If you have an attractive home it is advisable that you should possess a beautiful garden too. For those who have just a little yard along with a backyard it's not a hard task to create them nicely to ensure they are places that you could relax once the weather permits. Though you will find rules on style of gardens there's nobody to enforce them. Therefore, you can break any rule as lengthy because it allows you to design an attractive home garden.
The very first factor you must do would be to then add tall plants. Evergreens are extremely good for this function. If you have such plants you'll attract wild birds. Wild birds will give you existence because they chirp both morning and evening. If you have a couple of of those plants a garden will appear beautiful.
It is advisable that you should choose plants that offer the best colors also. It's your choice and there's no solid rule here. Just in case you've bought your plants without thinking about the colours still you've got nothing to fret. You will find the possible ways to make use of all individuals colors but still come forth with an attractive home garden. The following factor may be the seem. Any talent will need seem. Therefore, it may be beneficial to include seem for your garden also. For those who have trees where wild birds will nestle, you'll have no dearth of sounds. But when you do not have such plants, getting a waterfall may be beneficial. It'll make a little of the noise that can make a garden lively.
It's important to possess some diversity inside your garden. You might like some types of plants but getting that kind of plants can make an ordinary appearance. Exactly as you put on the matching blouse for the skirt, you must have various kinds of plants that complement each other. Adding a couple of points of interest inside a garden could enhance its value by advances and bounds. What you ought to do would be to possess some large containers or plants at different places. Your waterfall also might be a focus. If you have them scattered throughout, nobody will have the ability to possess a glance in one corner making an exam of the garden. Rather, lead him to walk everywhere taking pleasure in that which you have available.


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Freehoster sind Anbieter von kostenlosem Webspace, auf dem der Benutzer eine eigene Website anbieten kann (siehe auch: Webhosting). Benutzer können den Quellcode der eigenen Seiten bearbeiten oder gänzlich selbst erstellen und eigene Dateien hochladen. Der Benutzer erhält üblicherweise nur eine Subdomain (zum Beispiel benutzer.freehoster.de) oder ein Unterverzeichnis (zum Beispiel www.freehoster.de/benutzer).

Um das Angebot zu finanzieren oder profitabel zu machen, blenden die meisten Freehoster auf den Benutzerseiten Werbung in Form von Pop-ups oder Layern ein.
Bei älteren Hostern werden als Werbeform oft auch noch Banner eingefügt oder Frames verwendet.

Standard-Features

Die meisten Freehoster bieten einen FTP-Zugang, um Dateien auf den Webspace hochladen zu können. Zusätzlich gestatten es einige, Dateien auch via HTTP hochzuladen, dieses Feature heißt meist WebFTP.

Viele Anbieter unterstützen eine oder mehrere Skriptsprachen wie zum Beispiel PHP. Außerdem besteht häufig die Möglichkeit, eine eigene Datenbank beim Freehoster anzulegen. Unterstützt wird hier meist MySQL oder PostgreSQL.
Durch die Unterstützung von Skriptsprachen wie PHP ist es möglich, komplexere Webseiten zu erstellen, die auf dynamisch generierten Seiten basieren, oder ein Content-Management-System wie zum Beispiel Joomla zu verwenden.

Der Traffic ist bei den meisten Freehostern nach dem Fair-Use-Prinzip unbegrenzt. Das bedeutet: Solange der Traffic nicht übermäßig durch Mirrordienste oder Chats belastet wird, gibt es keine Begrenzung. Ebenso gibt es natürlich auch Freehoster, bei denen der Traffic normal begrenzt ist. Häufig findet man bei Freehostern auch eine Limitierung der Dateigröße, oft Filesize-Limit genannt. Diese Limitierung soll meist verhindern, dass große Dateien zum Download angeboten werden und so der Traffic steigt.

Finanzierung

Private Projekte von Personen, die einen Server bei einem großen Anbieter anmieten oder in einem eigenen Rechenzentrum aufstellen, werden meist durch Werbeeinnahmen oder kleinere Sponsoren finanziert. Oftmals werden solche Projekte nach einiger Zeit wieder eingestellt, da sie sich nicht rentieren. Ist jedoch die Finanzierung des Projektes gut organisiert und der Service beliebt, kann sich ein Freehoster ebenso etablieren wie ein Paid-Hoster. Mehr Benutzer bedeuten dann mehr Werbung und daher mehr Einnahmen. Auch bieten einige kommerzielle Webhoster eine stark abgespeckte Hostingvariante sogar auf werbefreier Basis kostenfrei an. So wollen sie ihre Kunden dazu bringen, auf ein kostenpflichtiges Angebot mit mehr Features umzusteigen.

Performance & Verfügbarkeit

Im Normalfall sind Freehoster langsamer als sogenannte Paid-Hoster, die für die Server-Bereitstellung Geld verlangen. Das liegt daran, dass meistens mehr Accounts auf einem Server liegen und die Hardware im Allgemeinen etwas weniger leistungsfähig ist. Des Weiteren ist die Verfügbarkeit bei Freehostern selten gewährleistet, wobei die Uptimes je nach Anbieter stark schwanken können.
Gründe dafür sind vor allem ökonomische, da der Anbieter des Services lediglich durch Werbeeinblendung auf den Userseiten oder durch Sponsoren Geld verdient und dieses zum Großteil von Instandhaltungs- und Betriebskosten getilgt wird.
Es kann allerdings durchaus Ausnahmen geben, bei denen ein Free-Hosting-Dienst schneller ist oder eine bessere Verfügbarkeit hat als ein kostenpflichtiger Dienst.

Sicherheit

Ein ebenfalls nicht zu vernachlässigender Aspekt ist die Sicherheit der einzelnen Angebote, die in hohem Maße davon abhängt, wie sicher das im Hintergrund verwendete Serversystem ist. Das hängt zum Beispiel davon ab, ob der Betreiber regelmäßig Updates für die Serversoftware, für dessen Betriebssystem und die weiteren verwendeten Komponenten einspielt.

Ein weiteres Problem ist, dass Skriptsprachen meist umfangreiche Befehle bieten, die auch verwendet werden können, um die Serverkonfiguration zu ändern oder den Server mit komplizierten Berechnungen zu überlasten. Deswegen blockieren die meisten Betreiber viele derartige Befehle, das Fehlen von Befehlen kann allerdings Probleme verursachen und ein Ändern der Anwendung erforderlich machen.

Weblinks
 Liste von Freehostern (Abgerufen am 22. Dezember 2016)

Einzelnachweise

Internetdienst
World Wide Web
Filehosting

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


1900 Indian 1¢. Proof-64 RB PCGS. CAC. - Kagin's Inc.
ITEM / Kagin's September 2018 West Coast Auction / 1900 Indian 1¢. Proof-64 RB PCGS. CAC.
1900 Indian 1¢. Proof-64 RB PCGS. CAC.
275.00USD+ (55.00) buyer's premium. + applicable fees & taxes.
1900 Indian 1¢. Proof-64 RB PCGS. CAC. Bright rose-orange with golden highlights in the icon's headdress details. Obverse toning spot between D and S near rim.
From the Teich Family Collection.


Would you like to make a beanie out of one of my rovings without having to spin it into your first. Here are the instructions on how to do just that.
I was asked the question "would it felt when washing"; my reply was all wool garments should be hand washed with care, but over a long period of time some felting may occur.
But also if you are into the felting craze you could knit your garment extra large and then felt it on purpose with lots of agitation and the hot/cold water treatment.
So how about you give it a go and be amazed with the results.
Firstly choose your roving. This one is called "Dazzle".
Unplait your roving to form one long length.
Divide your roving into thin pencil rovings. This is done by gently pulling sidways at the top of the roving. Don't worry if it wants to split too thickly, as once you have divided right to the end, you can repeat this division to make a thinner roving.
You are looking for the thickness of about 12ply yarn. The trick is to go slowly and hold the roving gently as this allows the fibres to part. Once you have a pencil roving ready you can start knitting, or you can prepare all the pencil rovings before you start.
I use a basic beanie pattern for 12ply yarn as I think the colours speak for themselves. At this point you should knit a sample square to check your tension. I use 6mm needles. Once you are happy with your needle selection you can undo your sample square and use this roving as part of your beanie or project. A word on holding the roving while you're knitting - hold it firmly as you knit and it won't come apart. If you are gentle then it will ease apart as when you were splitting the roving. Cast on the required number of stitches according to your pattern; I used 80 and then join in the round placing a stitch makers as you do.
Begin ribbing as per pattern; I do a K2 P2 rib. If you find the roving is a bit thick then gently lengthen it by pulling either side of the thick section. You will soon get the feel of the thickness you need. To join in another length, overlap the two thinned ends by about 5cm, hold together and continue knitting.
The little tail that sticks out from your join is then turned back to you working pencil roving and knitted in.
Rib for the required length of the band; I do 23 rows of rib in all.
Then change to stocking stitch - knit all rows as you are working in the round for the required number of rows; for me this is 16 rows in total.
This photo will give you a good idea of what the stitches will look like - I think the pattern made by the colours is just glorious.
Next is the decrease sequence of your beanie, using the instructions in your pattern. I do K1* K2tog K8, rep from* to the last st K1. Knit the next row. Then K1*K2tog K7 rep from* to the last st K1, knit the next row. Continue decreasing in this manner until there are 26sts remaining, then next row (K2tog) 13 times.
Break off yarn and thread through the remaining stitches.
To sew up the top of your beanie I use a matching spun yarn or thread as it is easier. Guess what! You now have a beanie.
It took only one 100gm roving to make this beanie.


