Canada

Hydroelectric Energy

admin  Energy  , , ,

Hydroelectric energyis within laymen’s terms what it really seems like,hydroelectric energycreated from waterparticularly moving water. Presently, hydroelectricity is undoubtedly typically the most popular type of alternative energy, and supplies between 15-20% from the world’s electricity. Generally,hydroelectric energyoriginates from the possibility energy of dammed water. The dammed water drives a water turbine and generator, which in turn converts the energy into electricity.

What is Hydroelectric Energy

Hydroelectricity Energy is most generally created by using dams,However particularly in places that you will find large flowing rivers and ponds to attract water from. Because of this, places like Canada, with large, intricate waterway systems make the most of this kind of energy. Furthermore they energy residential areas, however they may also actually energy energy-intensive industries like aluminum smelting along with other industrial activities.

Hydroelectricity Energy can also be fairly clean.Although fossil fuel is consumed in the making of the dam, there are virtually no carbon pollutants past the dam’s initial construction in non-tropical regions. Exactly the same isn’t true for tropical regions; however, as hydroelectric energy plants happen to be observed to create considerable amounts of methane and co2 when the surrounding forest isn’t removed.

This really is because of the truth that plant-existence decays within the flooded areas in an alarming rate, creating methane, in addition to more compact levels of co2. Out of the box also reiterated below, positioning is essential if this involves creating a hydroelectric dam.

Regrettably, hydroelectricity energy is certainly not without its problems. Planning hydroelectric energy projects frequently overlooks the harm to marine habitats and environments also to the nearby indigenous towns, and also requires relocating whenever a dam is made because of flooding within their towns.

This kind of callousness is exactly what rapidly becomes problematic with dams. Organizers need to be especially careful when directing river ways to be able to prevent any harsh long-term effects on individuals that rely on water, whether human or animal, also to conserve historic monuments along with other sites of cultural significance.

For example, while dams may be used to prevent flooding when water levels rise beyond normal levels, in the region around Burns Lake, Bc, Canada, a whole village was instructed to relocate because of flooding from the making of a dam.

Hydroelectric Energy doesn’t pollute water or even the air

However, hydroelectric energy facilities might have large environment impacts by altering the atmosphere and affecting land use, houses, and natural settings within the dam area.

Most hydroelectric energy plants possess a dam along with a reservoir

These structures may obstruct seafood migration and affect their populations. Operating ahydroelectric energyplant could also alter the temperature of water and also the river’s flow. These changes may harm native plants and creatures within the river as well as on land. Tanks may cover individual’s houses, important natural areas, farming land, and ancient sites. So building dams can require moving people. Methane, a powerful green house gas, could also form in certain tanks and become released towards the atmosphere.

Heavy Machinery And Construction Site Accidents

admin  Construction  , , ,

Though construction accident numbers have declined over the past year, reports continue to roll out nationally and internationally regarding serious injuries or fatalities due to construction accidents. While many of these stories have involved workers in site-related accidents, such as building collapses, scaffolding failures, and falling from great heights, there seem to be an increasing number of reports of heavy equipment accidents.

Since construction projects, especially larger commercial and residential projects, typically use larger support structures and heavier building materials, heavy machinery is often used to expedite the process of moving and sometimes installing these materials. These machines pose a unique threat to the safety of construction worker, as there exist several possibilities of malfunction that could potentially cause a construction accident.

A few recent examples illustrate the potential hazards posed by heavy machinery. A skid steer, also known as a Bobcat or a front loader, is a common site on construction sites, being used to move large amounts of dirt or other heavy materials. Smaller than a backhoe or other earth-moving machines, it is a useful tool for larger construction sites. If used improperly, however, it puts the operator of the vehicle as well as those working around him in jeopardy. In three recent cases, these machines were responsible for serious injuries and in two cases a fatality.

In Alberta, Canada, two men were working excavating a basement when their skid steer toppled over and pinned them both to the floor. The men were soon rescued by emergency responders and taken to the hospital. In a tragic case here in the United States, a young boy who had gone to work with his father was killed when he fell out of his father’s lap while riding in a skid steer. Preliminary reports indicate that the child was thrown from the vehicle while his father backed up and was subsequently struck on the head by the large bucket full of dirt. In another accident involving a skid steer, a man fell seven stories inside one of the vehicles while participating in demolition work in Chicago.

These small and agile machines are most assuredly not the only vehicles involved in serious construction accidents. While not as common on smaller construction sites, cranes still play a significant role in assisting workers on the job with lifting heavy pieces of building material such as floor joists and beam supports. However, crane accidents also make up a large portion of construction accident statistics.

