacation time or 4-6per cent vacation pay on everycheque or vacation pay in eithera portion or a lump sum.The Ministry of Labour has apublic holiday pay calculator calculatorCivic DayCivic Day (the first Monday inAugust) is not a public holidayunder employment standardslegislation or under the BusinessRetail Holidays Act. However,Canada Post, libraries,government ministries and somebusinesses do close on that day.February 8-10, 2019Join us to celebratesmall town winters atour local outdoor rinks!We know the weather is always questionable, but if you wantto be part of Festival of Outdoor Rinks, you still can be!Participate in 1, 2 or all 3 days! It’s totally up to you.maria@festivalofoutdoorrinks.comFor more information, contact Maria Mayville: www.facebook.com/outdoorrinks

January 8, 2019Ottawa Valley BusinessPage 7Explained: The CPP EnhancementWhat it means for individuals and businessesBy: Jennifer Laymanjenn@ovbusiness.comStarting January 1, 2019,employees, employers and theself-employed will contributemore to Canada Pension Planearnings as part of the federalgovernment's "CPPEnhancement" program. Why isthis needed and what does itmean to Canadians?What Is CPP?The Canada Pension Plan(CPP) is a contributory publicpension plan that provides abasic level of earningsreplacement in retirement forworkers throughout Canada,except in Quebec. Workers inQuebec are covered by theQuebec Pension Plan, whichprovides similar benefits. TheCPP is financed by employer,employee and self-employedcontributions, as well as incomeearned on CPP investments.Employees contribute apercentage of their income toCPP,

Area Chamber of Commerce. Held at the Rocky Mountain House at 8:00am. Phone 613-432-7015 or email us at: info@renfrewareachamber.ca January 15, 2019 January 16, 2019 January 8, 2019 Cannabis Retail Stores Public Information Session. 6:00pm. Learn about opting-in and opting-out, munici