Microsoft undercuts Apple and Google to offer Windows 10 app developers more money

Broadcom is trying to buy Qualcomm

Broadcom  makes chips for modems, Wi-Fi, switches and routers. Qualcomm , which invented the 2G and 3G wireless network technology used by Verizon and Sprint , has rejected the offer. But if the acquisition goes through, it would be the second-biggest deal in American corporate history.

AOL and Yahoo became Oath

Over the summer, Yahoo and AOL became a new company called Oath. The change followed Yahoo's sale to Verizon (VZ), which also owns AOL. The deal was finalized last year.

Cigna agrees to buy Express Scripts

Cigna (CI), one of the country's largest health insurers, agreed to buy Express Scripts (ESRX), one of America's biggest pharmacy benefits managers, in March.

Dr Pepper Snapple is merging with Keurig Green Mountain

The new company, Keurig Dr Pepper, will combine Dr Pepper, 7UP, Snapple, A&W and Sunkist with Keurig's franchise of single-serve coffee pods, which includes the Green Mountain Coffee Roasters and The Original Donut Shop brands.

Arby's nabbed Buffalo Wild Wings

Arby's parent company Roark Capital purchased Buffalo Wild Wings, the chain of sports bars. Roark also has big stakes in Auntie Anne's, Carvel and Jimmy John's

Amazon

CVS and Aetna. Amazon and Whole Foods. And now, Cigna and Express Scripts.

Telco Rumours

According to recent media reports, French telecom Altice Group may bid for Charter Communications, while Sprint -owner Softbank has looked into a bid for Charter, as well. Sprint's merger talks with T-Mobile US, meanwhile, have hit some snags. So Sprint opened the door to strategic talks with cable firms Comcast and Charter. The nation's two biggest cable TV firms could be mulling their own blockbuster merger, unless they hook up with Verizon Communications.

Alberta prepares to separate from Canada

This is what happens with weak leadership. Leadership that is  more interested in selfies and wearing costumes.

Amazon Shopping Tip - SAVE!!!!

If you shop on Amazon here is a way to save some money.

Amazon is just a middle man on a lot of products.  Their markup seems to be high.

If you find a product you want and the manufacturer is listed, search the manufacturer.

Most manufacture’s sell their own products less than Amazon.

If you go direct you can save.

Over 60,000 Laid off since Wynne's 14.00 per hour change

This is typical Liberal.  Nothing is thought out properly.  Jobs are leaving Ontario faster then they are coming.

Trudeau has to go

YEAH!!!!!!!

Roy Green: Canadians preparing to bid adieu to Trudeau?

OTTAWA — As many as 40 per cent of Canadians disapprove of the Liberal government’s 2018 budget — and it could even cost them votes in the next election, according to a new poll.

Trump says no steel break for Mexico, Canada without 'fair' Nafta

Justin grow some balls, or maybe put one of your costumes on...LOL!!!!!

Quebec Fights Back Against Business Exodus With Tax Incentives

Quebec is boosting tax incentives for executives and businesses to stay in Canada’s second most-populous province after the loss of Rona Inc. and other prominent companies.

Premier Philippe Couillard is lowering levies on stock-option gains and transfers of family-owned businesses as part of policies aimed at keeping head offices in Quebec and nurturing more homegrown multinationals. Executives will be able to deduct 50 percent of those gains, up from 25 percent previously, in line with other provinces. Business owners will be given a grace period of up to 20 years for taxes on ownership transfers to family. Couillard, flanked by Finance Minister Carlos Leitao and Economy Minister Dominique Anglade, announced the measures in Quebec City Tuesday.

read more

Keep property tax at or below inflation

Cap the tax on porperty tax for Ontario.

Sign the petition

To the Premier of Ontario:

The current property tax rate system is unpredictable, unfair, and punitive to property owners. Year after year, homeowners are left guessing how much their property tax bill will be. Municipal spending has spiraled out of control because municipal councils first decide how much to spend, then decide how much to raise taxes to finance their spendthrift binges.

Taxpayers deserve certainty!

We, the undersigned demand that the province:

• Cap property taxes at current rates
• Limit increases to inflation according to the consumer price index (CPI)
• Introduce a statute mandating that rate increases in property taxes may only be implement if passed by citizens through municipal referenda
• Encourage municipal governments to reduce their reliance on the property tax base and move towards revenue-neutral user fees

A bold prediction for the upcoming budget — more debt: Neil Macdonald

Way to go Morneau!  Its so easy to miss manage tax payers money.

