Canada launches visa program for hiring specialized foreign talent
Canadian technology companies are greeting a new federal blueprint for hiring foreign talent with open arms – and cautious optimism.
The Canadian government's global skills visa program – part of its Global Skills Strategy – officially opens for business June 12. The $7.8-million, 24-month pilot program is designed to allow high-growth firms to bring in international talent within two weeks, rather than up to a year, which is how long it now takes.
"What companies have told us is that, if it's a really long process, they lose that opportunity to hire that individual," federal Labour Minister Patty Hajdu told The Globe and Mail. Full story
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Don't call it a chain: Jeff Stober on The Drake Hotel's growing bespoke empire
Monday is the official launch of the newest outpost of the Drake Hotel empire, Drake Commissary. Located on Sterling Road in Toronto's Junction Triangle, the Commissary will serve as the centre of the Drake's food operations. The space has a chic living room vibe, and it blurs the lines between a restaurant, bar, bakery and food production facility for the Drake's budding catering and retail operations. Full story
New anti-spam law changes bring more confusion for business owners
Earlier this week, the federal government announced changes to the Canadian Anti-Spam Legislation (CASL), suspending the private right of action provision that was due to come into effect on July 1, 2017. The provision would have allowed class action lawsuits to be filed against individuals and organizations for alleged violations of the CASL legislation by sending unsolicited spam e-mail, text, instant message, Facebook message or any other commercial electronic message. The government says it will also ask a legislative committee to examine the legislation. Full story
Older entrepreneurs are worthy of support, too
When you see the word entrepreneur, you likely think of someone in their 20s or 30s having the latest and greatest idea that will generate millions of dollars, and then be acquired by a large conglomerate. You probably didn't picture one of the fastest-growing groups of entrepreneurs in Canada today: people over the age of 50. Full story
Ottawa tightens screws on R&D incentive program
The CRA has been more stringent with the program in recent years, which has led to a drop in the volume of claims and the number of filers. Full story
When equality feels like discrimination
The idea that there is a war against merit feels like one plucked out of time, full of arguments that have been obliterated for decades. But the unfortunate truth is that many leaders in business today still cling to the same dated ideas. Are you one of them? If you find yourself agreeing that there is such a thing as "reverse discrimination," understand that you – and your business – are at risk of becoming obsolete. Full story
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Ecuadorian transplant builds inspired publishing platform in Toronto
Three years ago, author and computer engineer Galo Vargas launched Inkspired as a means for storytellers to publish their work and connect. After growing the company in Australia, San Francisco and Latin America, Vargas has resettled in Toronto to build a global publishing and engagement platform. Full story
The Catch-22 of seeking funds from the BDC
Norm Bradley has a beef with the BDC. The Vancouver-based engineer has read all the ads and seen the commercials where the Business Development Bank of Canada positions itself as the "bank of entrepreneurs." But when he recently tested that claim, he found the Crown corporation had no interest in funding his startup, which makes sandals for people who wear orthotic inserts. Full story
How solid boards lay strong foundations for startups
For most startups, establishing a board of directors is not a top priority. Entrepreneurs are typically too busy trying to get the company off the ground and feel that establishing a board can wait until after they have raised their first round of capital. Full story
Canadian takes his dream from basement to $2B, wins World Entrepreneur of the Year
For the second time in 10 years, a Canadian has won the title of World Entrepreneur of the Year. The world's top-seeded entrepreneur is now Murad Al-Katib, a former civil servant from Regina who quit his job in 2004 to go door to door to persuade Saskatchewan farmers to grow more pulse crops, such as lentils and beans. Spotting the need to produce more high-quality protein for a hungry world has built into a TSX-listed public company with 2016 revenues of $2.1 billion. It's considered the world's largest vertically integrated supply chain for lentils, chickpeas and peas. Full story
Why Canadian cleantech is happy with Trump's Paris mistake
After hearing the outcry over Donald Trump's withdrawal from the Paris climate agreement, you'd be forgiven for thinking the game's up for the clean economy. Is it time to rip out your solar panels and invest in big oil because we're going back to drill, baby, drill? Full story