In a recent case in New York, a man was killed when the boom arm of a crane snapped off and crushed the operator as he was working on a bridge. Reports indicate that there is no clear reason at the moment as to what caused the boom to snap. Regardless, crane accidents could have any number of malfunctions. In international news, reports of a crane collapse which killed seven men as they worked on a rail line in India were released a few weeks ago.

Many of these workers injured in a construction site accident seek legal recourse as a method of compensation for their injuries. It is often advisable for any worker or family member of one who has been injured on a construction site to contact an experienced construction accident attorney to develop a construction accident lawsuit as soon as possible.

Centennial Colleges Automotive Service Technician Apprenticeship Focuses On Canadian Tire Employm

admin  Automotive  , , ,

If there is one brand that is recognizable across Canada, it is Canadian Tire. Founded in 1922, this store is not only known for its loyalty reward program and great prices but also its automotive services. As an automotive technician who wants a clear advantage over the competition, the only program you should consider is the Automotive Service Technician apprenticeship at Centennial College. Thats because this offering, officially known as Automotive Service Technician Canadian Tire MAP 32, is actually partnered with the store. As such, you will be employed or sponsored by Canadian Tire stores and receive all the in-school training necessary for your apprenticeship as an automotive service technician.

Applicants to this automotive service technician training are required to have completed an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or equivalent, or GED (General Educational Development). Additionally, applicants must be employed by a Canadian Tire dealership or be selected through an advising/interview session; and they must also be able to legally work in Canada. It is worth noting that when space permits, additional applicants are selected through an interview process. If the college determines there are additional seats available, applicants will receive a letter and questionnaire with instructions on how to request a program interview. Admission is on a first come first served basis. Lastly, students enrolled in a Centennial College Modified Apprenticeship Program (MAP) are Registered Apprentices, in accordance with the Apprenticeship Branch of the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities.

The structure of the automotive service technician apprenticeship sees students experience more in-depth automotive service technician training that includes 32 weeks of in-class training. During this time, students complete five courses, which are part of a provincial automotive curriculum and satisfy the knowledge necessary to become a licensed technician. These courses are: Drive train Systems, Electrical/Electronic & Emission Systems, Engine Systems, Work Practices and Procedures, Suspension/Steering and Brake System. All of these automotive service technician apprenticeship courses are facilitated from Ashtonbee Campus. As Centennial Colleges transportation training hub and the largest facility of its sort in the province, it is fully equipped with product-generic tools and includes a broad range of makes and models from the automotive industry. It is worth noting that automotive service technician training students may be eligible for EI (employment insurance) during the in-class training.

Students of this automotive service technician apprenticeship also obtain four weeks of On-the-job experience at one of Ontarios over 190 Canadian Tire stores, which leads to a high placement rate for candidates. At Canadian Tire locations, automotive service technician apprenticeship students work alongside automotive service professionals, applying what they have learned during their in-school sessions, gaining new knowledge and getting to know the company. It is a chance to show off their newly acquired or developed skills. During the employer sessions, Automotive Service Technician Apprenticeship are compensated.

Automotive V.i.n. Numbers What Do They Mean

admin  Automotive  , , ,

V.I.N. V.I.N.s. You will hear this term tossed around frequently by car sales people, auto insurance people among others in the automotive trade. What does the term “VIN” mean and how it is important to you?

The term V.I.N. is short form of “Vehicle Identification Number”. It’s a unique number that is assigned to your vehicle – be it car, truck, S.U.V., van truck, motorcycle or any other vehicle. Think of the VIN as the Social Insurance Number for your automotive vehicle.

In order to register a vehicle, especially a new vehicle, you will need its V.I.N. In order to insure your vehicle ditto. If your car is stolen it may well be tracked down and identified by this unique listing – it’s V.I.N. If you are in the market for a vehicle and do a vehicle history search – say at Carfax or a similar online service and the lookup will all be done by V.I.N. How else could the system work if each vehicle did not have its own unique identifying number? Through such automated systems you can quickly and accurately determine vehicle history since new – a list of owners , any accident reports , has the car been involved in a major accident , been written off , been in a flood , have liens or charges against it , as well as many additional concerns for auto buyers ,financers , and dealers.

