NEWSBRIEFS

Two major reports on skills shortage released

Two reports warning of the danger of brain drain have been released by the CD Howe Institute and the Conference Board of Canada (CBoC). What To Do When the Well Runs Dry: Managing Scarce Skills, was prepared by the CBoC and calls for collective action by industry, labour, education and government to avert a serious shortage of highly skilled technical staff and middle managers. FMI: (613) 526-3280 or http:// www2.conferenceboard.ca. The CD Howe report- Putting the Brain Drain in Context: Canada and the Global Competition for Scientists and Engineers - was prepared by its director of research, Daniel Schwanen. It cautions that the relatively small number of scientists and engineers leaving for the US is still serious, as Canada lags far behind the US in the availability of this talent pool. The report is available at www.cdhowe.org or by calling (416) 865-1866....

CRIQ unveils on-line data and business portal

Quebec's Centre de recherche industrielle du Québec (CRIQ) has officially launched the province's most comprehensive on-line data bank and business portal. Dubbed iCRIQ, the business-to-business e-trade zone provides direct access to more than 25,000 Quebec-based firms that can sell their products and services on-line. The data include company sales figures, key personnel and export activities. The portal is an extension of CRIQ's industrial and technological data bank that it has maintained for 25 years. The site is supported by Bell Québec, which provided electronic catalogue creation and implementation services, helping firms to reduce costs, expand into new markets and improve customer service. Recent statistics show that 60% of Quebec firms with more than 10 employees are connected to the Internet. The iCRIQ web site can be found at www.icriq.com....

BC couple donates $1.45 million to equine research

An anonymous BC couple has donated $1.45 million to the Univ of Saskatchewan's Western College of Veterinary Medicine for equine research and horse-related veterinary education. The donation will be managed by the college's Equine Health Research Fund (EHRF) to help improve the level of horse health care in Western Canada. An advisory board has developed a long term plan for using the donation, which will be considered by EHRF's board at its next AGM in 2001....

Calendar

May 3-4 in Toronto: Canadian IT Financing Forum. Presented by Macdonald & Associates Ltd. Features more than 40 private Canadian IT firms making presentations to investors from Canada, the US, Europe and Asia. FMI: www.financingforum.com....