Angela Poundmaker-Gromova, in Halifax on Nov. 25, was able to secure a higher paying job after took a course in growth marketing, a field that uses data analysis to drive customer acquisition and retention. Darren Calabrese/The Globe and Mail By age 36, when Angela Poundmaker-Gromova finished her communications degree, she had already worked in hairstyling, hospitality, film and television. In her new career, she found herself stuck in a series of entry-level jobs at a stage in her life when she had more work experience and better soft skills than her peers, and more training on new technologies than her superiors. She also felt underpaid. To secure a higher-paying role, Ms. Poundmaker-Gromova took a course in growth marketing, a field that uses data analysis to drive customer acquisition and retention. In addition to those skills, the course taught her how to prepare for an interview and negotiate salary, and how to retool her LinkedIn profile to best position her for the types of jobs she wanted. She was recruited shortly afterward and got a new marketing industry job. She now makes significantly more than in her last position and has a much better work environment. “It was life-changing,” said Ms. Poundmaker-Gromova, now 38 and a resident of Halifax. After years of steep inflation and high interest rates, many Canadians are looking for ways to increase their salaries to catch up with the higher cost of living. In a recent report by human resources firm Robert Half, 92 per cent of Canadian workers said they are concerned about inflation outpacing salary growth, with 51 per cent saying they feel underpaid. The company’s survey of 1,750 workers aged 18 and up, conducted in June for its 2025 Canadian Salary Guide , found pay is the top thing workers are looking for in a new job. But given that it’s also a time of weak employment growth, is now a good time to try to find a new job – or to ask for a raise? Experts suggest starting by figuring out how your salary compares with that of others who do similar work, and finding ways to expand your value as a worker, whether through adding new skills or overperforming in your role. Jodi Kovitz, chief executive officer of the Ontario-based Human Resources Professional Association, said her organization’s members are fielding raise requests often these days. “Salary concerns driven by inflation are totally prominent,” said Ms. Kovitz, while adding the uncertain economy has made it challenging for some companies to offer raises across the board, and so are choosing to focus instead on rewarding top performers. “We’re seeing more targeted salary adjustments.” It’s important for those who plan to advocate for a raise to make sure they can show the value they bring to the organization, she said. If someone arrives at a meeting with their manager ready to describe how they’ve gone beyond expectations, and has done market research that shows people in similar roles are getting paid more at other companies, their chances of success are higher, she said. Ms. Kovitz also suggests using such a conversation as a way to plot out a future path at the company. “You can say to your manager, ‘I would really like to stay here, and here’s why,’” she said. “As a leader, I am much more inclined to want to invest in, from an energy and development perspective, into someone I see as a potential successor to someone who is a leader on my team.” Jermaine L. Murray, a recruiter and career coach, said this meeting can be a place for the employee and manager to agree on the worker’s strengths and weaknesses, and set milestones for the next six months. “Once this meeting concludes, send a follow-up email as both a thank-you and a confirmation of what took place,” advised Mr. Murray, founder of Toronto-based JupiterHR. “Then focus on knocking each milestone out of the park over the next six months. Two weeks before the six-month mark, schedule a follow-up meeting to go over the milestones and to get feedback on your performance. If done correctly, you’ll have buy-in from your manager who will advocate for you to get a raise.” Mr. Murray also encourages workers to apply for jobs if they feel underpaid, if only to get a sense for what they could make elsewhere. But he cautions that changing jobs involves risk, and should be done with careful consideration. “If you accept a new job without doing your due diligence because you’re desperate for change, the chances of it backfiring rise significantly,” he said. Sarah Stockdale – the chief executive officer of Growclass, the growth marketing training company whose course helped Ms. Poundmaker-Gromova get a higher-paying job – said targeted upskilling can help someone change companies, or earn more where they currently work. “You