HR News Canada

Recent data from Statistics Canada | Statistique Canada reveals that men remain at the helm of corporate leadership, occupying 77 per cent of board seats in 2023. Half of all boards had no women directors at all. Change has been sluggish. In 2016, men held about 83 per cent of all director positions. The pattern extends to top management, where 95 per cent of all CEOs in Canada were men in 2023, barely down from nearly 97 per cent in 2017, writes Claudine Mangen of Concordia University. During this time, the pipeline of women moving toward senior roles has narrowed, according to the Prosperity Project’s 2025 Annual Report Card. Women in positions reporting directly to senior management fell from 55 per cent in 2022 to 45 per cent in 2025. Full story here: https://lnkd.in/e2uZmCCu #HR #Leadership #HRNews

When the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off, Canada — alongside Mexico and the United States — will co-host the biggest tournament in the competition’s history. Toronto and Vancouver are expected to attract millions of visitors and generate $3.8 billion in economic activity, including $2 billion in gross domestic product and $1.3 billion in labour income. But the World Cup could be more than a sporting spectacle, writes Hari KC, PhD of Toronto Metropolitan University. It presents a once-in-a-generation opportunity for Canada to sharpen its global talent strategy. Particularly when it comes to attracting international remote workers — so-called digital nomads. Full story here: https://lnkd.in/eY_9HFwS #HR #RemoteWorkers #DigitalNomads #FIFA26 #WorldCup FIFA World Cup 2026™ - Canada, Mexico and the United States

The Government of British Columbia has released new research showing Indigenous and racialized employees continue to face barriers in hiring, promotion and retention within the BC Public Service, despite gains in representation over the past several years. The Equity in Career Movement report examined workforce data from 2020 to 2024 and found the proportion of racialized employees among hires and promotions increased during the period. However, departures also rose, while Indigenous employees continued to face challenges in some areas of career advancement. “Understanding career movement of Indigenous and racialized employees helps us identify where barriers exist so we can better attract and retain qualified people and strengthen the talent pool,” said Diana Gibson🍁, Minister of Citizens’ Services. “This work will help build a stronger public service that reflects the diversity of the population it serves in British Columbia.” Full story here: https://lnkd.in/eBEFrgB6 #HR #PublicSector #BC #HRNews

Canada’s economy is still struggling to grow but some economists weighing in on the latest real gross domestic product results Friday argued that weakness may not qualify as a recession. StatCan reported Friday that the economy stalled in the first quarter of the year. While real GDP by expenditure was flat on a quarter-by-quarter basis, converting that to an annualized rate — the figure most economists pay close attention to — magnifies the quarterly changes and results in a decline of 0.1 per cent for the first quarter. “Don’t get me wrong, the economy has struggled to gain any meaningful traction over the last year … but for now, we wouldn’t necessarily call it a technical recession,” said TD Bank economist Marc Ercolao. Full story here: https://lnkd.in/eM26hGST #HR #Economy #GDP #Recession

A Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) track patroller who was fired for time theft has lost his bid to get his job back, after an arbitrator found he spent hours of paid shifts grocery shopping, visiting his mother and sitting in his parked car. The worker, a track patroller for about eight years, was terminated on Feb. 1, 2021 for breach of trust, time theft and violation of his conditions of employment. Amalgamated Transit Union, Local 113 grieved on his behalf, arguing the dismissal was unjust and seeking his reinstatement. In an arbitration under the Ontario Labour Relations Act, 1995, the sole arbitrator dismissed the grievance and upheld the discharge. Full story here ($) https://lnkd.in/gCvvZ_zp #HR #LabourLaw #TimeTheft

First Student is hosting a week of hiring events across North America beginning June 1, aiming to recruit more than 8,000 school bus drivers to support what the company says is continued growth in Canada and the United States. “What makes this job so rewarding is the ability to make a difference in students’ lives every day — building trust, reinforcing safety, and creating a positive experience on every ride,” said Jazmyne Smelley, a First Student driver and trainer in Cincinnati. “It’s meaningful work with the flexibility and growth opportunities to support a long-term career.” National Hiring Week runs from June 1 to 6. First Student will hold in-person and virtual events in markets including Regina as well as locations in New York, Connecticut, South Carolina, Kansas and Oregon. Full story here: https://lnkd.in/eM-HB9ab #HR #Recruitment #MassHiring #BusDrivers

Husky Technologies has appointed Karen Stone as its chief human resources officer, effective June 22, 2026. Stone joins the Bolton, Ontario-based company from WESCO International, a Fortune 200 distributor, where she served as vice-president, human resources. She has more than 20 years of experience leading global organizations through mergers, leadership redesign, and operating model changes. “I look forward to partnering with Karen to build the world-class team and high-performance culture that will power our next phase of growth," said Robert Domodossola, president and chief executive officer of Husky. Full story here: https://lnkd.in/efdKeCAj #HR #CHRO #PeopleontheMove #HRNews

Canada entered a technical recession in the first quarter of 2026, Statistics Canada | Statistique Canada reported Friday, even as employee compensation rose 1.2 per cent. Real gross domestic product (GDP) fell at an annualized rate of 0.1 per cent in the first quarter, the agency said. That followed a revised 1.0 per cent contraction in the fourth quarter of 2025. Two straight quarters of decline meet the common definition of a technical recession. The report painted a mixed picture. On a quarter-over-quarter basis, real GDP was unchanged in the first quarter, Statistics Canada said. On a per-person basis it rose 0.2 per cent, as the population shrank for a second straight quarter. The agency’s early estimate for April pointed to a rebound, with real GDP expected to grow 0.4 per cent that month. Full story here: https://lnkd.in/eYjXAbjq #HR #Compensation #GDP #Economy #HRNews

Newly released details of the collective agreement covering Victoria-area Uber drivers show the deal hands drivers a minimum hourly rate and the right to fight deactivations, while leaving the company’s control over the app largely intact. The United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW Canada), Local 1518, and Uber Rasier Canada Inc. signed the four-year agreement on May 19, 2026. It covers dependent contractor drivers in Victoria, Saanich, Esquimalt, Langford and several other communities. It does not cover Uber Eats drivers. The agreement treats drivers as dependent contractors, not employees. That classification shapes nearly every part of the deal. Drivers gain a pay floor and a grievance process, but they get no vacation, no health or dental coverage, and no pension. The contract also states that drivers keep full control over when and how much they work. Full story here: https://lnkd.in/eCyPbKaT #HR #LabourRelations #GigEconomy #Unions

The Government of Alberta will spend an additional $300,000 to expand BLUprint, a hands-on skilled trades learning program at the TELUS Spark Science Centre in Calgary, with funding running through 2027. The program lets young people explore careers in the skilled trades through hands-on activities. The new money builds on more than $880,000 the province invested in 2024 to launch the program’s first two phases. “A strong Alberta economy relies on skilled trades. From the homes we build to the infrastructure that powers our province, tradespeople are at the centre of our growth story. Young Albertans deserve to know that the trades offer rewarding, well-paying careers – and our partnership with TELUS Spark Science Centre is an investment in making sure they do,” said Honourable Myles McDougall, BA(Econ), MBA, ECA, Minister of Advanced Education. Full story here: https://lnkd.in/eCXCFb-u #HR #TrainingandDevelopment #YoungWorkers #SkilledTrades