How can you determine the V.I.N. of your vehicle? That is easy if have ready access to your registration and insurance documentation. If not, or if you want to confirm the VIN number assignment you can simply find out your vehicles stamp. Simply look through the windshield on the driver’s side of the auto at the corner of the dash. It should be clearly stamped on a plate attached to the dash. As well that same designation should be clearly listed on your bill of sale. If the 2 numbers do not match – this could be a sign of future trouble if you are ever involved in a collision and have to deal with auto insurance claims and payment to yourself or your auto body shop.

A short course in how to read a VIN to be of use to you – should you be in the car buying mode, need registration information or want to import a car into Canada. Where an auto is manufactured often determines import duties and taxes.

Reading a V.I.N. First things first look at the first number on the left hand side. This first character designates where the vehicle was built – 1 is the US, 2 is Canada, 3 is Mexico, J for Japan, K for Korea for example.

Next the second character in line designates the manufacturer or who built the car. The letter “G: stands for General Motor or G.M. products. Next is the third character – in this example if the number 2 is the third character – this would indicate the Pontiac division of GM. Characters 4 and 5 indicate the car line series, eight represents the body style for example 2 door coupe, 4 door sedan, hatchback. The seventh character indicates the type of safety restraint system that was installed at the factory. Eight character stands for the engine code – each type of engine has its own stamp. Between the eighth and the last sequence of letters is a check digit – a spacer to prevent confusion. The last sequence of digits is the grouping that singly identifies the vehicle and makes it wholly unique.

Why all this effort in creating this system and nomenclature of listing and describing each car individually. How else could the automotive trades work if they could not id each and every vehicle separately , track it , keep detailed records and lastly allow you as a car , truck , SUV , Van or motorcycle driver to research the past history of your new found vehicle.

Get The Most Professional Advice From The Best Life Insurance Broker

admin  Sales  , , ,

Your options for buying Life Insurance can be very confusing. Are you looking for qualified, professional advice from a life insurance broker you can trust?

Technology has given us many ways to get life insurance in Canada. You can find products and insurance companies via the internet, or deal with bank-owned life insurance companies through a call center. What you really need to ask yourself is, Is the insurance advice Im getting unbiased and really tailored to my needs? This article will outline the pros and cons of buying life insurance through the various sales channels and where you can buy personalized and professional life insurance advice.

Online sales

True online sale in Canada — via point and click programs, are very limited in Canada, at least for now. Usually these sales are limited to health and dental plans and some forms of critical illness and travel insurance. There is almost no life insurance being sold totally via the internet, as you still need to speak with a licensed life insurance broker/agent and sign some documentation. As a buyer of life insurance you might think that by cutting out the middleman would save you money. Not so. In fact, insurance companies will charge the same premium for a policy bought online as they will for one sold through a face-to-face advisor like a life insurance broker. There are no discounts on premiums in the Canadian marketplace to buy life insurance online.

And with getting policies online you do not get personalized service. Most life insurance policies have unique features from different insurance companies. They also offer many riders and benefits that can customize your plan for your unique situation. And there is future planning to take into account, where a relationship with an insurance broker can help you change your life insurance policies as your circumstances change. Online quotes and sales of life insurance are typically limited to only term life insurance, and purchasing any permanent life insurance would need you to meet with a life insurance broker.

Call Centre sales

This is similar to acquiring online as most online life insurance sales have to be completed by a licensed life insurance representative on the phone. Buying life insurance through a call center is also specific to only term life insurance with several optional riders and benefits. Call center sales people only have a limited selection of products and lack the knowledge or skill to advise on permanent life insurance or various health insurance options.. Call centers basically represent only one insurance company (like a bank owned life insurer) and can offer only those companies products. Usually this means clients cant shop the entire Canadian insurance market for the best rates like they could with a life insurance broker, and are possibly paying much more than required.

Special Mail-Out offers

Several Canadian life insurance companies offer members of groups, like university alumni or employees of an organization, special mail-out offers for association life and accidental death insurance plans. These policies are all built on group insurance platforms. This means you do not own your policy, but are only a certificate holder as part of a bigger. You would have no rights to change your policy into permanent insurance in the future. On these plans, premiums will increase every five year as you age, so what seems cheap toady could get very expensive in 10 or 15 years time.

Many people opt for the accidental death coverage because they think it is cheap life insurance. But, it is NOT real life insurance covering all risks. You would have to die from an accident — NOT a sickness — to be able to claim any benefit. Some planes also cover accidents in only certain scenarios, such as an airplane or bus crash, in order to get the full death benefit they promote. Since sickness is the cause for over 85% of all deaths in Canada, it is doubtful these policies will ever pay out any benefits at all.

