Canada

PM Announces Investment Treaty with Nigeria

May 1, 2013

Ottawa, Ontario

Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Mohammed Namadi Sambo, Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, today announced the conclusion of negotiations toward a Canada-Nigeria Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (FIPA). The announcement was made following a bilateral meeting that was part of Mr. Sambo’s visit to Canada from April 30 to May 4, 2013.

Photo credit curtsey of businessnews.com.ng/business/

Photo  Curtsey of businessnews.com.ng/business/

“This agreement will facilitate investment flows between Canada and Nigeria, contributing to job creation and economic growth in both countries,” said Prime Minister Harper. “It will provide Canadian companies and investors with the protection and confidence they need to take advantage of the many commercial opportunities in Africa’s most populous nation.”

The Agreement will come into force once both parties complete their respective domestic ratification processes.  There are significant Canadian investment opportunities in Nigeria, including in the extractive, information and communications technology, agriculture and infrastructure sectors.

Nigeria is Canada’s largest trading partner in sub-Saharan Africa. Since 2006, annual bilateral trade between the two countries has more than doubled, reaching $2.3 billion by 2012. In 2011, Canadian direct investment in Nigeria totalled $36 million and is expected to grow as a result of this FIPA. 

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A Prayer for Mercy In Time of Trouble

By: Jerome Downey

Positive Impacts of Religious Awareness

After talking to my 76 year old grandmother I was inspired to share a bible verse she recited to me after we discussed the challenging week it has been in the news regarding the loss of life and violence which has transpired. I don’t attend church as regularly as I once did in my youth however as I grow older I have become more aware of the positive impacts religion has played in my life.

Within the African Nova Scotian culture there is a strong connection to the church within the community. The African United Baptist Association (AUBA) was founded in Nova Scotia and has been in existence since 1818. Drawing from this history and understanding of my culture I personally identify with a lot of traditional Southern Black Gospel music, it has an empowering emotional and strong impact on the listener. This is one of my favourite Gospel genre songs these days I hope you enjoy!

[youtube_sc url=”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JY8dIRbhIug” title=”A%20Prayer%20for%20Mercy%20In%20Time%20of%20Trouble%20″]

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Royal Bank Takes Social Finance Leadership

By: JeromeDowney

Recently the Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) suffered a public relations setback with the announcements of the outsourcing of  jobs within the banks internal administrative IT division. This type of negative media focus has been prevalent since the 2008 financial crisis for many banks. With record job losses, home foreclosures and the rise of predatory B lending capital there has been no shortage of material for public’s scrutiny. However with that said positive solutions must come out of this financial crisis one way or another. And that is where the concept of social finance as a new financial tool of lending capital has an opportunity to succeed.

rbc-web

A Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) logo is seen at a branch in Toronto. (© Mark Blinch / Reuters/Mark Blinch /REUTERS)

Finance As a Tool of Equity and Growth

The financial service sector has always been an engine of economic growth for North America’s economy. The development of different financial instruments, products, services and credit approval criteria has revolutionized how money is exchanged between consumers and merchants. In Canada our finances have become increasingly digitized. We have online banking, secured/unsecured credit cards, and simple debt cards. We have online equity trading platforms and a verity of other tools that enables the economic flow of capital. However there has been little development on the technology of lending criteria. The big question social finance can help us answer is “How do we value the human element of capital”?

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Canadian Freedom & Information Act

Access To Information Act 

Click Here to download the Act. 

Purpose 2. (1) The purpose of this Act is to extend the present laws of Canada to provide a right of access to information in records under the control of a government institution in accordance with the principles that government information
should be available to the public, that necessary exceptions to the right of access should be limited and specific and that decisions on the disclosure of government information should be reviewed independently of government.

The Canadian Home of The Future

Efficient energy , sometimes simply called energy efficiency, is the goal of efforts to reduce the amount of energy required to provide products and services. Energy efficiency and renewable energy are said to be the “twin pillars” of a sustainable energy policy. Both strategies must be developed concurrently in order to stabilize and reduce carbon dioxide emissions. Efficient energy use is essential to slowing the energy demand growth so that rising clean energy supplies can make deep cuts in fossil fuel use. If energy use grows too rapidly, renewable energy development will chase a receding target. Likewise, unless clean energy supplies come online rapidly, slowing demand growth will only begin to reduce total carbon emissions; a reduction in the carbon content of energy sources is also needed. A sustainable energy economy thus requires major commitments to both efficiency and renewables.[29]

Content via @Wikipedia

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China Opportunities In Transition

CANADA – CHINA FRIENDSHIP SOCIETY OF OTTAWA
 
CONFERENCE: CANADA-CHINA OPPORTUNITIES IN TRANSITION

Followed by a reception at the Chinese Embassy

(By invitation of the Chinese Embassy)

This is a premier event in Canada on our evolving relationship with our second largest economic partner. Timely and informative, the conference looks at the opportunities and challenges from a Canadian perspective but also with significant Chinese participation. This year in our country there will not be a better opportunity to expose yourself to the opportunities in transition with China. A relationship which is imposing itself upon us, and which deserves serious consideration.

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The United Nations & Canada

 

The United Nations Association in Canada

A Better World Starts HERE.

It starts in our homes. In our schools and communities. In our country. It starts with you.

The United Nations Association in Canada (UNA-Canada) is a national charitable organization established in 1946. Our mandate is to engage the Canadian public in the work of the United Nations and the critical international issues which affect us all. We accomplish our goals through a dynamic staff team at the National Office and a network of volunteer-driven regional branches.

The United Nations Association in Canada strives for a better world through a variety of national projects focused on specific issues and audiences. We work closely with the educational communities in every province and territory to build their capacity to educate young people from a global perspective. We also work directly with youth, challenging them to develop the tools and skills necessary to confront some of the world’s most complex problems.

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Economic Independence and The Idea of Self Determination

In my personal opinion and experience even still today here in Canada, I find most police officers or “peace officers” still use excessive tactics of intimidation and force. I think this alienates the core rights and freedoms that are supposed to be protected under the law. 

I fundamentally believe individual human rights and freedoms are worth fighting to protect, and even though institutional racism is a reality I choose NOT to turn a blind eye but instead work towards a modern solution that focuses on the self, because the system will not do it for us.

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The NEW “Red Tory” Political Party of Canada ?

After interviewing over one-thousand people in the last 10 months in Ottawa. I can say with strong conviction that I believe a generation of young people are going to unite for a political party in the near future. I am not talking about the NDP either. This generation will realize the power of political change and the party that they will choose just might be the Green Party of Canada. Imagine a new “Red Tory” party of Canada, replacing what used to be called the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada. A party that’s fiscally conservative. A party that is socially liberal. And a party that thinks of social entrepreneurship as a true concept of business. Continue reading →

Siemens Investing In Canadian Growth

Today within the Globe & Mail very exciting news was released by one of the worlds most established and well respected corporations. “Siemensis looking to Canada to boost growth“ read the headline. I couldn’t help but smile with a sense of validation and pride about this very positive news. It is exactly the right kind of news Canadian industry workers and professionals have been waiting to hear. I found this news especially exciting considering Siemens long established commitment to global clean energy commercialization to see what I mean click on this link here. 

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