One of the more challenging elements of Canadian government funding can be understanding where and how funds flow, and which agencies offer and oversee funding programs. Some of the key players in government funding are Canada’s Regional Development Agencies (RDAs). Created and funded by the Government of Canada, these agencies offer federal programs at a…
A friend of mine always developed a post-Christmas “flu” in high school. The holidays would end and suddenly, that first day back to school, he would complain to his mother that he didn’t feel well, and he would end up staying home an extra day or two to recover. Those of us who struggle with…
Global Affairs Canada recently released its report Canada’s State of Trade 2019. Authored by the Office of the Chief Economist (OCE), the report overviews the major developments in Canada’s imports and exports in 2018. In Part 1 of my blog on this report, I described the report’s most relevant points about domestic and foreign economies…
Does your business plan to exhibit at international trade shows this year? Trade shows provide an opportunity to grow your business in new markets and drive higher global revenues. They diversify your client base and can serve as a launching point for sustained international success. Yet, for many businesses, researching international trade shows can be…
BioVectra Inc., based in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, serves the medical and biotech sectors and manufactures pharmaceutical products. These products have been used in the treatment of illnesses such as kidney disease, cancer, multiple sclerosis, and cardiovascular disease. The firm has recently received Canadian government funding to support strategic growth projects that include creating and…
Hiring youth workers for manufacturing positions can be costly. With significant training and onboarding expenses that exceed the investment required with experienced labourers, the costs of recruiting youth workers can often outweigh its benefits. Still, employing apprentices and interns is an excellent strategy to overcome talent gaps. Manufacturers need to know how to incorporate a…
Communitech, based in Waterloo, Ontario, is a public-private innovation hub that supports tech businesses as they start, grow, and prosper. Their accelerator program, Fierce Founders Accelerator, is intended to provide companies with tools and resources to scale up their business. One of the program’s eligibility criteria is that the company has at least one female…
During international business travel it’s critical to abide to different customs and cultures. Read these business etiquette tips on topics.
The Canadian Federal Budget 2018 was released last week to much interest from business leaders and industry analysts. This year, innovation was again a top priority of the federal government, highlighted by the increase in funding support for several research and development funds. Unlike the previous two Liberal budgets, however, there will be considerable changes…
For over 15 years, the Canadian government has used agriculture policy frameworks to enhance the competitiveness of agriculture and agri-food companies. The latest active framework, Growing Forward 2 (GF2), provides cost-sharing support to businesses within the agricultural sector through several support programs. Growing Forward 2 is a five-year (2013-2018) framework that will, as of April…