Mortgage/Creditor Insurance from the Bank

When buying a house or taking out a loan, your bank or mortgage broker will offer their Mortgage Insurance to protect your family in case you pass away while still paying off your mortgage. THIS IS DANGEROUS LIFE INSURANCE! Even though it might seem easy to be insured for this coverage, at time of claim (death) the insurance company will have to decide whether or not you are eligible for the insurance. Any minor prior health issues that were not FULLY disclosed upon the application could disallow your family from getting the death benefit. Be reminded also that the banks mortgage life insurance has a minimal insurance benefit; you have less life insurance coverage every time you make a mortgage payment, yet the monthly premium does not decrease. When you pay off your mortgage the banks mortgage life insurance cancels and there is no option to get a personal policy, and all your premiums (lost money|are not earning|are losing money}.

Captive Life Insurance Agents

Captive insurance agents are life insurance advisors who represent only on insurance company. A captive agent can only offer products from their insurance company, which means that clients have very limited options. It would be like shopping for a car but you are only allowed to visit the Ford dealership, and must pick a Ford — no other car companies can be regarded. You are not assured to get the best rates. Usually, premiums charged by captive agents are much higher than if a client purchases through an independent insurance broker. You as the buyer, will lose when buying from a captive agents as they are handcuffed by their inability to sell the entire Canadian market for life insurance. Companies that still maintain a captive life insurance agent sales force are Sun Life, RBC Insurance, Freedom 55 (London Life), Primerica, and Desjardins. And, by the way, all these companies offer their life and health insurance products to life insurance brokers too.

Independent Life Insurance Broker

An independent life insurance broker has access to all companies offering life and health insurance in Canada. They can research the market on your behalf to find the best possible solution for the lowest possible premium. Price isnt the only driver when choosing for an insurance policy that is perfect for you. Some companies will offer unique benefits and riders that better serve you, or you might have a health issues that is looked on more favorably by one insurance company vs. another. All this comes into consideration when advising clients about the best life and health insurance options for them. Make sure to also ask about your insurance brokers experience, support system/network, professional credentials, etc.

A Life Guard Insurance Broker Can Help You

At Life Guard Insurance, we are a network of highly skilled, professional life insurance brokers across Canada. Our life insurance brokers are supported by Canadas largest national life insurance general agency, PPI Solutions. Our brokers have access to customized services from reinsurance, meaning we can negotiate a policy when there are health problems or foreign travel restrictions.

How To Become A Mechanic In Canada

admin  Automotive  

Becoming a mechanic, or as the profession is also called, an automotive technician gives you a skilled trade, which not only means you may have access to a subsidized education through apprenticeship grants, but with about twenty-two million licensed drivers in Canada, an automotive career gives you a reliable source of employment regardless of the state of the economy. However, people looking into how to become a mechanic have a several step process ahead of them, starting with finding a mechanic school and funding, but including four years of practical, hands on work experience for full trade certification.

Choosing the right Mechanic Program:

Mechanic programs are provided through community colleges or vocational schools. Prospective students must consider the location, cost and facilities. It is a good idea to tour the campus to see what sort of hands on experience you will get, and speak with instructors, and if possible, past students. While options vary, you will find there is a mechanic school in most parts of Canada. Once youve found a school and applied, your time will be spent learning all about cars, their working and how to keep them running and in good repair. Your training might be as an automotive service technician, which is more focused on the inner workings of the car, or on the equally essential alignment and breaks or the auto body and post-collision repair.

Looking for Education Funding:

As well as the usual post-secondary options of government and private student loans, federal and provincial level long-term work force planning mean that there are further grants and bursaries available to facilitate your education in a mechanic program. These include money set aside to encourage non-traditional careers and trade grants, and are well detailed in Federal and Provincial websites, but your mechanic school will usually have a dedicated financial aid office committed to finding you the means to pay for your training, which will walk you through all your options.

Certification:

The certification process starts with a certification of qualification or registering as an apprentice. With your time in your mechanic program completed, you will need an employer to sign off on your competencies, which you will demonstrate through working for them, applying what you learned during auto technician training. After this period of employment, generally lasting four years, you will receive a Certificate of Apprenticeship. Then theres one more step: challenging the trade examination to get a Certificate of Qualification, and then youre a fully-fledged mechanic.

The path from auto mechanic programs to full certification is lengthy and involves lots of work, but unlike many education options, not only is there special education funding set aside for trades, but the work component of your apprenticeship will be paid, making this an affordable option for the technically inclined. And, once youre done you have a skill to start your own business with or easily find an in-demand job.

