Calgary-based EnCana Corporation, one of the largest oil and gas companies in the world, is splitting into two corporate entities. CBC.ca

The Economic Development Commission has been honoured for its Skills Recruitment/Foreign Attraction Program.

The Commission recently received the Community Project Award for the program from the Economic Development Association of B.C.

“The skilled worker shortage in the valley is a serious challenge for companies in most sectors and business owners have expressed widespread interest in hiring foreign workers as one solution to this issue,” says EDC Chair Bob Monaghan.

“Based on information gathered in our Business Visitation program, the EDC created recruitment strategies and utilized partnerships to facilitate the recruitment to support local businesses."

Monaghan says it's an honour to be recognized for the work the Commission has undertaken and grateful to see the impact it is having on keeping Central Okanagan Business flourishing.

The Foreign Attraction Program was cited for its success, including:

• 120 provincial nominees have arrived in the Okanagan working to shortly become permanent residents - a 300% increase since 2005.
  
• Facilitating the “Caricom Initiative”, conducted in partnership with Okanagan College and businesses in the region. This initiative, which began in April of 2007, has resulted in students and workers moving to the community to attend Okanagan College, a number of job placements, and the creation of the Jamaican Liaison Office for immigrant workers and businesses employing them in the region.
  
• The Central Okanagan Settlement Committee which will ensure the experience for the working landed immigrant is smooth and the relocation process is as easy as possible and the landed immigrants and their families remain in the region.
  
• A Foreign Skilled Worker Program Coordinator began work in April 2007 to deal with the high volume of inquiries from local employers wanting to access immigration programs as one potential solution to the skilled labour shortage in the region. The Foreign Skilled Worker Coordinator has since worked as a liaison between emigrate workers and approximately 100 local companies.
  
• The Economic Development Commission developed Business in the Park sessions on “How to Hire a Foreign Worker”. The Commission has used the information from site visits to not only provide assistance to individual businesses, but also to identify issues common to a number of businesses and address these issues through group information programs and workshops.

Link: Jamaicans help with bridge

The Canadian economy added a better-than-expected 19,200 new jobs in April, but several analysts said the employment picture isn't quite as rosy as it might appear. CBC.ca

Canada's merchandise trade surplus grew in March for the third consecutive month as exports grew and imports declined, Statistics Canada said Friday. CBC.ca

Aeroplan Income Fund, which runs the Aeroplan loyalty rewards program, said Friday it plans to reorganize into a corporation by June 25. CBC.ca

Kelowna area housing starts dropped back in April, according to Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC).

Housing starts fell to 249 units from 349 units in April 2007. Fewer multi-family starts accounted for most of April’s decline.

“Housing starts were expected to decline following this year’s first quarter surge in multifamily construction,”says CMHC Market Analyst Paul Fabri.

Multi-family starts have more than doubled from levels recorded during the same four month period last year.

Construction began on another two apartment condominium projects in April and the first rental apartment building since 2005. Starts of detached housing, though down from a year ago, remained at high levels in April.

Elsewhere, Kamloops and Penticton also recorded fewer housing starts in April. Vernon starts were up, boosted by an increase in multi-family construction.

Nationally, housing starts dipped 12 per cent to 213,900 units, seasonally adjusted at annual rates from 243,000 units in March. All regions except BC saw a decline in the annual rate.

The Canadian government delivered official word Friday of its decision to block the $1.3-billion sale of Vancouver-based MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates' space-technology division to a U.S. space and weapons company. CBC.ca

Telus Corp. shares gained ground on Thursday after the telecommunications company posted higher sales and profits for its first quarter. CBC.ca

A federal judge in Virginia has ordered imprisoned NFL quarterback Michael Vick to repay more than $2.4 million to a Canadian bank for defaulting on a loan. The Royal Bank of Canada sued Vick in September. CBC.ca

Shares of Manulife Financial Corp. traded lower on Thursday after the insurance and investment firm reported lower first-quarter earnings and said its top executive will retire next year. CBC.ca

Pharmaceutical company Biovail Corp. unveiled sweeping changes to its business on Thursday including the closure of two off-shore production facilities and a shift in its research focus. CBC.ca

The federal government is expected to officially close the door on the proposed sale of the space assets of MacDonald Dettwiler and Associates Ltd. to a U.S. space and weapons company today. CBC.ca

Housing starts in April dropped to 213,900 units from 243,000 a month earlier, the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation said Thursday. CBC.ca

Air Canada, the country's biggest airline, reported a deeper first-quarter loss on Thursday, partly due to a $125-million charge to cover a cargo price-fixing investigation. CBC.ca

Aspiring entrepreneur Patrick Woods is putting it all on the line this time.

The Kelowna man has spent nearly all of his adult life creating a board game and hopes to strike it rich with an appearance on CBC's Dragon's Den where inventors pitch their product with the hopes that one of the 'dragons' will invest.

Woods' invention is called Big Board Raiders with the theme of corporate takeovers through the stock exchanges.

He says BC's most successful businessmen inspired the game.

"The game was sparked by the takeover kings of the 1970's. I watched many guys back in the 70's, but one that really had my attention was a man we all know as Jimmy Pattison."

Woods, who has had his fair share of battles in life including cancer and homelessness, says the idea of creating a board game has been churning in his mind for decades.

"I created Big Board Raiders because there were no games about money that were fun to play and few that had anything to do with the real world. In 1963, I was 14 when I built the first version, then I put it away."

He says he dusted off his board game in 1975 when he submitted it to Parker Brothers, but it was rejected.

However, the thought of producing a board game never went away and in a few weeks, Woods will be making the business pitch of his life.

"I think I've got a winner. It's just that nobody knows it yet."

In fact, Woods is so confident that he's got a winner that he's produced 8,000 units of his board game stacked in his house.

"I don't have a wife to tell me that the games don't match the lamps or drapes, so I'm happy."

And Woods is predicting more happiness, even if his pitch to the Dragon's Den doesn't fly.

"Even if my pitch doesn't work, I know I'm going to do well because I'll be getting an eight minute national commercial for my product. Other people have gone on the show and been crapped on by the dragons and they've come out of it doing very well. Either way, I can't lose."

Woods appears before the Dragon's Den in Toronto May 25.

Interview with Patrick Woods. (Kelly Hayes)

Link: Dragon's Den

Quebecers won't be getting any tax breaks to make up for galloping oil prices, the government says. CBC.ca

A cascade of oil-based revenues will, sooner or later, fall in all corners of Newfoundland and Labrador, the premier promises. CBC.ca

Oil prices hit new highs on Wednesday despite a large rise in oil stockpiles for last week. CBC.ca