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This article discusses how farmers can hold onto their farms and get rich staying in the farming business. Most farmers in the western provinces of Canada have seen their annual income sink to excruciatingly low levels over the past three years because of poor weather, low grain prices, disease and other factors. Darren Watson, however, has had success that has made him rich because he treated farming as an entrepreneur rather than as a homesteader. Watson used his financial education to run the farm as a business.

The article discusses the market for skilled workers and the immigration policy in Canada. Rodney MacDonald is the only provincial immigration minister in Atlantic Canada. His new position can be seen as a sign that provinces across the country are taking on a more significant role in how immigration policy operates in Canada. Manitoba and Quebec, in particular, already exert considerable control over their own immigration policies. One of the most pressing immigration challenges is the fact that 76% of all newcomers have chosen to settle in the three major urban centres: Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver. The so-called MTV Problem has put pressure on the three big cities to integrate a large number of immigrants while denying most other areas of the country the benefits of an expanding pool of labour that immigration can bring. It seems clear that the federal immigration system is crumbling under the weight of its own processes and internal politics. And since no immediate solutions to these problems are in the offing from Ottawa, it is now up to the provinces to chart their own course. The key to provincial plans for taking a greater role in immigration is the provincial nominee program. The innovation allows provinces to select their own immigration candidates separate from the backlogged pool of permanent visa applicants overseen by Ottawa. The selection criteria can be based on the unique circumstances of the provincial labour market or other factors the individual provinces find desirable. The federal government's involvement is limited to the security, health and documentation checks that are standard for all immigrants. That makes the process considerably faster and allows the provinces to make their case directly with potential immigrants to avoid the MTV problem.

Discusses interprovincial trade in Canada, with a focus on the political history of margarine and free trade. Details of the legal battle by Unilever Canada over the color of Country Crock margarine in Quebec, which was regulated to protect the province's dairy industry; Pros and cons of trade liberalization; Establishment of the 1994 Agreement on Internal Trade to ensure that all Canadian goods and services were treated equally and that provincial policies do not create trade obstacles; Shortcomings of AIT that kept it from fixing these problems; Hope that political apathy concerning interprovincial trade barriers is declining.

The article reports that provincial and territorial ministers in Canada have agreed "in principle" to open trade, to deal with obstacles to government procurement, and to standardize rules.

The article reports on the passage of a law in Canada that would allow wine to be transported between Canadian provinces. Topics include the anticipated reversal of the Importation of Intoxicating Liquors Act of 1928, which prohibited interprovincial wine trade, a discussion of provincial laws that could continue to limit wine trade in Canada, and the effect of the law, Bill C-311, on Canada's provincial revenues.

This article discusses the call to extend the stimulus fund of the Canadian government in 2011. It attributes the call to pressure facing provinces and cities in paying a bill they cannot afford. It also notes the search for government projects than can stimulate the economy. In addition, the article states the need to address the country's budget deficits.

This article deals with the growing number of Canadian provincial trade offices in the overseas market and its implications for Canadian trade. In May 2010, a new trade and investment office was opened by the premiers of British Columbia and Alberta in Shanghai, China. It questions whether the provincial missions improve Canadian trade relations with other countries or balkanize them. It cites the key criticism of Alberta's international office network. A study by John Ries and Keith Head found that these missions did not produced an increase in trade.

This article reports on the housing market in locations across Canada. Information is provided on housing price changes between 2007 and 2008 and projected average prices for 2008. The article discusses cities in western provinces such as Vancouver, British Columbia and Edmonton, Alberta and cities in eastern provinces like Ottawa and Toronto in Ontario, noting that the market is better in the West.

