Friday, December 13, 2013

Cisco R&D to boost Ontario tech sector job opportunities

News Release

Creating Jobs in Ontario's High Tech Sector

December 13, 2013

Ontario Partners With Cisco Canada to Help Create Up to 1,700 New Jobs

Ontario is partnering with Cisco Canada to launch the largest job-creating investment in the history of the province's tech sector.

Cisco will make Ontario one of its global research and development hubs for its next-generation technologies. It will create up to 1,700 jobs to expand its current Ontario workforce to 3,000 in the next six years, with up to $190 million in provincial support. Cisco will potentially grow its Ontario workforce to 5,000 within the next 10 years.
Cisco is investing up to $4 billion in Ontario over the next decade, including up to $2.2 billion in salaries alone.

The Ontario government is providing a total grant of up to $220 million to support Cisco's investment.
Ontario is attracting leading companies like Cisco through its talented workforce, research infrastructure and competitive business climate. The majority of Cisco's new hires will be in the field of research and development, and the company will be focusing on recent graduates and mentoring the next generation of talent in Ontario.

Partnering with business to create jobs is part of the government's economic plan to invest in people, build modern infrastructure and support a dynamic and innovative business climate across Ontario.

QUICK FACTS

Ontario’s grants are contingent on the company meeting investment and job targets. Projects are closely monitored over their lifespan to protect taxpayers’ investment.
Cisco’s new positions will be located primarily in Ottawa and Toronto, with additional opportunities created across Cisco’s Ontario operations.
Ontario’s Information and Communications Technology (ICT) industry directly employs about 250,000 people, representing almost half of the sector employment in Canada.
Ontario ranks third in North America after California and Texas for the number of ICT companies.

LEARN MORE

QUOTES

"This is a great example of how government partnerships with the private sector can help create jobs and grow the economy. We are building on Ontario’s position as a global leader in research and innovation, and creating important tech sector jobs across the province."
— Kathleen Wynne, Premier of Ontario

"Cisco’s investment positions Ontario as an undisputed leader in the global tech industry. We’re sending a message to the world that Ontario is the best place anywhere for business to innovate, grow and create jobs. Today’s investment and the jobs it will create are part of our plan to create opportunity today and for the long-term."
— Dr. Eric Hoskins, Minister of Economic Development, Trade and Employment

"Today marks a significant milestone for Cisco Canada and the Province of Ontario. This announcement builds on our existing partnership and our mutual commitment to drive productivity and create new economic opportunities through innovation. Together with the province we will create high value jobs that will stimulate the economy. This initiative will also ensure that Ontario continues to be a leader in the information and communications technology industry, with a vast talent pool representing the country’s next generation of innovation."
— Nitin Kawale, President, Cisco Canada

Thursday, November 14, 2013

Coca-Cola Bottling Company Fined $70,000 After Worker Injured

Court Bulletin

Coca-Cola Bottling Company Fined $70,000 After Worker Injured

November 14, 2013

BRAMPTON, ON - Coca-Cola Bottling Company, based in Halifax, Nova Scotia, has been fined $70,000 for a violation of Ontario's Occupational Health and Safety Act after a worker in a Brampton plant was injured.

On December 1, 2010, a worker was operating a palletizer machine at the company plant located at 15 Westcreek Boulevard in Brampton when the worker noticed that cases of product were becoming stuck on transfer plates. The palletizer machine loads beverage product cases onto pallets for shipping. Due to spillage of pop products, transfer plates become sticky and often interfere with the movement and proper alignment of beverage product cases; workers commonly spray the plates with an aerosol silicone spray to overcome the sticking. The safety equipment on the palletizer machines includes a gate that is interlocked so the palletizer machine stops if the gate is opened.

In this incident the worker proceeded to reach inside the opening in the gate to spray the plate with silicone without shutting off the production line. As the worker did so, a push bar cycled on and pinched the worker's arm between the push bar and a metal support beam. The worker suffered a fractured arm as a result.

Coca-Cola Bottling Company pleaded guilty to failing, as an employer, to ensure that an in-running nip hazard on the palletizer that endangered the safety of a worker was equipped with and guarded with a device that prevents access to the pinch point as required by the Occupational Health and Safety Act, and was fined $70,000.

The fine was imposed by Justice of the Peace Richard Quon. In addition to the fine, the court imposed a 25-per-cent victim fine surcharge as required by the Provincial Offences Act. The surcharge is credited to a special provincial government fund to assist victims of crime.

Court Information at a Glance

Location:                    Ontario Court of Justice
                                    7755 Hurontario Street
                                    Brampton, ON

Judge:                         Justice of the Peace Richard Quon

Date of Sentencing: November 12, 2013

Defendant: Coca-Cola Bottling Company
1959 Upper Water Street, Suite 1100
Halifax, Nova Scotia

Matter: Occupational Health and Safety

Conviction:   Ontario Regulation 851/90
                                    (Industrial Establishments)
                                    Occupational Health and Safety Act
                                    Section 25(1)(a)

Crown Counsel: Daniel Kleiman