According to Human Resources and Social Development Canada, we've seen a 122% increase in employer requests for low-skilled workers, as well as a 39% increase for high-skilled workers, between 2005 and 2007.

- The national authorities have to consider and, where appropriate and without prejudice to the rules on state aid of the Treaty, introduce incentives from which EMAS registered organisations can benefit, such as access to funding or tax incentives in the framework of schemes supporting environmental performance of industry.

Without prejudice to the rules of the Treaty on State aid, incentives should be given by Member States to registered organisations such as access to funding or tax incentives in the framework of schemes supporting environmental performance of industry, provided that organisations are able to demonstrate an improvement of their environmental performance.

‘support scheme’ means any instrument, scheme or mechanism applied by a Member State or a group of Member States, that promotes the use of energy from renewable sources by reducing the cost of that energy, increasing the price at which it can be sold, or increasing, by means of a renewable energy obligation or otherwise, the volume of such energy purchased. This includes, but is not restricted to, investment aid, tax exemptions or reductions, tax refunds, renewable energy obligation support schemes including those using green certificates, and direct price support schemes including feed-in tariffs and premium payments.

(k)‘support scheme’ means any instrument, scheme or mechanism applied by a Member State or a group of Member States, that promotes the use of energy from renewable sources by reducing the cost of that energy, increasing the price at which it can be sold, or increasing, by means of a renewable energy obligation or otherwise, the volume of such energy purchased. This includes, but is not restricted to, investment aid, tax exemptions or reductions, tax refunds, renewable energy obligation support schemes including those using green certificates, and direct price support schemes including feed-in tariffs and premium payments.

The Commission has noted that the eligible costs are consistent with the definition contained in Annex II to the Community RD framework. The principle of additionality is considered to be met since the scheme encourages enterprises to take economic risks which they would not otherwise have taken.