Canada Considers Moving G20 Summit In 2010 To Toronto From Huntsville
AHN Staff Ottawa, Ontario (AHN) – Huntsville in Muskoka may not be big enough to accommodate all delegates and officials to next year’s G20 meeting, thus Canada is seriously considering moving the larger meeting to Toronto, but keeping the G8 Summit in Huntsville. The G8 meeting is for the wealthier nations, while the G20 expands the group to developing economies like China and India. However, Industry Minister Tony Clement, through his spokesman, clarified there is no decision yet if the venue for the G20 meeting would be moved. Muskoka is about 90 minutes away from Toronto. Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty said that while being the G20 host would be a challenge to the province’s capital city in terms of logistics and security, he would welcome the opportunity to host the summit. Outgoing Toronto Mayor David Miller expressed the same idea. Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced Canada’s hosting of the G20 Summit after attending the Pittsburgh meeting in late September. South Korea will jointly co-host the G20 summit slated on June 25-27, 2010. To accommodate the G8 delegates Huntsville has prepared a list of 400 commercial properties, private residences and cottages with a combined capacity of 5,200 guests rooms where delegates can stay. Article © AHN – All Rights Reserved
Toronto Transit Commission Considers Extending Discounted Fare To College Students
AHN Staff Toronto, Ontario (AHN) – To help Toronto students cope with the planned 11 to 15 percent fare hike being sought by the Toronto Transit Commission, the TTC is considering extending the student discount to college students. Currently, the discount is limited to high school students. While helping college students with their finances, the proposal to include them in the student discounts seeks to encourage more college students to take public transport. If the city councilors – who will meet Tuesday to decide on the TTC fare hike application – would approve the transit’s request, student Metropasses would go up to $104 monthly from $91.25. Because of the fare increase application which will take effect January 2010, Toronto residents started to increase the volume of tokens to beat higher fare. Following a 20 percent rise in token sales, the TTC announced on Nov. 6 it was limiting token sales to 10 per buyer, which was further cut to five per customer on Nov. 9. The TTC said in a statement, “As the demand for tokens continue unabated, the Toronto Transit Commission asks for the public’s patience and understanding as it works to ensure tokens are available for all TTC customers.” Article © AHN – All Rights Reserved
Survey: 86 Percent Of Canadians Support Introduction Of High-Speed Trains
AHN Staff Ottawa, Ontario (AHN) – A survey by research firm EKOS said 86 percent of Canadians are in favor of the introduction of high-speed trains in the country. The same study said 68 percent of residents believe all levels of government must have an involvement in financing the high-speed rail. The study is timely in view of an Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development report that the cost of traffic in Toronto is at $3.3 billion yearly in lost productivity. With a high-speed rail capable of traveling beyond the current maximum limit of 160 kilometers per hour of existing trains in Canada, residents and commodities could move faster. The study was made by EKOS for the Railway Association of Canada. According to the RAC 2008 report, Canada’s railways moved 75 percent of all freight and 68 million passengers in 2007. Rail is still the most fuel-efficient form of surface transportation in the country since a liter of fuel cold move one ton of freight by 170 kilometers. Article © AHN – All Rights Reserved
Harper Leaves For Singapore, India
AHN Staff Ottawa, Ontario (AHN) – Thirty minutes after Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper sent off royal visitors Prince Charles and Camilla, the prime minister himself left for a trip to two Asian nations on Thursday morning. Harper and wife Laureen did not even change hangars since Hangar 11 of the MacDonald-Cartier International Airport in Ottawa where he said good-bye to the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall, is the very same hangar he used to leave for Singapore to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit. Harper will stay in Singapore on Saturday and Sunday. Other major world leaders who will attend the APEC forum are U.S. President Barack Obama and Chinese President Hu Jintao. According to Harper’s advisers, the prime minister will have several one-on-one meetings with different world leaders to make a pitch for lower trade barriers. From the Lion City, Harper will make his first visit to India where he will attend different political, commercial, cultural and spiritual events. He will meet with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and United Progressive Alliance Chairwoman Sonia Gandhi. He will visit the Golden Temple in Amritsar and offer a wreath in Raj Ghat in Delhi where Mahatma Gandhi was cremated. Harper will also take a peek at the Chabad House, a Jewish outreach center which was the scene of an attack by Pakistani Islamist terrorists last year. The prime minister – whose political stock is growing as seen by his increasing approval rating in polls and the win by two Tory candidates in Monday’s federal by-election – will close the year with two more trips to China and South Korea. His four Asian trips will likely translate into higher approval ratings in future political surveys. Article © AHN – All Rights Reserved
