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Canadian
Trade Connections June 2003 Trading Post is a monthly newsletter that provides links to information about market conditions and marketing opportunities in Canada. It is distributed by Canadian Trade Connections to exporters, government agencies and trade associations involved in export promotion. See below to unsubscribe or add a colleague to our distribution list.
Contents This month's News This Month's News (Click on the heading of the news article for more details) International Travel Statistics 2002 (Published May 28, 2003) The number of overnight trips
taken in Canada by foreign residents continued to advance in 2002 (+2.0%).
Despite the events of September 11, 2001, this was the tenth
consecutive annual increase. A record number of close to 20 million
foreign visitors crossed our borders in 2002. Canadian
Industrial product and raw materials price indexes, April 2003 (Published
May 29, 2003) Manufacturers' prices weakened 1.4% in April, in large part because of a stronger Canadian dollar relative to the US dollar. On an annual basis, the Industrial Product Price Index declined 0.1%, after eight months of increases. Prices of raw materials were down 6.5% from March, but up 3.4% from April 2002. Canada's
balance of international payments, first quarter 2003 (Published May 29,
2003) Canada's current account surplus with the rest of the world grew $3.2 billion to $8.0 billion on a seasonally adjusted basis in the first quarter. This was the largest surplus in the last seven quarters. The goods surplus rose $1.9 billion, as imports dropped $1.3 billion. The balance on investment income improved. Canadian
economic accounts, first quarter 2003 (Published May 30, 2003) Economic activity picked up in the first quarter of 2003 as real gross domestic product advanced 0.6%, up from 0.4% in the previous quarter. Gross domestic product for March was flat. Growth in the first quarter was focussed in selected industries. Higher oil prices led to a surge in oil and gas exploration. The strength in the residential construction industry continued. Retail trade remained high, while wholesale trade recorded significant gains. Manufacturing output grew, but there was widespread weakness. The exception was the production of motor vehicles and parts, which was up in the first quarter. Textile
Labeling and Advertising Regulations Being Studied (Published May 30, 2003) The Competition Bureau of Canada commissioned the linked report in response to submissions proposing that the government amend the Textile Labeling and Advertising Regulations of the Textile Labeling Act to require disclosure of the addresses of manufacturing sites on labels of clothing sold in Canada. Capital expenditures by the ICT sector are expected to decline for a second consecutive year in 2003, totalling $12.3 billion. This represents a decrease of 7.4% from 2002, compared to an increase of 1.1% for all Canadian capital expenditures (excluding housing). Residential construction investment in Canada, First Quarter, 2003 (Published June 3, 2003) The value of investment in the housing sector reached $12.1 billion in the first quarter, up 15.9% from the first quarter of 2002. Of the three components of residential construction investment (new housing, renovations and acquisition costs), increased expenditures on new housing accounted for much of the gain. Canadian Building permits, April 2003 (Published June 5, 2003) The value of building permits issued across the country edged up marginally in April, as construction intentions for new housing plunged to a 10-month low and permits for non-residential projects rebounded sharply. New motor vehicle sales in Canada, April 2003 (Published June 12, 2003) In April, the number of new motor vehicles sold declined for a second consecutive month. Sales fell 3.8% from March and reached the level they were at before the exceptional growth in the fall of 2001. Canadian Food Consumption 2002 (Published June 12, 2003) Canadians are including more cereal products, low-fat milk, cream and poultry in their diets, according to data on the amount of food consumed. Canadians are eating more pasta, bakery products and cereal-based snacks. This hefty demand has resulted in the consumption of grain-based products reaching 65.6 kilograms per person in 2002, up substantially from 53.3 kilograms per person a decade ago.
Canadian international merchandise trade, April 2003 (Published June 13, 2003)
Canada's trade surplus with the rest of the world fell for the fourth time in six months in April. It was the largest decline in merchandise exports in more than two years and was almost entirely due to energy. Merchandise exports tumbled 4.5% to $33.7 billion, while imports fell 1.3% to $29.6 billion.
Monthly Survey of Canadian Manufacturing, April 2003 (Published June 13, 2003)
Following a strong first quarter, all major manufacturing indicators took a hit in April. Widespread decreases in manufacturing activity contributed to a 3.4% decline in shipments to $43.0 billion. Inventories continued to edge up, while manufacturers reported an eighth consecutive decline in unfilled orders.
