Revisiting the Jobs and Prosperity Fund
It is abundantly clear by now that Ontario is in the midst of a job crisis. Despite vastly different campaign platforms, each candidate in this year’s provincial election agreed that job creation was a top priority. Marred by controversy, the Liberal party’s proposed budget was shot down by the opposition earlier this year. But now, the […]
Job Creation A Priority for All Ontario Electoral Candidates
Wednesday marks the beginning of the 2014 Ontario election campaign as Lieutenant Governor David Onley signed the official election writs. Although all of the candidates began campaigning when NDP leader Andrea Horwath announced she would not support the proposed provincial budget, this signing was necessary to formally complete the process. The party leaders wasted no […]
New Innovation Initiative to Support SMEs in Western Canada
Small to medium sized companies in Western Canada can receive funding from the Western Innovation Initiative (WINN), recently announced by Western Economic Development Canada. The WINN program will be releasing application information starting November 9, 2013. The WINN program spans five years and has $100 million to support SMEs in Western Canada. The funds will […]
Government Continues to Support Ontario Businesses Through Extension of Eastern Ontario Development Program
Gary Goodyear, Minister of State for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario, met with stakeholders from the Ontario Association of Community Futures Development Corporations (OACFDC) for their 20th annual conference on September 25th. It was noted that while Ontario has made significant progress (creating jobs and growing the economy) since 2009, Southern Ontario […]
New Brunswick Launches Growing Forward 2 Agricultural Programs
MP Mike Allen, on behalf of federal Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz, and New Brunswick Minister of Agriculture, Aquaculture and Fisheries Michael Olscamp, announced program details for Growing Forward 2 to the agricultural and agri-food sector in New Brunswick. New Brunswick producers will have access to new and innovative agricultural funding programs with the support of […]
Rise in Canadian Manufacturing Sales for May 2013
StatsCan released their monthly survey results for May which examined sales within the Canadian manufacturing industry. Overall, manufacturing sales increased by 0.7% to $48.6 billion in May 2013. The below chart illustrates the monthly change in Canadian manufacturing sales since 2008. Out of 21 industries within the manufacturing sector, 57% of industries noticed an increase […]
951 Small FIT Contracts Offered by Ontario Power Authority
Ontario's clean energy economy continues to grow as the Ontario Power Authority (OPA) offers 951 new Small Feed-in Tariff (FIT) renewable energy contracts. In total, these new contracts will add 146.5 megawatts of power, which is more than enough power to give 21,000 homes electricity. The majority of these contract offers (934 projects) were for […]
Funding Available for Hiring of New University or College Graduates
There are close to 300, 000 unfilled jobs in the Canadian private sector, with manufacturing being among the industries with the highest vacancies according to findings from the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB). Unfilled jobs represent missed opportunities for business growth and economic development. Companies under 20 employees experience the highest vacancies levels due […]
Extension of Accelerated Capital Cost Allowance (ACCA) Provides Tax Relief for Manufacturers
The recent federal budget of 2013 highlighted several initiatives aimed at strengthening the competitiveness of the manufacturing sector. New sources of Canadian business funding and renewal of previous initiatives provides extra incentives for manufacturers to advance their business to the next level. One initiative that is especially beneficial for manufacturers is the renewal of the […]
Canada Posts First Trade Surplus in a Year
Rising US demand has generated an increase in Canadian exports, allowing for the first trade surplus in a year. Statistics Canada reported a 5.1 % increase in exports in March 2013 to $40.5 billion, with only a 1.7% increase in imports to $40.4 billion. Exports to the United States were responsible for three-quarters of the […]