Bevilacqua says Libs are proactive on small businesses front
On the eve of the next federal budget, House Finance Chairman Maurizio Bevilacqua talks small business As a child growing up in a small business family, Liberal MP Maurizio Bevilacqua, chairman of the House Finance Committee, says he learned a thing or two about Canada’s entrepreneurial spirit. His father ran a construction company in Toronto, […]
Lobbyists line up to block House Industry committee
Warren Kinsella hired by big firms like Nortel, General Motors for Competition Act, Bill C-23 Some of the world’s biggest corporations have set their lobbying sights on members of the House Industry Committee, as backbench MPs are about to defy their recommendations in amending Bill C-23, the Competition Act Bill. At least 33 people are […]
SMEs will await Paul Martin’s budget with considerable interest
Vast majority actively participate in labour market through their considerable contribution to job creation Prior to 2000, Canada’s economy experienced one of the longest economic growth cycles since the mid-1960s. Studies show that the contribution of small and medium enterprises, or SMEs, to overall economic activity, job creation and diversification is a fundamental factor in […]
Faith and public life targets the Hill: where does Christian social action stop, abetting of terrorism begin?
When the Centre for Faith and Public Life started five years ago, its key people, Bruce Clemenger and Janet Epp Buckingham, had a great view of the Peace Tower and the offices beneath it. Those offices were often the targets of their mandate, perceived to be spokespersons for three million Canadians. Then the good folk […]
Multiculturalism has never become a policy for all Canadians: why is our policy not used to pull together francophones and anglophones and put to rest the Quebec issue?
[Graph Not Transcribed] It took terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City to force Canadian journalists to finally look at multiculturalism as a national issue. Too bad they focused on multiculturalism in Great Britain, and not Canada. It’s true, in the aftermath of Sept. 11, Canadian reporters and columnists began probing […]
Here’s a bright idea: how about smart tax and regulatory reform
Canada needs significant tax reform to reduce profit-insensitive taxes, such as capital and payroll taxes [Graph Not Transcribed] Small and medium enterprises play an important role in the Canadian economy. They account for 50 per cent of our GDP, and provide over half of all employment. The sector has also been more resilient post-Sept. 11th […]
Canada boosts international aid
Bloc MP Tremblay earlier urged Canada to increase overseas development aid budget to 0.7 per cent of GDP [Graph Not Transcribed] Prime Minister Jean Chretien recently stood beside the visiting President of Ghana, John Kufuor, and pledged Canada will boost its international aid program. Canada’s spending of 0.25 per cent of GDP on overseas development […]
EI should be a separate, stand-alone insurance-based system
Return to system with contributions based on actuarial guidelines would result in significant savings for business Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) account for over 50 per cent of the GDP and over 50 per cent of total employment in Canada. Moreover, they have been a major engine of job creation and innovation in this country. […]
There’s no real Canadian voice
[Graph Not Transcribed] I think it was Mark Twain who explained he did not attend the funeral of a local politician but that he had sent a nice note saying he approved of it. This reminds me of the recent Ontario Tory fundraiser at which the federal leader, the Rt. Hon. Joe Clark, addressed the […]
Federal government’s pro-biotech bias is most evident at CFIA
Consumers are cynical because there’s no clear line between biotech industry, government and organization [Graph Not Transcribed] Consumers can be forgiven for being cynical about biotechnology. After all, it’s hard to know who to trust when there’s no clear line between the biotech industry, government and organizations that claim to be on the side of […]