can start by looking around and seeing who has the job that you want, and what are the skills they bring,” said Ms. Stockdale, who is based in Toronto. She notes that skills related to artificial intelligence can increase one’s salary significantly. PwC’s 2024 AI Jobs Barometer report found jobs that require “specialist AI skills” carry up to a 25-per-cent wage premium over similar positions that don’t require use of AI, and give workers a much stronger bargain position. Ms. Stockdale said many tech workers who were laid off in recent years took the first job they could get after their layoff, and are now feeling “underpaid and undervalued,” especially in cases where workers with the same job titles aren’t being paid the same amount because some were hired in stronger economic times. “That can stir up a lot of anger and resentment,” she said, and encourages those in this position to approach the issue by seeking to understand the situation, rather than being confrontational. “Compensation discrepancies aren’t always intentional. “You want to be on the same team: You and your manager versus the problem that possibly there’s a gap in your compensation,” she said. Are you a young Canadian with money on your mind? To set yourself up for success and steer clear of costly mistakes, listen to our award-winning Stress Test podcast .By MATTHEW BROWN and JACK DURA BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — Donald Trump assigned Doug Burgum a singular mission in nominating the governor of oil-rich North Dakota to lead an agency that oversees a half-billion acres of federal land and vast areas offshore: “Drill baby drill.” That dictate from the president-elect’s announcement of Burgum for Secretary of Interior sets the stage for a reignition of the court battles over public lands and waters that helped define Trump’s first term, with environmentalists worried about climate change already pledging their opposition. Burgum is an ultra-wealthy software industry entrepreneur who grew up on his family’s farm. He represents a tame choice compared to other Trump Cabinet picks. Public lands experts said his experience as a popular two-term governor who aligns himself with conservationist Teddy Roosevelt suggests a willingness to collaborate, as opposed to dismantling from within the agency he is tasked with leading. That could help smooth his confirmation and clear the way for the incoming administration to move quickly to open more public lands to development and commercial use. “Burgum strikes me as a credible nominee who could do a credible job as Interior secretary,” said John Leshy, who served as Interior’s solicitor under former President Bill Clinton. “He’s not a right-wing radical on public lands,” added Leshy, professor emeritus at the University of California College of the Law, San Francisco. The Interior Department manages about one-fifth of the country’s land with a mandate that spans from wildlife conservation and recreation to natural resource extraction and fulfilling treaty obligations with Native American tribes. Most of those lands are in the West, where frictions with private landowners and state officials are commonplace and have sometimes mushroomed into violent confrontations with right-wing groups that reject federal jurisdiction. Burgum if confirmed would be faced with a pending U.S. Supreme Court action from Utah that seeks to assert state power over Interior Department lands. North Dakota’s attorney general has supported the lawsuit, but Burgum’s office declined to say if he backs Utah’s claims. U.S. Justice Department attorneys on Thursday asked the Supreme Court to reject Utah’s lawsuit. They said Utah in 1894 agreed to give up its right to the lands at issue when it became a state. Trump’s narrow focus on fossil fuels is a replay from his 2016 campaign — although minus coal mining, a collapsing industry that he failed to revive in his first term. Trump repeatedly hailed oil as “liquid gold” on the campaign trail this year and largely omitted any mention of coal. About 26% of U.S. oil comes from federal lands and offshore waters overseen by Interior. Production continues to hit record levels under President Joe Biden despite claims by Trump that the Democrat hindered drilling. But industry representatives and their Republican allies say volumes could be further boosted. They want Burgum and the Interior Department to ramp up oil and gas sales from federal lands, in the Gulf of Mexico and offshore Alaska. The oil industry also hopes Trump’s government efficiency initiative led by billionaire Elon Musk can dramatically reduce environmental reviews. Biden’s administration reduced the frequency and size of lease sales, and it restored environmental rules that were