Get acquainted with the new folks on the boards. If you're not sure where to go or what to do, start here.
I was around back in the day!
I finally got into this thing!!! so happy!
Hey Everyone! It's the drummer!
Hey Guys! Can I play?
Little help for a newbie...?
Introducing myself, if you care.


A Salon Owners Mastermind is a gathering of salon owners who are looking for outside the box ways to help grow their business. Everyone has a different Target Market and does things a little differently. So lets band together and elevate the industry we love so much.
Branding and Social Media workshop for salon owners looking to take their salon to the next level.
Light refreshments served. $65, email info@BlackVioletConsulting.com to reserve your seat.


As a frequent visitor to Yellowstone National Park, I was interested in Jerry Sullivan's defense of Park fire policy [Field & Street, September 9]. He quotes Park biologists clearly explaining the regenerating effect of fire on the average forest. Indeed, for 16 years, Park management has been hoping for "significant fire" to demonstrate this regeneration.
Park officials held to that policy even with the extreme drought conditions, and after warnings from the chief forester of the Nat'l Forest Service that "fires could burn out of control." Now, of course, several fires have burned into National Forest and private lands with no end in sight. I don't know when Jerry wrote his article, but events of last week should give him pause. Even the Park leaders were changing their tune. Spokesperson Joan Anzelmo said that they were appalled at the magnitude of the event, and "no scientist could have predicted" it. Why not? Actually, YNP officials "modified" the policy as early as July 28, electing to fight the North Fork fire.
Beside the question of Park responsibility to its neighbors, questions occur about effects on animals within the Park. How will loss of food and habitat affect the precarious population of grizzly bear? And on declining populations of mule deer and bighorn sheep? Will distinctive subspecies of trout survive unshaded streams? Past Park policies have caused the elimination of wolf and cougar; beaver and white-tailed deer have vanished from the Park. The loss of another species would be a grim repudiation of Park policy.
There was a great gray owl on the Grebe Lake trail.


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Irony of Water Rates: Save More, Pay More
Posted February 9th, 2014
Texans Answer Call to Save Water, Only to Face Higher Rates
By Neena Satija
Gazette's Introductory Note: This piece underlines one of the ironies of conservation: as consumption goes down, cost per unit goes up. Water utilities are faced with the unpleasant task of asking their customers to use less of their cash product. It's like asking a service station to conserve energy by selling less gasoline. This is one of the strongest arguments for publicly owned water supplies. It is for the common good to conserve water, and the public as a whole can absorb the cost. It is unreasonable to expect a for-profit owner of a privatized water utility to voluntarily give up its profits to conserve water.–Hardly Waite.
The drought-stricken city of Wichita Falls could soon give its residents more bad news.
Even though the 100,000 residents of this northwest Texas city have substantially cut their water use, their dry lawns may no longer continue to save them money on their water bills. Instead, they will be asked to pay more; the city lost $4.5 million in water sales last year because of the conservation efforts.
"It's tough to tell the consumer that 'Yeah, well, you guys did a great job out there conserving water, but lo and behold, we got hurt financially, so we've got to raise your rates,' " the assistant city manager, Jim Dockery, said.
Wichita Falls, whose total rainfall over the last three years was 33 inches below normal, is not alone in its water conservation conundrum. Several Texas cities have collectively lost tens of millions of dollars by restricting outdoor water use, which has been a main source of revenue. At the same time, most of their expenses, like paying off debt and infrastructure maintenance, have increased, forcing utilities to raise rates for everyone, regardless of their water use.
The losses have prompted credit ratings agencies to look closer at the finances of public utilities in Texas. One agency, Fitch, downgraded some of Fort Worth's water and sewer debt last year, and last week the firm downgraded the debt of the city's wholesale water supplier. Fort Worth lost $11 million last year because of water conservation.
"This business is extremely weather-dependent," said Mary Gugliuzza, the Fort Worth water utility's spokeswoman. Rainy summers can also hurt a city's bottom line because residents do not need to water their lawns as much.
Fort Worth's goal, like that of many other cities in Texas, is to change its rate structure to avoid such ups and downs. Today, about 17 percent of the utility's revenue comes from fixed monthly charges that all water customers pay regardless of how much they use; by 2018, Ms. Gugliuzza said, 25 percent of its revenue will come from such charges. Mr. Dockery said Wichita Falls is considering a similar transition.
Still, the changes will be hard to swallow politically. Consumers have underpaid for water for decades, said Sharlene Leurig, a program director at Ceres, a nonprofit sustainability advocacy group with which many Texas cities have consulted on water rate structures.
"People truly don't understand that the cost of having reliable water is not the cost of the water itself," Ms. Leurig said. "It's the cost of all the infrastructure you have to put in place to provide that water reliably and safely."
Wichita Falls is spending about a million dollars on a pipeline that will deliver treated wastewater to a large manufacturing company, and the city will lose an additional $100,000 a year by selling the reused water at a discount.
"We're paying to save water, is what we're doing," Mr. Dockery said. He added that the city has had to defer important maintenance projects because of the lost revenue.
Cities across Texas hope that utility revenues will bounce back once the rain returns. But even if the drought lifts, officials know that water users' habits have changed. They will never be the water-guzzlers they might have once been.
While that is good news for conservationists, the phenomenon that credit ratings agencies call a "drought shadow" will result in higher costs for all users, even the most water-conscious.
Source: Texas Tribune (New York Times).

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Editor Darren Birks
Are Vaccines Really 'Safe and Effective'?
Vaccine Safety Update 01 September 2021
These data are directly from the UK Government Yellow Card Safety Reporting System.
According to an updated report published on August 26th, the MHRA Yellow Card reporting system has recorded a total of 1,165,636 events based on 351,404 reports. The total number of fatalities reported is 1,609.
Pfizer (21.3 million first doses, 16.6 million second doses) now has one Yellow Card in 199 people vaccinated. Deaths: 1 in 41,929 people vaccinated (508).
AstraZeneca (24.8 million first doses, 23.9 million second doses) has one Yellow Card in 108 people vaccinated. Deaths: 1 in 23,485 people vaccinated (1,056).
Moderna (1.4 million first doses, 0.7 million second doses) has one Yellow Card in 100 people vaccinated. Deaths: 1 in 50,000 people vaccinated (28).
Overall, one in every 135 people vaccinated (0.7%) have experienced a Yellow Card adverse event. The MHRA has previously estimated that the Yellow Card reporting rate may be approximately 10% of actual figures. On average there have been 47 deaths and 10,500 adverse event injuries reported per week.
"Covid Vaccines Kill One Person for Every Three Lives They Save" - Peer-Reviewed Study


This is just too painful for me to watch (for personal reasons).
A loving tribute, Debra. It's sad that it couldn't have the happy ending it deserved.
Wow. That's really something. It says so much, and it says it so well.


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Joshua Gans
Professor of Strategic Management, University of Toronto
Joshua Gans is an economist and Professor of Strategic Management holding the Jeffrey S. Skoll Chair of Technical Innovation and Entrepreneurship at the Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto.
Previously Joshua was the foundation Professor of Management (Information Economics) at the Melbourne Business School, University of Melbourne. He had been at the Melbourne Business School since 1996. Prior to that he was at the School of Economics, University of New South Wales. At present, Joshua is a visiting researcher at Microsoft Research (New England).
Joshua holds a Ph.D. from Stanford University and an honors degree in economics from the University of Queensland. At the Melbourne Business School he teaches MBA students in introductory microeconomics, technology strategy, economics of organisations, incentives and contracts, and market design using game theory. He has also co-authored (with Stephen King and Robin Stonecash) the Australasian edition of Greg Mankiw's Principles of Economics (published by Cengage), Core Economics for Managers (Cengage), Finishing the Job (MUP) and Parentonomics (New South/MIT Press).
While Joshua's research interests are varied he has developed specialities in the nature of technological competition and innovation, economic growth, publishing economics, industrial organisation and regulatory economics.
This has culminated in publications in the American Economic Review, Journal of Political Economy, RAND Journal of Economics, Journal of Economic Perspectives, Journal of Public Economics, and the Journal of Regulatory Economics. Joshua serves as an associate editor of Management Science and the Journal of Industrial Economics and is on the editorial boards of the BE Journals of Economic Analysis and Policy, Economic Analysis and Policy, Games and the Review of Network Economics.
In 2007, Joshua was awarded the Economic Society of Australia's Young Economist Award. In 2008, Joshua was elected as a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences, Australia. Details of his research activities can be found at joshuagans.com.
Joshua's latest book, "Prediction Machines: The Simple Economics of Artificial Intelligence" (co-authored with Ajay Agrawal and Avi Goldfarb) was published in 2018 by Harvard Business Review Press.
Professor of Strategic Management , University of Toronto
Visiting Researcher, Microsoft Research (New England)
Professor of Management (Information Economics), Melbourne Business School
Visiting Scholar, Harvard University
Lecturer, University of New South Wales
Stanford University, PhD
University of Queensland, Bachelor of Economics (Hons)
Industry Economics And Industrial Organisation (140209)
Young Economist Award (Economic Society of Australia) 2007Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences Australia 2008 -Woodward Medal for Social Sciences and Humanities 2006Fulbright Scholar 1990 - 1994
@joshgans
Joined March 24, 2011


