A Post Baccalaureate Diploma (”post bac” or PBD) is a program designed for those who already have undergraduate degrees or the equivalent. It is not a master’s degree, but it is more advanced than a Bachelor’s degree. Totaling 30 units, this PBD program combines SCD theory and guided practice, plus 300- and 400-level electives from many disciplines. Four SCD core courses (SCD 301, 401, 403, 404) plus four to five pre-approved elective courses permit students to shape their program to their own interests.
This program offers recognition to those who seek accreditation in community-based social and economic development. It offers a practical credential within an undergraduate degree with little or no extra cost. The SCD Certificate program offers a wide range of theoretical and practicable approaches to alternate economic strategies and to ecologically sustainable communities, both rural and urban. This 19-unit program has been developed with the student’s need for cost and time effective accreditation in mind.
The forest industry is a key component of New Brunswick’s economic base but its contribution is a risk due to limited fibre supply. This report provides a detailed assessment of the industry’s current economic impact and estimates the potential economic impact of proposals to increase the wood supply from Crown land.
Atlantic Canada’s forest industry is contracting as a result of intense global market pressures. Between 2004 and 2006 the number of firms in Atlantic Canada’s forest industry dropped by 11% while the industry shed more than 8,000 jobs. This 24% decline in employment is more than double the 11% drop nationally. Despite these losses, the forest industry remains a crucial part of Atlantic Canada’s economy, currently accounting for about 15% of international merchandise exports and contributing 4.5% of total GDP in 2005.
In early November 2010, the Atlantic Provinces Economic Council (APEC) held its 16th annual Business Outlook conference. In this report, we feature the event's keynote and industry leaders who outlined the key opportunities and drivers shaping Atlantic Canada's energy future. The report also includes a summary of the address by APEC President Elizabeth Beale on whether a new era of regional energy cooperation is dawning in Atlantic Canada.
One of the most pressing issues for the forest industry in Canada is the dwindling supply of labour, and in particular the lack of skilled workers. Until recently, a labour surplus ensured an adequate supply of new workers for resource based firms across Nova Scotia. However, a decline in the birth rate, competition from other industries, and out-migration to western Canada have all served to reduce the pool of available workers. The productivity and profitability of firms in the forest industry depends on the skills and capabilities of its workforce.
The forest labour force in New Brunswick has changed significantly over the last decade. Employment grew strongly in the late 1990’s led by growth in the wood products sector, but growth has stalled in recent years. The unemployment rate has declined but remains high. The potential local supply of labour for the forest industry is dwindling due to demographic factors such as slow population growth, an aging population and migration of young people to the cities.
A positive transformation of Newfoundland and Labrador’s economy is now well underway, largely due to offshore oil development. In its latest Atlantic Report, the Atlantic Provinces Economic Council examines the impact of the oil and mining sector on the province and discusses the outlook for Newfoundland and Labrador's economy in the coming years.
The mining industry in Atlantic Canada is experiencing a revival after several years of stagnant output and declining employment. Strong demand and high commodity prices have led companies to redevelop mothballed projects, expand existing operations such as the potash mine in New Brunswick, and proceed with the development of newly found resources such as the Voisey’s Bay and Duck Pond mines in Newfoundland and Labrador. As a result, the value of metallic minerals produced in the Atlantic region has almost quadrupled since 2003 to reach $4.6 billion in 2006.
The energy sector has grown to become the most important group of industries in Atlantic Canada with a full spectrum of activity across the region, ranging from offshore oil and natural gas to wind farms to nuclear power. In its latest edition of Atlantic Report, the Atlantic Provinces Economic Council (APEC) examines the tremendous contributions energy developments are making to the economy of Atlantic Canada, and the challenges facing the future development of the industry.