weakened under Trump . The Democrat as a candidate in 2020 promised further restrictions on drilling to help combat global warming, but he struck a deal for the 2022 climate bill that requires offshore oil and gas sales to be held before renewable energy leases can be sold. “Oil and gas brings billions of dollars of revenue in, but you don’t get that if you don’t have leasing,” said Erik Milito with the National Ocean Industries Association, which represents offshore industries including oil and wind. Trump has vowed to kill offshore wind energy projects. But Milito said he was hopeful that with Burgum in place it would be “green lights ahead for everything, not just oil and gas.” It is unclear if Burgum would revive some of the most controversial steps taken at the agency during Trump’s first term, including relocating senior officials out of Washington, D.C., dismantling parts of the Endangered Species Act and shrinking the size of two national monuments in Utah designated by former President Barack Obama. Officials under Biden spent much of the past four years reversing Trump’s moves. They restored the Utah monuments and rescinded numerous Trump regulations. Onshore oil and gas lease sales plummeted — from more than a million acres sold annually under Trump and other previous administrations, to just 91,712 acres (37,115 hectares) sold last year — while many wind and solar projects advanced. Developing energy leases takes years, and oil companies control millions of acres that remain untapped. Biden’s administration also elevated the importance of conservation in public lands decisions, adopting a rule putting it more on par with oil and gas development. They proposed withdrawing parcels of land in six states from potential future mining to protect a struggling bird species, the greater sage grouse. North Dakota is among Republican states that challenged the Biden administration’s public lands rule. The states said in a June lawsuit that officials acting to prevent climate change have turned laws meant to facilitate development into policies that obstruct drilling, livestock grazing and other uses. Oil production boomed over the past two decades in North Dakota thanks in large part to better drilling techniques. Burgum has been an industry champion and last year signed a repeal of the state’s oil tax trigger — a price-based tax hike industry leaders supported removing. Burgum’s office declined an interview request. In a statement after his nomination, Burgum echoed Trump’s call for U.S. “energy dominance” in the global market. The 68-year-old governor also said the Interior post offered an opportunity to improve government relations with developers, tribes, landowners and outdoor enthusiasts “with a focus on maximizing the responsible use of our natural resources with environmental stewardship for the benefit of the American people.” Related Articles National Politics | Attorneys want the US Supreme Court to say Mississippi’s felony voting ban is cruel and unusual National Politics | Trump convinced Republicans to overlook his misconduct. But can he do the same for his nominees? National Politics | Beyond evangelicals, Trump and his allies courted smaller faith groups, from the Amish to Chabad National Politics | Trump’s team is delaying transition agreements. What does it mean for security checks and governing? National Politics | Judge delays Trump hush money sentencing in order to decide where case should go now Under current Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, the agency put greater emphasis on working collaboratively with tribes, including their own energy projects . Haaland, a member of the Pueblo of Laguna tribe in New Mexico, also advanced an initiative to solve criminal cases involving missing and murdered Indigenous peoples and helped lead a nationwide reckoning over abuses at federal Indian boarding schools that culminated in a formal public apology from Biden. Burgum has worked with tribes in his state, including on oil development. Badlands Conservation Alliance director Shannon Straight in Bismarck, North Dakota, said Burgum has also been a big supporter of tourism in North Dakota and outdoor activities such as hunting and fishing. Yet Straight said that hasn’t translated into additional protections for land in the state. “Theodore Roosevelt had a conservation ethic, and we talk and hold that up as a beautiful standard to live by,” he said. “We haven’t seen it as much on the ground. ... We need to recognize the landscape is only going to be as good as some additional protections.” Burgum has been a cheerleader of the planned Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library in Medora, North Dakota. Brown reported from Billings, Montana.
