Canada – Banks You Can Bank On!

Banks You Can Bank On
The global economic crisis may be deepening, but Canadian financial institutions remain resilient. For the second year in a row, the World Economic Forum’s Global Competitiveness Report has found that Canada has the soundest banking system in the world. Canada’s well-regulated financial institutions, banks, trust companies, cooperatives, insurance companies and stock exchanges, have demonstrated stability and competitiveness that has made their services popular around the world. The financial sector has become one of Canada’s major export earners since the worldwide liberalization of financial regulations. Canada’s other financial institutions are equally impressive, offering investment opportunities that are both lucrative and safe.

Support When You Need It
Canada’s Export Development Corporation (EDC) provides trade finance and risk management services to Canadian exporters and foreign investors.
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More than 2900 New Homes Sold Year on Year

BC Interior Updates – More than 2900 New Homes Sold YTD

MPC Intelligence has recorded a distinct upturn in sales activity throughout the Lower Mainland with sales of new home product reaching nearly 2900 homes. Further to the return of housing sales, we have also observed that the return of product to the market has subsided, translating to a more stable environment for completions moving through the summer. In fact, only 346 homes were returned to the market during the second quarter, many of which were subsequently absorbed by end users.

Quote from: Andrew McMillian – Senior Development Analyst – MPC Intelligence Inc

China and Canada Share Optimism about the Future

In late 2008, 42 percent expressed confidence about the future.

This optimism was patchy, however, with citizens in India (79% confident), China (78% confident), Australia (73% confident), Canada (66% confident), and the Netherlands (61% confident) expressing the greatest confidence, with between 61 percent to 79 percent of respondents seeing a brighter future.

In Japan only 14 percent of people were confident about the future. This number edged up to 21 percent in France, 25 percent in the Czech Republic and 28 percent in Russia.

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Bethune Spirit – Canada and China Strengthening Bonds

“The basis for cultural promotion and exchange should be on further enhancing the Bethune spirit.”

“The Canada-China partnership encompasses trade and economic exchanges, human rights dialogue, defence relations, sustainable development, legal cooperation and cultural and academic exchanges. The importance and complexity of the bilateral relationship has been bolstered by a program of high level visits involving since 1994 all elements of the Canadian and Chinese leadership.” (read the full article)

Canada Olympic Hockey Hopefuls

In China, the number eight is supposed to bring good fortune. The Irish kiss their beloved Blarney stone to assure the gift of the gab.

And here in Canada we have Don Cherry giving our “Lucky Loonie” the Midas touch at the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto to boost our Olympic team. When it comes to rituals and superstitions, some folks will do anything to get an edge.

The Lucky Loonie certainly has Olympic history. Before the 2002 Olympics, Canadian ice maker Trent Evans buried a loonie at centre ice in Salt Lake City.

After Canada went on to win gold in men’s and women’s hockey that year, the buck with the luck was removed and given to Team Canada general manager Wayne Gretzky. He donated it to the Hall and it was deposited behind a glass case.

On Monday, the case was opened and Canadians — starting with Cherry– were invited to touch it to give Canada’s Olympians good luck at the 2010 Games.

Canada’s superiority – a decade of fiscal responsibility

Canada’s sound fiscal management has been another major factor contributing to the country’s economic superiority. Prudent management has given Canada a balanced budget throughout the entire last decade.
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UBC Enrolment Numbers are Rising

Thanks to a significant surge of students from outside British Columbia, the University of B.C.s first-year class of 2008 will be more geographically diverse than ever, even as the number of B.C. Grade 12 students declines in some areas.
UBC?s Vancouver campus will welcome 5,405 first-year students up from 5,035 in 2007 which includes increases of 50 per cent from Ontario, 36 per cent from Alberta, and 48 per cent from other Canadian jurisdictions.
The number of first-year international students is up by 19 per cent on the Vancouver campus and 27 per cent on the Okanagan campus, compared to 2007.

Canadian Economy Likely To See Moderate Recovery in 2010

Canadian Economy Likely To See Moderate Recovery in 2010
Domestic demand seen growing slightly faster than GDP as more prudent mortgage lending practices help Canada avoid longer-term adverse effects that continue to plague the U.S.

Arlington, VA January 13, 2010 The Canadian economy withstood the global recession in 2009 better than most G7 nations, including the United States, and is poised to see marginal improvement in 2010, according to a new Manufacturers Alliance/MAPI report.

In the report, “Review of the Canadian Economy, 2009-2010,” Jeremy A. Leonard, MAPI economic consultant, writes that Canada was spared the worst of the 2008-2009 global recession due to its relatively sound banking sector and strong improvements in its terms of trade, the latter buoyed by robust demand for its natural resources.
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Best Quality of life – Canada 4th in UN ranking

Canada was listed fourth, well ahead of the United States which was in 13th place.

“Most migrants, internal and international, reap gains in the form of higher incomes, better access to education and health and improved prospects for their children,” said the report. “These gains often directly benefit family members who stay behind as well as countries of origin indirectly.” (read the full article)

Number of sales and average prices, will continue to rise in 2010.

The association revised its sales outlook twice during the year to reflect the stronger activity. It suggests the number of sales and average prices, will continue to rise in 2010.

Meanwhile, the surge in activity has begun to spread to new homes as well. While new home prices in November 2009 remained below those of November 2008, prices have begun to rise on a month-to-month basis. And Statistics Canada reported a surge in starts of new homes for December 2009. (read the whole article)