Canadian Manufacturing Insights

'Buy American' deal exempts Canadian firms

Fri, 05 Feb 2010 14:42:45 +0000

Canadian companies will be exempt from a protectionist "Buy American" clause in the U.S. government's $787-billion US economic stimulus package, the federal government announced Friday.

The deal involves 37 U.S. states that adhere to the World Trade Organization's government procurement agreement, effectively ending a dispute that has raged since…

- Author: Jason - Community Facilitator

EMC's National Manufacturing Conference Welcomes Rick Mercer to Keynote Lineup

Fri, 22 Jan 2010 16:38:37 +0000

EMC is elated to announce Canada's 'Leader of the Unofficial Opposition' Rick Mercer has officially joined the keynote lineup for our upcoming national manufacturing conference: Advantage through Excellence: Building the Case for Manufacturing in Canada.

In his 'standing-room only' keynote addresses, Rick shows why he is Canada's most popular comic…

- Author: Scott McNeil-Smith

Trade balance sinks to deficit in November

Wed, 13 Jan 2010 04:30:00 +0000

Canada's trade balance with the world went from a surplus of $503 million in October to a deficit of $344 million in November.

Gains in energy products helped push Canadian exports up 1.1 per cent during the month, Statistics Canada said Tuesday. But imports gained a robust 3.9 per cent, more than enough to negate the impact of rising exports.

Export…

- Author: Jason - Community Facilitator

Toyota mulls Ontario hybrid production

Wed, 13 Jan 2010 04:30:00 +0000

Ontario could be on the road to getting more automotive jobs.

A senior Toyota Canada executive says there's no reason why Toyota couldn't build its new hybrids in Canada.

And there will be plenty of new products coming down Toyota's assembly lines.

Stephen Beatty says it plans to launch nine new or revised vehicles in Canada this year, plug-in…

- Author: Jason - Community Facilitator

Three aging Canada Bread bakeries in Toronto area to close

Wed, 13 Jan 2010 04:30:00 +0000

Canada Bread Company Ltd. (TSX:CBY) plans to close three Toronto-area bakeries and move their production to a new plant somewhere in southwestern Ontario by 2013 under a $125-million revitalization plan announced Tuesday.

The site for the new bakery - which Canada Bread says would be the largest in the country - hasn't been chosen but the company…

- Author: Jason - Community Facilitator

Ford takes top awards in Detroit

Mon, 11 Jan 2010 16:21:08 +0000

Ford Motor Co.'s market momentum got a lift Monday by winning both the 2010 North American Car and Truck of the Year awards.

Ford's Fusion Hybrid mid-size sedan took top car honours and its versatile Transit Connect compact van snagged truck of the year at the Detroit auto show.

It was only the third time in 17 years that an auto maker has won both…

- Author: Jason - Community Facilitator

Field of research gains credence in face of growing environmental concerns

Mon, 11 Jan 2010 16:19:17 +0000

If you've ever stripped paint with solvent, you know it's a nasty job. Not only does it hurt if you get paint stripper on your skin, but you end up with a gooey mess of solvent and dissolved paint that should be disposed of as hazardous waste.

What if you had a solvent that would remove the paint from your old furniture and then change its…

- Author: Jason - Community Facilitator

TransAlta to expand N.B. wind farm

Mon, 11 Jan 2010 16:17:08 +0000

TransAlta Corp. (TA-T23.540.180.77%) says it will spend $100-million to expand the Kent Hills wind facility in New Brunswick, southwest of Moncton.

The Calgary-based company announced Monday that the electricity produced at the expanded wind farm will be sold to New Brunswick Power under a 25-year distribution agreement.

The expanded facility is…

- Author: Jason - Community Facilitator

Auto sector slams new Quebec rules

Mon, 11 Jan 2010 16:14:15 +0000

New environmental regulations in Quebec that commence next week could raise the prices of 80 per cent of the vehicles sold in the province, causing consumers to halt purchases of new vehicles that emit fewer greenhouse gases than those already on the road, auto industry members say.

The industry is fuming about new rules under the Quebec…

- Author: Jason - Community Facilitator

GM vice-president predicts solid profits in 2010

Mon, 11 Jan 2010 16:10:36 +0000

General Motors should be "solidly profitable" when demand for new cars and trucks rebounds to normal levels, a top executive said leading up to the North American International Auto Show in Detroit.

Bob Lutz, GM's vice-chairman, said during a speech to the Society of Automotive Analysts on Sunday that the U.S. automaker had made strides only months…

- Author: Jason - Community Facilitator