Say cheese: Vancouver cheese shop increasing security over rise in theft
International MICE Summit (IMS) opening day delivers transformation, 19 announcements to drive event industry growth in the Kingdom
US agencies should use advanced technology to identify mysterious drones, Schumer says
ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — New York state government agencies will have to conduct reviews and publish reports that detail how they're using artificial intelligence software, under a new law signed by Gov. Kathy Hochul. Hochul, a Democrat, signed the bill last week after it was passed by state lawmakers earlier this year. The law requires state agencies to perform assessments of any software that uses algorithms, computational models or AI techniques, and then submit those reviews to the governor and top legislative leaders along with posting them online. It also bars the use of AI in certain situations, such as an automated decision on whether someone receives unemployment benefits or child care assistance, unless the system is being consistently monitored by a human. State workers would also be shielded from having their hours or job duties limited because of AI under the law. State Sen. Kristen Gonzalez, a Democrat who sponsored the bill, called the law an important step in setting up some guardrails in how the emerging technology is used in state government.Avina Clean Hydrogen selects Illinois for new multi-million dollar investment, creates 150 new full-time jobs – Gov Pritzker Announces New $820M Sustainable Aviation Fuel Investment Governor JB Pritzker, Avina Clean Hydrogen, and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) today announced the selection of Southwest Illinois as the location for Avina Clean Hydrogen’s $820 million investment for a sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) project. The investment will enable Avina Clean Hydrogen Inc., a pioneer in the clean fuels sector, to develop its facility to produce SAF, helping meet Illinois’ clean energy goals and supporting the state’s growing clean energy economy. Governor , : “Avina Clean Hydrogen’s new SAF production facility will support our ambitious goals for a clean energy economy by substantially reducing carbon emissions and creating new jobs for Southwest Illinois.” Founder & CEO of Avina Clean Hydrogen, said : “We are excited to bring jobs, investment, and clean energy innovation to Illinois while supporting the aviation industry’s decarbonization efforts.” This investment will support the development of a state-of-the-art facility capable of producing up to 120 million gallons of SAF annually using KBR’s alcohol-to-jet technology. Over its lifespan, the project is anticipated to prevent an estimated 25 million metric tons of carbon emissions annually in aviation, with the project estimated to create at least 150 full-time jobs in Illinois along with 1,000 construction jobs. This milestone marks a major step in advancing the clean energy transition within Illinois, supporting the aviation sector’s decarbonization goals and creating significant regional economic impact. DCEO Director , said : “This state-of-the-art facility will provide job opportunities for hardworking Illinoisans, and aligns with the state’s continued efforts to create a cleaner economic ecosystem.” Senator (D – Swansea), : “I am thrilled to see this progress and am optimistic about the economic and labor opportunities it will bring to the Southwest region.” Representative (D – Loves Park), said : “Investing in sustainable aviation fuel production is not only great for our environment, but also for our state’s workforce and economy.” Intersect Illinois President & CEO said : “By supporting the development of sustainable aviation fuel, we’re not only reducing carbon emissions but also driving technological advancements and creating a more sustainable future for our state and the nation.” With its commitment to investing $820 million and creating 157 jobs Avina Clean Hydrogen will receive Reimagining Energy and Vehicles (REV) incentives from DCEO. REV provides competitive incentives for manufacturers across EV and renewables sectors to expand in or move to Illinois. A link to the executed REV agreement can be found . This major investment project is part of the State’s direct effort to achieve the goals of . Building upon Illinois’ success, the plan outlines a roadmap to attract record-level investments, create jobs and support communities over the next five years while laying the foundation for economic growth for generations to come. The plan lays the foundation for long-term growth by focusing on key growth industries including clean energy production and manufacturing as well as life sciences; quantum computing, AI, and microelectronics; advanced manufacturing; next generation agriculture, ag tech, and food processing; and transportation, distribution and logistics. As noted in the plan, clean energy production and manufacturing is a growth opportunity in part due to the expectation for SAF production to achieve a 48% compounded annual growth rate to meet U.S. targets by 2030. This growth opportunity led Illinois to pass a credit for SAF that incentivizes the sale of such fuel at Illinois-based airports. the latest news shaping the hydrogen market at Avina Clean Hydrogen selects Illinois for new multi-million dollar investment, creates 150 new full-time jobs – Gov Pritzker Announces New $820M Sustainable Aviation Fuel Investment, LONGi Hydrogen Enters Partnership with HydrogenPro – investment approx NOK 140 million December 23rd, 2024 – LONGi Hydrogen has signed an Investment Agreement with HydrogenPro ASA (HydrogenPro), a leader in... Paraguay – Dutch company plans to invest more than USD 100 million in green hydrogen Rediex authorities received representatives from the company ADA Green Hydrogen Holdings BV, who presented a project for the... Creating Jobs in Lycoming County: Shapiro Administration Investing $4,6 Million to Help PMF Industries Expand into the Clean Hydrogen Market & Grow Pennsylvania’s Clean Energy Industry Harrisburg, PA – Today...