Supply Chain Manager

I've learned my lesson. I assume the Chinese have as well. We will undoubtedly witness a backlash to Zhao's expulsion. It may even be crucial. But the Trudeau government's apparent reluctance to intervene is a victory for China's so-called "wolf warrior diplomacy." It indicates that Canadian policymakers have internalized the economic and geopolitical disparities between the two nations. Joly's odd parliamentary testimony admitted as much. What Canada requires is a government capable of translating the words of the Indo-Pacific Strategy into policymaking action. The evidence of the last seven days suggests that we will need a new government to accomplish that. I assume it was just a question of time. That did not make the news of Gordon Lightfoot's death any easier. Gord was an odd celebrity. I didn't know him, yet it was difficult not to feel like he was a distant acquaintance. He was a rare Canadian musician who achieved international success whi...

The new European position was established with the Versailles Declaration in March 2022, followed by the Granada Declaration in October 2023. These declarations added political fuel to the concept of European sovereignty. The Declaration expressly commits to fully developing the Single Market in all of its dimensions and addresses critical Single Market issues including as trade, crucial raw commodities, semiconductors, and digitization.  Economic security is critical in determining the future of the Single Market. The EU is working on a new framework, which will be adopted in June 2023 via a Joint Communication between the European Commission and the High Representative. The goal is to create a balance between reducing risks and preserving economic openness and vitality. In addition, in January 2024, the Commission issued a detailed Communication outlining five critical steps targeted at improving the EU's economic security.  A range of factors, both internal and external, in...

Think about the most technologically creative corporations of the previous 50 years: Intel, Apple, Google, Facebook, and Twitter. Each one has a Silicon Valley address and has received venture capital funding. Over the previous decade, Silicon Valley has received more than one-third of the nation's venture money, with much of it coming from there. Laura Sydell of NPR's Silicon Valley History series has a story about how venture capital and high tech grew grown together Laura Sydell, byline: When IT entrepreneurs are seeking for money, they can easily end up on University Avenue in downtown Palo Alto, which has clean brick sidewalks and high-end boutiques. William Reichert is a venture capitalist. BILL REICHERT: Within five blocks of here, there are probably 30 to 40 venture capital businesses. In addition, venture capital firms are likely to have backed 30 or 40 fledgling companies. SYDELL: Reichert is a cofounder of Garage Technology Ventures. One of his firm's best inv...

With trade agreements with the most major markets in Europe, the United States, and Latin America, as well as a low business tax rate, Canada is an excellent location for establishing operations and expanding worldwide. It has a strong culture of innovation due to its competitive R&D environment and solid finances 1. Starting a corporation. Starting a business in Canada takes only a day and a half. The process is quick and simple. All that is required is to file for a corporation and register for VAT. 2. Obtaining building permits, registering the property, and connecting to the electricity grid It takes an average of 250 days to obtain a construction permit, but the process is lengthy and complicated. There are twelve steps to it. According to the 2024 Canadian Construction Cost Trends study, construction costs are rising at a slower rate than in previous years. This suggests that prices, such as permits, are unlikely to rise as swiftly as they did in 2022 and early 2023. Noneth...

In previous parts, we explored vulnerable populations and their varying levels of risk during disasters. Vulnerable groups, like women, elders, and immigrants, are disproportionately affected by disasters and their aftermath. As a result, strategies addressing post-disaster recovery must take into account these disparities in impacts and results for different groups.  Women. Women are disproportionately affected by disasters, with a significant proportion (70%-80%) losing their lives in the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami in Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and India. Additionally, they are more vulnerable in the aftermath. Women's basic human and land rights are often disregarded, contributing to their vulnerability. The Reconstruction of Aceh Land Administration System project, which aimed to aid in post-tsunami reconstruction in Aceh and North Sumatra, found that the tsunami disaster put women in precarious positions, threatening their livelihoods and assets due to inconsistent recognition of th...

The near-term prognosis may be more challenging than officials had planned. Take proactive steps now to mitigate the risks and revive growth. If 'wait and hope' plans required a last coup de grace to demolish any remaining sense of feasibility, the first few months of 2024 have forced even the most hopeful onlookers to face reality. Interest rates remain at a more than two-decade high, inflation has stopped falling, and the head of the United States' largest bank gave a grim warning that the Fed rate may rise rather than fall from here. Despite the uncertainties, a few rays of sunlight are beginning to appear According to all estimates, the United States is not now in a recession; nevertheless, particular industries may not agree. Preliminary GDP for Q1 2024 was 1.6 percent, significantly below the average projection of 2.4 percent, and the unemployment rate remained below 4.0 percent. However, large federal deficit spending may be distorting the underlying economic pi...

With natural disasters in the Asia-Pacific area. To meet the needs of older persons, compensation and restitution solutions must be effective and equitable.  Previous studies on natural hazards have mostly examined the vulnerability of children and older adults to flood disasters in a few developed countries. There is a lack of research on the susceptibility of demographic groups in developing Asian countries, despite the region's high concentration of flood victims. Children and older adults' vulnerability varies depending on their household dynamics, health status, and social networks. Further research is needed to understand the unique risks of these age groups across different countries. It's important to recognize that vulnerability is not a fixed condition and should be considered while analyzing current vulnerability. Policymakers must consider the vulnerability of older persons and children in disaster management plans, especially in developing Asian countries.  Nat...

Companies have demonstrated unexpected resilience in the face of a considerable hike in official interest rates. Can this continue in an economy that is expected to slow due to the 'high policy rates for longer' environment? The Federal Reserve's new Financial Stability Report provides some comfort by comparing corporate bond rates and spreads to their historical distribution. Furthermore, resilient earnings indicate a strong debt-servicing capacity. Is this assessment applicable in a stress test scenario? A recent Federal Reserve analysis suggests that the debt-servicing capability of the US public corporation sector as a whole is resilient to sustained high interest rates, unless there is a severe economic downturn. Unsurprisingly, companies with already poor balance sheets are significantly more vulnerable to continuously increasing interest rates or a sharp reduction in growth. Such a development could have an impact on the larger economy via client-supplier relations...

Canada and the United States have a special relationship. Shared location, comparable ideals, same interests, deep personal relationships, and significant, multifaceted economic links form the foundation of the Canada-United States cooperation. Our two countries have a strong and long-standing defense and national security alliance, which provides both countries with more security than they could achieve independently. Trade and investment between Canada and the United States supports millions of jobs and contributes to the safe and efficient flow of goods and people over the border, which is critical to both nations' economic competitiveness and success. The Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) Footnote1 strengthens Canada's strong commercial links with the United States and Mexico while providing major economic benefits to all three countries. Canada has an embassy in Washington, D.C., consulates general in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Los Angel...