Tax and spend ... 25 billion spent federally on interest ... combined with the provinces ... Canada has a 1.4 trillion combined debt. A reckoning is coming for us all.

Toronto City Council are NUTS!

The letter below is from Mayor of Toronto John Tory.  He states we "are begging to pay more in taxes".

Why are politicians so clueless!!!!!!!!

John Tory <mayor_tory@toronto.ca>  - email Tory tell him what you think! 

"Dear Friend --

I wanted to let you know that last week Council approved the City of Toronto's 2018 budget.

For the fourth year in a row, the budget invests in key areas that will make life better in Toronto while keeping taxes low and spending under control.

An overwhelming majority of councillors endorsed the budget and it proves that I am doing exactly what I said I was going to do when I ran for Mayor in 2014 - we are restoring stability and strong management to the City and its finances.

This budget contains more than $50 million in new and enhanced investments including the TTC's Hop On-Hop Off transfer, the City's TransformTO climate change action plan, 

funding for social housing repairs, 1,515 additional child care spaces, 20,000 additional recreation spaces, accelerating the Vision Zero safety plan and hiring more police officers focusing on community safety.

And the budget continues to invest the funding I've secured from the federal and provincial governments in our first ever transit network plan that will see us build the next wave of transit priority project including the Relief Line, SmartTrack, the Eglinton East LRT and waterfront transit.

Keeping the City Affordable

The single biggest cheque families write to the City is for their property tax bill.

I was elected on a mandate to keep tax increases at or below the rate of inflation. As much as some Councillors have said their residents are begging to pay more taxes, 

the majority of Torontonians voted for candidates who called for strict discipline on property tax hikes. I'm proud that with a 2.1% residential property tax increase 

that matches the rate of inflation in Toronto, the budget fulfills my campaign pledge to keep the annual property tax increase at or below the rate of inflation.

Beyond keeping taxes low, this budget freezes all TTC fares this year and invests in the Fair Fare Pass for low-income residents so transit remains affordable and 

accessible for everyone.

Improving Transit

I want every transit rider in this city to know that I am absolutely committed to improving and expanding the TTC so that their daily commute improves. 

That's why the 2018 budget invests in creating the Hop On-Hop Off transfer. This two-hour transfer will allow people on transit the flexibility to run 

errands or make stops along their way to work, school, or home for the cost of one fare.

The budget also invests $3 million in combatting overcrowding and continues the highly successful Kids Ride Free program.

We are continuing to push ahead with the King Street Pilot Project this year knowing that we have seen faster commute times for streetcar riders, 

more reliable service, and a 25% increase in ridership in the first two months.

Getting Toronto Moving

The budget invests more than $9 million to fight traffic on Toronto roads including $1.6 million to hire 16 traffic wardens, $477,000 for two additional 

quick clear squad shifts dedicated to fixing problems causing temporary lane blockages on the Gardiner and the DVP, and $2.7 million to buy more smart 

traffic signals to monitor the flow of traffic in real-time.

These are the kinds of common sense approaches to traffic and congestion management that Toronto residents expect of City Hall. We’re making steady progress 

to get Toronto moving and the 2018 budget continues to do just that.

A Liveable City

As our city grows and more people decide to have families here and move here, we need to make sure our rec programs keep up. The budget adds 20,000 new 

recreation spaces to the system so we reduce the number of families on the waiting list for programs.

The budget also invests in 1,515 new child care spaces and starts to reduce the cost of the highest child care fees by 4%. 

In response to unprecedented demand and record-breaking cold temperatures, the budget supports the creation of 1,000 new shelter beds as soon as possible 

to help the city's most vulnerable residents. 

Working For You

This budget strikes the right and responsible balance that our city needs to continue to grow but also remain affordable. I'm proud of the work Council 

and City staff have done to invest in the services that I know you want.

I love being the Mayor of this great city and I always appreciate your feedback so feel free to reach out at any time by email. 

I hope you and your family have a great week.

Sincerely,

John Tory

Mayor John Tory - Toronto, ON, Canada "

Federal Government is Exiling Canadian Entrepreneurs

February 16, 2018

Small businesses are the lifeblood of the Canadian economy. They support millions of jobs, and increase the GDP with their productivity. Their owners are keenly aware of the obstacles: a high chance of failure, slim chances of obtaining external capital, long hours for often low pay, no pension plans or health benefits, not to mention unexpected surprises and sleepless nights. They assume these personal risks for the chance of shared success.

