Village Gamer

Via Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training: The Government of British Columbia will once again help to support B.C. companies at GDC in San Francisco this March 26-29 through the support of various venues and events. This year, there will be a British Columbia booth on the GDC trade show floor that we would like your company to leverage as much as possible. To complement the B.C. booth, we will include a marketing initiative on the B.C. videogame sector.  It will consist of graphics, literature, and video-footage.  The booth will also include meeting space for you use. Read the rest of this entry »

The Financial Consumer Agency of Canada (FCAC) today issued Commissioner’s Guidance to clarify three issues related to the Code of Conduct for the Credit and Debit Card Industry in Canada (the Code). The Commissioner’s Guidance, which stems from the Code, applies to payment card network operators (PCNOs) that operate in Canada and their participants, including independent sales organizations (ISOs) and other service providers (e.g. processing, terminal leasing). Read the rest of this entry »

Did you know that when you use certified software or a web application to prepare your return, it’s faster and does a lot of the work for you? It may even identify benefits and credits you didn’t even know you were entitled to. The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) offers fast, easy, and secure online services. Join the growing number of Canadians who enjoy the benefits of filing online. Consider these five steps before you sit down to file your return online: Read the rest of this entry »

The Honourable Gary Goodyear, Minister of State (Science and Technology) met last Friday with researchers and graduate students at McGill University in Montreal. The event was the latest in a series of economic consultations with leading stakeholders in Canadian research and development ahead of the 2013 federal budget to be tabled later this year. Read the rest of this entry »

Via CATAAlliance: Please take four minutes to view the video of ICTC President & CEO, Namir Anani who was interviewed recently by CATAAlliance CEO, John Reid on the potential contributions of the apps sector to innovation and productivity in Canada. Mr. Anani makes a compelling case for the apps economy, first citing findings from a recent ICTC research report (PDF); an estimated 51,700 Canadian are employed directly and indirectly in the development of apps. Moreover, hundreds of millions of revenues now flow to entrepreneurs and businesses engaged in the development of apps by a diversity of enterprises across the country.

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The Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) congratulates Members of Parliament (MPs) from all three major political parties for coming together to form an Entrepreneur Caucus.  Today marked the inaugural meeting of the Caucus in Ottawa and included a presentation from CFIB on findings from a recent pre-budget survey and a list of recommendations for the 2013 budget. Read the rest of this entry »

I’m just going to toss this out for you – I’d say more, but I am so disappointed in the BC Liberals right now, and I really don’t want to get started on a full-0ut rant. Yes, these initiatives are great – for the long run – but WHERE are these young people going to work once they get their education? Oh that’s right, they’ll be working in other provinces and countries, because this government does not believe in seeking immediate solutions to help our creative industries compete on a level playing field in the here and now – but you can bet that if this were a natural resource sector crisis, the Liberals would be all over it like talc on a gymnast. With an election coming up, for the first time in decades, I may have to seriously reconsider the person and the party I choose to support. In what appears to be a slapstick attempt at feigning support for our creative sectors, the B.C. government announced earlier today that it is launching BC Creative Futures, a three-part strategy to support sustainable, long-term success for the province’s creative sector. But I digress….continue on for the government’s big plan…more smoke and mirrors to wow everyone and confuse the issues in hopes that come election day we don’t spoil their love-in. Read the rest of this entry »

The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) launched the second phase of its public consultation by unveiling a draft code for wireless services. Canadians are invited to share their views on the draft and to join the online discussion. Last fall, the CRTC asked Canadians for their help in creating a national code for wireless services, such as cellphones and other personal mobile devices. Canadians responded by submitting over 3,500 comments in writing and posting close to 600 comments on the online discussion forum. The CRTC has reviewed all of the comments, which shaped the working document published yesterday. Read the rest of this entry »

The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) administers the Scientific Research and Experimental Development (SR&ED) tax incentive program on behalf of the Government of Canada. The CRA is committed to informing businesses in Canada about available incentives, making them easily accessible, and managing the SR&ED program with fiscal integrity. In response to Economic Action Plan 2012, the CRA is taking the following steps to improve the predictability of the outcome of SR&ED claims: Read the rest of this entry »

The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) has announced enhancements to 911 services that will enable Canadians who have hearing or speech impairments to communicate with 911 call centres via text message. Telephone and wireless companies must upgrade their networks to support this new feature by January 24, 2014. Read the rest of this entry »