“Undue expansion.” That was the ruling from Canada’s Dept of Finance on Colabor Income Fund’s (TSX: CLB-U, OTC: COLAF) takeover of rival food services firm Summit Food Service Distributors. As a result, Colabor became the first trust subjected to the tax on specified investment flow-through entities (SIFT) Read More
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We’ll get to the fun stuff in a moment (a week worthy of both a “Scam” and a “Gate”), but because it’s come up largely in the US Democratic presidential nomination battle--and has assumed an even more distinct Canadian flavor in the last several days--let’s talk about the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). Read More
With the per-barrel price of crude surpassing USD100, the oil sands and other alternative sources are back in play. Canada is in great shape to weather a US downturn because of interest from new trading partners in its resources. Read More
The question of whether the US will fall into recession--or how deep the one the world’s largest economy inevitably suffers will be--animates all forms of financial media these days. Read More
Canada’s engagement in Afghanistan appears to be receding as a potential election catalyst after Stephane Dion, leader of the official opposition Liberal Party, said his party would support Canada staying in Central Asia for two years longer than scheduled but not in a combat role. Read More
Natural gas prices are showing signs of breaking out of nearly two-year trading range. The question is whether the recent price rise is sustainable. Read More
A few trusts are coming off the watch list this month, several will soon be issuing tax information, some have risen in ratings, and all will be holding conference calls in the next two months. Read More
This month's High Yielders are Ag Growth Income Fund and Trinidad Energy Services Income Trust. Read More
Canada is better positioned against a recession than many economies, as noted by its banks. But it still faces three big challenges: US trade dependency, the value of the Canadian dollar and the credit crunch. Read More
With the possibility of higher natural gas prices, many energy picks in the Portfolio are set to rise. I'm also adding a few new recommendations this month. Read More
Slumping natural gas prices, restrictions on new capital resulting from prospective 2011 taxation, the spiking Canadian dollar and finally the US economic slowdown: Trusts that survived and thrived during those stress tests last year are literally ready for anything 2008 can throw at them. Read More
Members of Parliament returned to Ottawa last week to begin their next session amid a rising sense that the minority Conservative government had lost control of the agenda. Read More
Canada, unusual among developed countries in the importance of natural resources and raw materials, now ranks with the world’s top five producers of 14 mineral commodities and leads in the production of uranium and potash. Read More
It will take many more months for the US housing market to stabilize and US financials to work off their bad debts, and there will be negative effects throughout the global economy. Read More
Deal-making in the first half of 2007 was fueled by aggressive lending terms offered by banks, commercial lenders, pension funds and others competing for pieces of the action. Safeguards that lenders usually rely upon were relaxed in the drive to generate fee income. Read More
Canada’s National Round Table on the Environment and the Economy (NRTEE) was created in October 1988 to explore new opportunities to integrate environmental conservation and economic development. In fall 2006, former Environment Minister Rona Ambrose requested an analysis of how Canada could meet 2050 targets to reduce air pollutants and greenhouse gases. The NRTEE released its report yesterday. Read More
There's been numerous trust deals of late in this turbulent market that have handsomely rewarded shareholders. And 2008 is sure to see more deal making. Read More
Although 2007 was one of the most turbulent for Canadian income trusts, many performed well and paid out solid dividends. And there's plenty more big gains to come in 2008. Read More
This month's High Yielders are RioCan REIT and Provident Energy Trust. Read More
With most of its oil reserves in the form of oil sands, Canada now ranks second only to Saudi Arabia in terms of total oil reserves. Furthermore, oil sands continue to represent one of the only growing production resources in North America. Read More