Canadian Consumer Price Index, May 2003 (Published June 20, 2003)
Canadian
consumers paid 2.9% more in May than they did in May 2002 for
the goods and services included in the Consumer Price Index basket. The
12-month increase continued to slow for the third consecutive month, as energy
prices kept on falling from their recent highs.
Canadian Wholesale trade, April 2003 (Published June 20, 2003)
Wholesale sales fell sharply in April (-1.1%), with $35.9 billion in goods and services sold during the month. This was the third consecutive monthly decline and the sharpest recorded since September 2001 (-1.1%). Nevertheless, in constant prices, the decrease was only 0.2%.
Monthly Survey of Large Canadian Retailers, April 2003 (Published June 20, 2003)
Most commodity groups posted gains in April, except clothing, footwear and accessories, and hardware and lawn and garden products. Overall sales for the group of large retailers amounted to $6.9 billion, up 6.1% from April 2002.
Canadian Retail trade, April 2003 (Published June 23, 2003)
Retail sales suffered a second consecutive monthly decline in April, down 0.9% to $26.1 billion. A sizable, price-induced sales decline by gasoline service stations and the impact of the SARS outbreak on some Ontario retailers contributed to lower national retail sales in April.
Canadian Leading Indicators, May 2003 (Published June 25, 2003)
The composite leading index rose 0.2% in May, its sixth straight such increase after April's original estimate of 0.1% was revised up. The financial market indicators took over from household spending in offsetting the weakness in manufacturing that arose from slow export demand.
Special Feature (Click on the links in the special feature for details.)
Revisions to Lobbyists’ Registration Act (June, 2003)
The
Lobbyists Registration Act,
enacted in 1989, establishes the framework governing people who lobby the
Government of Canada, either as paid consultants or as employees of businesses
and non-profit organizations. Individuals
who are paid to communicate with federal public office holders in an attempt to
influence government decisions - i.e. lobby - are subject to the requirements
for registration under the Lobbyists
Registration Act.
The
Lobbyists
Registration Act
sets out requirements on who has to register as a lobbyist. It establishes the
information that lobbyists have to provide about the clients, businesses or
organizations they represent and their activities.
The
Lobbyists' Code of Conduct supports the Lobbyists
Registration Act,
setting standards of conduct that lobbyists are to meet in their dealings with
federal public office holders. It also allows individuals to register complaints
with the Ethics Counsellor. Reports on those complaints are available from the
Office of the Ethics Counsellor.
Diplomatic
agents, consular officers, or official representatives in Canada of foreign
governments are exempt from registering. However,
if any of the above public officials or their organizations hire third party
consultants to lobby, these consultant lobbyists would be subject to the
registration requirements.
New
amendments to the Act
adopted in June 2003 (a) provide a clearer definition of lobbying, (b)
strengthen the enforcement provisions of the Lobbyists
Registration Act,
and (c) simplify registration and strengthen deregistration requirements, with a
single filing approach for registration for corporations and non-profit
organizations.
For
more information about regulations concerning the lobbying of Federal,
Provincial and Municipal Governments write to info@tradeconnections.ca.
Upcoming Trade Shows (Click on the heading of the trade show for more details)
Toronto International Gift Show
Mode Accessories International Exposition
Canadian Gift and Tableware Show
Jewellery World Expo 2003
American Fisheries Society Trade Show
Can-Fit-Pro Group Fitness, Personal Training, Lifestyle & Club Business Conference and Trade Show
Location: Toronto, Canada Date: August 14-17, 2003
One of the world's largest fitness conferences for fitness professionals. Join over 5000 fit pros from across Canada and Around the world!
Alberta Gift Show
Montreal Gift Show
Aerospace Congress and Exhibition
A.I.E.-Atlantic Industrial Exhibition
Location: Halifax & Moncton Canada Date: September 10-11, 2003
Atlantic Canada's largest and longest running industrial events. Alternating between Halifax and Moncton, our shows feature a broad range of industrial solutions and live demonstrations of operational machinery.
Comdex Canada 2003
CEFPI 80th Annual International Trade Show
Safety At Work - Held with the BC Industrial Expo
Toronto Fall Home Show
CHFA (Canadian Health Food Association) Conference & Trade Show
The Hostex Show
Canadian Manufacturing Technology Show
The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair
SOTAC (State-of-the-Art) Conference
Toronto International Boat Show
Canadian International Farm Equipment Show
Location: Toronto, Canada Date: March 4-6, 2004 With no other trade show in Canada dedicated to the water quality industry, CIPHEX Ontario 2004 is the only major showcase for water treatment systems, components and devices in the country. Seminars and workshops focused on water quality topics will provide an added incentive for dealer/distributors of these products to attend the show.