How to change name in Facebook within 60 days: Facebook is one of the best social media. Here you can do many things like chat, post, comment or share something.
In every activity, your name will also be added to your profile picture. The name carries your identity. Using the name, people can identify you with real life. Your name is the first thing what people will look for. So, the name should be perfect that your friends and other people can identify you at Facebook. Your name is also used when someone searches for your Facebook Account. So, your name is one of the vital elements of your Facebook account.
After changing your password an email will be sent to your email. Click 'secure your account' link which is available in the email you received regarding the password you recently changed. You can choose any one from previously added names as your profile name.
Before setting your name, you should know the Facebook standard guideline for choosing profile name. Here are some of the important point of that guide line. You can't use any of those at your Facebook name.
You can't use any symbol, number, unnatural capitalization, punctuation and repeating character.
Any kind of word that is offensive or suggestive.
According to Facebook name guideline, they have stated that you can use the name that you used to know. Put your name that everyone uses to call you. You name could be anything strange or beautiful that doesn't matter. Facebook will accept your name if don't use the too strange name.
There are several computing devices to browse the internet. Those are Desktop, Laptop, and other devices. However, if you are a computer device user and wants to change your Facebook username then use this method on your computer device.
Step 2: Now you have to click on the upside-down arrow at the top-right side of your Facebook home screen.
Step 3: Then you will get this menu. Click on 'Settings'.
Step 4: Now click on Name section.
Step 5: Enter your First, Middle, Last name.
Step 6: Click Review Changes button.
Step 7: Enter your current Facebook Password and click on Save Changes.
Mobile devices are also one of the most popular smart devices to use Facebook. If you are a smart mobile device, you can also change your current Facebook name just using those simple steps one by one.
Step 1: Open your favorite internet browser. Then go to https://www.Facebook.com/ and log into your account using Facebook mobile login process.
Step 2: Click on the menu option at the top-right side of your screen.
Step 3: Go to the last section of the menu and click on Account Settings.
Step 4: Click General section.
Step 5: Tap on the Name option that is listed at first.
Step 6: Enter your First, Middle, Last name one by one. Then click on Review Changes button.
Step 7: Type your current Facebook account Password. Click Save Changes option and that all.


Seller will consider an appropriate component of owner financing per terms sheet.
Seller is interested in pursuing opportunities outside of current industry.
The business provides distribution and logistic services to a diverse and loyal base of customers.
The company has grown at a steady pace since inception as it's excellent reputation for quality ans service became more widely known.
Owner must possess basic marketing, organizational and financial skills sufficient to perform necessary financial, marketing, and operational tasks.
Most of current competition is in Winston Salem and Greensboro. Very little in High Point. Buyers have multiple warehousing and distribution options but choose this business based on it's excellent reputation and location.
Major FedEx Hub slated for completion in late 2008 early 2009.


