Buisiness Watch

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This article was published 13/10/2011 (5286 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

WCB announces new CEO

THE Workers Compensation Board of Manitoba is getting a new chief executive officer.

The board announced Wednesday that Winston Maharaj will take over the president and CEO post in December from Doug Sexsmith, who is retiring after 10 years in the position.

Maharaj comes to the board after spending four years as CEO of Healthcare Employees Benefit Plans Manitoba. Prior to that, he also held numerous positions with the Manitoba and Ontario governments.

“I’m excited to be joining an organization that plays such a vital role in helping injured workers and preventing workplace injuries, while at the same time, placing a high value on good management and service excellence,” Maharaj said in a statement.

 

Acquisition for ag firm

WINNIPEG agricultural equipment manufacturer WGI Westman Group Inc. has acquired Hawes Agro Ltd. of Saskatoon, its fifth operation in Saskatchewan.

Hawes makes high-quality auger movers and accessories for the agricultural market. The Saskatoon company also assembles and distributes augers manufactured by WGI’s Sakundiak Division for its northern Saskatchewan dealer network.

Paul Cunningham, president & CEO of WGI Westman Group Inc., said the Hawes acquisition fits well with its operations.

“In the past we both supplied customers in each others’ home provinces,” Cunningham said in a statement. “Working together, all facilities will be in a position to provide best-in-class service and delivery to all customers in all locations and it will strengthen WGI’s position as a leader in the agricultural storage and handling products market in North America.”

WGI Westman operates manufacturing, sales and distribution facilities in 27 centres in Canada and the United States, maintains dealer networks across North America and has a worldwide customer base.

 

House prices edge up

IT cost a little bit more to buy a new home in Winnipeg in August, according to new Statistics Canada figures issued Wednesday.

The agency said Winnipeg’s new housing price index edged up by 0.2 per cent from July to August, with homebuilders citing higher labour costs as the reason for the increase.

Winnipeg’s gain was one of the smallest monthly increases among the 10 Canadian cities that saw a rise in new-home prices. Regina led the way with a 1.2 per cent hike, and StatsCan said the main contributor was higher building material costs.

Winnipeg’s year-over-year price change was more dramatic, with the index up 4.1 per cent from August of last year.

 

GM plans all-electric car

NEW YORK — Chevrolet plans to roll out a Spark mini-car that runs entirely on electricity beginning in 2013, a move that will add to General Motors Co.’s electric car fleet.

The Detroit automaker said Wednesday the Spark EV will be sold in limited quantities in certain U.S. markets, such as California, and overseas.

Jim Federico, Chevrolet’s global vehicle chief engineer for electric vehicles, said in a statement that the car will complement the Volt extended-range EV and the 2013 Malibu Eco with eAssist, a new gas-electric hybrid technology that can boost a car’s fuel economy.

 

— from the news services / staff