CHC Helicopter Corporation has so far enjoyed a smooth flight through bumpy financial markets. Prince Edward Island (PEI) Business Development Incorporated, a provincial government agency, is after the oil and gas helicopter services company and its former subsidiary, Atlantic Turbines, for more than $8.6 million worth of tax grants, plus interest. CHC received the money through a provincial tax rebate program when it agreed to locate in a new aerospace business centre near Summerside, PEI. In a statement of defence filed in December, it says no funds from the federal tax reassessments are due to PEI, and that the province overstated the amount of the tax grant repayable from 1999. CHC also filed a counterclaim for $58,005, saying it met all requirements for the 1998 tax grant from the province and that after the federal tax reassessment, PEI underpaid Atlantic Turbines that year.

Focuses on the attempts by Canadian provinces to lure Taiwanese semiconductor manufacturer Mosel Vitelic Inc. Mosel's international location search for a proposed memory-chip fabrication plant; Mosel's requirements for its fabrication plant; Possibility of Montreal, Quebec as a location for the plant because of its offer of government investment by Societe generale de financement du Quebec.

Focuses on the attempts of the Canadian government to equalize provincial economic differences. Manitoba Premier Gary Doer's call for larger transfer of tax dollars from wealthy provinces to poorer provinces; Criticism of the wealth transfer system; Examples of unfair redistribution of tax dollars.

The article discusses the outlook as of October 2013 for the Cooperative Capital Markets Regulator (CMR) plan in Canada which unites the country's provincial and territorial securities regulators under one central agency and was proposed by Finance Minister Jim Flaherty. The article notes Ontario and British Columbia joined CMR and the Atlantic provinces are expected to join. It also notes Alberta, Quebec, and Manitoba harmonize some of their regulatory functions under a passport system.

The article focuses the creation of a national securities regulator by the Canadian government in 2013. Topics include the government's hope that the provinces will collaborate on securities regulation, the size of the capital market within Canada, and how much insider interests impact the Canadian market.

The article presents an interview with Iris Evans, the finance minister of the Canadian province Alberta. When asked what Americans need to think about when they threaten to block crude oil from Alberta's oilsands, Evans says that they should remember that blocking oil from Alberta will not solve the greenhouse gas emissions problem. Evans believes that Alberta is committed to a sustainable economy. She comments on commonly held misconceptions about Alberta.

The article discusses why the U.S. has done a better job of reducing regional disparity than Canada has. The article also examines the Canadian debate on equalization, which is the program that tries to ensure provinces can provide comparable services at reasonable tax levels, how the Liberal government altered the program, and the report by Alberta's former deputy finance minister Al O'Brien.

The article reports on economic developments in the Canadian provinces. Alberta is reaping the benefits of high oil prices, but their good fortune is causing problems in the rest of the country, driving the dollar up and tourism down. The fiscal equalization program, which requires all provinces to spend comparable amounts on social programs is also troubled by Alberta's success. The new Parti Québécois leader André Boisclair is focusing attention on the separatist agenda.

The article lists the top 40 cities for doing business in Canada. The number one prime location for business is St. John's, Newfoundland. This city is followed by Saguenay, Que., Saint John/Quispamsis, N.B., Sherbrooke, Que., Charlottetown, Hamilton, Saskatoon, Greater Sudbury, Ont., Thunder Bay, Ont., and St. Catharines/Niagara Falls/Welland, Ont. Data is given for annual operating costs, cost of living index, building permit growth, unemployment rate change, and crime rate.

Comments on establishing wealth-creating policies in the Canadian provinces. Indication that Central Canada is focusing on Alberta's growing wealth as oil prices rise; Suggestion that other Canadian provinces start thinking about how they can become more competitive; View that the campaign for Alberta to share its wealth with the rest of the federation through inter-regional transfers will increase separatist talk in Alberta and make Canada unstable.

The article gives data showing the surplus or deficit in cultural trade goods in Canada. According to Statistics Canada, imports of movies, books, music and other visual arts exceeding exports by $2 billion on 2003. Ontario's appetite for foreign culture dwarfs other provinces. Quebec, however, boasts a brisk trade in its cultural sovereignty.