Assembly Canada-Canadian High Technology Show
Globe 2004 International Trade Fair and Conference on Business & the Environment
Montreal Fabricating and Machine Tool Show
Canadian Manufacturing Week
Print Ontario 2004
Canadian Motorcycle Shows
Trade Facts (Click on the heading of the trade fact for more details)
Worldwide Business Travel Cost Tables (Published, June 2003)
Planning a business trip in Europe or the US? Be prepared to spend more than US$335 a day in most major cities for a four-star hotel plus expenses. According to Mercer Human Resource Consulting latest survey of Business travel costs, per-diem expenses in Europe and the US outstrip costs in the rest of the world, regardless of local cost-of-living rankings. A trip to New York tops the worldwide medium-cost tables at US$440 per day while London comes in second at US$399. Tokyo, Asia's highest cost city, will set you back US$332 per day. A trip to Toronto (Canada’s highest cost destination) costs significantly less at US$222 per day.
International Cost of Living (Published June, 2003)
Tokyo has replaced Hong Kong as the world’s most expensive city, according to the latest cost of living survey by Mercer Human Resource Consulting. Moscow is in second place, followed by Osaka, which has moved up three places since last year. Asuncion in Paraguay, whose currency depreciated against the US dollar, has replaced Johannesburg as the least expensive city in the survey.
The survey, which covers 144 cities, measures the comparative cost of over 200 items in each location. These include housing, food, clothing and household goods, together with transportation and entertainment. The data is used to assist multinational companies in determining compensation allowances for their expatriate workers. With New York as the base city scoring 100 points, Tokyo scored 126.1 points and is almost three-and-a-half times costlier than Asuncion, which has an index of 36.5 points.
Mercer's world-wide cost of living survey 2003 has ranked five Canadian cities by cost of living, with Toronto as the most expensive city and Ottawa as the least expensive. Overall, Canada ranks as an inexpensive country to live in with none of those surveyed appearing in the world’s 100 most expensive cities. Toronto and Vancouver maintain their previous year’s positions at 104th (64.9), and 110th place (63.2) respectively. Ottawa is the least expensive Canadian city and takes position 127 in the survey, with a score of 57.2.
SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) UpdateComments provided in this section are current as of the date of publication (June 25, 2003). Please check all the linked web sites for continuing updates.
World Health Organisation SARS Web Site
Toronto is cleared of the travel advisory and is expected to be taken off of the WHO's watch list early in July. STOP PRESS - JULY 2, 2003 - TORONTO OFFICIALLY REMOVED FROM WHO LIST OF SARS-AFFECTED AREAS.
CDC Issues Cautionary Travel Alert for Visitors to Toronto The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the United States has recommended that U.S. travelers to Toronto observe precautions to safeguard their health including the avoidance of settings where SARS is most likely to be transmitted, such as health care facilities caring for SARS patients. So far, CDC has not issued any advisory against travelling to Toronto. No alerts have been issued for other cities or regions in Canada. Note: a travel alert does not advise against travel but informs travelers of a health concern and provides advice about specific precautions. STOP PRESS - JULY 9, 2003 - CDC HAS LIFTED TRAVEL ALERT FOR TORONTO BOUND TRAVELERS.
Canadian Government SARS Information Web Site Up to the minute news and information about the SARS outbreak in Canada. Health Canada reports that, to date, transmission has been limited to specific transmission settings such as households, hospitals and specific community settings.
Ontario Government SARS Information Web Site "I want to assure you that there continues to be no evidence of widespread public transmission of SARS," according to Dr. Barbara Yaffe, Director of Communicable Disease Control for Toronto Public Health.
Life goes on in Canada’s largest city The City of Toronto is assuring anyone planning to travel to Toronto - either for pleasure or business - that it is safe to do so. All SARS cases have occurred in a healthcare setting and there is absolutely no community spread of the virus.
Desktop Fun
Take a few minutes from your busy day to test your skill and have fun with this amusing computer action game.
Chicken Wings Are Not For Flying!
Save the falling chickens by clicking your mouse. Move the mother hen under the falling chicks and then throw them an umbrella to help them float safely to the ground.
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