Supporting provinces and territories to facilitate the harmonization of apprenticeship training and certification requirements in targeted Red Seal trades.
Providing $1 million over five years to promote the adoption of the Blue Seal Certification program across Canada.
Making a one-time investment of $65 million to business and industry associations to allow them to work with willing post-secondary institutions to better align curricula with the needs of employers.
Expanding eligibility for the Low- and Middle-Income Canada Student Grants to short duration programs.
Making the Canada Student Loans Program work for families by reducing the expected parental contribution under the needs assessment process.
Removing the penalty on post-secondary students who work by eliminating in-study student income from the Canada Student Loans Program needs assessment process.
Investing $248.5 million over five years in Aboriginal labour market programming.
Investing $2 million over two years, starting in 2016–17, to expand the Computers for Schools program, extending access to refurbished computer equipment to non-profit organizations such as those that support low-income Canadians, seniors and new Canadians.
Investing $53.8 million over two years to extend the current Employment Insurance Working While on Claim pilot project to August 2016.
Enhancing labour market information, including the launch of a new one-stop national labour market information portal.
Pursuing negotiations with provinces and territories on the $1.95-billion-per-year Labour Market Development Agreements to reorient training towards labour market demand.
Providing $35 million over five years to make permanent the Foreign Credential Recognition Loans pilot project.
Strengthening Canada Labour Code protections for all employees and interns under federal jurisdiction.
Providing $4.8 million over five years to increase compliance with the health and safety provisions of the Canada Labour Code.
Modernizing the Government Employees Compensation Act to simplify and accelerate claims processing and clarify coverage.
The Government will make every effort to reach agreement with bargaining agents within a reasonable timeframe on necessary reforms to disability and sick leave management.
Canada's labour market, like many other countries' labour markets, is shifting towards high-skilled employment. Employment growth over the past three decades has been highest for those with post-secondary education. These trends are expected to continue: about two-thirds of the job openings in Canada over the next decade are expected to be in occupations that require a post-secondary education.
The demand for skills development beyond high school appears particularly pronounced in the skilled trades. Employment in the skilled trades has grown at a robust pace since 2000. The job vacancy rate in the skilled trades has surpassed pre-recession levels and is currently above all occupations (4.9 per cent in the skilled trades compared to 3.9 per cent in all occupations in 2014).
Overall, Canada ranks well internationally in developing its workforce and providing it with skills and education. Canadians are among the most highly educated in the world, placing at the top of all the members of the Organisation of Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries in terms of post-secondary educational attainment. Canada's labour force participation rate also compares favourably with that in other OECD member countries. Since 2006, the Government has taken action to ensure the development of a skilled, mobile and productive workforce, action which has contributed to the resilience of Canada's labour market despite the challenging global economic environment of recent years. In fact, the Canadian economy has experienced one of the best performances among the Group of Seven (G-7) economies in terms of output growth and job creation, with over 1.2 million net new jobs created since the recovery began in June 2009. Moreover, high-wage, full-time, private-sector employment has been the main source of job creation over the recovery.
Over 2 million students were enrolled in Canadian post-secondary institutions during the 2012–13 academic year. According to the OECD, over half of Canadians aged 25 to 64 have completed some form of post-secondary education.
The Government of Canada invests over $10 billion annually to support post-secondary education. This includes cash transfer support to provinces and territories through the Canada Social Transfer, direct financial assistance to students through Canada Student Loans and Canada Student Grants, and specific programming targeted to First Nations and Inuit students. The Government also provides significant tax assistance to students and those who support them, including through tax credits for enrolment in post-secondary educational programs.
The Government invests significant funding in training and education. This includes $2.7 billion annually through the Canada Job Fund Agreements, which include the Canada Job Grant; the Labour Market Development Agreements; and the Labour Market Agreements for Persons with Disabilities. A number of targeted federal programs also exist to support the labour market participation of underrepresented groups, including youth, persons with disabilities, Aboriginal peoples and older workers. In addition, over $10 billion annually is invested by the Government in support of post-secondary education, which includes providing students with financial assistance such as Canada Student Loans and Canada Student Grants.
The Government has also created targeted federal programs to support apprentices and the employers that hire them, including, in Economic Action Plan 2014, the creation of the Canada Apprentice Loan to provide apprentices in Red Seal trades with access to over $100 million in interest-free loans each year. Overall, new registrations in apprenticeship programs increased by 23 per cent between 2006 and 2012.
$1.95 billion to provinces and territories through the Labour Market Development Agreements.
$500 million to provinces and territories through the Canada Job Fund Agreements as part of the introduction of the Canada Job Grant, which was announced in Economic Action Plan 2013.
$222 million to provinces and territories through Labour Market Agreements for Persons with Disabilities.
Over $10 billion annually is invested by the Government in support of post-secondary education, which includes providing students with financial assistance such as Canada Student Loans and Canada Student Grants, the Canada Apprentice Loan, and specific programming targeted to First Nations and Inuit students.
Youth through the Youth Employment Strategy, with investments of over $330 million per year.
Persons with disabilities through the Opportunities Fund, with investments of about $40 million per year.
$350 million per year provided through the Aboriginal Skills and Employment Training Strategy to Aboriginal organizations to provide training and employment services to Aboriginal peoples.
$210 million over five years through the Skills and Partnership Fund, announced in 2010, to provide Aboriginal peoples with project-specific training that responds to the demands of the Canadian labour market.
$241 million over five years announced in Economic Action Plan 2013 to help ensure young, on-reserve First Nations Income Assistance recipients who can work have the incentives and training necessary to gain employment.
Economic Action Plan 2014 provided $75 million over three years to renew the Targeted Initiative for Older Workers, a federal-provincial-territorial employment program providing assistance to improve the employability of unemployed workers aged 55 to 64.
Announced in 2006, the Targeted Initiative for Older Workers assists workers aged 55 to 64 living in small communities affected by significant downsizing, closures, or ongoing high unemployment to improve their employability and reintegrate into the labour market. The initiative is cost-shared between the federal and provincial and territorial governments under bilateral agreements.
Economic Action Plan 2014 announced the renewal of the Initiative for an additional three years, starting in 2014–15, representing an investment of $75 million and bringing the total federal investment in the Initiative to an estimated $345 million by 2016–17. Program eligibility was also expanded to communities where employers are experiencing unfilled demand and/or skills mismatches. This demand-driven approach is designed to tailor projects to local needs and further enhance the labour market participation rate of older workers.
To date, more than 35,500 unemployed older workers living in small communities across the country have been targeted to participate in the Initiative.
Despite these significant investments, some challenges remain. Many Canadians are still out of work or underutilized at a time when there are skills and labour market shortages in certain sectors and regions. Most notably, the labour market in the skilled trades has tightened considerably over the economic recovery and Canadian employers are experiencing increasing difficulty hiring skilled trades workers. At the same time, a number of groups are struggling to reach their full potential in the labour market, in particular recent immigrants and Aboriginal peoples.
To this end, Economic Action Plan 2015 proposes a number of concrete actions that respond to current labour market challenges and meet longer-term labour market needs. The Government is also taking steps to strengthen protections under the Canada Labour Code and to modernize the occupational illness and injury management system for federal employees. In addition, the Government will make every effort to reach agreement with bargaining agents within a reasonable timeframe on necessary reforms to disability and sick leave management.
Like many other countries, Canada's labour market is shifting towards high-skilled employment, with virtually all net job creation over the past decade in high-skilled, high-wage occupations. Overall, Canada ranks well internationally in developing its workforce and providing it with the skills and education needed to meet this shift in demand.
However, while Canadian youth are participating in post-secondary education at record levels, many struggle to find and maintain suitable employment. Compared to other OECD countries, fewer Canadian students graduate in high-demand fields such as science, technology, engineering and mathematics, and from apprenticeship programs. Employers also report difficulties in finding skilled workers, particularly those with the right combination of technical and "soft" skills, such as the ability to communicate clearly, think strategically and work in teams. These skill shortages speak to a need to better align the education and training system with the skills sought by employers.
This is why the Government has taken steps to help Canada's next generation gain the skills and experience they need to successfully transition into the workplace. As announced in Economic Action Plan 2014, the Youth Employment Strategy is being improved to provide youth with more practical and real-life work experience including through internships in high-demand fields such as science, technology, engineering, mathematics and the skilled trades, and to help youth make more informed career choices that prepare them for the transition into the labour force. Economic Action Plan 2014 also announced further support for apprenticeship training, for example by creating the Canada Apprentice Loan and the Flexibility and Innovation in Apprenticeship Technical Training pilot project, and renewing the Computers for Schools Program, which provides students and interns with access to information and communications technology equipment and skills training.
The Government is committed to ensuring that youth have access to employment opportunities in high-demand fields and that they are provided with the supports they need to be trained and informed labour market participants who achieve their full potential.
Since 2006, the Government has provided support for youth to develop skills and obtain real-life job experience though the Youth Employment Strategy, with current investments of over $330 million per year. Through this Strategy, more than 600,000 youth, including recent post-secondary graduates, summer students and youth at risk, have benefitted from programming designed to enhance their employability skills and facilitate a successful transition into the labour force. Of this amount, more than 74,000 post-secondary graduates and youth at risk have obtained valuable career-related work experience through internships under the Career Focus and Skills Links streams of the Strategy. Another 390,000 youth aged 15 to 30 have obtained summer work experience under the Canada Summer Jobs stream.
In addition, in 2014–15, the National Research Council's Industrial Research Assistance Program funded about 1,000 internships with innovative small and medium-sized companies, involving total support of $20 million, including $15 million from the Youth Employment Strategy as announced in Economic Action Plan 2014.
Since 2006, the Government's support for Mitacs' Accelerate program has allowed graduate students and postdoctoral fellows to apply their specialized expertise to business-related challenges, translating into over 10,000 internships being awarded across Canada.
Economic Action Plan 2015 proposes to build on these initiatives with a number of targeted measures that will help youth obtain training and education that aligns with the evolving needs of the Canadian labour market and ensure that they are equipped with work-ready skills. The Government will also introduce further measures to better support apprentices.
A skilled and engaged Aboriginal labour force can improve the lives of Aboriginal peoples, mitigate employment gaps due to Canada's aging population and contribute to the growth of the Canadian economy. Economic Action Plan 2015 proposes to provide funding for Aboriginal labour market programming, including the Skills and Partnership Fund, which provides skills development and training for Aboriginal peoples, in partnership with businesses and other levels of government, in order to equip them for jobs in high-demand sectors of the economy, including in high-skilled occupations.
Apprenticeship training plays an important role in Canada's post-secondary education system, providing skills and knowledge necessary to power and grow the Canadian economy. Supporting the take-up and completion of apprenticeships, followed by certification, contributes to increasing the supply of skilled labour.
Since 2006, the Government has recognized the importance of apprentices to Canada's economy and has committed substantial financial support to apprentices and the employers that hire them.
The Apprenticeship Incentive Grant, introduced in Budget 2006, is a taxable grant of $1,000 per year, up to a maximum of $2,000 per person, available to registered apprentices once they have successfully finished their first or second year/level (or equivalent) of an apprenticeship program. Over 387,000 Apprenticeship Incentive Grants have been disbursed since 2006.
The Apprenticeship Completion Grant, introduced in Budget 2009, is a taxable grant of a maximum of $2,000 available to registered apprentices who have successfully completed their apprenticeship training and obtained their journeyperson certification in a designated Red Seal trade. Since 2009, approximately 137,000 Apprenticeship Completion Grants have been disbursed.
The Tradesperson's Tools Deduction, introduced in Budget 2006, allows tradespersons to deduct from their income part of the cost of eligible tools they must acquire as a condition of employment. About 20,000 tradespersons claim this deduction each year.
The Apprenticeship Job Creation Tax Credit, introduced in Budget 2006, encourages employers to hire new apprentices in eligible trades by providing a tax credit of 10 per cent of the wages payable to eligible apprentices in the first two years of their apprenticeship program (up to a maximum credit of $2,000 per apprentice, per year). More than 11,700 businesses benefitted from the credit in 2013.
The fees eligible for the Tuition Tax Credit were extended starting in 2011 to include occupational, trade and professional examination fees required to obtain a professional status, or certification or license in order to practice a profession or trade in Canada. It is estimated that more than 30,000 individuals are benefitting from this enhancement each year.
Reallocating $4 million over three years to work with provinces and territories to harmonize requirements for apprentices, as well as examine the use of practical tests as a method of assessment, in targeted skilled trades.
Introducing measures to support the use of apprentices through federal construction and maintenance contracts, the Investment in Affordable Housing and infrastructure projects receiving federal funding.
Creating the Canada Apprentice Loan, which provides interest-free loans of up to $4,000 per period of technical training to help registered apprentices in Red Seal trades with the costs of training. It is estimated that at least 26,000 apprentices per year will apply for over $100 million in loans.
Introducing the Flexibility and Innovation in Apprenticeship Technical Training pilot project to expand innovative approaches to the delivery of apprentice technical training aimed at reducing non-financial barriers to completing training and obtaining certification.
David is registered in a four-year apprenticeship program at his local community college in Ontario to become a Heavy Duty Equipment Technician, which is a Red Seal trade. The apprenticeship program consists of a combination of workplace-based training and two months of in-class technical training per year over three years. David's expenses for this year include $400 in tuition and $2,500 in tools. David's workplace-based training allows him to earn $25,000 annually.
$60 under the Tuition Tax Credit for his annual tuition of $400.
$120 under the Education Tax Credit (based on a credit amount of $400 per month for the in-class portion of his training).
$20 under the Textbook Tax Credit (based on a credit amount of $65 per month for the in-class portion of his training).
$172 from the Canada Employment Credit, which provides a non-refundable tax credit based on an amount of $1,146.
$75 from the Tradesperson's Tools Deduction, which allows tradespersons to deduct from their income up to $500 of the total cost of eligible tools acquired in a taxation year that exceeds the amount of the Canada Employment Credit.
In addition to the personal income tax relief that David receives, his employer is eligible for a tax reduction of $2,000 per year, the maximum credit under the Apprenticeship Job Creation Tax Credit, during the first two years of David's apprenticeship program.
David may also claim the Apprenticeship Incentive Grant of $1,000 during each of the first two years of his apprenticeship program, and when he successfully completes his apprenticeship program and obtains his provincial/territorial journeyperson certification, he can apply for the Apprenticeship Completion Grant of $2,000.
In addition, David may apply for the Canada Apprentice Loan of up to $4,000 per period of technical training to help pay for tuition, tools, equipment and living expenses.
Because he has paid premiums and meets all the Employment Insurance (EI) program eligibility requirements, David can receive EI regular benefits when he begins his in-class technical training. Although there is a normal two-week waiting period as an apprentice, the waiting period would be waived for David's subsequent in-class technical training sessions.
David could also be eligible for EI Part II support delivered in partnership with the province under the Labour Market Development Agreement. EI Part II support could cover training-related expenditures such as basic living expenses, relocation/commuting costs, training materials and child care expenses.
Economic Action Plan 2015 proposes to extend further support to the provinces and territories to facilitate the harmonization of apprenticeship training and certification requirements in targeted Red Seal trades.
The Government recognizes that skilled trades are essential to Canada's economic prosperity. To reduce barriers to accreditation in the skilled trades and improve labour mobility, Economic Action Plan 2015 proposes to extend further support to the provinces and territories for implementing recommendations made by the Canadian Council of Directors of Apprenticeship to harmonize apprenticeship training and certification requirements in targeted Red Seal trades. For example, jurisdictions will work towards adopting common sequencing for technical training curriculum content and similar total hours for training, both in-class and on-the-job.
This measure will directly benefit apprentices by ensuring that they are able to have their credentials recognized in all Canadian provinces, making it easier to relocate to work and train where the jobs are.
Economic Action Plan 2015 proposes to provide $1 million over five years, starting in 2015–16, to promote the adoption of the Blue Seal Certification program across Canada.
The Blue Seal Certification program is designed to encourage journeypersons in skilled trades to improve their business skills after they have achieved journeyperson status. Under the program, journeypersons can obtain a Blue Seal by completing 150 hours of study in one or more of 18 business-related subject areas offered by an approved training provider. Blue Seal Certification can help entrepreneurial tradespeople succeed and encourage more journeypersons to start or expand their own business, increasing the number of employers able to offer apprenticeship positions. Currently, the Blue Seal Certificate is only awarded in Alberta and Saskatchewan, with a similar certificate offered in the Atlantic provinces through the new Atlantic Trades Business Seal Program.
In line with the Government's commitments to encourage entrepreneurship, Economic Action Plan 2015 proposes to provide $1 million over five years to Employment and Social Development Canada's Red Seal Secretariat to promote the adoption of the Blue Seal Certification program across Canada.
Increasing awareness of Blue Seal certification nationally will increase chances of business success for entrepreneurial tradespeople, [offer] more succession planning options for retiring tradespeople, and [provide] additional incentive for apprentices to complete their certification.
Economic Action Plan 2015 proposes to provide a one-time investment of $65 million over four years, starting in 2016–17, to business and industry associations to allow them to work with willing post-secondary institutions to better align curricula with the needs of employers.
In recent years the Government has taken important steps to reform the skills training system to help Canadians acquire the skills that will get them hired or help them get better jobs. Building on these actions, Economic Action Plan 2015 proposes to provide a one-time investment of $65 million over four years, starting in 2016–17, to business and industry associations to support partnerships between employers and willing educational institutions. Through these partnerships, groups of employers and industry organizations will work with willing post-secondary institutions to develop curricula and programs that are aligned with the specific skills needs of the labour market.
For example, during the first phase of this initiative Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters, Canada's largest trade and industry association, will work with Siemens Canada and several post-secondary institutions to develop a new curriculum in support of an advanced manufacturing skills certification. This initiative would be subsequently expanded to other industries, such as mining and forestry; employers, including SMEs; and willing post-secondary institutions. This action will support the productivity and competitiveness of Canadian employers while ensuring that post-secondary students and recent graduates have the necessary skills to successfully transition into the workforce.
Economic Action Plan 2015 proposes to provide $184 million over four years, starting in 2016–17, to expand eligibility for Canada Student Grants to students in short-duration programs.
Since 2006, the Government has made significant investments in post-secondary education to remove financial barriers and to streamline and modernize the Canada Student Loans Program, including launching the new, consolidated Canada Student Grants Program which took effect in 2009. During the 2012–13 academic year, the Canada Student Loans Program disbursed approximately $2.6 billion in loans to over 480,000 post-secondary students. During the same period, nearly 357,000 students received a total of $695 million in Canada Student Grants, of which approximately $515 million was provided to students from low- and middle-income families.
Building on these initiatives, as announced by the Prime Minister on April 7, 2015, Economic Action Plan 2015 proposes to expand the eligibility for the Low- and Middle-Income Canada Student Grants to help Canadians acquire or upgrade their skills for quick entry into the labour market.
Beginning in 2016–2017, Canada Student Grants will be made available to qualifying low- and middle-income students enrolled in educational programs with a minimum duration of 34 weeks. Currently, students must be enrolled in an educational program with a minimum duration of 60 weeks to qualify. The expansion would help approximately 42,000 additional students per year, including approximately 22,000 students at private career colleges, gain eligibility to Canada Student Grants.
This measure will help ensure that more students can pursue short duration post-secondary programs that focus on practical skills and provide a quick transition from education to employment.
Tara is registered in a one-year dental assistant training program at her local career college in British Columbia. She is from a family of four and is currently living at home. Her parents' combined income for 2014–15 was under $43,000.
Under the proposed program changes, Tara will be able to receive a Low-Income Canada Student Grant of $125 for each month of study or the equivalent of $1,000 for the duration of her training program.
Economic Action Plan 2015 proposes to provide $119 million over four years, starting in 2016–17, to reduce the expected parental contribution under the Canada Student Loans Program needs assessment process.
The Canada Student Loans Program currently assumes that parents will contribute a specific amount to their dependent child's education. Many parents of children in post-secondary education are in a position to contribute to their child's education, but not all have the financial flexibility to do so. Canadian families can face competing financial pressures as they care for aging family members while raising children, or balance other obligations on the family budget. As a result, some post-secondary students receive less support from the Canada Student Loans Program, or none at all, under an assumption that their parents can contribute a specific amount.
