In brief

JENELLE PETRINCHUK STAFF

Canada’s getting ‘up there’ in age

According to Statistics Canada, the population of Canada is getting older. The median age of Canada is now 38.8 years old, a new record for the country.

The age of Canada’s population increased, as the study found Canada’s median age was 38.5 last year and 37.2 in 2001.

The study includes data up to July 1, 2006 and it shows that the Atlantic provinces and Quebec are quite a bit older than the western provinces and Ontario — not counting B.C., which has an older population on average, linked to a fertility rate among the lowest in Canada since the mid-’60s.

Newfoundland was the oldest province with a median age of 41.3, while Manitoba and Saskatchewan remain at the youngest end of the list. The report states this is because “a strong Aboriginal presence has helped both provinces maintain higher fertility rates.”

Although Canada is getting older, Statistics Canada points out that among the G8 nations, Canada still has the thirdlowest median age, following the United States and Russia.

There has also been a great decline in the number of children and young people in Canada. The age group of 0 to 19 only accounted for 24 per cent of the total population which is down from 36.6 per cent since 1946.

Talent shortages cause wage inflation

Manpower Inc., a leader in the employment services industry worldwide, released the results of a survey that showed that 26 per cent of employers in Canada are having a hard time finding talented and trained professionals to hire.

In turn, this has caused 24 per cent of employers to pay higher wages compared to the previous year in order to retain their employees and recruit new ones.

Manpower surveyed 960 employers in Canada to try to determine if they would have hired more staff over the past six months if the properly trained people would have been available. They also questioned whether or not this affected the wages of those that were hired.

In Quebec, 51 per cent of employers responded that they pay more for the same job today than they did a year ago because it’s hard to find the proper talent. Only 23 per cent of Ontario employers made the same report.

The survey was also conducted globally with 3,200 employers across 26 countries surveyed. Worldwide, the study found that the average number of employers that would have hired more staff if available was 29 per cent. Twenty-five per cent of these employers said they were paying higher wages because of the talent shortages.

Washing your hands is serious stuff

Manitoba’s registered nurses are expanding a campaign that focuses on the importance of hand-washing. New television public service announcements are now airing throughout Manitoba.

According to Sheila Dresen, president of the College of Registered Nurses of Manitoba, research shows that handwashing is one of the most effective ways to maintain good health.

“It may seem like a little thing, but the effects can be very profound,” said Dresen in a press release. “It only takes about 15 seconds to properly wash your hands — about the time it takes to sing your ABCs.”

It is noted in the press release that serious diseases such as SARS, hepatitis A, meningitis, and infectious diarrhea can be prevented if people wash their hands.

The campaign will also include a transit poster campaign and posters distributed to schools, daycares, businesses and members of the public.

“Germs are all around us and our hands are one of the most common ways we spread germs and viruses to ourselves and others,” said Dresen.

Half of awarded students come from U of M

The 13th annual Manitoba Aboriginal Youth Achievement Awards (MAYAA) took place on Oct. 19, 2006 at the Winnipeg Convention Centre. The awards were hosted by Anishinabe Oway-Ishi Inc. and included 14 categories ranging from academics to entrepreneurships.

Of the 14 categories, seven of the winners were students from the University of Manitoba.

Among the winners were Anna Nelson in the Academic Senior category. Nelson is a linguistics student with a GPA of 4.25. Christy Bird, a cancer survivor and social work student, won the Business/ Entrepreneurship category and Jennifer Storm, who wrote her first book at the age of 14, won the Personal Achievement Junior category.

William Prince, Craig Settee, Lindsay Campbell and Cory Simpson also received awards.

The purpose of the MAYAAs is to honour aboriginal youths’ achievements and to create positive role models. The program also provides financial support.

This year, each of the winners received $1,000 scholarships.