This article discusses how the provinces in Canada will probably spend more money on education when they should be spending less. As the provinces gear up to introduce their budgets, you can bet your last tax dollar that many finance ministers will justify ramped-up spending in education as an investment in the future. A good education system is vital, of course, but in fact provincial governments now have an opportunity to slow down growth in education spending without compromising quality. The reason: Canada's low fertility rate. Canada's elementary and secondary student population fell by 1.6% from 1996-97 to 2004-05, but the decline has been quite sharp in some provinces: 25.7% in Newfoundland, 11.4% in Nova Scotia and 3.8% in Quebec. Those declining enrolments mean that provinces could maintain inflation-adjusted per-student spending while allowing total spending to grow at about half the rate of growth in the economy. If student enrolments are declining, why do governments feel they must ramp up total spending on education? The most obvious reason for rapid per-student spending growth is that governments mistakenly believe that more per-student spending on education will improve results. The success of such reforms does not imply that more money needs to be thrown at education, as opposed to a better allocation of resources to encourage stronger school performance.

The article states that Fraser Institute found that Canadian provinces with private-sector auto insurance have lower or comparable premiums and much higher payouts than those with public-sector insurance (as of 2002). Overall, Newfoundland and Labrador offers the best value, followed by New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Ontario. British Columbia is the worst.

Contends that the Ontario election points to a significant reversal of fiscal policy in Canada. Implications of the win by Liberals in Ontario; Overview of fiscal policy in Canada; How the provinces are facing much tighter budgets than the federal government; Pressure to continue Canada's prudent fiscal approach; Competitiveness of Western Canada's tax system.

There's an intense dogfight under way in the pet insurance industry. Pet Plan, the oldest company of its kind in Canada, established in 1989, is being challenged for alpha status by PetCare, the new pup on the block. Even so, Pethealth Inc., operating in Canada as PetCare Insurance, one of the leaders in the business with clients in 10 provinces and 45 states, posted record policy sales in the first half of 2003. PetCare CEO Mark Warren claims his company, based in Oakville, Ontario, is "four times the size" of Pet Plan. Warren takes issue with what he calls Pet Plan's "territorial surcharges"--higher rates in Toronto, Vancouver and Victoria, based on the contention that costs there are higher.

The article discusses the possibility of a four-day work week in Quebec. If Canada's most European of provinces goes forward with the concept of the four-day workweek, you may even want to translate your résumé into French. Introduced during the Quebec provincial election by the incumbent Parti Québécois, the proposed legislation would provide persons with children under 12 the choice of working only four days a week--80% of their regular hours--while receiving 80% of their salary and 100% of benefits.

Focuses on the efforts of Canadian executives to join several provincial securities commissions into one national body. Failure of the federal government to do this in 1997; Benefits of a national securities regulator, especially when shares are traded; Reasons why there has not yet been a single regulator, including fears of rising costs and the ability to raise cheaper equity in the U.S.; View that the supporters of a national system must emphasize Canadians access to domestic capital markets.

Focuses on the debate over the future of factory farms in Alberta, Canada. Demands by landowners and municipalities for clear rules on manure disposal; Creation of a central board by the government to approve and monitor hog barns and beef feedlots; Response to the board, including the view that final approval should lie with communities; Drawbacks of the legislation, including its failure to fully address human and animal health.

Focuses on Quebec's edict forbidding the sale of pale-yellow margarine in the province. The smuggling of butter-colored margarine into the province by Unilever Canada Ltd.; Why Quebec has the edict; The slowness of the Canadian government in creating free trade between the provinces; The butter issue to be arbitrated by the Agreement on Internal Trade (AIT).

Editorial. Discusses the importance of addressing the equality of all Canadians, counterbalancing Quebec and Ontario with provinces having economic and political clout, and destroying interprovincial trade barriers instead of operating by tenets that divide. Negotiation of the Charlottetown accord; Absence of interprovincial trade barriers.