Air Canada To Use E-Mail, Text To Inform Passengers Of Flight Cancellations; Rebook Trip
AHN Staff Montreal, Quebec (AHN) – Air Canada is tapping technology to improve its service to passengers, particularly when bad weather forces flight cancellations. On Tuesday, the largest Canadian air carrier launched the Self-Service Rebooking Tool. The new Web-based service sends text and email messages to passengers if there are changes in their flights caused by bad weather or other causes of delay. It also allows the customers to amend their travel plans using their cellphones or computers to new schedules that would fit their personal need or circumstances. The tool gives Air Canada passengers details of their rebooked flights and permits customers to move to another flight if the alternative flight arrangement suggested by Air Canada would not fit their plans. It works on ordinary mobile phones and smart phones, including those with new Apple and Blackberry applications. Air Canada Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Duncan Dee said in a statement, “It is an unfortunate fact of life that poor weather and other events sometimes disrupt an airline’s schedule but this new rebooking tool will make it easy and convenient for Air Canada customers to adjust their travel without having to line up or contact an agent.” Article © AHN – All Rights Reserved
Canada’s Corporate Tax Rate Is 5th Highest Among OECD Members
AHN Staff Toronto, Ontario (AHN) – At 33 percent, Canada’s general corporate income tax rate in 2009 is the fifth highest among member of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. However, it will continue to go down until 2012. Three years from now, Canada’s federal corporate tax rate will be only 15 percent from the current 19 percent, forecasts KPMG International Leader of Canada’s International Tax Practice Firoz Talakshi. He added Canada’s tax rate is just slightly lower than the U.S. rate of 40 percent, but higher than OECD and European Union averages. The KPMG has observed that while there is a tendency for corporate tax rate to decline annually, the opposite is taking place for indirect taxes which has been growing in its share in government income pies. However, another KPMG study released in July said in assessing tax costs in running a business in a particular place, businesses should go beyond corporate tax rates and must include sales, property and other taxes paid to various levels of government. Using this parameter, the KPMG ranked overall taxes in 10 countries with the U.S as a benchmark with a total tax index of 100. Canada ranked third in the 2008 Competitive Alternatives, which is KPMG’s guide to searching for international business locations. Canada had a 78.8 total tax index, while the number spot went to Mexico which had a 70.2 TTI and second was the Netherlands with a 78.3 TTI. In a ranking of 35 large international cities, Vancouver was the highest ranking Canadian city with a fourth place finish based on a TTI of 75.2 Montreal was in 6th place with an 83.2 TTI and was followed by Toronto in 7th place with a TTI of 85.4. Article © AHN – All Rights Reserved
Canadian PM Makes Britain’s Princes Honorary Canadian Rangers
Shannon McGregor – AHN Special Categories Editor Ottawa, Canada (BANG) – Britain’s Princes William and Harry have been made honorary Canadian Rangers by the country’s prime minister. The royal siblings were given uniforms of red hooded tops and baseball caps by Stephen Harper, who handed them to their father Prince Charles during a special presentation Tuesday. The Prince of Wales accepted the posts on behalf of his sons and on taking the bundle of clothes, joked: “I hope they fit.” The prime minister replied: “One size fits all” after telling the heir to the throne: “I would be honored if you would present this to them as a symbol of their honorary membership.” A St James’s Palace spokesman said last night: “Prince William and Prince Harry are very grateful to be made honorary Canadian Rangers, whom they admire enormously.” The Rangers were set up in 1947 to provide a military presence in remote and coastal communities of Canada. Prince Charles and his wife Camilla met the prime minister and his wife Laureen at the official residence of the Governor General. Charles and Camilla began their 11-day visit to Canada in Newfoundland last Monday. It is the prince’s 16th tour of Canada and Camilla’s first. Article © AHN – All Rights Reserved
Report: H1N1 To Affect Bottom Line Of Six Industries In Canada
