Ontario will raisethe minimum wage to $10.25 on March 31, 2010.  This will be the seventh ncrease since 2004. The province of Ontario started implementing annual increases early in 2003, raising the general minimum wage from $6.85 in 2004 to $9.50 in 2009. Phasing in these increases balances the needs of hard working families with the needs of small businesses that create jobs. Increasing the minimum wage is part of Breaking the Cycle: Ontario's Poverty Reduction Strategy, which will reduce the number of children living in poverty by 25 per cent over five years - lifting 90,000 kids out of poverty - by boosting benefits for low-income families and enhancing publicly funded education.

The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) announced the launch of Small Business Information Webinars as part of ongoing efforts to assist Canadians in understanding their tax responsibilities and how the CRA is available to help them. The Small Business Information Webinars are a new interactive way for businesses to learn about their income tax and value-added tax responsibilities, and will also provide small enterprises a means to communicate with the CRA.

The CRA is offering webinars focused on the HST for Ontario. For more information on these webinars, please visit www.cra.gc.ca/harmonization.

To get more information on the Small Business Information Webinars, visit www.cra.gc.ca/events.

The Regional Municipality of Durham, in partnership with the interim Local Diversity and Immigration Partnership Council, celebrated the launch of the Durham Community Immigration Portal—www.durhamimmigration.ca—an integrated web-based resource to attract, welcome and support new immigrants and businesses to the region. This project was made possible with a funding contribution of $535,600 from the Ontario and federal governments. This funding is part of the Canada-Ontario Immigration Agreement to support municipalities in attracting newcomers and helping them settle in their communities.

Canadian homebuilders remain cautiously optimistic about the year ahead as they put 2009 behind them and shovels in the ground for new developments across the country in 2010.  That’s the national view at home in Durham Region from Victor Fiume, General Manager of Durham Custom Homes, who assumed the presidency of the Canadian Home Builders Association (CHBA) at a ceremony in Victoria early in March 2010. Assuming leadership of the Canadian Home Builders Association, while prestigious, is just the latest honour bestowed on the affable Mr. Fiume and Durham Custom Homes. Earlier this year, he was given an EnergQuality Hall of Fame Award for his advocacy of sustainable building practices and he’s a past-president of the Durham Region Home Builders Association and the Ontario Home Builders Association.

As of January 31, 2010, self-employed individuals can register for Employment Insurance (EI) special benefits. The four types of special benefits are:  maternity benefits parental benefits; sickness benefits and compassionate care benefits. Register online using My Service Canada Account anywhere you can access the Internet, including at a Service Canada Centre near you. Visit www.servicecanada.gc.ca for more information. You can also call the EI Telephone Information Service at 1-800-206-7218.

The City of Oshawa is fast becoming a hub for post-secondary education with Trent University and UOIT announcing plans to expand their presence in Oshawa by the start of the fall 2010 semester. In addition, Durham College plans to create new teaching spaces at its Oshawa campus to accommodate increased enrolment numbers and will soon be home to a new Student Services building.

You are cordially invited to attend “A Tribute To Our Troops - Past, Present and Future”, a Dinner Fundraiser to salute the men, women and families of Durham Region's own Armoured Reserve unit, The Ontario Regiment (RCAC). The dinner, to be held in their Honour will take place on Thursday, May 13th, 2010 at the Deer Creek Golf and Country Club in Ajax. The evening will be hosted by CTV's Ken Shaw and will feature a fantastic dinner and entertainment, silent auction as well as the opportunity to meet some of the men and women who proudly serve or have served our great country. Specials Guests of Honour will be General Walt Natynczyk, CMM, MSC, CD, Chief of the Defence Staff and Chistine Caswell, Silver Cross Mother. This event will raise funds for The Ontario Regiment Foundation to enable the set up of programs for the soldiers and their families that are beyond the scope of government funding. Visit www.troopstribute.com for sponsorship opportunities, ticket requests, and silent auction donations.