Cornwall Business Expands with Assistance From the Southern Ontario Fund for Investment in Innovation (SOFII)
Chalk up another victory for Canadian government funding as MPIQC expands its facilities with assistance from the Southern Ontario Fund for Investment in Innovation (SOFII) program. MPIQC is an electronics manufacturer that provides products and services for a vast assortment of clientele including space and satellite, military and defense contractors, communication firms, government, automotive speciality […]
Yves Landry Assists Swift Canoe with Skills Training
The Yves Landry Foundation, funded through the Government of Canada, was established to advance technological education and skills training. Manufacturers who have been continuously in business for at least three years in Northern Ontario may be eligible for Yves’ AIME North Initiative. The program was first released after a $2 million investment through FedNor in […]
The High Cost of Ontario Power Rates for Manufacturers Can Be Offset by Government Programs
Ontario’s high power rates could be a deterrent for companies to locate in the province. According to the Association of Major Power Consumers of Ontario, industrial customers within the province pay approximately $85 per megawatt hour, which is more than double in comparison to rates in Manitoba, Quebec and rates in Michigan, USA. This has been a major […]
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 […]
Canadian Manufacturing Industry Shows Slight Growth In April
Spring is a time of year when new life starts to grow not just for plants but for companies and governments alike. Whether it is the hiring of new employees or an annual federal budget, spring brings out a wide variety of change. This rings true for the Canadian manufacturing industry which has seen its […]
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 […]
Repeal of Industrial Exception Means Professional Engineers Required for Production Equipment Modifications
A recent press release by the Professional Engineers Ontario (PEO) indicated that the Government of Ontario has approved a change to the Professional Engineers Act that will remove the so-called industrial exception starting on March 1, 2013. This means that professional engineering work on equipment or machinery used to produce end products must now be […]
Decline in Manufacturing Sales for December 2012
A recent survey completed by StatsCan indicated a 3.1% decline in sales for the manufacturing industry in the month of December 2012. The total manufacturing sales in December was $48 billion. The chart below illustrates Canadian manufacturing sales since 2007 in current dollars. The transportation equipment industry suffered the highest percentage decrease in sales compared […]
Improving Canada’s Fuel Economy Standards with the Automotive Innovation Fund
Environmentally-friendly vehicles have come a long way in terms of technological advancement and efficiency, but as with anything, there’s always room for improvement. The Automotive Innovation Fund (AIF) is a new program that aims to do just that by providing funding for vehicle and powertrain assembly operations associated with significant automotive innovation to support large-scale […]