What You Should Know About Theft of Construction Equipment

admin  Construction  , , ,

People often think that it’s basically impossible for construction equipment to be stolen, since it would be pretty noticeable if someone started driving a crane down the street. But, many construction equipment thefts are easy to conduct for quite a few different reasons. It’s actually really easy to get away with, and has become commonplace in countries such as the US, Canada, Japan and Europe. People should, therefore, be made aware of such thefts going on in their areas.

Because construction equipment doesn’t come with doors or locks, they are easy for burglars to break into. Thieves feel that hi-jacking construction vehicles is a piece of cake compared to most other types of vehicles. And people won’t be able to tell if the equipment being driven is being operated by a thief or construction worker. Most people wouldn’t recognize a piece of construction equipment if it was camouflaged somehow.

Thieves find it beneficial to steal this kind of equipment because it can command a high price on the black market. Forklifts alone can fetch a price of $12,000 to $50,000, and thieves could sell a generator for $150,00 a pop. Because constructions sites often have lots of these kinds of equipment, it’s easy money for clever thieves. Criminals are very fond of stealing construction vehicles for these reasons, not to mention the fact that most construction sites are unsecured and the vehicles are left out in the open with no protection.

The problem has become too severe to be ignored any longer. According to statisticians in Japan, roughly 450 pieces of construction equipment was stolen in 2008 alone. While in the united states, the National Insurance Crime Bureau found that nearly a billion dollars in construction equipment is stolen and sold each year on the black market.

To date, numerous government agencies and manufacturers of construction equipment have tried their best to prevent this theft from continuing. In the UK, construction equipment registration systems make it easier for the police and the companies who own the equipment to recover their stolen goods.

Optimism for Canadian Commercial Real Estate Investment Market

admin  Investment  , , ,

It might sound like the equivalent of a gold rush when any industry sector can show a 93% increase in one year but that’s exactly what happened with the Toronto commercial real estate market from 2009 to 2010. The increase for Canada averaged 48% overall with a total investment volume of 18.9 billion dollars, indicating healthy investor confidence and a strong economy. This article discusses the most up-to-date statistics in the commercial property investment market.

According to the 2010 National Investment Report issued by CB Richard Ellis Limited (CBRE) the commercial property investment volume has climbed back to pre-2005 recession levels and totaled 18.9 billion dollars. Commercial property is proving to be an attractive investment which stimulates the rest of the economy. Office, industrial, and retail property in Canada have all attracted investor interest, with many companies deciding to upgrade to better properties before prices rise any further.

This is fortunate for Canada in a time when most countries are still sinking in a worldwide depression. There is a banking crisis caused by the credit default swap swindle evidenced by the problems of European Union economies such as Greece, Ireland, Spain, and Portugal. Bailing banks out of their black hole of debt and sticking it on the taxpayer has been allowing banks to exert undue control over those countries’ infrastructures, resources, economies and governments.

Whether you use the term recession or depression for the state of an economy depends largely on where you’re sitting. The lower classes have less money so inflation means the same amount of money buys less, so the economic pain is far greater than those who still have something left over and are not as devastated by things like unemployment and high interest rates.

Every region in Canada showed a 2010 growth except for London Ontario. Other cities like Halifax could have showed bigger volumes if there was more investment product available, a factor that limits any real growth figures. The economy in such a region could be healthier than investment sales would indicate. In any case, these provide relatively strong yields compared to other investment types so Canadian commercial real estate is attracting foreign investors as well as domestic ones.

In Vancouver there were 1,263 transactions totaling $2.9 billion dollars compared to Toronto, where 1,156 transactions represented $7.4 billion, so each of the commercial properties trades in Toronto were of higher value in terms of dollar amounts. Montreal also showed significantly greater sized amounts per transaction. The volume of $2.9 billion was a one-year increase of 52% yet the transaction increase was just 32%, showing the effect of large institutional deals like the Place Innovation and McGill College properties.

Companies with both property management and asset management skills should thrive in the 2011 year if this trend continues. Such firms suffer or smile in relation to the state of the economy; investors are turning to Canada as a refuge from the collapsing economies of other countries. At a time when currency systems are under attack caution must be used. It remains to be seen which countries, if any, become insulated from the turmoil that is being fomented elsewhere to usher in a one world government and one world currency system. This is the goal of those who control world leaders, but to give control of the money supply to a private clique will lead to disaster since absolute power corrupts absolutely. A post-industrial feudal system will be the end result if such a thing were to occur.