One assumption made by entrepreneurs is that government policies will remain reasonably stable and competitive over time. Tax rates may bob up and down, but the business environment will always be one in which entrepreneurial activity is encouraged and rewarded. Few would choose to invest in a climate of high uncertainty, where shareholders’ net worth is usurped, or where the government demonizes its entrepreneurs as opposed to lionizing them. Unfortunately, the business environment in Canada may be becoming just that.

The Federal Government has raised the concern that Canadian private businesses are utilizing the difference between the corporate tax rate and the personal tax rate to purchase investment (passive) assets. The Government has now proposed that investment income over $50,000 per year will be subject to integrated tax rates upwards of up to 75% in a one-size fits all solution.

This policy will not impact public corporations or foreign-owned businesses operating in Canada, leaving the competition to private corporations unscathed. Why have they been excluded from this proposed policy? Could you imagine attracting Amazon or Google when they could only earn $50,000 of investment income before being subject to exorbitant tax rates?

New and aspiring entrepreneurs also ought to be concerned that this policy creates a two-tiered tax system between old and new businesses by grandfathering existing wealth. New Canadian businesses will be competing with public corporations, foreign-owned business, and established businesses – each with perpetual tax advantages. The policy skews the whole competitive landscape.

How could Canadians change their behaviour?

• Entrepreneurs will consider starting businesses elsewhere. Many require little more than a laptop and Wifi and are therefore ultra-mobile. Growing businesses that need to compete internationally will be at a tax-disadvantage for operating in Canada, unless they’re one of those directly  subsidized by the Government.

• Investors may grow weary of Canadian compliance costs and challenges and insist that Canadian private corporations move outside of Canada wherever possible. Capital seeks higher returns, and will flow to jurisdictions that provide that opportunity. With tax rates in countries such as the USA and the UK being lower (especially on investment income), we should expect less capital to be invested in Canada.

• Advisers will need to think about the tax rates of their clients at present, what they might be in the future, and if they might exceed the passive income threshold. Tax has always been central to cash-flow management, shareholder returns, and financial planning, but now market volatility – uneven investment income year to year – can have a huge impact on your long-term tax bill.

• Angel investors and venture capitalists could now be put in a situation where they are subject to 75% tax rates while building relationships. Finding the right deal and putting it in place can take time. A successful entrepreneur that sells their business on Friday does not normally invest in a new business on Monday, and the ensuing tax cost in the interim will discourage investment in Canada.

• Foreign-controlled and public corporations will likely acquire more Canadian businesses. As the proposal does not affect these groups, they’ll have a comparative advantage over Canadian private businesses. Suddenly, any business is worth more in foreign hands.

The productive ecosystem of Canadian entrepreneurship could dissipate with this one policy. The impacts will surely be felt in the broader economy, beyond just the direct effects on those targeted. According to recent statistics from the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, 8.4% of tax filers in Canada were responsible for 52% of all income tax revenue collected by the Federal Government. Due to the concentration of revenue from this group, it is critical that the Government does not jeopardize this contribution to our tax base with poorly-conceived policies.

This month I met with Ministry of Finance advisers in Ottawa, and provided a detailed report with alternatives to the passive income proposal. The ideas address the Government’s perceived concerns around the corporate tax deferral while maintaining Canadian competitiveness. The Federal Budget is scheduled for February 27th – hopefully the Government has revised its position based on these and other ideas from the business community.

The Government must recognize the importance of being globally competitive, and appreciate entrepreneurial contributions to the Canadian economy. Otherwise, we can expect to watch Canadian entrepreneurs and capital seek friendlier investment climates, and a reduction in Canada’s tax base.

Jay Goodis is the co-founder and CEO of Tax Templates Inc. He has broad expertise in Canadian taxation from nearly a decade of practice in national and mid-market accounting firms. Mr. Goodis, is a member, CATA Innovation Leadership Council and national spokesperson on tax and finance issues (view TechNow interview with Mr. Goodis).

 About CATAAlliance
Interact with your Innovation Peer Group Now
http://www.linkedin.com/groups/Canadian-Advanced-Technology-Alliance-CATA-37239/about

The Canadian Advanced Technology Alliance (CATAAlliance) is Canada’s One Voice for Innovation Lobby Group, and is crowdsourcing ideas and guidance from thousands of opt in members in moderated social networks in Canada and key global markets. (No Tech Firm Left Behind)

Support CATA Advocacy Today through Crowdfunding

Contact: CATAAlliance CEO, John Reid at email jreid@cata.ca, tel: 613-699-8209, website: www.cata.ca, tags: Innovation. Leadership, Entrepreneurship, Advocacy