Economic Action Plan 2015 proposes to reduce the expected parental contribution under the Canada Student Loans Program needs assessment process. Reducing the parental contribution better recognizes the financial realities faced by Canadian families. This measure would provide increased support to approximately 92,000 students.
Economic Action Plan 2015 proposes to provide $116 million over four years, starting in 2016–17, to eliminate in-study student income from the Canada Student Loans Program needs assessment process.
Whether it is to help cover the costs of tuition, housing and basic necessities, or gain valuable job experience, many students work while studying at post-secondary institutions. The Canada Student Loans Program currently reduces support to working students for every dollar earned above $100 per week. Economic Action Plan 2015 proposes to remove this penalty for working by eliminating in-study student income from the Canada Student Loans Program needs assessment process. This change ensures that students can work and gain valuable labour market experience while attending school without having to worry about a reduction in their financial assistance. An estimated 87,000 students would receive increased loan amounts as a result of the elimination of in-study income.
Marc is registered in a four-year Bachelor's degree at McMaster University. He is from a family of four living in Ontario. His parents' combined after-tax income for 2014–15 was $75,673. Marc works part-time while studying and earns approximately $200 per week.
Under the current program requirements, since Marc earns more than the $100 in-study income limit, his financial assistance is reduced on a dollar-for-dollar basis. Under the proposed changes, Marc will be eligible to receive an additional $100 per week in Canada Student Loans. By eliminating in-study income from the Canada Student Loans needs assessment, Marc will be able to continue working at his part-time job without having to worry about a reduction in his financial assistance.
In addition, the amount of financial resources that Marc's parents are expected to contribute will be reduced. The current Canada Student Loans Program needs assessment assumes Marc's parents contribute $1,079 for each year of study. Under the proposed changes, his parents will no longer be expected to contribute to his post-secondary education, and his loan amount will increase by up to $1,079 per year.
Economic Action Plan 2015 proposes to provide $248.5 million over five years beginning in 2015–16 to support Aboriginal labour market programming.
Over the next decade, approximately 400,000 young Aboriginal peoples will join the approximately 900,000 Aboriginal peoples across Canada already of working age. However, Aboriginal peoples continue to face barriers to employment, with many requiring additional education and training to meet the needs of the Canadian labour market. Economic Action Plan 2015 proposes to provide $215 million over five years beginning in 2015–16 and $50 million per year thereafter to the Skills and Partnership Fund, which provides skills development and training for Aboriginal peoples, in partnership with businesses and other levels of government. This training equips Aboriginal peoples for jobs in high-demand sectors of the economy, including in high-skilled occupations. The proposed funding would complement the $350 million provided annually for the Aboriginal Skills and Employment Training Strategy.
Economic Action Plan 2015 also proposes to provide $33.5 million over five years beginning in 2015–16 for administrative support for Aboriginal labour market programs and to launch a pilot labour force survey on reserve in order to improve available labour market information.
Economic Action Plan 2015 proposes to provide $2 million over two years, starting in 2016–17, to expand the Computers for Schools program, extending access to refurbished computer equipment to non-profit organizations such as those that support low-income Canadians, seniors and new Canadians.
The Computers for Schools program supports the refurbishment and reuse of surplus government computer equipment so it can be donated to schools and other learning organizations across the country. The program also provides students and recent graduates with market-relevant skills and experience in information and communications technology fields.
Recognizing the important social and environmental benefits of this successful program, Economic Action Plan 2015 proposes to provide $2 million over two years, starting in 2016–17, to expand the Computers for Schools program and extend access to refurbished computer equipment to a wider group of not-for-profit organizations, including those that support low-income Canadians, seniors and new Canadians. The program will be renamed to reflect its expansion to enable more Canadians to fully participate in the digital economy.
Canada's skilled and highly educated workforce is one of our key advantages in competing and succeeding in the global economy. That is why, since 2006, the Government has placed a strong emphasis on promoting labour force attachment, enhancing skills training, building a fast and flexible economic immigration system, and developing untapped potential in the labour market.
Enhanced labour market information including online job postings to support job search activities.
Clarified the definition of "suitable work" and "reasonable job search" for Employment Insurance claimants.
Better connected the Temporary Foreign Worker Program and the Employment Insurance program to help ensure Canadians are considered before temporary foreign workers.
Economic Action Plan 2013 announced that the Government would transform skills training in Canada, ensuring that federal funding responds to the hiring needs of employers. Most notably, Economic Action Plan 2013 announced the introduction of the Canada Job Grant, which provides employers with the opportunity to participate meaningfully as partners in the skills training system. The Canada Job Grant provides up to $15,000 per year for training costs, including training and training materials, with employers contributing on average one-third of the total costs of training. The Grant is now available in all provinces and territories. Further, in 2014, the Government introduced a new generation of Labour Market Agreements for Persons with Disabilities to better meet the needs of persons with disabilities and employers. The Government is continuing the transformation of Canada's skills training system through the renegotiation of the $1.95-billion-per-year Labour Market Development Agreements.
The Canada Job Grant has provided funding to Oxygen Technical Services Limited, an information technology service provider in Winnipeg. The support given to Oxygen Technical Services through the Canada Job Grant will allow the company to provide skills training and certification for 15 employees. Another recipient of the Canada Job Grant is DynaIndustrial, a heavy industrial custom fabrication company in Saskatchewan. Funding will support skills training in a wide range of areas, including leadership, sales and crane operations.
Significant reforms to the Temporary Foreign Worker Program to ensure Canadians are considered first for available jobs and temporary foreign workers are only used as a last and limited resort when Canadians are not available.
The implementation of Express Entry, a new application management system that allows the Government of Canada, provinces and territories, and employers to actively target skilled immigrants under key economic immigration programs. The new system was launched in January 2015.
Economic Action Plan 2015 builds on these recent initiatives with new measures to: promote labour force attachment through a renewal of the Employment Insurance Working While on Claim pilot project; assist employers in meeting their skilled labour shortages through improved labour market information and support for labour market mobility; and better integrate new Canadians into the labour market by providing access to foreign credential recognition loans.
Economic Action Plan 2015 proposes to provide up to $53.8 million over two years, starting in 2015–16, to extend the current Employment Insurance Working While on Claim pilot project to August 2016.
The Working While on Claim pilot project helps individuals stay connected to the labour market by changing the way earnings are deducted from Employment Insurance benefits in order to ensure that claimants always benefit from accepting work. Under the current pilot, claimants can keep 50 cents of their Employment Insurance benefits for every dollar they earn, up to a maximum of 90 per cent of the weekly insurable earnings used to calculate their Employment Insurance benefit amount.
The current Working While on Claim pilot project has demonstrated that it removes disincentives for Employment Insurance claimants to accept available work and encourages them to maintain a stronger attachment to the labour force. While these results are encouraging, more information is necessary to support a permanent, legislated approach. To this end, Economic Action Plan 2015 proposes to provide up to $53.8 million over two years, starting in 2015–16, to extend the current Employment Insurance Working While on Claim pilot project to August 2016.
Economic Action Plan 2015 reaffirms the Government's commitment to making work more attractive to low- and modest-income individuals who face obstacles to joining or staying in the workforce.
In Budget 2007, the Government introduced the Working Income Tax Benefit (WITB), a refundable tax credit that supplements the earnings of low-income workers. The WITB helps to reduce the "welfare wall" by ensuring that individuals are in a better financial position when they secure employment. The WITB is a central part of the Government of Canada's objective of improving work incentives for low-income Canadians.
Building on this important first step, the WITB was enhanced in Budget 2009 by $580 million, effectively doubling the total tax relief provided by the WITB. About 1.5 million Canadian families currently benefit from the WITB. This includes about 900,000 single individuals receiving average benefits of about $700 and about 600,000 couples and single parents receiving average benefits of approximately $1,000. However, some eligible workers may not be receiving benefits due to a lack of awareness of the credit or difficulty in making a claim. The Government of Canada will examine initiatives to further increase awareness and take-up of the WITB.
Economic Action Plan 2015 confirms new investments in enhanced Labour Market Information and proposes to reallocate $4 million over two years, starting in 2015–16, to support the launch of a new one-stop national labour market information portal. In addition, Economic Action Plan 2015 proposes to reallocate $7 million over two years, starting in 2015–16, to support improved labour mobility.
Easy access to accurate, timely and comprehensive labour market information is critical to the efficient matching of workers with jobs. It not only helps mitigate labour shortages and avoid mismatches in the short term, but also helps students make informed choices so that they train for jobs that will be in demand.
This is why the Government of Canada launched a new Career Choice Tool to inform young people about fields of study that are in demand. It is also why the Government is making substantial new investments in labour market information, including, as announced in June 2014, $14 million per year for a new Job Vacancy Survey and a new National Wage Survey to provide timely and detailed information on occupation demand and wages at the regional level.
In addition, in November 2014, the Government of Canada, along with its provincial and territorial partners, endorsed a Framework for Labour Market Information for Canada to ensure that governments work together to provide Canadians with the high quality, easily accessible labour market information products that they need. As a first step, the Government is proposing to reallocate $4 million over two years to support the launch of a new one-stop national labour market information portal, developed under the guidance of a national panel of experts with representatives from governments, employer associations and other key partners. This investment will lay the groundwork for a new way of developing and disseminating labour market information, where partnerships are front and centre.
The launch of a new labour mobility portal which will provide comprehensive information to Canadians who wish to move for work.
An improved Job Bank that makes it easier for workers to find information on job opportunities outside their local geographic area.
Proposing to reallocate $7 million over two years, starting in 2015–16, for targeted programming to support the relocation of youth and immigrants to areas where job opportunities exist.
Taking steps to ensure that Employment Insurance claimants are aware of their job search responsibilities when moving or considering moving for work. The Government will also ensure that individuals willing to move are not excluded from Employment Insurance training opportunities across the country.
Funding to provinces and territories to support the implementation of recommendations to harmonize apprenticeship training and certification requirements in targeted Red Seal trades.
As announced in Economic Action Plan 2013, the Government is retooling the $1.95-billion-per-year Labour Market Development Agreements with provinces and territories to reorient training towards labour market demand.
The Government is transforming Canada's skills training system. In addition to implementing the Canada Job Grant and a new generation of Labour Market Agreements for Persons with Disabilities, in the last year progress has been made towards retooling the $1.95-billion-per-year Labour Market Development Agreements with provinces and territories to ensure that labour market programming is responsive to the needs of both employers and job seekers and that the unemployed are being connected with available jobs to get them back to work sooner.
The Government has consulted broadly with employers, industry groups, regional economic development groups, education and training institutions, service providers and subject-matter experts. Employers indicated that they welcome an increased role in training decisions, and stakeholders suggested new ways to better train Canadians for available jobs.
The Government is continuing to work closely with provinces and territories towards the implementation of retooled Labour Market Development Agreements that will encourage greater employer participation in skills training decisions and ensure that training is better aligned with job opportunities.
Economic Action Plan 2015 proposes to reallocate up to $35 million over five years, starting in 2015–16, to make the Foreign Credential Recognition Loans pilot project permanent to support internationally trained workers in their pursuit of foreign credential recognition.
Internationally trained workers, including skilled immigrants and Canadians with international training or education, make an essential contribution to Canada's labour market and economy. However, 36 per cent of immigrants encounter financial barriers to completing the foreign credential recognition process. In 2011, the Government introduced the Foreign Credential Recognition Loans pilot project to provide loans to foreign-trained individuals to help cover the costs of the credentialing process. Under the first two years of the pilot project, nearly 1,500 loans totalling $9 million were disbursed with average loan amounts of approximately $6,000 nationwide. This shows that the Foreign Credential Recognition Loans pilot project is meeting a demonstrated need encountered by newcomers to Canada trying to get jobs in their field. Building on this success, Economic Action Plan 2015 proposes to make the Foreign Credential Recognition Loans pilot project permanent. This further action will help foreign-trained individuals get their credentials recognized faster and obtain jobs in their fields sooner.
This pilot project brings government, non-profit organizations and private stakeholders together to provide financial assistance to internationally trained workers. It helps newcomers follow their career paths in Canada and integrate into Canadian society.
Angela is an international pharmacy graduate from the Philippines. After coming to Canada in 2012, Angela worked as a pharmacy assistant while pursuing her licence as a pharmacist. In April 2013, she received a Foreign Credential Recognition loan, which helped cover the costs associated with training and examinations. Angela has since been hired as a pharmacist.
Economic Action Plan 2015 reaffirms the Government's commitment to the labour market integration of new Canadians by committing to explore ways to respond to the recent report of the Panel on Employment Challenges of New Canadians.
The Government remains committed to supporting the economic prosperity of new Canadians. In October 2014, the Government appointed a Panel on Employment Challenges of New Canadians to consult with immigrant-serving organizations, regulators, employers and other stakeholders. Consultations were held in Vancouver, Calgary, Saskatoon, Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal and Halifax, as well as online, with over 750 stakeholders sharing their experiences and feedback on ways to help transition new Canadians into jobs aligned with their skills and experience.
Released in April 2015, the Panel's report, Survival to Success: Transforming Immigrant Outcomes, indicates that more can be done to make the foreign credential recognition process faster and easier, and to connect immigrants with the right jobs.
Economic Action Plan 2015 reaffirms the Government's commitment to improve the labour market integration of new Canadians. The Government is closely reviewing the Panel's findings and exploring how to best respond to its recommendations.
Economic Action Plan 2015 confirms the Government's commitment to ensuring that the Temporary Foreign Worker Program continues to promote Canada's economic and labour market interests.
The Government remains committed to reforming the Temporary Foreign Worker Program to ensure the program is used as intended and that Canadians are given the first chance at available jobs. In 2014, the Government announced significant reforms to the Temporary Foreign Worker Program and introduced the International Mobility Programs.
The Government will continue to implement these reforms, including introducing legislation to allow the Government to set relevant fees in a timely manner, to ensure that the Temporary Foreign Worker Program continues to promote Canada's economic and labour market interests.
As of January 1, 2015, skilled foreign workers have access to Express Entry, a new electronic application management system for Canada's key economic immigration programs. Express Entry selects the top economic immigrants who are most likely to succeed in Canada and contribute to the Canadian economy, the labour market and communities. In turn, Express Entry helps newcomers participate more fully in the economy and integrate more quickly into Canadian society. Express Entry will help ensure the immigration system addresses Canada's economic and labour market needs while reducing backlogs and improving processing times.
As of April 1, 2013, Canada's Start-Up Visa, the first of its kind in the world, is targeting a new type of immigrant entrepreneur who has the potential to build innovative companies that can compete on a global scale and create jobs. The Start-Up Visa links immigrant entrepreneurs with experienced private sector organizations that have expertise in working with start-ups.
The Foreign Credential Recognition Program is a key component of the Government of Canada's commitment to attract, select and integrate skilled immigrants into the Canadian economy and society. Achieving Canada's economic potential requires that immigrants and newcomers have the opportunity to use their skills and talents to the fullest. The Foreign Credential Recognition Program offers strategic financial support to provincial and territorial governments, regulatory bodies, national associations and credential assessment agencies to facilitate the assessment and recognition of credentials acquired in other countries.
The Pan-Canadian Framework for the Assessment and Recognition of Foreign Qualifications sets out a shared national vision by federal, provincial and territorial governments to improve the foreign credential recognition processes across Canada and enhance the labour market outcomes of internationally trained individuals. The Framework applies to all regulated occupations but targets certain occupations to ensure that processes and supports are in place to enable the timely recognition of foreign credentials. Targeted occupations include dentists, engineering technicians, licensed practical nurses, medical radiation technologists, physicians and teachers (K-12). Skilled trade occupations are also integral to the Framework.
The Government of Canada is committed to ensuring safe, fair and productive workplaces. It has taken important steps in collaboration with employers to help support and protect Canadian workers. Building on this, Economic Action Plan 2015 proposes to amend the Canada Labour Code to strengthen protections related to occupational health and safety, labour standards and industrial relations for all employees and interns under federal jurisdiction. It also proposes measures to improve the administration of the occupational illness and injury management system for federal employees to ensure ill or injured employees return to work in a safe and timely manner. The Government will also help ensure a healthier and more productive public service by working with bargaining agents to implement a disability and sick leave management system for federal public servants that is modern, comprehensive and responsive to their needs.
Economic Action Plan 2015 proposes to strengthen Canada Labour Code protections for all employees and interns under federal jurisdiction.
The Government of Canada recognizes that supporting and protecting employees is a sound decision for the well-being of workers, their families and communities across the country, and for business productivity, economic growth and long-term prosperity. This is why Economic Action Plan 2015 proposes to introduce amendments to strengthen and simplify administration and enforcement of the Canada Labour Code. These amendments will provide for new short-term and long-term unpaid leaves for family responsibilities, and increase bereavement leave to provide employees with increased flexibility to balance work and informal caregiving obligations in times of need. These amendments will also address violence and sexual harassment in federally regulated private-sector workplaces to ensure that employees are treated fairly and protected from harm in the workplace.
Internships can provide important workplace-based learning experiences and support youth in making a successful transition from school to work. However, many Canadians are concerned about the potential for abuse and lack of protections offered to unpaid interns. This is why Economic Action Plan 2015 also proposes to amend the Canada Labour Code to ensure that interns under federal jurisdiction, regardless of pay, receive occupational health and safety protections and are subject to basic safety standards, and to clarify the circumstances under which unpaid internships can be offered.
…Federal workplace laws are unclear regarding the status of interns….Parliament needs to amend the Canada Labour Code to extend employment standards to protect interns.
Economic Action Plan 2015 proposes to provide $4.8 million over five years, starting in 2015–16, to increase compliance with the health and safety provisions of the Canada Labour Code.
Economic Action Plan 2015 proposes to increase the number of health and safety officers responsible for promoting compliance and enforcing the occupational health and safety provisions of the Canada Labour Code. Funding will support the hiring of 10 health and safety officers, bringing the total number of officers across Canada to 100. This measure will provide more adequate coverage of workers in areas of federal jurisdiction, especially in remote, high-risk sectors, helping to prevent workplace accidents and fatalities.
Economic Action Plan 2015 proposes to modernize the Government Employees Compensation Act to simplify and accelerate claims processing and clarify coverage.
Economic Action Plan 2015 proposes to amend the Government Employees Compensation Act, which provides benefits and services to federal employees suffering from work-related injuries and illnesses. These amendments will simplify and accelerate claims processing and clarify coverage, ensuring that ill or injured employees receive compensation and return to work in a safe and timely manner, and that the program is delivered more efficiently and effectively.
A new round of collective bargaining between the Government of Canada and federal public service bargaining agents began in 2014 to renew the Government's collective agreements. The Government's overarching goal in these negotiations is to reach agreements that are fair and reasonable for both employees and taxpayers. The negotiations held to date reflect the Government's commitment to good faith collective bargaining.
Over 60 per cent of employees in the core public administration do not have enough banked sick leave to cover a full period of short-term disability (13 weeks).
25 per cent of employees have fewer than 10 days of banked sick leave.
Many employees, especially new and younger employees, have no banked sick days at all.
In contrast, a select few long-tenured individuals, including many executives, have far more banked sick days than they will ever reasonably need.
A modernized disability and sick leave management system would lead to a healthier and more productive federal workforce serving Canadians. A new disability and sick leave management system would seamlessly connect sick leave with disability benefits and supports. In this manner, employees could return to work healthy and productive. It would focus on early and active case management including rehabilitation and return to work supports.
The Government will make every effort to reach agreement with bargaining agents within a reasonable timeframe on necessary reforms to disability and sick leave management, including introduction of a formal short-term disability plan to replace the existing bankable sick day system. The Government continues to negotiate with bargaining agents to identify mutually acceptable design parameters for the new system and is prepared to consider reasonable improvements to its tabled proposals. In the event that agreement cannot be reached, the Government will take the steps required to implement a modernized disability and sick leave management system within a reasonable timeframe.


