Canada: Sending the Right Message – Competition is Good

The Canadian Government took a decisive step in supporting a competitive environment in wireless telecommunications, with a decisions to overrule the Canadian Radio and Television Commission’s earlier decision not to approve Globalive’s entry into the Canadian market at…

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Canada: Policing Canadian Companies Actions Aboard

In quite staggering fashion, and on the basis of a private members bill no less, the Canadian House of Commons is considering a  bill to withhold federal investment dollars (in the form of loans and loan guarantees from…

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New Zealand: Least Corrupt Country!

This National Business Review article is interesting on two front.  Firstly, it reveals useful (although not earth shattering) insight into those countries whose governments have taken corruption and the corresponding requirement for transparency seriously.  Secondly, it sets out…

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Canada: Rewrite to Investment Canada Act Possible

Court action by US Steel, arising from its acquisition of Stelco (a Canadian company), may prompt a review and rewrite of the Investment Canada Act, which regulates the investment in Canadian companies by foreign investors.  The current provisions…

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Canada will apply existing foreign ownership laws to PetroChina’s Oilsands Bid

The government of Canada has publicly stated that foreign ownership review legislation shall apply to PetroChina’s bid to buy Canadian oil sands assets, but will not introduce further barriers to investing in the country.  Current regulations call for…

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Canada’s Current Fiscal Imbalance

Personal and corporate income taxes, and excise tax revenue are down, with corresponding increases in program expenses.  Program expenses in June 2009 were $20.7 billion, up $4.2 billion, or 25.2 per cent, from June 2008. This increase is…

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Business Taxation in Western Canada: Settling for a Personal Best? The Western Canadian Economy in the International Arena

This paper examines the competitiveness of the business tax regimes in Canada’s four western provinces. The discussion focuses on the tax burden imposed on investment, as measured by the marginal effective tax rate (METR) on capital. business_taxation_western_can.pdf

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Facebook violates Canadian privacy law

TORONTO — Canada’s privacy commissioner accused Facebook on Thursday of breaching Canadian law by keeping users’ personal information indefinitely after members close their accounts. Privacy Commissioner Jennifer Stoddart released a report that also accuses Facebook of disclosing personal…

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