AHN Staff Ottawa, Ontario (AHN) – The Conference Board of Canada and the Business Development Bank of Canada has identified six industries in the country expected to experience a 20 percent decline in profits this year as a result of the recession. Another factor that contributed to the forecast decline in the six industries is the effect of the Influenza A (H1N1) pandemic. The report identified the six affected Canadian industries as: accommodation, food and beverage manufacturing, food services, retail trade, transportation and warehousing, and wholesale trade. CBC Industrial Economic Trends Associate Director Michael Burt explained in a statement, “All industries are grappling with the effects of reduced demand and downward pressure on prices as a result of the recession. The end result is reduced sales and profitability in nearly every industry covered in these reports, with the transportation and wholesale trade industries being the most affected.” For the transport and warehousing industry, the report forecast profit levels to go down by 29 percent this year to $5.2 billion from $7.3 billion last year. For the wholesale trade, the profit decline would be to $11.2 billion in 2009 from $14.5 billion in 2008. Retail trade is expected to suffer a 32 percent cut in profit to $8.6 billion from $12.6 billion, while a similar 32 percent reduction in profit is foreseen for the food services as profits plummet to $826 million from $1.2 billion. The accommodation industry is expected to log an 8 percent profit reduction to less than $500 million. The food and beverage manufacturing industry is actually expected to register a very slight profit growth of $3.4 billion from $3.3 billion because of the relatively recession-proof nature of food and beverage production. However, the CBC warned the accommodation industry may face a shaky recover because of the additional pressure of the swine flu pandemic on it, based on Canada’s experience with SARS in 2003. There would be lesser tourists coming to Canada, which would dent the income of hotels and dining establishments. It does not help that the loonie has gained so much strength the past few months that Canada became a more expensive vacation destination for many international tourists. Article © AHN – All Rights Reserved
OECD Estimates Cost Of Toronto Traffic At $3.3 Billion Yearly In Lost Productivity
AHN Staff Toronto, Ontario (AHN) – A study made by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development estimated the cost of traffic in Toronto to $3.3 billion yearly in lost productivity. The gridlock is caused by poor mass public transportation system, which has led residents to continue relying heavily on their cars to go to work. About 70 percent of Toronto residents still drive to work. The capital city of Ontario has five million residents, hosts 40 percent of Canada’s business headquarters, accounts for 20 percent of the country’s gross domestic product and 45 percent of the province’s GDP. Part of the reason behind its huge population is 40 percent of residents are immigrants. One consequence of the massive gridlock in Toronto is that the city’s yearly average growth rate for productivity from 1995 to 2005 is almost on the bottom of a list of 45 international cities, just a little better than Berlin, Brussels, Vienna, Montreal and Seattle. Other consequences include the long time it takes residents to travel, air pollution from vehicle tailpipes and delayed deliveries of food, logistics and retail items. To address Toronto’s traffic problem, the OECD recommended creating toll lanes, fuel and parking taxes and congestion charges. The Toronto report marked the launch of the OECD Territorial Reviews during the International Forum of the Americas Forum for Global Cities. According to OECD Secretary General Angel Gurria, by 2030 about 5 billion people around the world would be dwelling in urban areas. “Many of the new urbanites will be poor. It is our duty to share our most innovative policies for urban socio-economic cohesion and inclusion with the authorities of the cities in developing and emerging economies. The OECD is one of the places where this ’sharing’ is already happening,” Gurria said. Article © AHN – All Rights Reserved
Ottawa To Consider Other Pharmaceutical Firms For Next Big Pandemic
AHN Staff Ottawa, Ontario (AHN) – With the federal government of Canada looking ill-prepared for the second round of Influenza A (H1N1) pandemic, Ottawa is now considering contracting more than one supplier when the next big pandemic hits the country. An unexpected surge in number of Canadians seeking H1N1 immunization had provinces scrambling for solutions on how to meet the high demand for inoculation that federal officials are now open to distributing the job of manufacturing vaccines in the future to more than one pharmaceutical firm. Ottawa ordered 50 million doses of the adjuvanted swine flu vaccine from GlaxoSmithKline after it was burned from a 1976 decision to order swine flu vaccines from a foreign pharmaceutical firm, which never delivered the doses. One solution adopted by Alberta is to close all immunization clinics because of the surge in demand for vaccines even among residents outside the high-risk group. The sudden closure of the vaccine clinics was criticized by a Calgary-based pandemic expert as a case of mismanaged logistics and poor communications. Dr. Pat Pitsel pointed out that since young children are among the high-risk groups, vaccine clinics should have been established in schools and in work places of first responders. She forecast a third H1N1 pandemic wave which could bring a more fatal, mutated strain. Other Canadian cities used hospital bracelets and numbered tickets to control the entry of residents seeking inoculation in vaccine clinics. Article © AHN – All Rights Reserved