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Michelson Diagnostics Enters Reseller Agreement with Biotronics3D
Optical Coherence Tomography News Jun 10 2010 Microscopy , Other Business News
Michelson will sell Biotronics3D's software with its OCT products to deliver the most advanced 3D imaging for users to analyze and display 3D OCT data.
(Orpington, UK) June 10, 2010 – Michelson Diagnostics, a leading innovator in Multi-Beam Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) products for scientific research and healthcare imaging, has entered into a reseller agreement with UK-based Biotronics3D, a leading developer of innovative software applications for the diagnostic imaging industry. Under the terms of the agreement Michelson, will market and sell Biotronics' 3Dnet Suite with its VivoSight Scanner and EX1301 OCT Microscope.
Biotronics' 3Dnet Suite is an FDA-cleared medical imaging display tool with powerful abilities to view and analyze 3D DICOM datasets in real time. It is already widely used by hundreds of clinicians to examine CT, MRI and ultrasound images, and has the capability to segment and display renderings of 3D structures from low-contrast image sets. It can output reports in user-defined formats and can export to PACS, and provides full 3D measurement and image annotation tools.
"We are delighted to be able to provide Biotronics' advanced 3D imaging along with our OCT products," says Jon Holmes, CEO of Michelson Diagnostics. "This will enable our users to display and analyze large 3D OCT datasets, to assist with making their clinical and scientific judgments more quickly and with greater power than current solutions in the market."
The agreement is the latest milestone Michelson Diagnostics has achieved in support of the company's global marketing strategy to deliver the most advanced skin imaging technology available for clinical and scientific analysis of skin. Earlier this year, Michelson received 510K clearance from the FDA for clinical use in the U.S. and previously received CE-Mark approval of its VivoSight Scanner for clinical use in Europe and non-clinical use worldwide.
According to Dr. Haralambos Hatzakis, CEO at Biotronics "Our partnership with Michelson Diagnostics opens up a new user base for our 3D medical imaging software. The power of Michelson's Multi-Beam OCT coupled with 3D imaging provides new possibilities for the clinical user."
Example screenshot of Biotronics' 3Dnet Suite displaying a 1000-slice VivoSight Multi-Beam OCT image of a malignant melanoma showing 3 orthogonal slices and 3D volume.
About Biotronics3D
Biotronics3D (www.biotronics3d.com), headquartered in London, UK, develops and markets innovative software applications for the diagnostic imaging industry. The company provides cutting edge software technologies to improve healthcare by better extracting diagnostic data and transforming it into usable information available at the point-of-care. Biotronics3D Ltd is an EN ISO 13485:2003 certified company and its flagship product, 3Dnet Suite, has received FDA 510K market clearance and it is CE marked.
About Michelson Diagnostics
Michelson Diagnostics was founded in 2006; it is privately owned and based in Kent, U.K. The company develops imaging products using a technology called Multi-Beam Optical Coherence Tomography. The technology provides real time images of up to 2mm into tissue with a resolution of better than 10 microns.
The company's products include the EX1301 OCT Microscope which is used by researchers in a variety of fields including genetics research, tissue engineering and industrial metrology; and the VivoSight OCT scanner which has CE and 510(k) clearance for use to aid clinical judgments in the field of dermatology. Applications of VivoSight include guiding skin cancer surgery and blood vessel imaging for assessing laser treatment effectiveness.
Further information about Michelson Diagnostics is available on the Internet at http://www.md-ltd.co.uk/ or by email to enquiries@md-ltd.co.uk.
For clinical use in the US FDA 510(k) K093520 applies:
The VivoSight Topical OCT system is indicated for use in the two-dimensional, cross-sectional, real-time imaging of external tissues of the human body. This indicated use allows imaging of tissue microstructure, including skin, to aid trained and competent clinicians in their assessment of a patient's clinical conditions.
US Federal law restricts this device to sale by or on the order of a physician.
The Michelson Diagnostics logo and the VivoSight name are the trademarks of Michelson Diagnostics Ltd and are registered in the UK, the US & throughout the European Union.
Meghan J. O'Sullivan
O'Sullivan Communications, Inc.
42 Davis Road, Suite 1
meghan@ocmarketing.com
New URL Address for OCTNews: www.octnews.org also written by Eric Swanson (Eric)
Feature Of The Week 2/8/09: Application of Optical Coherence Tomography to Deep Lamellar Endothelial Keratoplasty (DLEK) Procedures also written by Eric Swanson (Eric)
David W. Kolstad appointed President and Chief Executive Officer of LightLab Imaging also published in Optical Coherence Tomography News
Feature Of The Week 3/1/09: Optical Coherence Tomography to Improve Diagnostic and Therapeutic Bronchoscopy also written by Eric Swanson (Eric)
Feature Of The Week 2/13/09: Common-Path Optical Coherence Tomography Using an Integrated Fiber Microlens also written by Eric Swanson (Eric)
Start-up spotlight: Michelson Diagnostics also mentions Michelson Diagnostics
LightLab Imaging Announces Strategic Supply Agreement with Axsun Technologies Inc. for High Performance Swept Source Lasers also published in Optical Coherence Tomography News
Method and apparatus for spectral-beam combining of high-power fiber lasers also categorized in Microscopy
Imaging of surgical biopsies also categorized in Microscopy
Feature Of The Week 1/31/09: Polarization-Sensitive Optical Coherence Tomography Imaging of Demineralization on Tooth Surfaces also written by Eric Swanson (Eric)
We are delighted to be able to provide Biotronics' advanced 3D imaging along with our OCT products... This will enable our users to display and analyze large 3D OCT datasets, to assist with making their clinical and scientific judgments more quickly and with greater power than current solutions in the market.
Michelson Diagnostics
Jon Holmes
Eric Swanson (Eric)


A Kentucky man is charged with three felony counts of receiving stolen property in connection with hijacking shipments of scrap metal from a Virginia company, according to the Kentucky State Patrol.
James Scott Hale, 30, of Philpot, Ky., was charged Tuesday with three counts of receiving stolen property over $10,000, a class C felony.
According to Kentucky State Police Trooper Corey King, the investigation began after a local Owensboro trucking company reported a possible theft.
King said the trucking company reported they had received a call from a company in Virginia inquiring about three loads of freight that the trucking company had picked up. The owner of the Owensboro trucking company was unaware and said they were not contracted to pick up any freight from the Virginia business, which called the Owensboro company to receive payment for the loads.
King said the investigation revealed that Hale picked up three loads of aluminum product from the Virginia company in late December 2013 and scrapped all three loads valued at around $150,000 at an Owensboro recycling center.
King said that although Hale had a commercial driver's license and was in the process of buying a tractor from another trucking company, he had never worked for the company in question.
Hale is being held in the Daviess County Detention Center in Owensboro.


Harcourt Manor Castle-Arboretum : A bicentenary arboretum.
A real botanical collection, with more than 250 species, the oldest specimens being almost 200 years old, the arboretum is exceptional by its history. The great names of horticulture like Delamarre, Michaux, Pépin, Vilmorin... have marked its existence.
The arboretum was created in 1810. In 2004 it was awarded the mention "Remarkable Garden".
Daily except Tuesday from 2 to 6 p.m.
From 16 June to 14 September: daily from 10.30 a.m. to 6.30 p.m.
Guided visits with previous booking	, Duration of a guided visit : 1h30, Minimal number of persons for a guided visit : 20	.
Shop, Picnic area, Public lavatory, Wheelchairs at your disposal, Children's workshops, Pedagogical presentations, Lawns for sunbathing, Dog admitted if kept on a lead, Carpark arranged, Castle visitation.


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Bitcoin Gets a Boltathon as Lightning Network Nears Three Million Dollars
BitcoinNews
February 28, 2019 2:42 pm 0
The first Lightning Network (LN) hackathon is to take place this April 5th, a very symbolic day for that is the self-declared Nakamoto birthday.
"By hosting the event online, we are able to reach a world-wide developer community that isn't limited by hotel rooms or plane tickets. It also allows us to receive and process all payments into Lightning Bitcoin," the organizers say.
Rusty Russell will be there, a top bitcoin developer who while working on the Linux Kernel was called by Linus Torvalds as one of his "top deputies" in 2003.
Alex Bosworth, lead dev at Lightning Labs, will also be there including a number of other developers announced and yet to be announced.
Tickets come at a very pricy $10,000, but in bitcoin to be paid through LN. If you're a hacker, then all you need is a 100 sats "proof of node" deposit.
The presentations themselves are pretty tech heavy. We can count by hand for example the people able to follow Rusell's "JSON Interface with c-lightning and Writing Extensions."
We probably can sort of follow it if we super concentrate, but more interesting might be what the hacking teams come up with as LN now appears to be bringing bitcoin out of slumber and into some tech revitalization with its network capacity nearing $3 million.
The Lightning Torch passed through Trustnodes earlier this month so we got a feel from an end-users perspective and its cool when it works, but it isn't easy to diagnose the problem when it doesn't if you're not a techy.
"I do think the torch is a bit ahead of its time as we are working on the infrastructure to enable payments to route and people to have inbound capacity, which hadn't been built out yet, but it's been a cool experiment" Elizabeth Stark of Lightning Labs says. "Ideally non-advanced users don't have to open channels at all, autopilot does it for them."
Routing is one aspect an LN user needs to know about. That's basically whether there is a connection between you and the receiver. If there isn't, then you can just directly connect to the node. For that, however, as it stands now, you need to run both a bitcoin node and an LN node.
There's work going on to allow LN nodes to run on light bitcoin wallets, as well as UX improvements to allow users to directly send payments to an LN node which gives you "the ability to send a payment to a destination without first needing to have an invoice," according to Olaoluwa Osuntokun, CTO at Lightning Labs.
A more complex concept to understand might be liquidity as there is no simple rule like if you have 1BTC, then obviously you can't send more than 1BTC or you can only send 50%, etc.
Like on-chain transactions, on LN you have a fee, then there's a 1% reserve to keep you honest from misbehaving. Then there must be liquidity between the two of you for the amount you are willing to send.
A way to understand liquidity might be the amount of credit others are willing to extend to you. As you might know, Lightning works by locking bitcoin, then you exchange promisory hashes that say x will be given once x time has passed and here's the hash proof of it.
Other channels or a liquidity provider then sees you have this amount and says ok, we'll give you the green-light if you like, or we'll extend you liquidity for x amount.
For now all of this is pretty rough. You can't easily see how much liquidity you have, for example, nor can you easily tap into it if you don't run a node, but there's work going on to improve it.
"We're aware of the current limits of the early phase of the network," Stark says, with one very pressing matter being state backups.
As you're exchanging hashes, the database might be corrupt and accidentally sends a previous hash or a malicious receiver tries to do so. At that point the network punishes you considerably by taking all your funds as you're misbehaving.
Channel state backups might assist in these instances by basically auto saving "transactions" sort of like Microsoft Word autosaves as you go. We're told these are to go out within about two weeks.
Finally, as these are early days, there's a limit of .1677 BTC per channel and about 0.04BTC per transaction. These are client side limits, so you can change them on your own if you want and you'd still be part of the network, with the defaults to potentially be increased soon as well.
A Bitcoin Tech Revival?
For years it has appeared like nothing is going on in bitcoin tech wise, but that might be beginning to change.
One interesting, although very theoretical proposal, might be channels within channels, or channels squared, or as they more boringly call it, channel factories. They say:
"Instead of one blockchain transaction per channel, each user only needs one transaction to enter a group of nodes – within the group the user can create arbitrary many channels.
For a group of 20 users with 100 intra-group channels, the cost of the blockchain transactions is reduced by 90% compared to 100 regular micropayment channels opened on the blockchain.
This can be increased further to 96% if Bitcoin introduces Schnorr signatures with signature aggregation."
This is more of a very long term thing with far many other more pressing improvements needed first. Interestingly, however, sidechains might make a comeback:
"I think that now if we want to do a real two-way peg, we probably need to get like full, efficient, general-purpose zero-knowledge proofs, and we need a way for Bitcoin validators to be able to validate what's happening on the sidechain before allowing pegs to come back," Andrew Poelstra of Blockstream says.
Sidechains are kind of like what Polkadot calls parachains or sort of like what in eth they call a shard. It basically allows the same asset to enter a different network of nodes and then get back to the "real" or the main network.
It can be a solution to scalability and it can allow for rapid experimentation as things can be tried within the far less used network prior to incorporation in the main one if such incorporation is desired at all.
Meaning bitcoin is now finally moving towards addressing scalability after a long debate that now appears very much over.
It might even be able to handle the entire Venezuelan economy one day. "We'll find a solution that works" to handle that sort of volume, Stark says.
That day might be a few more years away with a heated race on-going in the blockchain space as projects run to be the first to handle a billion transactions a day and thus finally debut to worldwide mainstream usage.


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Q: Passing event object in onClick function in React I have a React app in which upon clicking on a column heading, the table sorts the data (via a merge sort).
I want to pass the data (i.e., an array of objects) and the event object. I want to use the event object to get the value of the column clicked, so to then use it to sort the data.
However, I keep getting an error message that the event object is undefined.
Below is the relevant portion of the code:
  sortColumn (siteArr, evt) {
    if (siteArr.length < 2) {
      return siteArr;
    } else {
      const column = evt.target.value; // evt returns undefined
      const midPoint = Math.round(siteArr.length / 2);
      const subLeft = this.sortColumn(siteArr.slice(0, midPoint));
      const subRight = this.sortColumn(siteArr.slice(midPoint));
      return this.merge(column, subLeft, subRight);
    }
  }
  merge (column, left, right) {
    const out = [];
    while (left.length && right.length) {
      out.push(left[0][column] <= right[0][column] ? left.shift() : right.shift());
    }
    while (left.length) {
      out.push(left.shift());
    }
    while (right.length) {
      out.push(right.shift());
    }
    this.setState({sites: out});
    return out;
  }
  render () {
    const siteArr = this.state.sites;
    const sites = this.state.sites.map((site) => {
      return (
          <Site site={site} key={site.id} />
        );
    });
    const site_number = sites.length;
    return (

                 this.sortColumn(siteArr, evt)}>Name
                 this.sortColumn(siteArr, evt)}>City
                 this.sortColumn(siteArr, evt)}>State

              {sites}

    );
  }

a) How do I pass the event object to the sortColumn function?
b) How do I access the column value via the event object?
Thanks for any help you can provide!

A: For your situation because you already know what the text value is, just pass that to your function:
() => this.sortColumn(siteArr, 'Name')

However if you want to get the innerText value of the target, that's what you use:
event => this.sortColumn(siteArr, event.target.innerText)

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